Sunlight streamed through the window of Mochizuki Hui's home, casting light on the ANBU equipment and appointment letter laid out on the table.
Sitting beside the table, Mochizuki Hui stared into space, his eyes slightly dazed.
"Fourth Squad..."
Four years had passed, and in that time, Hui had lived under the sun, blending into the life of an ordinary ninja. It almost made him forget that he was still a member of the ANBU.
After all, who would choose to live in darkness when they could walk freely in the light?
"It seems the reckoning is about to begin."
Muttering to himself, Mochizuki Hui began to put on his gear.
Once fully dressed, he looked into the mirror, seeing his own delicate features, a small smile playing on his lips. But that smile slowly faded.
It was as if, with that smile, he was bidding farewell to the peaceful life in the light.
He then slowly lifted the white mask and placed it on his face, gazing at the single exposed eye in the mirror.
"From now on, I am... 'Light.'"
...
It wasn't the abandoned training ground anymore. With the expansion of Konoha Village, that area had been repurposed and transformed into the village's Training Ground Four.
Now, they were in a training ground situated deep in the forest behind the ANBU base—a clearing that had been slightly modified to serve as an ANBU practice ground.
At that moment, Mochizuki Hui and Lightning were casually chatting.
"Who would've thought? After four years, you're returning to the ANBU. This place isn't exactly the best place to be."
Mochizuki Hui looked at Lightning as he spoke. Despite the passing years, Den's physique hadn't changed much. After all, he was already in his twenties four years ago.
"Returning? Light, you've got it wrong. The Fourth Squad was never disbanded. We've always been members of ANBU's First Division, Fourth Squad."
Lightning replied seriously, though there was a hint of a smile beneath his mask as he looked at the young man before him.
"Lightning-senpai, you must have rejoined ANBU just to avoid your family's pressure to get married! Come on, you're already twenty-three. You should be finding a girlfriend and settling down, not coming back to a place like ANBU. I bet your parents are furious with you."
Lightning froze for a moment, and then a dark expression crossed his face.
In the past four years, Mochizuki Hui and Lightning had gotten to know each other's real identities and had become good friends.
Lightning's real name was Uzuki Ryokawa, from Konoha's small Uzuki clan, though Hui still called him Lightning.
"Light, that's going too far! What do you mean, avoiding marriage? And what's with the 'already twenty-three'? Don't you know how to talk properly?!"
Lightning retorted, his face darkening further. The youth standing before him was suddenly not so adorable anymore!
Mochizuki Hui was about to tease Lightning further, but he stopped and changed the subject.
"Our rookies have arrived."
He sensed two distinct chakra signatures approaching their location.
Sure enough, not long after, two ANBU figures emerged from the forest.
They were about the same height, with one having silver-white hair and the other, jet-black.
"I've been assigned to ANBU's First Division, Fourth Squad as of today. My name is Hatake Sakumo. Please take care of me."
The silver-haired one spoke first. From his voice, he sounded around sixteen or seventeen years old. Given his name and his hair, Mochizuki Hui immediately knew who he was.
This was Hatake Sakumo, the future legend known as the "White Fang of Konoha," and also the father of the yet-to-be-born Kakashi. Hui remembered him from a dangerous mission they had once shared as young ninja.
"I'm also joining ANBU's First Division, Fourth Squad today. My name is Takahara Shuhei. Please take care of me!"
The black-haired man introduced himself next. His voice suggested he was around twenty years old.
After their introductions, Mochizuki Hui stepped forward and spoke.
"I'm the captain of ANBU's First Division, Fourth Squad. My codename is Light."
Lightning followed suit.
"ANBU First Division, Fourth Squad. Codename: Lightning."
After Lightning spoke, Mochizuki Hui continued, "For the sake of future missions, you should both choose your codenames. But first, let's share our strengths so we can coordinate better."
At this moment, Hatake Sakumo was staring at Mochizuki Hui in disbelief.
Light—there was no way he could forget that codename.
Not only had he never forgotten it, but it was also because of their past battles together that he had recently chosen to join the ANBU.
Sakumo had come to the ANBU partly in search of Light.
But he had never imagined that this young boy standing before him was the very same person from his memories.
As for Takahara Shuhei, he was completely stunned.
The captain of their squad... was a mere eleven or twelve-year-old kid?!
"As captain of the Fourth Squad, I'll go first," Mochizuki Hui began.
"My codename is Light. I'm proficient in all nature transformations, basic ninjutsu, taijutsu, kenjutsu, genjutsu, sensory techniques, and shurikenjutsu.
"I possess the 'Light Release' kekkei genkai, and my strength is at the jōnin level."
He paused before adding, "My weakness is my limited chakra reserves... comparable to Hatake Sakumo's chakra capacity."
Once Mochizuki Hui finished, the entire forest seemed to fall silent.
Lightning was still somewhat surprised, though he had sparred with Mochizuki Hui many times and knew that Hui was an all-around exceptional ninja.
But Hatake Sakumo and Takahara Shuhei were in shock. Behind their masks, their mouths hung open, eyes wide in disbelief.
All attributes? All-around? Jōnin level...?
This all sounded way too absurd!
He was only an eleven or twelve-year-old boy!
"I guess I'll go next. My codename is Lightning. I specialize in Lightning, Water, and Wind Release ninjutsu. I know some basic genjutsu but I'm not very good at taijutsu.
In terms of strength... I'd say I'm at the tokubetsu jōnin level."
Lightning's words snapped Hatake Sakumo and Takahara Shuhei out of their stupor.
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