ANBU Reserve

The windows of the Hokage's office stood open, and the April wind rushed in, making the documents on the desk rustle loudly. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, reached out to hold down the top sheet, pinning one corner with his pipe before raising his head to look at Senju Shinichi standing before the desk. His expression was very kind—kind enough to automatically set off Shinichi's internal alarm at yellow.

The last time the Third Hokage had looked at him like that was when he had handed him the sealed guardianship envelope atop Hokage Rock. Afterward, a group of ANBU had appeared near the orphanage—not to monitor him, but to protect him. Yet protection itself was also a kind of restraint. This time, the Third Hokage was looking at him with that same expression again, and there was now a blank ANBU Reserve application form on the desk.

"Shinichi." The Third Hokage removed his pipe and tapped the ash against the edge of the desk. "I've seen your performance at the Ninja Academy. You rank near the top of the class in theory, you can hold your own against Sasuke in taijutsu, and your shuriken technique can place three shuriken in an equilateral triangle on the same target—most genin might not master that even by graduation. Iruka Umino's assessment of you was, 'Too mature to seem like a six-year-old child.'" He put the pipe back in his mouth, took a drag, and slowly exhaled. "Would you be interested in ANBU Reserve training?"

Here it comes. Shinichi translated those words in his mind. What the Third Hokage meant was not, "I think you're exceptional, so I want to reward you." What he meant was, "You've attracted too much attention already. Rather than let Danzo's people keep watching you, I might as well place you within my own training system and give you an extra layer of protection." It was a well-intentioned trap. The goodwill was real, and so was the trap. ANBU Reserve training was a fast track into Konoha's core system. Accepting it meant earlier access to advanced ninjutsu, more powerful instructors, and better resources—but it also inevitably meant stricter tracking of his movements, more frequent mission assignments, and more paperwork. His freedom to act at night would be compressed until it was almost nonexistent. The plan to clear out Root's outer perimeter, his regular visits to the Senju Ruins, his continued cultivation of Slug Sage Art chakra—all of it could not be carried out openly under the identity of an "ANBU Reserve member."

He needed a reason to refuse. He could not simply say, "I don't want to be bound by the system"—that would make the Third Hokage question his loyalty. Nor could he claim, "I'm not qualified"—given the strength he had displayed so far, that kind of modesty would be too fake. The best reasons were "schoolwork" and "not being able to leave Naruto behind."

Shinichi lowered his head, adopting a serious, slightly hesitant tone. He added a suitable stretch of sincere silence, waiting until the smoke the Third Hokage exhaled had slowly drifted up to the ceiling before speaking.

"Lord Third, I'm very grateful for your trust. But I'd like to finish the Ninja Academy's basic curriculum first. Naruto has only recently gotten the hang of chakra control, and I just added Shadow Clone water-walking practice to his training. If I enter the ANBU Reserve now, my training time will be greatly reduced, and his progress might fall behind."

After a pause, he added, "Besides, I don't think my current strength is stable enough yet. Last time, when I was practicing Wind Release by myself at the training grounds, I nearly sliced through the clothesline behind the orphanage. The matron chased me through two streets while scolding me. I want to spend some more time strengthening my foundations."

The Third Hokage did not respond immediately after hearing that. He merely held the pipe in his mouth and took a drag as smoke slowly dispersed through the air. Through that smoke, a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes—not the smile of someone who had been persuaded, but the smile of someone thinking, As expected, that's how he'd answer.

"Iruka mentioned the clothesline incident to me. He said you controlled yourself perfectly in taijutsu class, so you shouldn't have cut through a clothesline." The Third Hokage set down his pipe and added in a calm tone, "So you're being polite with me."

Shinichi's heart skipped a beat, but his expression did not change in the slightest. The Third Hokage did not press the matter—he clearly had no intention of exposing the boy's little calculations. He put the ANBU Reserve application form into a drawer, picked up his pipe again, rose to his feet, and walked to the window.

"Very well. It won't be too late to enter the ANBU after your foundation is solid. But remember one thing—you're now directly under the Hokage. Danzo's Root won't stop watching you simply because you don't join the ANBU. There have been quite a few personnel changes at their hidden post in the southeastern corner of the village lately. They're most likely investigating what happened before. Be careful."

Shinichi nodded slightly. The Third Hokage was giving him intelligence—not interrogating him, but protecting him. That goodwill made him feel somewhat guilty, though not very much. What he was hiding from the Third Hokage was not a betrayal of Konoha; he was clearing away the parasites attached to Konoha. The things the Third Hokage could not do openly as Hokage, he would do instead. Though this division of labor had never been discussed outright, the Third Hokage probably understood as well—a Senju Clan descendant who could slip out of the orphanage in the middle of the night and still come back alive could not possibly be an ordinary, obedient student.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Shinichi did not return directly to the orphanage. Instead, he took a detour to Ichiraku Ramen. When he lifted the curtain, Naruto was already sitting in the corner of the counter, waving at him with three empty bowls stacked before him. Seeing Shinichi enter, Teuchi smiled and said, "You came alone today? Naruto's been waiting for you for half an hour." Shinichi sat beside Naruto and ordered a bowl of clear-broth ramen. Naruto asked eagerly whether he had gone to see Grandpa Third again and whether he was going to be promoted to special jonin. Shinichi separated his chopsticks and calmly said no, he had only reported on their training progress, and Naruto was still far from ready. Naruto immediately raised his chopsticks in protest and declared that he would add extra training tonight, only for Shinichi to push them back down—first, pay for the ramen he owed. Naruto turned out every pocket he had, and with Shinichi making up the difference, they barely scraped together enough money for four bowls of ramen.

As they were leaving, Shinichi took something from his pocket and handed it to Naruto, saying, "Lord Third had someone bring this to you." Naruto took it and opened it. It was a free Ichiraku Ramen voucher stamped with the Hokage's seal. Naruto was so excited while holding the voucher that he nearly used water-walking on the spot. Shinichi had to grab him by the back of the collar and drag him out of the ramen shop before he could kick over one of the stools.

Back at the orphanage, lying on his hard wooden bed, he opened his notebook and added a line beside the record sheet for the silent period: "ANBU Reserve temporarily postponed. The Third Hokage has turned his attention toward Root's hidden post in the southeast. During the silent period, conduct and behavior should remain that of a normal student. Daily training with Naruto and Sasuke must continue." Moonlight filtered through a hole in the window, landing on the Hokage's direct subordination badge by his pillow and reflecting a small patch of silvery-white light. He reached out and flipped the badge over, leaving its back facing upward.

There was still plenty of time, but every choice was defining his place in the future.