After leaving the Hokage's building, Eiya followed Kakashi to a hidden underground base.
This was the ANBU headquarters of Konoha.
"This is where ANBU stand by," Kakashi said.
"Training grounds and archives on the right, rest area and lockers on the left." His voice echoed down the empty corridor as he led Eiya through.
"Unless we're on field duty or a special op, you must report here on time for muster and dismissal."
"ANBU has a commander and a deputy. Under them are four squads, seventeen members each."
Eiya nodded slightly, glancing around. "Where is everyone?"
"Out on assignment." Kakashi halted mid-sentence, spun, and his gaze sharpened. "Before you're official, I have a question."
"I was there yesterday. I heard your story. Disobeying Captain Sato's order to retreat to save a teammate—was it personal with him, or was that truly your conviction?"
He stared straight into Eiya's eyes, probing for a tell.
Eiya met his gaze without flinching. "It was what I truly believe."
Kakashi's tone cooled. "As shinobi, the mission comes first. You violated the rules and acted on your own. ANBU protocol is stricter than anywhere else."
"If you can't convince me, I won't take you, Hokage's consent or not."
Eiya smiled faintly. "If I were punished for it, even stripped of my rank, I might regret it."
His voice turned cold. "But letting a comrade sink into danger and turning my back would be a regret for life."
Kakashi held his stare for a long time, then gave the slightest nod.
"From now on, you're ANBU."
"Primary duties are protecting the Hokage, stopping infiltrators, and at times reconnaissance and assassinations."
"Remember this: no one but the Hokage has authority over ANBU operations. That includes your clan head."
Eiya heard the undertone. If an operation involved the Uchiha, his stance had better be clear.
But he wasn't a puppet. He had his own calculus.
On the way back from the border he had laid out the plan.
His aim was simple.
Become the Uchiha clan head, and shape Konoha into his design.
However chaotic the world, with villages razed and great clans erased, Konoha still lived in ease, its civilians enjoying the best lot on the continent.
Even Konoha civilians lived better than many shinobi elsewhere.
That was why Nagato had brought down his Deva Path.
He had a roadmap already.
Sato's death was the first move.
It gave him a black name, but now all of Konoha knew Uchiha Eiya. He was no longer a nobody.
Next he would build his name further—call it prestige—and climb higher.
Kakashi tossed him a mask with a tanuki motif. "Since it's your first day, no assignment. You're free to look around."
Eiya tried the mask on. It fit.
As Kakashi turned to leave, Eiya spoke.
"Skip the break. I'm going out on a mission."
Kakashi stopped at the door and turned back, voice suddenly icy. "Uchiha Eiya—follow orders."
Eiya met that chill gaze, unhurried. "I hear the village is full of rumors."
"Someone is using Sato's death to smear me, and the lies are spreading."
"I suspect a hand behind the curtain fanning the flames."
"The goal is likely to set the Uchiha and Konoha against each other and profit from the rift."
"If it's true, that's a direct threat to unity inside the village."
Kakashi didn't answer at once. He thought, then slowly shook his head.
"Even if so, I report to the Hokage first. Approval, then action."
From long ANBU experience, he could guess: if someone was stirring Uchiha–Konoha conflict, the hand was either a major clan or someone high in Konoha.
Either way, the web was wide.
Eiya snorted. "You need permission for something this small? You're an ANBU captain."
"And it's only my suspicion. We could bring back results first, then report."
Kakashi didn't budge. "No. Without orders from command or the Hokage, I won't act on my own."
After a brief standoff, Eiya slowly lifted the tanuki mask off his face.
"Fine. If neither of us can convince the other, we settle it with strength," he said, calm and cutting. "If I lose, I follow your lead from now on."
"But if I win, then so long as we don't defy the Hokage's orders, the squad follows my calls in the field."
A hint of battle-lust curled his lip. "Well? Do you dare?"
Kakashi's eyes flashed. "First day on the team and you can't wait?"
Eiya met the cold stare without a flinch, the corner of his mouth tilted in challenge.
"If you're scared, refuse."
Their gazes struck sparks.
"Good. I don't want a disobedient subordinate anyway," Kakashi said with a short, cold snort. "Come with me."
He strode toward the training rooms.
Watching him go, Eiya's smile turned satisfied.
Kakashi was the Fourth's student, a record-setter in Konoha's history, pride to match.
Last night in the street they'd already traded barbs.
This reaction was only natural.
Eiya called out, easy and light, "No need for the trouble, Captain. We can do it here."
"One move is all I need."
The words lit a fuse.
Kakashi stopped dead and stared him down.
"Trying to bait me?"
"Congratulations. It worked."
Tension knotted the corridor.
Kakashi's body coiled, but he didn't strike first.
He remembered how Sato had fallen in an instant in the Hokage's office. Like it or not, the Uchiha rookie had earned his arrogance.
He wore a chūnin vest, but his strength matched a seasoned jōnin.
In such a clash, the smallest slip decided the winner.
He raised a hand to his forehead protector, motion slow, and lifted it.
A scar ran over his left eye to the edge of his mask.
In the scarlet Sharingan, three tomoe turned.
Eiya whistled. "Didn't expect you were Uchiha, Kakashi-senpai."
Kakashi's voice was low. "A gift from a dear friend. You can still yield."
Footsteps sounded outside.
"Tenzo-senpai, your Wood Release is amazing!"
"But this mission went smoothly thanks to Itachi."
Someone grumbled. "He's just a rookie and stole all the glory. Annoying."
Another laughed. "Can't help it. He's a prodigy."
"Hey, hero, got anything to say?"
Voices came nearer, then cut off.
"Captain Kakashi?!" Several ANBU reached the corridor and stopped short.
"Huh, and that is…?" One stared at the figure facing Kakashi and blurted the question.
In the group, Itachi saw the standoff and slowly took off his mask.
"Uchiha Eiya," he said, voice level.