As Anbu was a special organization, it lacked a traditional office space. Like Root, Anbu's secret base was built underground.
One of its entrances and exits was located in an inconspicuous house not far from the Hokage building. Arriving at this location, Aizen encountered Minato, who was also rushing towards the entrance.
They exchanged smiles and entered the seemingly ordinary house together.
Following Hiruzen's instructions from the previous day, Aizen knocked on the door twelve times in a specific rhythm and intervals.
The door opened automatically.
Aizen and Minato entered the house, located the hidden basement entrance, and unlocked the door, revealing a dark and deep passage.
They descended into the passage, and after a while, they encountered an Anbu member who was clearly awaiting their arrival.
The man was burly, clad in traditional Anbu attire, with a bird-like mask concealing his face.
"You must be the two new squad captains. I'm here to guide you on the Hokage's orders. You can simply call me by my Anbu codename, Owl," the Anbu greeted them amicably.
Since their purpose in joining Anbu was to challenge Mitarashi Zashi's authority, Hiruzen couldn't assign Aizen and Minato as ordinary Anbu members, nor even as squad captains.
Instead, he had granted them the rank of Anbu squad leaders. While most Anbu squad leaders were elite Jonin, there were also some exceptionally skilled Jonin in such positions.
Aizen and Minato's combat abilities were comparable to those of average elite Jonin, even with Aizen's powers concealed. Additionally, both of them had participated in the Second Shinobi World War, giving them ample experience in relevant missions.
Therefore, their qualifications as Anbu squad leaders were undeniable.
Aizen and Minato exchanged pleasantries with Owl and gleaned valuable information from him. It was clear that Owl was also a member of the Hokage lineage and a capable squad leader within Anbu.
Owl then led them to meet their team members. After navigating the dark corridor for a while, they entered a spacious room where a group of people awaited them.
Aizen noticed that the group was divided into two distinct groups. Some, like himself, wore regular clothing and Anbu masks, indicating they were new recruits. Others, dressed in full Anbu attire like Owl, were clearly veterans.
The newcomers far outnumbered the veterans.
"That old man Hiruzen is really going all out to pack Anbu with his people," Aizen thought to himself.
"Alright, now that both squad leaders are here, it's time for you to get acquainted with your team members!" a cheerful voice boomed from beneath Owl's mask.
Although Anbu members were forbidden from revealing their true identities,
On one hand, Anbu's secrecy protects its members, and on the other, it prevents them from forming factions and undermining their superiors' authority. But this new group clearly joined Anbu with a specific mission.
So, to succeed, they need to deepen their understanding and unity as a team. Through Owl's introduction, Aizen met his new subordinates.
Typically, an Anbu sub-commander oversees three or four teams, each with three or four members. Aizen and Minato Namikaze each lead standard squads of three.
Besides Aizen's own team, there are two other Anbu team leaders, both fourteen like Aizen, and both familiar faces from the Ninja Academy: Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi. Though technically Tokubetsu Jōnin, their Byakugan and Gentle Fist make them formidable opponents, equal to most Jōnin.
Aizen's three direct subordinates are KōJie Eiji, Kimura Jun, and Sakai Lily. Kō Jie Eiji, eighteen or nineteen, is from a large ninja clan in Konoha and holds the rank of Tokubetsu Jōnin. Kimura Jun, twenty, is a commoner and Elite Chunin, a fairly average ninja.
The last member, Sakai Lily, is the team's only girl, and quite familiar with Aizen. She is the daughter of Yuri Sakai, a talented medical ninja in the medical department. Lily is also a skilled fighter and only two years older than Aizen, with impressive talent. She is a rare blonde beauty with many admirers in Konoha.
Unfortunately for them, Lily's heart belongs to Aizen. She has hinted at her feelings numerous times, but to no avail. Aizen, much like his father Isshin, has no interest in romance and politely turned her down. However, Lily's presence in Anbu isn't about pursuing love.
Both Aizen and the Hyuga brothers' teams include a medical ninja with combat skills. Recently, Tsunade suggested to Hiruzen Sarutobi that medical ninjas should be part of combat squads. Due to the current peacetime, Hiruzen agreed to a small-scale experiment, specifically with Aizen and Minato's teams.
This experiment has political implications: if it fails, it reflects poorly on Hiruzen's leadership, but if it succeeds, he takes all the credit. As Aizen and Minato were getting acquainted with their teams and this new development, Zashi at Anbu headquarters was not pleased.
...
You can read upto 30 chapters ahead on my patreon page
patreon.com/Lil674