"A group mission?"
So that's what you were curious about. After a moment's thought, Hakken decided there was no need to hide anything from Shisui. He had already worked out the mission details.
He took a map from his robe and spread it out. The red and blue lines marked on it immediately drew Shisui's attention.
"The red ones mark the pins left inside the Land of Fire by hostile ninja villages after the Third Shinobi World War."
The Third Shinobi World War had indeed ended on the surface. But Hakken knew exactly why that war had been fought. The Four Great Shinobi Villages had simultaneously attacked Konoha, and the Land of Fire had burned. Even after the fighting stopped, the enemy left behind things you couldn't see at a glance—hidden pins planted within the territory, pawns to gather valuable intelligence on hostile villages in the future.
"And the blue ones are where I'm going to place bombs inside enemy nations."
"I'm calling this mission Purge."
He folded the map and leaned against the trunk, stretching. Pull out pins. Bury pins. Do some meaningful work along the way—that was the plan. And with this operation, he wanted other villages to realize a force unlike theirs was rapidly forming.
"Hakken, won't doing that expose our elite unit?"
Shisui frowned, voicing his concern.
"Exposure is exactly what I want."
Hakken patted Shisui's shoulder. "Remember, Shisui: though Konoha won the Third Shinobi World War, the cost was unimaginable. At times like this, we must appear strong."
"Strong enough that other villages think we suffered no losses at all. Only then will they be wary, only then will they hesitate and carefully weigh the consequences before moving against Konoha."
"And this mission is only the first test. I don't yet know how far we can push it."
It was their first collective mission—plans were one thing, actual results another. This was also a chance for the ANBU to prove themselves, and an opportunity to purge the rot inside the ranks.
As always: I want only the elite. Those who falter at critical moments don't belong in my ANBU.
"You never disappoint."
Shisui nodded, impressed by the clarity of his thinking. He now understood the mission. Clenching his fist, he felt a flicker of anticipation. When people learned Konoha harbored such a fearsome assassination unit, would they tremble?
...
Night fell.
The ANBU's full day of special training had come to an end.
Walking along Konoha's main street, feeling the gentle night breeze, Hakken couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. When he had first crossed into this world, he certainly hadn't felt like this—and never would he have imagined becoming the Commander of Konoha's ANBU.
A true part of the village.
And it was all thanks to Minato's trust.
No one dislikes the feeling of being trusted. Hakken was no exception.
What surprised him, however, was how much Minato himself had changed because of his presence. From being suppressed by the Third Hokage, to becoming firm and resolute—he was finally acting like a true Hokage.
That change had also shifted how Hakken viewed the village. It hadn't happened overnight, but through a gradual chain reaction, born from small, steady changes. Perhaps it all began the moment Minato had firmly approved his graduation request, and then stood before him at the entrance of the ANBU.
"Poor Orochimaru," Hakken muttered, shaking his head.
At first, he truly had planned to leave Konoha behind and live freely in the shinobi world. Orochimaru was probably still waiting for him to defect.
Well… one step at a time.
Maybe someday, when he got tired of being ANBU Commander, he'd go find Orochimaru to play around.
Unfortunately, that day wasn't today.
Gazing up at the sky, he thought the moon looked beautiful tonight, glowing with a pale radiance—just like Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's flawless skin.
Speaking of which, Naruto's birth was approaching. The main story of this world was about to unfold.
Black Zetsu's tale of saving his mother—touching, sure. But Hakken had no desire to live inside the false dream of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
"Hm?"
Lost in thought on his way home, he suddenly raised an eyebrow and glanced toward the east.
...
"It's open."
Deep in the forests east of Konoha, several figures emerged from the shadows.
The one in the lead was tall and imposing. Beside him, a ninja quickly formed hand seals before pressing his palm against a scroll strapped to his waist.
"It really opened? I didn't think Konoha's barrier would be this fragile."
Another ninja whispered in disbelief.
"Idiot. If you can't open it even with the key, you don't deserve to be on the Sealing Team."
The ninja who had unlocked the barrier sneered. "Alright, follow the map and avoid the patrol routes."
Every one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages maintained defensive barriers to guard their territory. It was precisely because of those barriers that any ninja who tried to infiltrate would be instantly detected—unless they possessed the corresponding "key."
Konoha was no exception.
But now, the key to Konoha's barrier had been leaked.
A few shadowy figures slipped through the breach, suppressing their chakra and moving quietly under the cover of night.
They had barely advanced a few steps when the sensor ninja's expression shifted sharply. "Someone's here!"
From the silent forest, a figure appeared at a leisurely pace.
Hakken.
He carried his Zanpakutō over his shoulder, his eyes sweeping the area as if he'd noticed nothing unusual.
Just a bunch of small fry.
As if responding to a signal, one of the intruders' kunai glinted faintly under the moonlight. But before he could even strike, a blade flashed—clean and fast—across his throat.
Swish. Swish. Swish.
"Ah—!"
The sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed in the forest. Within seconds, several corpses lay sprawled across the earth.
"Do you know why I haven't killed you yet?"
Hakken's voice was calm but cold as his hand clamped around the last ninja's throat. His eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty chill that felt almost inhuman.
"I… I don't know…"
The crushing grip around his neck was like iron, making it hard for him to breathe. The killing intent pressing down on him was suffocating.
"Because," Hakken tilted his head, his lips curling in mockery, "I want you to deliver a message."
"Go back and tell Raikage to wash his neck and wait for me. Let's see if I can't carve him into a human swine."
BOOM!
"Lightning Bomb!"
Rumble!
The ground quaked violently as a towering figure landed before him, leaving a crater under his feet from the impact.
"Brat, I heard you loud and clear."
Lightning crackled across his body as Raikage glared at him, murderous intent radiating in waves.
"That's exactly what I wanted—you to hear."
Crack.
With one hand, Hakken crushed the ninja's spine under the Raikage's furious gaze.
"Raikage-sama," he said with a chilling smile, "did that sound please your ears?"
...
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