At exactly noon the next day, Ren arrived at a secluded hill in the northern forest of Konohagakure. Not even a second passed before Hatake Sakumo appeared in front of him, like a shadow slipping out from the trees.
"Little Ren, your face…" Sakumo raised an eyebrow.
"Don't ask! It's a tragic story!" Ren waved dismissively, bruises still fresh on his cheeks.
"...Alright then."
Sakumo nodded, though a trace of amusement flickered in his usually stoic eyes. Without another word, he turned toward the forest, performed a rapid sequence of hand seals, and suddenly—several towering trees shimmered and spun, disappearing into the air like a genjutsu being dispelled. In their place, a dark, gaping hole appeared in the forest floor.
"This is one of the entrances to the Anbu headquarters. Memorize this location, and more importantly, memorize the hand seal I just used. Now, follow me."
Sakumo didn't wait for a response, stepping into the swirling black void. Ren didn't hesitate—he sprinted after him, vanishing into the darkness. Moments later, the entrance was gone. The trees reappeared as if nothing had ever disturbed them. If someone had blinked, they'd think it had all been a mirage.
The narrow passageway beyond was steep and lined with cliffs on both sides. It felt like a canyon carved through time, the rock walls so tall that the sun barely touched the floor below.
"As one of Konoha's most critical institutions," Sakumo explained without prompting, "Anbu operates from a base that's as secure as a fortress. There's an illusion-based trigger seal guarding the entrance, and this pathway is flanked by lookouts. Officers stationed along the cliff walls have eyes on us right now. If you look carefully, you'll see them."
Ren tilted his head back. At first, all he saw was rock. But then—movement. Faint silhouettes perched high above, like shadows sewn into the cliffside.
"Hey, look, that brat down there is Shimura Ren."
"Tch. No clue what the Commander is thinking, dragging a first-year academy student into Anbu."
"Look at his face! Damn, kid looks like he lost a fight with a paper fan. Got wrecked by his classmates?"
"Shut it, Hanyu! That kid's Danzo-sama's son. You wanna talk crap, do it when Lord Danzo isn't within earshot."
"Hmph. We serve the Hokage, not Danzo. Even if he finds out—"
Suddenly, the air shifted. The pressure intensified, suffocating and cold, like the very oxygen had been pulled from the atmosphere.
Before Hanyu could finish his sentence, he felt a cold drop of sweat snake down his temple. His eyes darted downward, trembling under the glare of Sakumo.
"Disrespecting comrades. Questioning your superior. Punishment follows."
"M-Minister..." Hanyu stuttered. He bowed sharply, teeth clenched, rage simmering beneath shame as he turned heel and vanished in a blur.
Sakumo didn't even flinch. As if brushing off a fly, he continued walking.
Ren touched his swollen cheek, pouting. "Ugh, this sucks."
The only person in the entire village who'd dare beat Ren up like this was Tsunade—Konoha's medical genius, and a woman with fists that could crush boulders. All because he'd impulsively "analyzed" her chest yesterday during the Aoi Festival.
Technically, Ren had completed his "research" and confirmed her cup size, which did ease some of his curiosity. Unfortunately, Tsunade's response had been pure violence.
Joining Anbu meant Ren had returned his top operatives—No. 1 and No. 2—to Danzo's care. That was the only reason he hadn't been pulverized into a puddle.
"...But seriously, Tsunade's boobs were insanely soft..."
The thought made Ren chuckle like a pervert. His beaten face twitched with laughter. Even Sakumo, a war hero and hardened shinobi, had a vein pop on his forehead.
"Ren, we're nearly there. At least try to look presentable."
"Huh? What do you mean, image?"
Ren blinked innocently, bruised face and all. Sakumo clenched his jaw. He summoned chakra into his palm and conjured a Water Release: Water Mirror Jutsu in mid-air. A perfect reflection of Ren's ridiculous, dandruff-shedding self appeared.
"This. This is your image. Understand?!"
Ren scratched his head sheepishly. Flecks of dandruff floated into the mirror on the breeze. "Heh... could you treat me a bit?"
"You saw Tsunade yesterday. Why didn't you let her heal you?"
"She's the one who beat me!"
"..."
Sakumo turned away wordlessly. He was so close to committing murder.
They continued for a couple of minutes before rounding a corner where light began to spill in from the end of the path.
"We're here," Sakumo said, glancing back.
And then—he vanished.
Ren's eyes widened. "Wait—"
Too late.
Ren rushed after him, launching forward with a burst of chakra underfoot.
FWOOOSH!
The cool wind hit him immediately. His bladder screamed. Instinctively, he clamped his legs—and then realized he was free-falling.
He was in the air.
A massive, open plaza sprawled beneath him—an underground cliffside square filled with at least a hundred masked Anbu members. Every single one looked up at once.
"..."
Did the Minister forget to tell the new guy that the path ended at a literal cliff?!
"Hatake Sakumo, you bastard!!!" Ren screamed as he plummeted. The wind rushed into his mouth, stealing his words.
As gravity claimed him, panic surged. Then focus.
Ren forced chakra into his hands and shouted, "Wind Release: Wind Wings!"
His chakra surged, condensing behind his back. Two large, translucent wings unfurled, made entirely of spinning air currents. They beat once—BAM—slowing his descent, then again—WHUMP—stabilizing him.
He landed gently in the center of the plaza, knees buckling from the strain.
The jutsu wasn't elemental wind manipulation, but a hybrid of transformation and chakra control—requiring massive mental power. Even with his mind three times stronger than the average shinobi's, Ren nearly passed out.
When the wind settled and his wings dissipated, he looked around.
Hundreds of Anbu stared at him in silence. Their eyes wide behind their animal masks.
"…What?" Ren asked, still pale.
No one answered. They were all stuck on the same question: Who the hell taught this bruised-up kid how to make a fully functioning Wind Release flight technique?!
Somewhere in the crowd, an Uchiha whispered, "Is that the brat who molested Tsunade-sama? I heard she hit him so hard, she left a crater."
"Yeah," another nodded. "I think he's the one Danzo-sama referred to as his 'mild disappointment but a reliable insurance policy.'"
"Hey, shut it, Uchiha Canon Fodder 1," snapped a taller masked shinobi.
"...You're Canon Fodder 2, shut up."
Meanwhile, Hatake Sakumo watched from the top platform above the plaza, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Inside though?
He was dying laughing.