Konoha.
Anbu headquarters.
Sakumo Hatake led Hizashi Hyuga into the base.
"Go on. Pick a mask you like. Then choose a codename."
"The Third Hokage asked me to bring you in personally, so you'll join my squad for now."
"I'll brief you on basic rules and duties in a bit. Formal training starts tomorrow."
Sakumo sat on a stool, humming an old tune that sounded like something from the Warring States era. He carefully applied oil to the Chakra blade in his hand.
Its name was White Fang, the weapon that gave him the title White Fang of the Leaf.
"Y-Yes…"
Hizashi stood in front of a row of masks, still dazed.
The day felt unreal.
First, the village had erupted into a battle on the scale of war. Then the Hyuga Main House had pushed him forward as a scapegoat. He had endured the complicated looks from others, the silent humiliation burning in his chest.
And now… he had joined the Anbu.
Even now, it felt hard to process.
Joining the Anbu.
There had never been such a precedent within the Hyuga Clan.
Would the elders of the Hyuga Main House agree?
"Sakumo-sama, there's something I need to report…" Hizashi hesitated. "You know our clan's situation is… special."
"I couldn't refuse the Hokage. And I truly want to join the Anbu."
"But as for the Hyuga Main House… I honestly don't know how they'll react. I agreed without consulting them. Could this damage the relationship between the village and the Hyuga Clan?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, his face flushed red.
He hated how weak he sounded. He had already accepted. Why was he second-guessing himself now?
But the weight of being part of the Hyuga Branch House pressed down on him. He could not stop himself from thinking this way.
"I don't understand your concern."
Sakumo looked up, puzzled. "Why are you overthinking it? Didn't the Third Hokage invite you personally?"
Hizashi fell silent.
It was true. Hiruzen Sarutobi had extended the invitation himself.
But what if the Hokage did not fully grasp the Hyuga Main House's stance?
"I've heard about the Hyuga Main House and Hyuga Branch House matters. A thousand-year noble clan and all that."
"I've also heard the Hyuga position. A 'village within the village.' Absolute neutrality. There's no shortage of rumors in Konoha."
Sakumo continued polishing White Fang.
"I'm not wrong, am I?"
Hizashi's eyes widened.
He had always thought the Hyuga Main House's mindset was secret. Had it already become common gossip?
"What's with that look?"
Sakumo's gaze sharpened, as if he could see straight through him.
"The Hyuga Branch House lives too isolated within the compound. You have too little contact with the outside world. Konoha's been around for decades. Even a Chunin knows some of the village's rumors."
"One of Anbu's duties is collecting information, including public opinion."
"You haven't officially joined yet. If you want to withdraw, now is the time. As squad leader, I can mark your review as failed. Even if the Third Hokage invited you."
Sakumo's tone turned cool.
"I want you to lay out every concern. If we can resolve them, good. If not, you leave."
"If one day you leak information, the consequences won't be pleasant."
Under the light, the White Fang blade reflected a sharp, cold gleam.
"I…"
Hizashi clenched his fists.
"I'm worried… if the Hyuga Main House forbids me from joining the Anbu, what do I do? If they demand information about Anbu matters, what do I do?"
He removed his headband, revealing the blue cross-shaped seal on his forehead.
"This is the Caged Bird Seal. With a single thought from the Hyuga Main House, my brain and my Byakugan would be reduced to mush. For a thousand years, no one has defied it."
"Death wouldn't be so bad. But the Hyuga Main House can punish us with it. That pain is worse than death."
Fear flickered in his eyes.
It was not pain the mind could resist.
When he was young, he had once spoken out of turn to a member of the Hyuga Main House. He still remembered that agony.
"I want to join the Anbu. I want to protect the village alongside Sakumo-sama and the others. I want to use these Byakugan to detect and drive back enemies who threaten the villagers."
"But I'm afraid there will be moments when I'm forced to choose. I believe I'm a man… yet in front of the Caged Bird Seal, I can't say with certainty that I'm strong enough."
He rubbed the seal fiercely.
"After saying this out loud, I feel better. Please judge me by your strictest standards."
Sakumo studied him from head to toe.
Then he smiled.
"Good. You pass. Welcome to the Anbu, Hizashi Hyuga."
"As for your concerns, they aren't problems for Anbu."
He spoke slowly.
"You've lived too long inside the Hyuga compound. You haven't formed a proper understanding of the village."
Hizashi blinked. He was thrilled at Sakumo's approval, but confused by his meaning.
"Could you… explain?"
"As Anbu, you serve directly under the Hokage. You are an extension of the Hokage's will."
"In Konoha, who dares interrogate an Anbu? The Hyuga Main House might be powerful, but they wouldn't dare."
Sakumo chuckled.
"Even the Uchiha Clan has never openly confronted Anbu. At most, they grumble in the shadows."
"Are you suggesting the Hyuga Main House plans rebellion?"
The words struck Hizashi like lightning.
His Byakugan activated instantly, veins bulging at his temples, eyes wide.
"What, do the Hyuga have the same trait as the Uchiha?" Sakumo asked curiously. "Strong emotions trigger the eyes?"
"S-Sorry, Sakumo-sama. I was just… overwhelmed."
In that moment, something clicked in Hizashi's mind.
That's right.
What did it matter whether the Hyuga Main House approved?
He was Anbu now. He belonged directly to the Hokage.
Interrogation? Impossible.
Even open reprimand would be unlikely.
Anbu reported directly to the Hokage.
His thoughts raced, clarity returning.
