Time rewound a little.
Under Konoha's midday sun, the sunlight was just right, hot enough to burn the backs of people's necks.
Gekko Hayate was leading an ANBU squad back toward Konoha from the outskirts of its forest.
No one spoke along the way. The surrounding forest was silent, save for wave after wave of midday cicada cries.
Boot soles crushed dry leaves. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, scattering broken shadows across the ground.
They had set out early that morning, first performing their routine maintenance on the barrier around the forest's perimeter.
After the Third's orders came down, patrols like these had gone from once every few days to once a day.
Ever since incidents such as Orochimaru entering and leaving Konoha had occurred recently, the Third had placed great importance on the matter.
Half the village had heard the commotion that day.
What was more, the person who had driven Orochimaru back with his own hands was the student Gekko Hayate himself had trained all this time.
It was just that this student worried a little too much about other people.
Behind his ANBU mask, Gekko Hayate sighed softly and quickened his pace toward Konoha.
After returning and reporting on their mission, the group went back to their little room to remove their equipment.
Only after taking off their equipment did they look like ordinary ninja again.
Masks were hung on the wall one by one. The little room smelled of sweat and leather.
Gekko Hayate locked his last piece of equipment in the cabinet. Just as he was about to leave, a square-faced ANBU member beside him lightly patted his shoulder.
"Hayate, how's that kid been doing with you lately?"
He took off his ANBU uniform as he looked at Gekko Hayate.
Instantly, the entire ANBU changing