Walking through the long corridor, Orochimaru extended his mental power subconsciously, observing everyone around him who appeared to be in a hurry.
Most of the people here were engaged in secretive tasks such as interception and analysis of information, akin to the intelligence department. Cabinets were filled with envelopes marked "top secret" and "expedited." Some ninjas wore masks, looking cautious and vigilant, while others did not bother with disguises.
A middle-aged ninja with an indifferent expression, a small braid tied at the back of his head, and a shaggy beard glanced at Orochimaru, thick dark circles under his eyes. He held a cigarette in his hand, and the ashtray on his desk was overflowing with cigarette butts. Orochimaru remembered seeing a "no smoking" sign on the wall outside.
"Sir, this is Orochimaru," the ninja who brought him here spoke respectfully of the middle-aged ninja.
"I know," the middle-aged ninja responded, taking an envelope from his desk and extracting a stack of files from it.
"At the age of eight, he already possessed the combat power of a Jōnin, as tested by Tsushima himself," the middle-aged ninja said, flicking the ashtray without showing surprise.
The busy ninjas around seemed to pause briefly, but they didn't comment, and few even glanced at him.
"Don't watch much, listen less, talk even less - that's the rule of an Anbu ninja," the middle-aged ninja said in a light tone. "Having strength is not enough to be an Anbu. Most of the time, your personal strength is not as important as teamwork. Follow your superiors' orders, fulfill your responsibilities, and above all, stay loyal to Hokage and ultimately to Konoha."
"He's brainwashing again. Ninjas are always about brainwashing. When have you seen Talk no Jutsu have any effect on him?" Orochimaru thought, familiar with ninja's tendencies.
"Hmm... why am I saying so much to a child? It's embarrassing. Maybe Danzo thinks it's more effective to cultivate and brainwash them from an early age," the Anbu ninja realized when he saw Orochimaru's expression, "Anyway, as a fighter, you may excel on the battlefield, but as an Anbu ninja, it's a different path..."
Orochimaru noticed that the ninja himself seemed to be in a hurry. Maybe this old man belonged to the Nara clan.
"Considering your situation, you'll likely be involved in assassination, reconnaissance, or protection missions in the future. Hm... You are quite capable," the ninja acknowledged. "Arima, get this kid some equipment and have the combat team train him. Our department isn't the best fit for him."
After the ninja finished speaking, he looked at Orochimaru with a light smile. "Boy, you've been using your mental power to probe this place since you arrived, right? You must know how dangerous that is!"
"Huh?!" Orochimaru was taken aback.
"Any intelligence agency has its ways, especially within its own territory. We've placed various restrictions, including anti-spiritual detection!" the ninja said, playing with a crystal ball that emitted ripples, different from Sarutobi's far-sight technique.
Orochimaru realized that he had encountered obstacles while exploring some areas earlier, but he didn't expect to be detected so easily.
"You're too curious, and that's not a good trait for an ordinary Anbu, especially in our department. Everyone is responsible only for their own jurisdiction," the ninja reclined in his chair, obscured in shadows. "The same goes for spying and assassination. Your combat strength is not enough. Pay attention and study hard. Understand? You're just a rookie!"
"...Yes, senior!" Orochimaru admitted he had been reckless. This was Tobirama's old base, and he was still too inexperienced.
"At this time, a ninja in combat uniform appeared. Anbu ninjas wore lighter clothes, different from regular ninjas outside who wore full ninja armor. Inside Anbu, they wore gray vests, armor on the joints, arms, and calves, and carried a standard short knife on their back.
The ninja appeared to be a Jōnin, and his mask had a longer design than others, resembling a "horse face."
"Orochimaru, right? This is your equipment, and your code name will be 'Black Snake' from now on."
Orochimaru received a special set of "mini" standard clothes and looked at the white mask, with purple eyeshadow over one eye, matching his code name "Black Snake." He couldn't help but think, "Are they afraid the enemy won't know who I am?"
"Come with me, let's head to the training ground," Arima instructed, and Orochimaru followed. He didn't probe further, seeking advice from Arima instead.
Arima explained that there were currently 17 teams in Anbu, excluding special units for torture, medical care, sealing, and ninjutsu training. Each squad comprised four to five members, with a squad leader, commander, and some powerful instructors.
Anbu was relatively small compared to the vast number of ninjas, but it held a significant amount of power, as most Anbu members eventually became Hokage's " most trusted people."
"In the future, during missions, you must wear a mask. Sundays and weekends are reserved for training, but you must never reveal your identity," Arima advised.
In truth, Orochimaru despised organizations that demanded strict obedience. He disliked being monitored and controlled. He preferred the cooperation between Orochimaru and Danzo in the future. However, each approach had its pros and cons, and Orochimaru acknowledged that he could learn many skills from Anbu, which would be beneficial in the future.
Tsunade had already returned to the medical department.
Orochimaru could also join Anbu's medical team in the future. Anbu's medical team mainly dealt with restoring and analyzing corpses, which might suit Orochimaru better.
"It's here!" Anbu said as they arrived at their destination. It seemed empty, as if regular people would not be able to find it, unlike Root's hideout in the future.
As Orochimaru stared at the vast forest in front of him, he was taken aback. Along the path, he could see the training ground, quite well-equipped but not too crowded.
"This is...?"
"This is the Forest of Death."
Orochimaru thought, "I should have guessed it! Though it sounds scary, the Forest of Death is fully monitored and controlled by Konoha. The only dangers here are some low-level ninjas and rare captive plants. Anbu might have set up some traps and illusions, but most of it is locked away. As long as you don't get lost, a typical Chunin can handle this place."
"Arima, who did you bring?" A tall Anbu appeared instantly before them.
"Yo, it's Bull. This is Orochimaru, specially recruited by Hokage-sama as a sub-captain," Arima introduced, patting Orochimaru on the shoulder. Orochimaru was already dressed in a standard vest.
According to Arima, both of them were instructors, usually dealing with internal village affairs and cultivating talents. They were experienced and knowledgeable about everyone's identities.
"Just... Bull?!" Orochimaru thought as he noticed the triangular patterns on the ninja's forehead, along with a small metal button on the nose. "This seems quite abstract!"
Ushi, or "Bull," removed his mask, revealing a square face without hesitation under Orochimaru's gaze.
As a member of Anbu, Orochimaru's identity and background had been thoroughly checked. Even if he went on an extermination mission, he needed permission from others.
"Really, I have to wear a broken mask during training. I'm suffocating!" Bull complained.
"Little brat! What are you doing?!" a sharp and stern voice exploded behind Bull. He turned pale, his tall body seeming to shrink instantly as he quickly donned his mask, shivering.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted as he felt a powerful chakra emanating from the short and fat ninja who had appeared. His mental power failed to capture the man's movements. This was undoubtedly a terrifying individual!
"I didn't expect this short and fat guy to be so strong. His mask is really ugly." Orochimaru thought.
Arima was also quick on his feet. "Master Yama, why are you here?" he asked hurriedly.
Orochimaru could only think, "This guy is Yama?!"