At another time, at ANBU.
"These hundred promising recruits came from the Ninja Academy and the Experimental School," Orochimaru said, holding a list as he watched Hiruzen's eyes shine at the hundred people behind him.
"Only eighty of them can follow the plan and learn everything, though. Twenty are from the Hyuga Clan. Their clan leader instructed them to learn only sniper rifles in depth and get a basic grasp of everything else. From now on, the Hyuga Clan will specialize in sniping and taijutsu," Orochimaru continued.
"Huh? Is that so? Well, that might work too. ANBU needs twenty excellent snipers. Oh, right, Orochimaru, wasn't Uncle Kakuzu supposed to bring them today? Why are you here instead?" Hiruzen drew his gaze back and nodded happily.
"Uncle Kakuzu is in the hospital, so I came in his place. I'll leave them with you, Hiruzen. I still have experiments to run." Orochimaru handed Hiruzen the list, then turned and left.
Next, Hiruzen looked at the hundred recruits and pulled a speech from behind his back.
"In response to the call of Lord Danzo, the Third..."
"Where leaves dance, fire will surely burn. The firelight will illuminate the village, and leaves will sprout anew..."
"In accordance with the proposal regarding ANBU put forward by Representative Dave at the twenty-first Great Hokage Conference..."
"We shall resolutely follow in the Hokage's footsteps..."
This time, Hiruzen got to experience Danzo's joy himself. His speech had him positively fired up...
The students below were nodding off...
"That monkey hopping around up there... is he really our ANBU director?" one student asked doubtfully.
"No idea, but he probably is. Look at that arm covered in bandages. Yeah, he must be an old veteran," another student said with a nod.
"Is it a lingering effect of the battlefield? Teacher