Codename: Tanuki

Name: Haruno Sakura

Ninja Registration Number: 012601

Position: Current member of Anbu Third Division

Codename: Tanuki

Night

Fires blazed everywhere as the mountain wind howled.

The dilapidated mountain stronghold groaned amid the flames, and vague silhouettes of people struggling within could still be seen.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the fire, wrapped head to toe in a wet quilt as he fled the burning stronghold in panic.

But before he had gone far, a small figure abruptly appeared in front of him.

The man gasped for breath, staring at the figure before him in terror.

A black ninja outfit, a standard black-gray flak jacket, and a mask resembling a raccoon dog. A Konoha-issued short sword was strapped to their back.

Pink hair fluttered in the mountain wind, and through the eyeholes of the mask, a faint glimmer of emerald could be seen.

This was merely a "child."

Yet upon seeing this "child," the man's face filled with terror. His fear was so extreme that he began panting heavily.

"Don't... don't kill me... I didn't do anything..."

"It was them... it was all those people who did it. I've never killed anyone... please, spare me..."

Tears and snot streamed down the man's face as his large body dropped to its knees without hesitation, desperately begging for his life.

Crack

The ninja blade behind the "child" was drawn, and its cold gleam sliced through the man's throat without hesitation.

At this moment, three figures dressed like the "child" appeared behind Tanuki.

"Not bad for Tanuki's first mission."

Tenzo praised Tanuki.

Three days had passed since she entered the Anbu, and this was Sakura's first mission.

It was a B-rank Mission. This mountain stronghold was full of bandits. Aside from their usual burglaries, robberies, and highway raids, they seemed to have ties to a Foreign Merchant Guild and were suspected of smuggling.

But Sakura understood that this mission was really meant to let her see blood.

A ninja's true nature was that of an assassin.

The client paid, and the ninja got the job done.

If a ninja's hands had never been stained with blood, they might as well go farm in the countryside.

"What are you thinking about?"

As the squad captain, Tenzo was not only fond of making snarky remarks, but was also relatively gentle and friendly.

"Nothing. I was thinking about who's behind this bandit gang."

Sakura shook her head slightly.

Since the mission briefing stated that these bandits were suspected of connections with a Foreign Merchant Guild, they must have had some means of contacting them.

Unfortunately, Tenzo had not assigned her to investigate the gang leader for intelligence.

"Don't overthink it. That's not something we should be worrying about."

Uzuki Yugao, codenamed Yugao, patted Sakura's shoulder in reminder.

"Let's go. It's Tanuki's first mission today. Once we're back in the village, I'll treat everyone to barbecue."

Tenzo glanced at Sakura in surprise. He had expected her to suffer some kind of physical discomfort after killing someone for the first time, but instead, she was thinking about whoever stood behind this mission.

Still, that was all for the better. He would not have to rack his brains trying to counsel a rookie ninja who had just graduated and been assigned here.

"As expected of the captain. So generous."

The last member of the squad was Namiashi Raidō, codenamed Black Blade.

In the original story, he had participated in the encirclement of one member of the Akatsuki Organization's Immortal Duo. He had fought Kakuzu before and, with Yamashiro Aoba's cover, slashed open Kakuzu's mask with a single strike.

He could be considered quite skilled.

Uzuki Yugao, meanwhile, excelled at swordsmanship and had mastered Konoha's Dance of the Crescent Moon. She was also both a Sensing type and a Medical Ninja.

She was an all-rounder.

Tenzo Yamato, Yugao Uzuki Yugao, and Black Blade Namiashi Raidō.

The Anbu squad Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged for Sakura to join was an exceptionally elite one.

As for seeing blood?

Sakura felt nothing.

Perhaps because she possessed everything Ninja War Sakura had, seeing blood seemed like something she had long since grown accustomed to.

Sakura understood that even the original Sakura, who looked like a lovestruck fool, and the optimistic, cheerful Naruto had definitely seen blood on their hands. The production team simply had not shown that part.

By the time they returned to Konoha, it was already close to noon.

Looking at Konoha Gate so close ahead, the eternal gate guards, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, had long since proudly taken up their posts.

Tenzo led his three teammates and leaped straight through Konoha Gate.

Izumo Kamizuki had intended to stop them as usual, but a kunai whistling through the air, with a pass attached to it, embedded itself directly in the gate.

The four of them ignored the two guards completely and sprang away, leaving behind nothing but their dashing silhouettes.

"These guys are unbelievable. Always showing off like this. So what if they're Anbu?"

Izumo Kamizuki stepped forward and, with some effort, pulled the kunai free. Looking at the fully authorized pass, he could not help but complain.

"Don't say that. At least we have more kunai than we could ever use."

"We could even make some money by taking them to the Ninja Tool Shop."

Kotetsu Hagane's train of thought was truly exceptional.

Sakura followed Tenzo and the other two as they sped across Konoha's rooftops.

However, when they passed a river, Sakura could not help glancing down a few extra times.

Why was that guy always sitting there with nothing better to do...

Naruto seemed to sense something. He instinctively turned back for a look, but found nothing.

"Did you run into someone you know?"

Uzuki Yugao, who was ahead of Sakura, seemed to notice her distraction and asked.

"I ran into a classmate from the Ninja Academy."

Hearing Sakura's words, Namiashi Raidō could not help joining in as well.

"Now that you mention it, Tanuki is a genius too."

"A ninja who graduated from the Ninja Academy at eight years old was rare even during wartime."

"The only one who might have been better than Tanuki was probably Hatake-senpai."

Anbu ninja were not as strict as everyone imagined. In reality, they were fairly relaxed.

At least in the original story, Uchiha Weasel had once swaggered around his home in full Anbu uniform.

It was just that the missions they carried out were somewhat unsavory.

"Kakashi-senpai?"

Since they had brought up the man who was supposed to become Team 7's teacher in the future, Sakura followed their lead.

"That's right, Kakashi—the one known as the Copy Ninja."

"He's an incredibly formidable man. If Tanuki gets the chance later, he should get to know him."

Seeing that they had started chatting, Tenzo spoke up.

"Alright, that's enough small talk."

"We're at the Hokage Building."

The missions carried out by the Anbu were not handled by the mission department; they reported directly to the Hokage.

Therefore, every mission report had to be delivered in person to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Tenzo led his three teammates without entering through the front entrance. Instead, they landed directly on the rooftop of the Hokage Building and entered from there.