Anbu Mission

In the early morning training ground, only Uchiha Yatsuhashi remained.

Might Guy, who would usually sweat alongside Yatsuhashi while shouting about "youth," was currently leading his squad on a mission to suppress bandits.

Uchiha Yatsuhashi braced one hand against the ground, performing handstand push-ups.

Unlike the struggle of the past, his movements were now fluid and effortless, each repetition carrying a steady, rhythmic cadence.

Today, he had not only easily shattered the record of one hundred previously held by Might Guy, but had even switched supporting arms in the brief moment his body was suspended in the air.

It was not until he completed the one hundred and first repetition that he finally stopped and stood up, feeling the surging power within his body.

Ever since he awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, the chakra within him had quietly climbed to the level of an average jonin.

Furthermore, even without relying on his ocular prowess, his taijutsu and control over his own strength had improved significantly.

Is this... the current me?

Uchiha Yatsuhashi whispered to himself, clenching his fist as he savored the strength coursing through his veins.

He did not finish his training until the sun began to dip in the west, at which point he headed toward the district.

The familiar pancake shop was as bustling as ever, the laughter of patrons and the aroma of food drifting together on the evening breeze.

But upon stepping inside, Uchiha Yatsuhashi paused slightly.

Anko Mitarashi, who should have been teaching at the Ninja Academy, was currently wearing a clean apron and working busily beside Uchiha Uruchi.

Though her movements were somewhat clumsy, her expression was focused as she delivered steaming plates of Okonomiyaki to the customers' tables.

Ever since she returned from her mission and was assigned to teach at the Ninja Academy, she would come to the shop to help whenever she had free time.

This was the place where she felt most at ease after escaping the shadow of Orochimaru.

"Yo, you're back!"

Uchiha Uruchi nudged Uchiha Yatsuhashi, who was wiping away sweat, with her elbow and gestured toward Anko Mitarashi.

The meaning in her eyes could not have been more obvious.

"Why aren't you going to help? Anko Mitarashi comes here every day; her heart is clearly set on this place!"

Anko Mitarashi lifted her eyes inadvertently, and the moment their gazes met, her cheeks flushed slightly.

She immediately feigned composure and handed a steaming plate of Okonomiyaki to the customer in front of her.

Uchiha Yatsuhashi sighed helplessly.

At this moment, he truly had neither the heart nor the energy to accept such tender affection.

He could only walk silently into the back kitchen to help Uchiha Tesho carry the heavy sacks of flour.

Watching her son's silent back, then looking at the bright yet slightly shy Anko Mitarashi in the shop, Uchiha Uruchi let out a heavy sigh, muttering in a voice only she could hear:

"Silly boy... where else are you going to find a girl as good as her..."

Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze had specifically granted Uchiha Yatsuhashi three days to adjust his state of mind.

Therefore, on the morning of the fourth day, just as the eastern sky began to pale, Uchiha Yatsuhashi arrived at the assembly point for Anbu Team 6.

As the elite force directly under the Hokage, the Anbu maintained a strict organizational structure.

The Anbu Captain oversaw four squads, and each squad was divided into four teams, keeping the total headcount at around seventy members.

Aside from their team leader, Kakashi Hatake, the other member of Anbu Team 6 was already waiting there.

As soon as Uchiha Yatsuhashi arrived, he felt the unconcealed rejection in the gaze of Sano Yuji.

Sano Yuji crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. "Yo, isn't this the special genin of the Uchiha Clan?"

Sano Yuji deliberately raised his volume, his voice sounding particularly grating in the silent forest.

"Special Genin, if you dare to drag me down during a mission, I won't be the one to save you."

Facing this show of force, Uchiha Yatsuhashi remained calm and did not respond.

"Hey, newbie!"

Seeing him ignore him, Sano Yuji deliberately stepped forward, pressing a kunai against Uchiha Yatsuhashi's chest.

"I'm talking to you! Are all you people from the Uchiha Clan so arrogant?"

This time, Uchiha Yatsuhashi did not back down.

He struck suddenly, moving at a speed the other could not react to, and snatched the kunai from Sano Yuji's hand.

"Now, who is the one dragging whom down?"

Sano Yuji looked at his empty hand, his heart filled with irritation.

The conflict between the two was on the verge of erupting.

"Yuji."

An unquestionable voice cut in.

Kakashi Hatake had appeared beside them at some point.

"This is Anbu assembly time, not a place for you to settle personal grudges."

Kakashi yawned, "If you want to spar, do it after the mission. By then, don't say I didn't warn you—this guy's eyes... are the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."

Sano Yuji's shoulders stiffened; he was clearly wary of Kakashi's words. He snorted coldly, glared fiercely at Uchiha Yatsuhashi one last time, and then reluctantly stepped aside.

"Three-Tomoe Sharingan, is he as strong as the Captain?"

Kakashi thought back to the strange sensation in his left eye after locking gazes with Uchiha Yatsuhashi that one time. He pondered for a moment, his voice very soft, "Possibly."

These two light words shook Sano Yuji to his core. After all, Kakashi was the top expert in the Anbu; for him to give such an evaluation, it was clear that Uchiha Yatsuhashi's strength was equally formidable. This only made Sano Yuji feel even more displeased.

"Hmph, arrogant guy."

Kakashi did not dwell on the matter, simply and concisely explaining the rules and structure of the Anbu to Uchiha Yatsuhashi. He then told Uchiha Yatsuhashi to choose a mask.

Uchiha Yatsuhashi walked over to the box where the masks were piled and scanned them. Finally, he picked up an Eagle Mask with a prominent design. The only reason he chose this mask was that he felt it would be more convenient to speak while wearing it, and it wouldn't fog up.

Seeing that Uchiha Yatsuhashi had chosen his mask, Kakashi spoke up.

"Let's go. The Hokage has a mission to assign us personally."

Inside the Hokage's office, the light was bright. Minato Namikaze stood behind the massive Hokage desk, his golden hair shimmering in the morning sun. He looked at the three who had entered, a gentle smile on his face.

"Kakashi, Sano Yuji."

Minato's gaze fell on the last person, "And... Uchiha Yatsuhashi. Welcome to the team."

He then brought out a map in front of everyone, with many villages and towns marked on it. Minato's smile faded as he pointed his finger at one of the circled locations.

"The mission is simple."

"Over the past three months, bizarre child disappearances have occurred in several villages and towns within the Land of Fire. According to the latest Anbu intelligence summary, the missing children may be related to the missing-nin Orochimaru."

"Orochimaru?!"

Upon hearing that name, the expressions of the three changed in different ways. Uchiha Yatsuhashi's heart tightened sharply. He had not expected his first Anbu mission to be related to Orochimaru. Was this a coincidence, or a test?

"Yatsuhashi." Minato's voice pulled him back to his senses.

Yatsuhashi quickly stood straight, his voice slightly tight, "Hokage."

"For this mission, you don't need to carry any psychological burden."

Minato looked at him, his tone sincere, "Orochimaru's defection is not your fault."

Hearing this, Uchiha Yatsuhashi visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"The goal of your mission this time is to find and bring back those missing children..."

Once Minato finished explaining the mission objective, the three of them said in unison, "Yes! Hokage!"

Minato nodded slightly, "Go."

Yatsuhashi and the others accepted the mission and rushed toward the nearest village where children had gone missing without a moment's delay.