After leaving the Hokage Building, Shimizu headed straight for the ANBU headquarters. The Third Hokage had said his new team members were already waiting there.
That so-called "unanimous decision of the Konoha Council" was likely the result of Danzo's involvement.
It simply wouldn't fit Danzo Shimura's shadowy style if he hadn't inserted himself into the arrangement.
"Sawei?! What are you doing here?"
Shimizu spotted an old teammate, Uchiha Sawei—a former classmate who had shared the same tutelage under Maruboshi Kosuke.
With short black hair and a sharp, clean-cut appearance, Sawei gave off a capable air. He had already become a jōnin at seventeen. Even within the prestigious Uchiha clan, that was rare—clear proof of his talent.
At the moment, Sawei was organizing ANBU gear. Beside him stood two others: a steady-looking man in his thirties, and a younger woman with long brown hair and an expression as cold and sharp as a blade.
"Have you lost your mind? What else would I be doing in the ANBU building?" Sawei slapped Shimizu hard on the shoulder and laughed. "Starting today, your big brother here is officially ANBU!"
"Your father agreed?" Shimizu blinked. He remembered hearing from their teacher not long ago that Sawei had been serving in the Konoha Military Police Force. How had he suddenly transferred to ANBU?
And this guy still had no sense of restraint with his strength…
Shimizu rubbed his reddened shoulder.
"Father agreed ages ago. I applied for ANBU over a month back. I wanted to surprise you, but they kept rejecting me. Then this morning I suddenly got approval!" Sawei looked genuinely excited.
So he had wanted to join ANBU that early…
But if his approval came through the Council's decision—
Then the two people standing beside him…
"Don't look at me like you're brain-dead. Yes, I'm your new teammate. Konoha ANBU First Corps, Fifth Brigade, Fourth Squad. Uchiha Sawei. The man who commands the strongest Fire Release in the world! Codename: Skyfire!"
His exaggerated tone reminded Shimizu of another loudmouth Uchiha—Obito. The difference was that Sawei was now a fully capable jōnin, while Obito at this point was still just a genin.
For a moment, a complicated feeling welled up in Shimizu's chest. Seeing an old friend should have made him happy.
So why did he feel heavy instead?
The older man spoke next.
"Kondo Fuchi. Chūnin. Specialize in Earth Release and reconnaissance techniques. Codename: Rockwood."
Judging by his chakra, he was likely an elite chūnin—above special jōnin level in combat ability.
The brown-haired woman followed.
"Mayu. Special jōnin. Specialize in Wind Release and medical ninjutsu. Codename: Windveil."
Her tone was as cold as her expression.
"So you're my new squad?" Shimizu asked, realizing the question sounded almost foolish.
"What kind of question is that? Who else would we be waiting for?" Sawei slung an arm around Shimizu's neck and lowered his voice. "New mission, right? Someone from administration told us to wait for your orders. Let me guess—you just came back from seeing the Hokage?"
"…Yeah." Shimizu didn't bother hiding it. He directly explained the full details of the mission to the three of them.
Before wrapping up, he added, "Before we depart, I want to know which departments you were previously assigned to."
His gaze lingered on Kondo and Mayu. If Danzo had planted someone, it would likely be one of them.
"I was in First Corps, Eighth Brigade, Third Squad. Transferred here by order," Kondo answered steadily.
"Seventh Brigade, Sixth Squad. Same—reassigned by order," Mayu replied coolly.
Direct subordinates of the Hokage...
On paper, the records seemed clean. Still, Shimizu made a mental note to verify their service histories later.
Of course, the possibility that Danzo had infiltrated the Hokage's direct Anbu wasn't out of the question. But if that were the case, he would have no reliable way to determine who was the mole.
"The mission details are exactly as I've described. The expected duration is half a month, so prepare thoroughly. Meet at the Konoha Main Gate tomorrow at noon!"
"Yes!" ×3
Shimizu and Sawei exited the ANBU building one after the other.
The wind was calm.
