Anbu Reporting In!

The next day, Jiogan and the other eleven waited neatly on the rooftop platform of the Hokage Building. Looking up, they could see the stone faces of the Hokage from the First to the Third.

Everyone had arrived early. After all, this was the Chunin appointment ceremony. They all took it seriously and eagerly anticipated the moment they would put on their Chunin Flak Jackets!

At nine in the morning, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and several staff members appeared on the rooftop platform.

Seeing the Third Hokage, everyone dropped to one knee in respect. Hiruzen Sarutobi told them to rise, then delivered an impassioned speech.

Something about how they had become Konoha's backbone, how they had to protect Konoha's budding leaves, burn themselves into nourishment for the great tree that was Konoha, and how wherever Konoha's leaves danced, fire would burn on forever—brainwashing rhetoric like that.

After the formalities, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the staff a look. One of them stepped forward, holding a wooden board bearing Chunin Appointment Letters and Chunin Flak Jackets.

"From this moment onward, you are Konoha's Chunin. Please accept your appointment letters and flak jackets!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

They all accepted them, their faces bright with joy. Jiogan's lips curled up as well. After seeing Konoha flak jackets for so long in his previous life, he finally had one of his own.

After everyone had put on their flak jackets, they once again knelt before Hiruzen Sarutobi on one knee.

"Konoha's future belongs to you. Go and welcome the new chapter that belongs to you! Dismissed!" With that, the appointment ceremony officially ended, and everyone dispersed.

The future belongs to us? For the next thirty-plus years, Konoha's future will all be yours! Jiogan could not help mocking inwardly.

Jiogan looked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi. Sensing his gaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi met his eyes. He nodded at Jiogan, then left the rooftop platform and returned to his office.

"Jiogan, let's go!" Kurama Feiyun said, nudging his arm. The two left the rooftop platform together.

"When will Jiogan-kun report to the Anbu?" Kurama Feiyun asked.

As they walked down Konoha's streets, Jiogan watched the villagers look at their flak jackets with respect and found the feeling strangely interesting.

Unfortunately, he could only enjoy it for a few hours that morning. "I'm going this afternoon," Jiogan replied.

"Huh? This afternoon? So soon?" Kurama Feiyun was clearly reluctant to part with him.

"Feiyun, becoming a Chunin means taking on more responsibility. Being unable to do as you please is normal. The only right path is to grow stronger!" Jiogan said.

"I know, but when I think about you going in there and carrying out dangerous missions, I get worried. I'm so scared!" Kurama Feiyun said.

Jiogan patted Kurama Feiyun's head. "Feiyun, didn't I tell you yesterday? I'll tie my head to my belt and make sure it's fastened tight! Don't worry!"

"You need to study Medical Ninjutsu properly too. If I ever get seriously injured in the future, you'll have to save me yourself!" Jiogan said.

"Mm-hmm! I'll work hard at practicing Medical Ninjutsu!" Kurama Feiyun said.

"And don't neglect your genjutsu training either. Strength is the foundation. You should hide your genjutsu beneath the identity of a medical ninja. That way, even if something unexpected happens, you'll have enough strength to deal with it!" Jiogan added.

They passed the Three-color Dango Shop, where Jiogan bought two servings of Three-color Dango. They ate as they walked and chatted for a long time, both feeling much better. After seeing Kurama Feiyun home, Jiogan returned home alone.

After showing his mother, Jiogan returned to his room, took off his Chunin Flak Jacket, folded it neatly, and placed it together with his Chunin Appointment Letter in a box. Then, from a cabinet deep in the room, he took out his father Takoyakiwan's battered Chunin Flak Jacket and stared at it in a daze.

Father, I'm a Chunin now too. You always hoped I would become a better ninja than you. I'll do it! I'll become Konoha's strongest ninja! Jiogan thought.

Putting away his father's belongings, Jiogan placed his own Chunin Flak Jacket and appointment letter beside them, then shut the cabinet door.

Jiogan walked to the window and looked out over Konoha's streets. It's time for the next step in my Ninja Career! Anbu! I'm really looking forward to it!

