Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared solemnly at the document in his hands.
This report came from a specialized ANBU forensic unit, detailing the examination results of Momochi Sakaki's corpse, along with intelligence recovered from his body.
"The targets were Yuya and Uzumaki Kushina…"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.
"Now this is problematic."
"Yuya's case makes sense. Although the incident involving Uchiha Han was concealed, Yuya's reputation as a prodigy at the Ninja Academy was widely known. That alone is reason enough for a foreign village to attempt an assassination."
"But Kushina…"
"That's what's strange."
The ANBU had uncovered clear evidence that Sakaki's mission target list included two people, not one.
Yuya—and Uzumaki Kushina.
"Could another village have deduced Kushina's identity?" Hiruzen asked grimly.
"It's possible," came a calm reply from beside him.
The man standing next to the Third Hokage was Hatake Sakumo.
"In that case," Hiruzen said slowly, "we may need to prepare for contingencies. Lady Mito's life… cannot last much longer."
Uzumaki Mito—
the First Hokage's wife, and the first jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.
Sakumo nodded quietly.
Kushina being selected as the next Nine-Tails jinchūriki was a secret known only to a handful of people in Konoha.
But secrecy did not guarantee safety.
Enemy villages could still piece things together from fragments of intelligence.
After a moment of thought, Hiruzen asked,
"How is Yuya?"
"He's fine," Sakumo replied with a faint smile.
"That child isn't just talented. His composure and intelligence are on the same level as Namikaze Minato. You know that, Hokage-sama."
"Hm."
Hiruzen nodded, then suddenly asked,
"Then… is Yuya ready to become a full ANBU operative?"
Sakumo hesitated briefly.
"I'd like to observe him a little longer. He handled the assassination attempt excellently, but that alone doesn't mean he fully meets ANBU standards."
"I see."
ANBU Headquarters
After reporting the details of the assassination—
including Sakaki's techniques and combat behavior—
Yuya left the intelligence division.
As an ANBU candidate, he wasn't required to undergo extensive interrogation.
Just as Yuya was about to leave the underground complex, he received a mandatory summons.
ANBU Candidate Assembly.
Yuya paused briefly, then understood.
So it's the scheduled ANBU candidate training.
These training sessions were mandatory, with no option to decline.
Turning immediately, Yuya headed toward the designated gathering hall.
ANBU Candidate Assembly Hall
ANBU candidates differed from full operatives.
Because they were not yet assigned to frequent missions, candidates underwent regular centralized training.
The hall was already filled with masked shinobi when Yuya arrived.
Almost all of them were ANBU candidates.
Technically speaking, "ANBU" stood for Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai—
and Danzo's Root organization was often referred to as an ANBU training division.
But in reality—
ANBU training had nothing to do with Danzo.
Hiruzen would never entrust his personal forces to be trained by Danzo.
Root and ANBU were connected in name only.
In practice, they were completely separate.
ANBU candidate training was conducted entirely internally, with no involvement from Root.
As Yuya joined the crowd, he drew more than a few unusual glances.
Even with a mask and cloak, his age was impossible to hide.
He looked like nothing more than a young teenager.
A kid like this… an ANBU candidate?
Some shinobi showed visible surprise, then quietly shook their heads.
Becoming a full ANBU operative wasn't easy.
But neither was remaining an ANBU candidate.
The resources invested into candidates—
equipment, training, and privileges—
were not for show.
These training sessions served two purposes:
Training
Elimination
Those deemed unqualified would be removed from the candidate roster and stripped of all privileges.
Only those who excelled would advance toward full ANBU status.
To many present, Yuya looked far too young.
He probably won't survive the first round.
With that assumption, several candidates lost interest and looked away.
The Training Briefing
After some time, once everyone had arrived, a shinobi wearing a distinctively colored cloak entered the hall.
With a single flicker of movement, he appeared at the front.
He wasn't the ANBU Commander—
—but one of the three ANBU Division Leaders,
a high-ranking figure within Konoha.
"This training will use a point-based system," he announced calmly.
"The three lowest-scoring candidates will be eliminated."
"Take this seriously."
"The first phase will take place in the Forest of Death. Follow me."
His face remained hidden beneath a mask, his voice calm and slightly hoarse.
Without another word, he turned and left.
The candidates immediately followed.
Yuya moved with the group.
"The Forest of Death…"
Yuya's eyes glimmered faintly beneath his mask, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
A familiar place.
It was the same location used for the second stage of the Chūnin Exams in the original timeline.
Interesting.
Underground Route to the Forest of Death
To Yuya's mild surprise, they never surfaced.
Instead, they continued traveling through Konoha's underground passages.
Apparently, the underground network extended all the way beneath the Forest of Death.
That made sense—
Konoha had been preparing for war for decades.
After a long walk, the passage narrowed drastically, leaving only a vertical route upward.
The group halted.
The Division Leader led them upward—
—and they emerged directly inside the central tower of the Forest of Death.
The same tower used for the Chūnin Exam preliminaries.
Once everyone had gathered, the Division Leader raised his gaze, calmly surveying the candidates.
Then, he began explaining the rules.
"Within the Forest of Death, there are numerous traces left behind by shinobi."
"By following these traces, you will eventually locate a special mission item—"
He raised his hand.
"Including scrolls like this."
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