But the news they carried would soon stir the rain-soaked land to turmoil.
"Shimizu, let me buy you dinner," Sawei said generously
"Ichikaku Ramen?"
"What else would it be?"
Shimizu knew that Sawei had long wanted a Wind Release chakra weapon and had been living frugally for years to save up. Shimizu himself had only managed to afford one after completing a large number of A-rank and S-rank missions in ANBU. For Sawei, that goal still seemed far off…
Then again, the Konoha Military Police Force was said to offer excellent pay. Maybe he had already saved enough?
The two arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.
Shimizu ordered a large bowl of char siu ramen, while Sawei chose a large tonkotsu ramen.
In Shimizu's memory, Ichiraku had opened back when he was seven—Year 30 of Konoha. At the time, the owner, Teuchi, had only been a half-grown teenager, already famous for his stubborn dedication. Somehow, through sheer persistence, he built Ichiraku's name into something respected.
It was practically the inspirational tale of an ordinary man struggling to succeed in the shinobi world.
"Boss Teuchi, heard your wife just gave birth?" Sawei called out loudly.
"That's right! It's a girl!" Teuchi replied cheerfully.
"Got a name yet?"
"Ayame!"
It was hard to believe thirteen years had passed, and Teuchi already had a daughter...
But Ayame... that name sounded familiar. Was she a character from the storyline? No matter how Shimizu tried, he couldn't recall any significant plot tied to her.
Forget it. She was just a ramen shop owner's daughter, not a ninja. Why dwell on it?
Sawei suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice mysteriously.
"Shimizu, I've got big news. Want to hear it?"
"If you've got something to say, just say it. I'm not paying for this meal because of it. You promised—this one's on you."
Given his understanding of Sawei, the next line would probably have been: If you want to hear it, you're buying.
"As if I'd quibble over a bowl of ramen after not seeing you for so long," Sawei laughed bitterly.
"Who knows…" Shimizu shrugged.
"Alright, serious now. A few days ago, I overheard some clan elders talking—something huge happened in Kirigakure!"
He glanced around cautiously as if revealing a state secret.
Shimizu's heart tightened.
Could it be about the Three-Tails?
"Kiri produced a demon!" Sawei declared dramatically.
"…What?" Shimizu deflated instantly. He'd expected critical intelligence about Isobu.
"You're so clueless! Forget it… Kiri's graduation exam—you know how they make students kill each other? This year, one student slaughtered every single other candidate by himself!"
Shimizu was aware of that brutal tradition. Kirigakure's shinobi were, to some degree, raised in bloodshed from childhood. Growing up in such an environment—how could they turn out normal?
"Oh. And?"
"And?!" Sawei stared at him. "Don't you think that's horrifying? 'The Demon of the Hidden Mist'—they were his classmates! Over a hundred of them!"
This time there was no exaggeration in his tone. He was genuinely disturbed.
The "Demon of the Hidden Mist."
Zabuza Momochi.
So this was the year Zabuza graduated. At this point, he was still just a kid—no different in age from Kakashi.
"Finished?" Shimizu asked flatly.
Even knowing this, what did it change? A genin candidate killing a group of other candidates—it wasn't worth such shock. He had thought it was intelligence about the Three-Tails.
"Shimizu, you're cold-blooded," Sawei muttered. "Forget it. Let's just eat."
Cold-blooded.
The word struck like lightning.
When had he changed?
When had the once bright, open-hearted boy become someone so indifferent to life?
Over a hundred children dead—and he felt nothing. Not grief. Not outrage. Only boredom.
He pressed a hand to his chest.
If placed in the same situation…
Wouldn't he, Shimizu Uzuki, be capable of doing exactly what that so-called "Demon of the Hidden Mist" had done?
Facing children—and striking without hesitation.
Somewhere along the way, time had reshaped him into someone who, by common moral standards, might already be considered devoid of conscience.
Was that good?
Or bad?
Shimizu didn't know.
Perhaps, one day, time would give him the answer.