Chapter 30: Codename – Mountain Tanuki
Name: Haruno Sakura
Shinobi ID: 012601
Position: Current Member of ANBU Squad Three
Codename: Mountain Tanuki
Night
Flames surged upward as the mountain wind howled.
A dilapidated mountain stronghold wailed under the fire's assault, and in the chaos, vague silhouettes of people could be seen struggling within the inferno.
Suddenly, a figure dashed out from the blaze, wrapped head to toe in a damp quilt, stumbling in panic from the burning compound.
But he hadn't made it far before a small figure appeared abruptly before him.
Panting heavily, the man froze as he saw the person blocking his path.
Clad in the standard black ANBU uniform and a black-gray flak jacket, a small person stood with a distinctive tanuki mask covering their face. A short sword unique to Konoha was strapped to their back.
Pale pink hair fluttered in the mountain breeze. Through the slits in the mask, a faint glimmer of green eyes could just be seen.
A child—it was merely a child.
Yet when the man saw this "child," his face twisted in horror. He gasped for air as fear consumed him.
"Please… don't kill me… I didn't do anything…"
"It was them… they did everything, I never killed anyone, I swear… please, let me live…"
Tears and snot ran down his face as the man, despite his strong build, dropped to his knees without hesitation, begging desperately for mercy.
Crack.
The blade on the child's back was drawn in one smooth motion. A flash of cold steel sliced cleanly through his throat.
The moment the man collapsed, three more figures dressed identically appeared behind the masked child known as "Mountain Tanuki."
"Not bad for a first mission, Mountain Tanuki."
Tenzo, the team leader, praised Sakura.
Three days had passed since she'd joined the ANBU. This was her very first assignment.
A B-rank mission. The stronghold had been overrun with bandits—murderers, thieves, and rumored affiliates of an overseas trade syndicate involved in smuggling.
But Sakura understood the real reason behind this mission—it was meant to let her taste blood.
At its core, the role of a shinobi was that of a killer.
A client pays, and the shinobi delivers.
If a ninja never stained their hands with blood, they might as well settle down in the countryside to farm.
"What are you thinking about?" Tenzo asked casually.
As squad captain, he had a penchant for sarcasm but was generally kind and easygoing.
"Nothing," Sakura replied softly. "Just wondering who's behind this group of bandits."
Since the mission details included their connection to a foreign trading group, it was evident that someone on the outside had to be pulling strings. Sakura was disappointed that Tenzo hadn't assigned her to interrogate the leader for intel.
"That's not something we should be thinking about," said Nightingale—codename for Yugao Uzuki—as she gently patted Sakura's shoulder.
"Come on. Since it's Mountain Tanuki's first mission, I'm treating everyone to grilled meat when we get back."
Tenzo raised an eyebrow at Sakura. He'd expected a first-time killer to show signs of distress—nausea, guilt, hesitation. Instead, she was calmly analyzing the mission's deeper implications.
That was a relief. He wouldn't need to spend time counseling this new recruit, fresh out of the academy.
"No wonder you're the team captain—so generous," said the final member of the team, codenamed Black Blade—Raido Namiashi.
In the original story, Raido was part of the team that confronted the immortal duo of the Akatsuki. He had fought Kakuzu and, alongside Aoba Yamashiro, managed to damage Kakuzu's mask with a coordinated strike. A solid shinobi in his own right.
Yugao Uzuki was known for her kenjutsu and mastery of the Three Moon Dance. She was also both a sensory-type and a medical-nin—an all-around utility powerhouse.
Tenzo (Yamato), Yugao (Nightingale), and Raido (Black Blade)—a truly elite ANBU squad. It was no exaggeration to say that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had placed Sakura in an elite unit.
As for drawing blood?
Sakura felt… nothing.
Perhaps it was because she now carried the memories and experiences of the war-hardened Sakura from the future. Bloodshed seemed familiar—routine, even.
Sakura understood something most didn't: even the cheerful Naruto and fangirl version of her younger self had likely seen blood. The original anime just never showed those scenes.
By the time they returned to Konoha, it was nearly noon.
As the group approached the village gates, the ever-reliable gate guards—Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane—were already at their posts.
Tenzo led his team straight toward the gate at high speed.
Kotetsu prepared to perform the usual checks, but before he could say a word, a kunai flew through the air with a whistle and embedded itself into the gate. Attached to it was an authorization scroll.
The four figures ignored the startled guards and leapt through the gate, leaving only the sight of their backs against the wind.
"Seriously? They always have to show off like that. Just because they're ANBU…"
Kotetsu grumbled as he walked over and carefully pulled the kunai from the wood, examining the scroll.
"Well, at least we're collecting a lot of free kunai lately," Izumo added. "We could sell some to the tool shop and make a decent profit."
Sakura followed Tenzo and the others as they darted across the rooftops of Konoha with practiced speed.
They passed over a small river, and as they did, Sakura's eyes lingered for a moment.
Why is that guy always sitting there doing nothing?
Down by the river, Naruto sat idly on the bank. As if sensing something, he glanced over his shoulder—but saw no one.
"Did you see someone you know?"
Yugao, running ahead of her, noticed Sakura's momentary distraction.
"Just a classmate from the Academy," Sakura replied casually.
Upon hearing that, Raido joined the conversation.
"Come to think of it, Mountain Tanuki really is a genius."
"Graduated at eight years old, even during wartime that's incredibly rare."
"Probably the only one who could rival her is Hatake Kakashi."
The general impression of ANBU in the public eye was one of mystery and severity. In reality, though, the atmosphere wasn't always so harsh.
In the original series, Uchiha Itachi was often seen wearing his ANBU gear casually around the house. The job itself was simply too sensitive to discuss openly.
"You mean Kakashi-senpai?" Sakura asked, playing along.
"Yeah, the Copy Ninja himself. A really incredible shinobi," Raido said with a nod. "If you get the chance, Mountain Tanuki, you should definitely meet him."
Tenzo, seeing the conversation stretch out, finally cut in.
"That's enough chit-chat. We're here."
"The Hokage Tower."
ANBU missions weren't reported to the standard Mission Department—they were overseen directly by the Hokage.
Thus, every assignment needed to be personally reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Instead of entering through the front door, Tenzo led his team to the rooftop of the Hokage Tower, entering discreetly from above.
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(End of Chapter)