"There's one more thing: as members of the Anbu, we never use our real names."
"Do you want to come up with your own codename, or use one assigned by the Anbu?"
Upon hearing this, Gekko Chizan immediately replied:
"Of course I want to choose my own."
"Anbu codenames sound terrible. We already have to wear masks—if I also get stuck with some ridiculously awful codename, I'll go crazy."
After speaking, Gekko Chizan began pondering his codename.
He soon had an idea.
He put on his mask, then said with clear satisfaction in his voice:
"From now on, I'm Number Six!"
Elephant looked confused, clearly not understanding, and repeated the name with a baffled expression.
"Number Six ? That's... not great."
"It's not even as good as the ones we usually come up with..."
If Gekko Chizan wasn't wearing a mask, he would've spat at him.
Don't talk nonsense when you don't get it! You're lucky you're on my side—otherwise, I'd make you understand the meaning behind the name 'Number Six '!
The two then leapt up onto the rooftops, ready to carry out their mission.
Just as Gekko Chizan landed on the roof, he sensed someone's gaze.
He looked down to see Pakura standing in the courtyard, watching him silently. Her lips moved slightly.
Although Pakura had joined the Hatake clan, she still lived with the Gekko family—after all, the Hatake house was pathetically small.
Only two rooms. There was simply no space for her.
Gekko Chizan read her lips, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly beneath the mask.
Then he dashed into the distance.
"Be careful… Stay safe…"
His heart was brimming with joy, and his hands itched for action. Sunagakure, huh?
Last time, Gekko Chizan had fled. But this time—Thousand Years of Death, coming right up!
...
Outside the gates of Konohagakure.
Elephant had brought Gekko Chizan to rendezvous.
Haru and Rinkaku had already been waiting for some time.
"Elephant, can we head out now?"
"Mm. I won't be going with you this time. This is the Anbu's newest member, Number Six."
"He'll be accompanying you on your missions from now on."
Number Six? Hearing this strange codename and looking at the cat-faced mask, Haru and Rinkaku felt a bit puzzled, but didn't object.
After all, anyone who joined the Anbu was an elite.
"Remember your mission: eliminate the Sunagakure ninja and retrieve the necessary intel."
"Go!"
With Elephant's command, Gekko Chizan and the other two headed for the borders of the Land of Fire.
Elephant watched their figures fade into the distance and murmured:
"Hokage-sama, Sakumo-sama… can he really take on the role of Anbu commander…?"
...
On the road, as they raced forward, Haru suddenly asked:
"First time teaming up—let's share our strengths. What are you good at?"
Haru and Rinkaku were both Anbu veterans. Like Elephant, they had served since the Third Hokage took office.
Haru's mask resembled a frog, with a green patch on top that gave off quite the impression.
Rinkaku's mask was a bit odd: a circular dot at the crown, two hawk heads drawn around the eyes, and an inverted triangle beneath each. Combined with his bald head, it all made the swordsman think of one word: bald!
Both carried swords on their backs.
"Me?"
"Stealth techniques, I suppose. I'm an intel-type ninja. Not great in direct combat."
Gekko Chizan certainly wasn't going to reveal his true strength—'stealth' would do just fine.
"Stealth techniques?"
Every village had unique jutsu, and many could conceal one's presence.
Like Kirigakure's Hidden Mist Technique, or Iwagakure's Rock Hiding Technique.
As for Konoha, its ninja typically used things like Disguise Jutsu, which relied on tools to hide oneself.
But this guy here… hmm...
Gekko Chizan had nothing on him except a backpack around his waist—so how exactly was he going to turn invisible?
Though curious, since he'd already explained himself, they didn't press further.
After all, Anbu members each had their own secrets—trump cards they never revealed.
"Alright then. When the time comes, you gather intel, and Rinkaku and I will do the fighting."
With roles assigned, the three picked up their pace and charged toward the border.
...
A day later, just after nightfall, in the Land of Rivers.
"Rasa-sama, we're nearly through the Land of Rivers."
"Mm… Once we're in the Land of Fire, keep low. Rescue Pakura, get the intel, and withdraw immediately."
The speaker had short brown hair and wore a black ninja uniform over mesh undergarments.
Notably, he had no eyebrows...
Behind him stood five Sunagakure jonin.
And Rasa himself, like Pakura, was an elite jonin. Deeply trusted by the Third Kazekage, he was the prime candidate to become the next Kazekage.
Their mission was to infiltrate Konoha and rescue Pakura, who had been captured earlier.
As a rare bloodline limit ninja, Sunagakure had never planned to abandon her.
However, Rasa had been away from the village at the time, and another elite jonin, Kemaki, had been injured—so the mission was delayed.
Suddenly, Rasa stopped walking. Under the watchful eyes of the other jonin, he crouched down and placed his hand on the ground.
"The closer we get to the Land of Fire, the richer the soil… The gold content beneath the rock layers is quite dense."
"Magen, mark this spot. I'll retrieve the gold on our way back."
Rasa also possessed a kekkei genkai—like the Third Kazekage, he could manipulate Gold Dust using Magnet Release.
Thanks to his presence, Sunagakure's recent situation had improved. After all, gold was valuable no matter where you went.
"Yes, Rasa-sama."
The jonin called Magen immediately marked the location, and the group continued toward the Land of Fire.
Both teams moved at impressive speeds.
Just as Gekko Chizan's team left the Land of Fire and entered the Land of Rivers, he spotted the targets using Insect Sight.
"Stop. I see them."
"We'll meet in one kilometer."
His words made Haru and Rinkaku halt instantly. Haru asked first:
"You sure?"
"Positive. My technique enhances my visual range. No way I'm wrong."
That wasn't the important part. What shocked Gekko Chizan was the person leading the enemy group—there weren't many eyebrow-less ninja in the world.
And this guy was the most troublesome of them all.
The future Fourth Kazekage—Rasa!
"No wonder Elephant sent you with us. So, you've got sensory-type jutsu too."
"Not bad, Number Six. I'm starting to like you more and more," Rinkaku said with a hint of delight. As combat types, he and Haru were clueless about sensing or stealth.
"How many are there?"
"Six. The leader has an enormous chakra presence."
Since they already assumed he was a sensory ninja, Gekko Chizan just went with the flow and shared the full situation.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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