The Hokage Tower was quiet in the early hours of the morning.
Most of the village was still asleep. Only a few shinobi moved through the halls ANBU guards on silent patrol, messengers carrying scrolls, the occasional jonin reporting to the mission desk.
Shinji Uchiha walked alone through the corridor.
He had been summoned to the tower earlier than usual, though the reason hadn't been explained. That wasn't unusual. Since the end of the Third Shinobi World War, summons from the Hokage had become common.
The village was rebuilding. Peace had returned, but it was an uneasy peace.
Shinji turned a corner in the hallway. And stopped.
Someone was already standing there. An older man with a cane.
Danzō Shimura.
Shinji recognized him immediately. Everyone in the village knew the name, even if few ever spoke it aloud. Danzo was one of the elders of the village. A contemporary of the Hokage himself. A man who held influence in ways that were rarely visible.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
"You distinguished yourself during the war." "Strategic aptitude. Composure under pressure. Leadership."
Shinji remained silent.
Danzo continued. "Rare qualities for someone so young."
Danzo's gaze lingered on Shinji's eyes. "The Uchiha clan is known for producing powerful shinobi," he said. "But power is common."
He tapped his cane once against the floor. "Clarity is not."
Shinji finally spoke. "You didn't stop me here to compliment me."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Danzo's mouth.
"No."
He stepped closer.
"The war may have ended," Danzo said quietly. "But the world of shinobi has not changed."
Outside the tower walls, the village looked peaceful. Children had begun returning to the academy. Merchants were reopening their shops.
But Danzo's voice cut through that illusion easily.
"Other villages are already rebuilding their strength."
"New alliances are forming."
"Old grudges remain."
He leaned slightly on his cane.
"The Hokage believes peace can be preserved through diplomacy."
Danzo's eye hardened. "I believe peace is preserved through preparation."
Shinji watched him carefully now.
Danzo continued.
"There are things that must be done for the safety of the village. Things that cannot be acknowledged publicly."
His gaze sharpened. "That is why I lead a special division." "ROOT operates beneath the surface of this village." "We act where others hesitate."
He studied Shinji again. "You would thrive there."
The offer hung in the air between them.
Serve in ROOT.
Serve Danzo.
Shinji didn't respond immediately.
Danzo waited.
Finally Shinji spoke. "I already serve the village." "Under the Hokage," Shinji continued calmly.
Danzo was silent for a moment.
Then he nodded once. "The Hokage's path is built on ideals."
His voice dropped slightly. "But ideals alone do not protect a village." "The world of shinobi is darker than you think."
"Someday," he said quietly, "you will understand that."
He began walking down the hallway.
Without looking back he added:
"When that day comes… you will seek me out."
Then he was gone.
Shinji stood in the silent corridor for several seconds.
Then he continued walking.
Kakashi Hatake leaned casually against the wall, already dressed in the black tactical uniform of ANBU operatives.
Across the room, Shisui Uchiha examined a rack of masks with open curiosity.
"Okay," Shisui said, lifting one from the shelf. "These are actually pretty cool."
Ibiki stood nearby, arms crossed. Ibiki Morino had already changed into his gear.
"Pick one," he said.
Shisui turned the mask in his hands. It resembled a crow. Smooth white porcelain. Sharp black markings around the eyes.
Shisui grinned. "Perfect."
He slipped the mask onto his face.
Kakashi glanced at him. "You would pick a crow."
Shisui tilted his head. "You jealous?"
Kakashi ignored him and walked toward another shelf. His gaze settled on a mask shaped like a dog. Simple design. Long snout. Red markings.
He picked it up without hesitation.
Shisui chuckled. "Dog mask."
Kakashi shrugged. "It works."
Across the room, Shinji approached the final rack.
Several masks remained.
Fox.
Tiger.
Boar.
His hand stopped when he reached one shaped like a monkey. The porcelain face was white with dark markings along the brow and cheeks.
Behind him Ibiki spoke. "Once you wear the mask," the captain said quietly, "your identity stops mattering."
Shinji lifted the mask slowly.
"The mission becomes the only thing that matters."
Shinji studied the mask for a moment.
Then he placed it over his face.
The world immediately felt different.
The mask narrowed his vision slightly.
Muted his breathing.
Shisui clapped once. "Well that's terrifying."
Kakashi glanced over. "Monkey mask."
Shisui nodded. "Fits."
Ibiki turned toward the door. "Enough."
He opened it. "The Hokage is waiting."
the four shinobi stepped inside, he looked up.
For a moment he simply observed them.
It was the first time he had seen them fully equipped as ANBU.
His expression softened slightly. "Good."
He gestured toward the center of the room. "Report."
Ibiki stepped forward. "Unit assembled."
Hiruzen nodded.
Then his gaze moved across the three masked figures behind the captain. The dog. The crow. The monkey.
"You will be operating as an ANBU squad from this point forward," he said calmly.
"Your missions will often be classified beyond standard jonin clearance."
He exhaled slowly. "The village is entering a delicate period."
The war was over.
But the political landscape was fragile.
"Several villages have begun diplomatic outreach," Hiruzen continued.
"One of those villages is Sunagakure."
"A diplomatic envoy from Suna is traveling to Konoha as we speak."
Shisui crossed his arms. "Let me guess." "Bodyguard duty."
Hiruzen smiled faintly. "Something like that."
He stood and walked around the desk. "The envoy's presence must remain secret."
"If hostile forces learned of this negotiation, they might attempt to sabotage it."
His gaze moved across the squad. "You will escort the envoy safely to the village." "Without revealing yourselves."
Shisui tilted his head. "So we're ghosts."
Kakashi answered quietly. "That's the point."
Hiruzen nodded. "You will operate from the shadows."
Ibiki stepped forward slightly. "Route?"
Hiruzen handed him a scroll.
"The envoy will cross the Fire Country border within two days."
Ibiki accepted the scroll. "Understood."
Hiruzen looked at the squad one more time. "This mission may determine whether our two villages move toward cooperation… or remain enemies."
The weight of that statement settled over the room.
Finally Hiruzen spoke again. "Protect the envoy."
Ibiki bowed his head. "Yes, Lord Hokage."