Tsunade seemed to have guessed long ago that Kenji would choose to join the Anbu. She refused to let him sleep all night, insisting on chatting with him.
In fact, Kenji felt that the more familiar people were, the less they had to talk about at such times. After all, he wasn't one to be overly sentimental.
Besides, even if he joined the Anbu, he wouldn't be leaving the Hidden Leaf. Was there a need to act like this was a life-and-death parting?
The next day, Kenji went alone to see the Third Hokage.
After a long discussion, Kenji finally decided to join the Anbu.
Knowing that Kenji had killed a Sand Chunin, the Third Hokage looked at him with new respect and seemed to intend to groom him.
Entering the Anbu, he didn't start as a low-level member but was directly assigned as a Squad Captain.
In a dark yet spacious underground passage, Kenji followed an Anbu member who was wearing a mask and carrying a ninja sword on his back, walking slowly forward.
"Captain, ahead is the base of the Anbu's 7th Unit. I have notified them in advance; the members of the 7th Unit will be waiting for you there."
Even though Kenji was young, the Third Hokage had appointed him directly as an Anbu Squad Captain. This Anbu member didn't dare to be negligent, and his tone was very respectful and polite.
Kenji nodded and asked, "How many organizations and units does the Anbu have in total?"
"...I am not sure."
Kenji pondered. Perhaps the other party wasn't hiding it but truly didn't know.
Even the members didn't know how many branches the Anbu had, which showed how mysterious the Anbu was.
"You belong to the 7th Unit too, right? What is your name?"
"Captain, you can call me Kawamoto!"
"Kawamoto." Kenji made a mental note of the name.
Joining the Anbu at twelve and becoming a captain directly—he would probably need to go through some trials to convince the masses.
An Anbu Captain wasn't that easy to be.
Led by Kawamoto, Kenji walked into an empty underground cave.
Although there were lights here, it still appeared dim.
Inside the cave, three people were already waiting.
"Ahem... everyone, our new captain has arrived. Let's get to know him," Kawamoto cleared his throat and shouted.
The three people who were originally chatting idly walked over upon hearing this. They looked at Kawamoto, then at Kenji, and asked, "Kawamoto, who is this? Can you just bring a child into this place casually?"
"Wait, Kawamoto, you aren't saying that this kid is our new captain, are you?" All three showed looks of disbelief.
Kawamoto said solemnly, "That's right. Lord Kenji was personally appointed by Lord Hokage. He is the Captain of our 7th Unit."
"You're kidding!"
Immediately, someone couldn't help but lose their temper. "Is the Third senile? Looking at his age, he probably hasn't been graduated from the Academy for long, right?"
Kawamoto shouted coldly, "Nakata, do you dare to be disrespectful to Lord Hokage?"
The man named Nakata replied, "I didn't mean that. It's just... only the strong are qualified to be my captain."
Kawamoto wanted to defend Kenji, but Kenji reached out to stop him.
"What kind of qualifications do you think are needed?" Kenji stared at Nakata faintly.
"An Anbu Squad Captain holds extraordinary significance and a pivotal status. Strength, wisdom, strategy, and character—none can be missing."
Kenji remained calm. "Then, which of these four do you think I lack?"
Nakata was slightly stunned; he hadn't expected Kenji to ask that.
"Let's not talk about the others. Your strength, at the very least, must surpass everyone here. Otherwise, how can you lead us?"
"You mean you want to compete with me?" Kenji said very crisply. "Then I'll give you a chance."
Instantly, Kenji stomped his foot violently. An astonishing force caused the ground to collapse.
"Exploding Step!"
Boom!
With a loud crash, Kenji's body shot out. His speed was fast to the extreme; one could almost only see a black shadow.
Nakata's expression changed drastically. He instinctively wanted to retreat, but he was simply too late.
Because Kenji had already closed in, and a hand knife was placed against his neck.
Whoosh!
With a flash of a sharp edge, a kunai appeared out of thin air in Kenji's hand, the blade practically wiping against Nakata's neck.
"..."
"You should be glad I am not your enemy. Otherwise, that was enough for you to report to the underworld several times over." Kenji put away the kunai nonchalantly, then turned and retreated to his original spot.
Nakata's eyes were filled with horror. His body trembled slightly uncontrollably, and cold sweat soaked his back.
Just now... what happened?
The other two gasped, their gazes toward Kenji already changed.
Although there was an element of surprise in Kenji's move, Nakata was a solid Elite Chunin, yet he didn't even have time to react.
If he couldn't react, how could they?
Kawamoto, who was originally convinced by Kenji, now saw his terrifying strength and looked at him with a trace of admiration.
He was only twelve years old, yet possessed such strength. How terrifying would he be when he grew up?
Lord Hokage indeed had eyes like torches; he wouldn't let a child serve as an Anbu Captain for no reason.
"Well then, if anyone has an objection, feel free to raise it," Kenji said in a grim tone. "Today is my first day in office. I will allow you to be presumptuous."
"Perhaps you are indeed not weaker than us, but among us, there is one person you might not beat." Nakata seemed still unconvinced. He turned his head and shouted in a certain direction, "Yuna, aren't you going to meet the new captain?"
Kenji was slightly stunned and followed Nakata's gaze.
He saw a woman leaning against a huge stone statue in the corner.
"A Jonin?" Kenji had never expected that the 7th Unit would have a Jonin member.
The place where the woman was located was dimly lit, so Kenji hadn't noticed her when he entered.
However, what made Kenji speechless was that the woman was leaning there... reading a book!
Posturing. She is definitely posturing!
Although this way of acting cool was cliché, seeing that she was a woman, Kenji decided not to hold it against her.
Hearing Nakata's words, Yuna finally closed the book in her hands. She scanned Kenji casually and said indifferently, "Since Lord Hokage appointed you personally, then I acknowledge it. I am Yuna. Please take care of me in the future."
Nakata was inevitably disappointed hearing this answer.
He had originally hoped Yuna would resist Kenji.
Kenji smiled faintly. "Since no one else objects, then from now on, everyone must act according to my orders. If anyone causes trouble again or disrupts morale, it won't be as simple as just now."