At two in the afternoon, Jiogan arrived at an entrance within the Hokage Building. An Anbu Ninja dressed in a black robe and wearing a mask appeared and stopped him.

"Stop. This is not a place you should be," the Anbu Ninja said.

Jiogan took out the Anbu Appointment Scroll given to him by the Third Hokage and handed it to the Anbu Ninja blocking his way.

After confirming it, the Anbu Ninja stepped aside. "Please enter."

Jiogan took back the scroll, passed through the entrance, and followed the passageway deep underground beneath the Hokage Building. It was extremely spacious, far larger than he had imagined. Yet it was not dark at all; instead, it was brightly lit.

"You're Jiogan, right? Come over here. The captain is waiting for you!" an Anbu Ninja wearing a Cat Mask called to Jiogan.

Jiogan hurried over, followed behind him, and entered an office.

The moment he entered, he saw a simple layout similar to the Hokage's Office, though the desk and chairs were much smaller.

Inside the office, a masked figure sat behind the desk. "Director, I've brought him," the Anbu Ninja in the Cat Mask said.

The seated figure nodded. "You've done well. You may leave now."

The Anbu Ninja in the Cat Mask bowed and left the office.

"Jiogan, I am the director of the Anbu, Hatake Sakumo!" the masked ninja said.

"What!? You're Lord Sakumo!" Jiogan was incredibly surprised. He had assumed an Anbu squad captain would arrange his assignment, never expecting Hatake Sakumo, the director of the Anbu, to handle it personally.

After recovering from his shock, Jiogan dropped to one knee. "Lord Sakumo, forgive my rudeness! I have long heard of your deeds, so I was greatly surprised to meet you!"

Hatake Sakumo removed his mask and told Jiogan to rise. Looking at the man before him, Jiogan saw an undeniably younger, handsome version of Kakashi without a face mask.

"Jiogan, you will join my direct unit as my subordinate!" Hatake Sakumo said.

Jiogan froze. He had never expected to be placed directly in the director's personal unit. Only Konoha's most elite and loyal ninjas were qualified to enter it! They were the sharpest blade in the Hokage's hand! They answered only to the Hokage and the director! He had not expected Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hatake Sakumo to value him so highly!

After snapping out of it, Jiogan hurriedly replied, "Yes, Lord Sakumo. It is my honor to join your direct unit!" With that, he bowed deeply.

"I'll show you the basics of the Anbu!" With that, Hatake Sakumo led Jiogan out of the office and took him on a tour of the Anbu Base.

"The Anbu currently has eight divisions, each with eight to ten members. Aside from my direct unit, every division has a captain and vice-captain. Each division specializes in a particular field—assassination, infiltration, protection, and so on."

"My direct unit, however, is proficient in every field. We are Konoha's sharpest blade!" Hatake Sakumo said.

After the tour, Hatake Sakumo brought Jiogan back to the office and tapped the Hidden Compartment on the desk. The wall immediately flipped over, revealing a passageway!

Hatake Sakumo led Jiogan into the passageway. Beyond it were several spacious rooms connected to the outside. "This is the Rest Area and standby room for my direct unit. When there are no missions, the squad members remain here on standby!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two figures appeared—one wearing an Ox Mask and the other a Dog Mask. "Director!" The two bowed in greeting.

"This is Kaze, and this is Okami!" Hatake Sakumo introduced them to Jiogan.

"Every Anbu member chooses a personal mask and codename. Go ahead and choose yours!" With that, he led Jiogan to the wall of the Rest Area, which was covered in masks.

Jiogan's gaze swept across the masks on the wall before settling on a Fish Mask. It looked a little like Benbo Ba and Ba Bo Ben from Journey to the West—ugly, but cute.

"I'll take this one!" Jiogan reached out, took down the Fish Mask, and put it on.

Hatake Sakumo handed him an Anbu Combat Uniform and a black robe. Jiogan quickly changed in the Rest Area. Now hidden deep beneath the black robe with only the Fish Mask exposed, no one would recognize him as Jiogan!

"What about your codename? Have you decided on one?" Hatake Sakumo asked.

"My codename will be Ame!" Jiogan said.

From that day onward, the Konoha Anbu Ninja codenamed "Ame" made his appearance in the Ninja World!