ANBU special training

The ANBU underground base.

Lin Ze stood in a corner, quietly observing.

Just then, an icy voice sounded behind him. "Newcomer?"

Lin Ze was startled, but he kept his composure. Turning around, he saw that an ANBU candidate wearing the same kind of tanuki mask had appeared behind him at some point.

"Candidate number 567. I just reported in today," Lin Ze answered calmly.

The tanuki-masked candidate studied him for a moment, then suddenly said, "I hear you're the only one in this intake recruited straight from the Ninja Academy?"

Lin Ze paused, not expecting word to have spread so quickly, then nodded. "That's right."

"Interesting." The tanuki-masked candidate's voice remained icy. "I hope you make it through the first month. ANBU isn't a place for children to play house."

Without waiting for Lin Ze to respond, he turned and left.

Lin Ze watched him go, frowning slightly.

Looks like not everyone in ANBU is cold and heartless. At least there are people who show this kind of 'concern' for newcomers...

But I could do without this kind of intimidating concern.

Lin Ze grumbled inwardly, but he also remembered the number on the tanuki-masked candidate's back-369.

After making a circuit of the training area, Lin Ze also visited the library and medical area.

The ANBU library housed a large collection of advanced Ninjutsu scrolls and tactical materials, but most sections had restricted access for candidates.

The medical area's equipment was clearly more advanced and comprehensive than that of the village hospital.

The resources really are plentiful... If I can use them properly, this would be a good place to improve my strength quickly, Lin Ze thought.

Toward evening, Lin Ze followed his instructions to the candidates' dormitory area.

His room was a small but fully equipped single, with a bed, a wardrobe, and a small desk.

"Phew-"

Lin Ze sat down on the bed, removed his mask, and let out a long breath.

His first day in ANBU had given him much to reflect on.

The atmosphere here was oppressive and efficient. Everyone seemed to treat themselves as tools rather than human beings.

On the other hand, the resources and opportunities here truly far surpassed those outside.

I can use the resources here to improve myself, but I absolutely have to stay true to myself. I can't let this environment mold me into one of them...

I also have to watch out for Danzo's hidden agents...

Lin Ze lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling as various thoughts passed through his mind.

One step at a time.

First, I'll get through the assessment period and become a full ANBU member.

At five fifty the next morning, Lin Ze arrived at Training Area One on time.

About two hundred candidates had already gathered there, forming a dense crowd. All wore standard-issue tanuki masks and black training clothes, standing silently in the center of the grounds. No one spoke.

Judging by their builds and behavior, most of these candidates were between fifteen and eighteen, considerably older than Lin Ze.

The occasional younger-looking ones were probably around twelve.

As the youngest, Lin Ze stood quietly at the rear of a line near the edge like a lowly lackey, secretly observing his future "colleagues."

Looks like I really am the youngest in this intake, Lin Ze thought.

However, Lin Ze noticed that all the numbers in this training ground ranged from 401 to 600. He did not see number 369, whom he had met yesterday, either.

It seemed they had probably been divided into different areas. Those with earlier numbers had probably entered ANBU earlier and were stronger.

At six sharp, three ANBU instructors wearing different animal masks appeared at the front of the training ground, right on time.

The instructor in the middle, who wore a hawk mask, stepped forward, swept his gaze over the candidates present, and said icily:

"I am your head instructor, codename Hawk. From today onward, I will be responsible for your overall training arrangements."

He pointed at the instructor wearing a leopard mask on his left.

"This is your Taijutsu and assassination techniques instructor, codename Leopard."

Then he pointed at the instructor wearing an owl mask on his right.

"This is your stealth, reconnaissance, and counter-reconnaissance instructor, codename Fukurou."

"During the training ahead, you will have only numbers, no names. Every training requirement must be followed strictly. No questioning or slacking will be permitted. Those who violate discipline will receive punishment for minor offenses and immediate dismissal for serious ones. Understood?"

"Understood!" everyone answered in unison.

Lin Ze shouted along with them, while silently assessing the instructors' strength:

This Hawk gives me a particularly strong sense of pressure. He's almost certainly an Elite Jōnin. The other two should also be at Jōnin level. It looks like they specifically selected people skilled in the relevant fields to train us.

After Instructor Hawk's brief address, there was no further idle talk. The first training exercise began immediately-stealth and reconnaissance.

"Group one, numbers 401 through 420, step forward!" Instructor Leopard called in a cold, stern voice.

Twenty candidates quickly stepped forward, then were led to a special training ground that simulated a jungle environment. Various obstacles, traps, and concealed observation posts had been set up throughout the grounds.

"Mission requirements: sneak from the starting point to the finish within ten minutes without being spotted by the five reconnaissance ninja in the field. Anyone spotted is immediately eliminated," Instructor Fukurou explained. "We will score you based on your speed, concealment, and performance in dealing with reconnaissance."

Lin Ze's number was 567, putting him in the ninth group.

The five reconnaissance ninja in the field were all experienced, full-fledged ANBU members with keen senses, and their observation posts were positioned in particularly tricky spots.

Very few people in the preceding groups passed. Most candidates were caught midway through.

"Group nine, numbers 561 through 580, step forward!"

Before long, it was Lin Ze's group's turn.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Ze followed the group into the training ground.

"Begin!"

At the command, all twenty scattered without the slightest hesitation, each choosing a route toward the finish.

Lin Ze did not rush forward. A short distance into the training ground, he first lay low where he was and began observing carefully.

Thanks to the enhanced vision granted by the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, he could clearly see the distant reconnaissance ninja's positions and even the angles of their gazes despite the dim light.

Although this ability to see at night was usually of little use, it became a tremendous advantage at this moment.

Lying on the ground, Lin Ze frowned slightly. There were two observation posts in the trees ahead to his left, a trap in the grass down to his right, and a reconnaissance ninja directly ahead.

After watching for a while, Lin Ze finally figured out the rhythm of that reconnaissance ninja's movements. He turned his head roughly once every fifteen seconds.

After confirming again that the only reconnaissance ninja nearby was the one directly ahead, Lin Ze set off immediately.

Whoosh!!

Whoosh!!

Taking advantage of the blind spot created when the reconnaissance ninja looked in another direction, Lin Ze moved swiftly, light and nimble as a cat.

Then he hid again before the ninja's gaze returned. Repeating this process, he finally made it past the checkpoint before him.

That was close. I almost got spotted.

Lin Ze lay in a patch of grass, panting slightly. He was not actually good at these stealth exercises. His style relied on broad, sweeping movements and was better suited to direct confrontation.

Fortunately, as a Taijutsu ninja, he had extremely precise control over his body and exceptionally fast reactions, allowing him to scrape through this first checkpoint.

But there had been several moments when the reconnaissance ninja's gaze had almost swept over the grass where Lin Ze was hiding. Fortunately, his perfect concealment had kept him from being spotted.