"Not just punishment… does this mean I won't have to perform those servile duties for the Hyuga Main House anymore?"
"Anbu serves the Hokage!"
His body trembled with excitement.
As a member of the Hyuga Branch House, how could he not have yearned for freedom?
The Caged Bird Seal had always felt insurmountable. After failing to break free again and again, people stopped trying.
Like a butterfly trapped in a glass bottle.
After too many collisions, even if the bottle's mouth opened, it would not dare to fly.
And yet…
A freedom no Hyuga Branch House member had tasted in a thousand years had just landed in his hands.
The Caged Bird Seal remained.
The Byakugan still had its blind spot.
But that no longer mattered.
The most important freedom had been granted.
He wanted to unleash a Gentle Fist sequence on the spot just to vent the exhilaration flooding his chest.
"No wonder the Third Hokage had me bring you in first instead of sending you through the usual process," Sakumo said quietly.
"If you had said all this in front of Assistant Danzo, forget whether you'd pass. The Hyuga Clan would have drawn his attention immediately."
Root.
Officially, the Anbu Training Division.
Danzo Shimura, as its leader, oversaw training for new recruits.
In Sakumo's view, Danzo's training was harsh but professional and necessary.
The problem was that Root had gradually become Danzo's personal armed force. Its loyalty to the Hokage was no longer pure.
Sakumo had mentioned this to Hiruzen Sarutobi more than once. Each time, the matter had been postponed.
Until now, Anbu and Root had finally been merged.
And after today's speech from the Hokage, Sakumo understood.
Or rather, he connected the dots.
Hiruzen's previous silence had not been indulgence. It had been preparation for systemic reform.
Sakumo had once felt chilled by that silence.
He had been loyal to the Hokage, even at the cost of offending the powerful Danzo, yet received no explanation.
Now he understood.
"The Hokage truly sees further ahead than I do," Sakumo thought. "The village is still in good hands. I was too impatient."
At the mention of Danzo Shimura, Hizashi's excitement cooled slightly.
The name "darkness of the shinobi world" was not earned lightly.
Sakumo continued explaining Anbu's structure and rules.
"Anbu stands for the Assassination and Tactical Special Forces. All missions and intelligence are top secret."
"Details will be taught tomorrow. For now, remember two things."
"Absolute loyalty to the Hokage."
"And death for leaks."
Hizashi listened intently.
At this moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of belonging.
No matter what, he would protect this hard-won freedom.
"Understood, Sakumo-sama!"
"As for your exact squad placement, that will be decided after evaluation. Be prepared."
Sakumo rose slowly.
"Assistant Danzo is strict."
Hizashi's face tightened.
But his resolve hardened immediately.
"I'll pass with excellent results."
His hand hovered over a mask shaped like an ox.
The elders of the Hyuga Main House often said that members of the Hyuga Branch House should be like oxen, tirelessly bearing the burdens of the main family.
But he was different now.
His gaze shifted to an eagle mask.
A symbol of freedom.
He hesitated.
"No. The ox."
He gripped the mask firmly.
"As long as I have this freedom, serving the village like an ox is my willing choice."
"Good. Put on the mask and uniform. I'll take you on your first mission."
"It's directly from the Hokage. Don't mess it up."
Sakumo donned his mask, slipped on a white sleeveless vest, and draped a beige coat over his shoulders, marking him as squad leader.
Hizashi carefully changed into the Anbu uniform, as if afraid of damaging it.
"Target: the Hyuga compound."
"Mission: inform the Hyuga Main House that you've joined the Anbu. Convey the Hokage's concern. If they have matters inconvenient to report directly, they may pass them through you."
Sakumo patted his shoulder.
"You're the lead on this one."
Hizashi froze, then nearly burst with joy.
He had been wondering how to tell the Hyuga Clan about his new identity.
The Hokage had thought of even this.
Returning home in glory was better than walking in fine clothes at night.
Without this mission, he would never have been able to wear the Anbu uniform openly in the compound.
"Remember. You are Anbu."
"Stand straight. Speak properly. Don't disgrace the title."
Sakumo secured White Fang at his waist.
Anbu identities were technically confidential. But at his level, the moment he drew his blade, everyone knew.
The best way to keep a secret was to eliminate the witness.
Moments later, they arrived at the Hyuga compound.
A member of the Hyuga Main House stood at the gate, scolding a branch member.
"Why hasn't that Hizashi brat returned? The elder is waiting!"
His name was Ko Hyuga.
He lacked notable talent, chosen into the Hyuga Main House simply by birth order.
Arrogant by nature, he believed being born into the Hyuga Main House meant divine favor and inherent authority over the Hyuga Branch House.
"I sent him to check on the situation. What's taking so long? Just because he's Hiashi's brother doesn't mean he can ignore the rules!"
"A branch member with no discipline!"
The two Hyuga Branch House members beside him lowered their eyes, silent.
"So this is how the Hyuga Clan operates internally…" Sakumo thought. "This isn't shinobi life. It's nobles and servants."
"If not for the Caged Bird Seal, the branch and main houses would have slaughtered each other long ago."
Ko Hyuga turned his head.
He jolted.
Two masked Anbu stood before him, appearing without a sound.
"May I ask what brings you here?" Ko forced a smile.
He had no intention of offending Anbu, especially not after spotting Sakumo's beige coat.
A significant figure.
"Lead us to the Hyuga clan head."
Behind his mask, Hizashi's lips curved upward. His voice, however, was cold.
"By order of the Hokage."