"Hmm, you've been in the ANBU for five years now, haven't you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a faint smile.
Baiji paused briefly, then nodded.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
He was a little puzzled. Wasn't this supposed to be a mission briefing?
Why bring up these things?
"You should be seventeen this year, correct?"
At that, Baiji nodded again.
Now he was confused. Why was Lord Hokage asking him these questions?
None of them sounded remotely related to a mission!
But when he heard the next sentence, his entire body jolted.
"The ANBU still needs a squad leader. How about you take the position?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said solemnly.
His eyes remained fixed on the young man before him, watching his reaction.
An ANBU squad leader?
Baiji's first impulse was to refuse, but then he remembered that this was Lord Hokage's order.
That thought made him hesitate.
He looked up at the figure above him, only to meet the seated Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.
His expression froze, and he quickly averted his gaze.
After considering it carefully, he finally accepted.
"Thank you for recognizing my abilities, Lord Hokage..."
"Mm..." Seeing his response, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Starting tomorrow, you'll be a squad leader in Konoha's ANBU."
"Keep these credentials safe." He handed over the package he had prepared.
"Yes..." Baiji accepted the package with a sense of trepidation.
After putting it away securely, he said solemnly, "From now on, I will fulfill my duties as an ANBU squad leader."
"Hahaha, just what I'd expect from one of Konoha's rising talents!" Seeing how decisively he acted, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave him an approving look.
"Since you're a squad leader now, you won't need to continue the mission to hunt down the rogue ninja."
"I'll assign someone else to carry it out," Hiruzen Sarutobi