"Kakashi-senpai, is this how you usually train?"
On the training grounds, Hakken, Itachi, and Shisui were drenched in sweat.
At Hakken's current blade speed, Itachi alone could no longer keep up as his sparring partner.
So, they had slightly adjusted their training method.
The number of flying shuriken had doubled, and both Itachi and Shisui activated their Sharingan as they attacked simultaneously.
After a few days, they had grown accustomed to this intense routine.
Only Yamato watched nervously from the sidelines, his face filled with fear.
Kakashi, on the other hand, remained calm and composed.
He was completely engrossed in his book, "Icha Icha Paradise"—the uncensored edition he had obtained earlier from Jiraiya when Hakken had first invited Yūgao Uzuki for a bath.
The content was far more explicit than the revised version sold on the market.
It was intense.
A divine masterpiece!
With his chest rising and falling, Kakashi adjusted his belt slightly and glanced at Yamato.
"Relax, Tenzō."
"The reason I called you here has already been explained by Owl. To give you a hint, reforms will be starting soon, so you need to be ready."
Reforms?
Yamato nodded, still a bit confused.
"According to your instructions, Kakashi-senpai, I've compiled all the data on the ANBU members. I've also been monitoring all recent movements within the division."
"You should already know most of this, but there's one issue that might be a little tricky."
He cast an awkward glance at the young man still swinging his blade on the field. "The Commander's age might cause some discontent among our ANBU comrades."
In truth, Yamato had phrased it quite gently.
Everyone in the ANBU lives with a blade at their throat—always on edge, always suppressing themselves. Who would willingly take orders from a child?
Even if his accomplishments made him worthy of the title, seniority isn't something that merit alone can erase.
Age, after all, is a hard obstacle to overcome.
Yamato sighed deeply. Trying to carry out reforms under such circumstances would inevitably run into resistance.
Hopefully, it wouldn't turn into a complete mess when the time came.
"The order to compile the data came from Owl."
Kakashi shook his head, correcting Yamato's misunderstanding.
"Tenzō, remember this. From today onward, the nature of the ANBU will change completely."
"And the one who brought about this transformation—Owl—is the rightful ANBU Commander, and a man I deeply respect."
A man Kakashi-sensei respects!
"Well, there's no need for me to say much more. You'll see that man's extraordinary nature for yourself soon enough."
"In short, he possesses the true charisma of a leader."
"His appointment as ANBU Commander is something I fully support."
The true charisma of a leader—that was Kakashi's evaluation of Hakken.
Whenever you saw this boy before you, an unshakable sense of trust settled in your heart.
You could always believe in Hakken Yoru.
He was the kind of comrade to whom you could entrust your back without hesitation.
At first glance, Hakken might seem like a carefree swordsman—casual, unrestrained, and always with a cup of sake in hand.
But once you got to know him, you'd realize how reliable he became when serious.
That was his unique charisma—the kind of presence only Hakken Yoru possessed.
Toward his enemies, he showed no mercy, fighting like a true madman. Those guttural roars, like the cries of a demon, were hard to believe came from a boy's throat.
Once his hand gripped a sword, he became a beast.
Yet toward his comrades, he held nothing back—fierce in loyalty, open in emotion!
"In short, becoming his partner was the best decision I've made all these years—and I have no regrets."
"And I believe he can change the ANBU… even reshape Konoha itself."
What kind of person could earn such admiration from Kakashi-senpai?
Yamato stared blankly at the young man on the field. He knew Kakashi-senpai well—outwardly calm and distant, but warm beneath the surface. It wasn't that he disliked making friends; he simply feared the pain of losing comrades he couldn't protect. For Kakashi-senpai to speak so highly of someone, strength alone clearly wasn't the reason.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As Yamato pondered, several figures dashed through the jungle and landed on the field. But Hakken, lost in the rhythm of his sword swings, showed no intention of stopping. The masked man beside him glanced over with a puzzled expression, but Hakken ignored it completely.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Their arrival seemed to mark a signal—the training grounds suddenly filled with countless figures. The ANBU assembly had begun. Regardless of missions, every member was required to appear at the designated location. Such an order was rarely issued unless something urgent had occurred.
Only a few figures continued training on the field. Though astonished by their intense regimen, the watching ANBU, disciplined as ever, stood silently and waited. It felt like something significant was about to happen.
As time passed, the stream of arriving operatives gradually thinned. Soon, the field was packed with ANBU ninja, surrounding the few still in training. Among them stood the former Acting Commander, Shinku Yūhi.
The sudden influx of onlookers didn't slow Itachi and Shisui in the slightest—their shuriken still cut through the air at blinding speed. Yet, even drenched in sweat, Hakken didn't seem satisfied. He lifted a finger toward Kakashi, beckoning him over.
My turn?
Kakashi nodded and joined the training. Success never comes without effort.
...
Beyond their individual prowess, Night Owl Team's greatest strength lay in their seamless coordination—tempered through countless real battles. To maintain that synchronicity, they trained relentlessly every day.
With Kakashi joining in, the number of whirling shuriken multiplied again. Each flash of Hakken's blade sent chills through the watching ninjas.
Was this even human training? A single moment of distraction, and anyone could end up riddled with holes.
Indeed. They had never seen anyone treat flying shuriken like volleyballs before. The sheer impact of it was hard to imagine.
Silence fell over the field. Some couldn't help but wonder—how long could they possibly keep this up?
"So this is Team Night Owl?"
"They're insanely strong."
Shinku Yūhi let out a bitter smile. At that moment, he seemed to understand what Hakken was after. The first step to earning recognition as Commander was strength—undeniable, absolute strength. Without it, what right did he have to lead the ANBU?
"Ken-san! I can't hold on anymore!"
No one knew how much time had passed before Itachi's weary voice broke the air. In the next instant, Shisui and Kakashi leapt back, while Hakken struck the last wave of shuriken from the air.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sharp sound of metal sinking into wood echoed across the field. The surrounding ninjas stared in shock as every single shuriken hit dead center on the targets strapped to the tree trunks.
How… how did he do that?