The Hidden Leaf Village basked under the midday sun, its streets alive with the chatter of villagers and the sound of shinobi training in the distance. But far below the surface, in the depths of the Anbu headquarters, a very different scene was unfolding.
In a dimly lit chamber, Anon stood at the head of a large round table. Around him sat the captains of various Anbu divisions, each one wearing their signature animal masks, their eyes focused intently on Anon. This was no ordinary meeting; it was the formal reformation of the Anbu—a plan long in the making.
Anon had always been a figure who preferred the shadows, his movements and plans hidden even from some of the Leaf's top officials. But today, he was here to discuss the rebirth of the Anbu, aligning them with the new vision for the Leaf Village.
Behind him, the Void Anbu stood in a perfect line, their presence silent yet commanding. These new recruits had proven themselves in the field and had now earned their place as a vital part of the Leaf's defenses. Each one carried the void within them, ready to bend time and space to their will if needed.
Anon cleared his throat and began speaking, his voice calm but authoritative. "The Anbu has always been the Hidden Leaf's shield in the shadows. But with the changes happening in the world—the rise of time manipulation and void energy—we can no longer be just that. We have to be more."
He paused, scanning the faces of the captains. "We're rebranding, reforming. The Anbu will still operate as the covert arm of the village, but with a new edge. The Void Anbu are just the beginning. We will recruit and train shinobi who can not only fight in the shadows but also move through dimensions, anticipate threats before they happen, and neutralize them in ways that leave no trace."
One of the captains, his mask shaped like a hawk, leaned forward. "This sounds like you're asking us to break the laws of space and time, Anon."
Anon's lips curled into a faint smile behind his mask. "In some cases, we may need to. The threats we're dealing with are unlike anything we've faced before. Orochimaru was a problem, yes, but he was contained within our timeline. What's coming next will be much harder to predict. The enemies we face may not exist in our reality—until they do."
Another captain, wearing a mask shaped like a tiger, spoke next. "And what of the Hokage's position on this? Does Minato know how far this is going?"
Anon nodded. "Minato has been informed. He understands the necessity of this. The Hokage trusts us to do what needs to be done. Our purpose has always been to protect the Leaf from threats that most shinobi aren't even aware of. That purpose hasn't changed. What has changed are the methods we need to use to do that."
The room fell silent for a moment, each captain considering Anon's words. The implications were clear—this was no longer the same Anbu organization that quietly dealt with rogue shinobi or espionage. This was something more, something that required a level of secrecy and power that few could comprehend.
Anon turned his attention to his second-in-command, the woman with the silver mask. "The first phase of recruitment has been completed. Our next move is to begin training these new recruits in the ways of void and temporal manipulation. We're going to need soldiers who can navigate between worlds, who can strike where no one can follow."
The silver-masked woman stepped forward, addressing the room with equal calm. "Each of you will be given a team of recruits. You are responsible for teaching them the basics of time-space jutsu and integrating them into the current Anbu structure. Their loyalty and abilities will be tested beyond what we've done before."
The hawk-masked captain spoke again, his tone more curious this time. "And what of the Void Anbu? Are they operating as their own division?"
Anon shook his head. "No. The Void Anbu will operate across all divisions. They're specialists—used only when the situation demands it. They'll remain in the shadows, even within our ranks."
The tiger-masked captain nodded slowly. "I see. This will require us to rethink our strategies, especially when it comes to timing our strikes."
Anon stepped forward again, his voice commanding the room's attention. "That's the idea. This isn't just about defeating enemies—it's about preventing them from ever becoming a threat. We don't wait for danger to reach our village anymore. We cut it off before it ever crosses our borders, before it even exists in our timeline."
The captains exchanged glances, the weight of what they were being asked to do sinking in. This was a new kind of warfare, one that required them to think beyond the usual parameters of space, time, and reality itself. But each of them had been chosen for their skills, their intelligence, and their loyalty to the Leaf Village. And they would adapt.
Anon crossed his arms, his tone softening slightly. "We have an enemy out there, lurking in the shadows, manipulating the very fabric of reality. Their goal is to destroy the Leaf Village, and they've set their sights on Ryusei. But make no mistake—they won't stop there. We're standing between them and total destruction."
His gaze hardened as he continued. "The Anbu will be the key to stopping them. We'll fight in places no one else can, and we'll do it without anyone ever knowing we were there."
The captains nodded in understanding, their resolve strengthening with every word.
The meeting ended shortly after, each captain departing with a renewed sense of purpose. The Anbu Black Ops had always been shrouded in secrecy, but now they were something more—a force that operated between the lines of reality itself.
Later, Anon walked through the darkened corridors of the Anbu headquarters, his mind still racing from the discussions. He had always known the risks that came with playing with the void, but now the stakes were higher than ever. Whoever was targeting Ryusei—whoever was lurking between dimensions—was more dangerous than anyone realized.
Anon paused, feeling a ripple in the air—a faint distortion that only he could sense. He reached out with his void energy, searching for the source. For a moment, there was nothing, but then he felt it—a presence, familiar and yet distant, watching from somewhere far beyond.
"Show yourself," Anon muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
The presence flickered but did not reveal itself. It was as if it was testing him, probing his defenses. Anon's hand twitched, ready to summon his void blade, but the presence withdrew just as quickly as it had appeared.
Anon narrowed his eyes, his suspicion confirmed. They were being watched, and whoever it was had already infiltrated the void.
"Soon," Anon whispered to himself, his resolve hardening. "We'll find you. And when we do, you won't escape."
As he walked deeper into the shadows, the weight of his mission pressed down on him. The Void Anbu were ready, but the true battle was still ahead. And this time, it wouldn't be fought in the light of day.