Uchiha Tenizumi's screams echoed for a full half-minute before his body finally collapsed.
The long-haired ninja who had sealed him quietly collected the cursed seal scroll, then nodded to Hatake Sakumo.
"Very good. Next, someone will take you to your assigned teams. Let's take a break now," Sakumo said lightly before turning and leaving.
The long-haired ninja disappeared soon after.
Kakashi stepped out coolly from the shadows, then silently went to rest in the lounge outside.
Only Fenghuo and Uchiha Tenizumi remained in the dimly lit room.
"Damn it!" Tenizumi gritted his teeth, struggling to sit up. He propped himself up on the wooden chair, one hand clutching his throbbing head. His bloodshot eyes burned with rage and pain.
Ordinary Cursed Seals—like the ones placed on the body, hands, or tongue—could still be suppressed or removed by the Uchiha's Sharingan techniques. But this… this was different. The long-haired shinobi had carved the cursed seal directly onto his brain.
Such a seal was a nightmare—nearly impossible to remove, because it was intertwined with the delicate nerves and chakra pathways of the brain itself. One wrong move, and it would mean instant death.
With this cursed seal, I'm useless in ANBU. I can't do anything anymore.
Even if I quit, the Third Hokage won't lift it—he won't risk any ANBU secrets leaking out. Damn it, damn it all!
Joining ANBU was supposed to be his chance to serve the Uchiha clan and follow in his father's footsteps as police captain. Now, it felt like sinking into the deepest ocean, with freedom becoming a distant dream.
Tenizumi's anger and frustration boiled inside him. He had ambitions to bring honor to the Uchiha clan through ANBU—but now everything was ruined.
His eyes caught the fire burning nearby, and he froze.
Kakashi and Fenghuo hadn't cried out during the sealing. Kakashi was probably fine, but what about the one with the curse on his brain?
Could it be… Kakashi had a seal like his?
Fenghuo noticed the strange look on Tenizumi's face and immediately took over Xiao Lizi's body.
"Ah, hiss! It hurts, it hurts so much!" Fenghuo gasped, clutching his forehead. "This cursed seal really burns… it's like it's trying to kill me."
"…" Tenizumi's eye twitched. How can you be so fake?
At that moment, voices echoed from outside.
ANBU members had arrived to escort them.
Though Fenghuo, Tenizumi, and Kakashi had all joined ANBU, the organization was split into various departments—Assassination, Torture, Intelligence, and so forth.
Ibiki Morino, who had overseen their sealing, was to become captain of the Torture Department.
Tenizumi was assigned to the Torture Department as well—mainly tasked with guarding high-value prisoners. It was boring and harsh work, but undeniably demanding.
The Third Hokage and Sakumo had arranged this placement with a deeper purpose—though Tenizumi wasn't happy about it.
"Deeper purpose?" His eyes twitched again. More like getting buried by my own second uncle!
Meanwhile, Kakashi was assigned to Intelligence, dealing with espionage, information gathering, and foreign threats—tasks fitting for someone as perceptive as him.
Fenghuo was sent to the Defense Department, which was responsible for protecting the Hokage and other important figures—a fancy term for elite bodyguards.
Bodyguard? Fenghuo's mood sank.
"Before we proceed, every ANBU member chooses a code name. For example, I'm Feitian," said the Defense Department captain enthusiastically. "Little one, why don't you pick yours?"
Fenghuo blinked. "Fenghuo."
"Wait—that's your real name?" Feitian looked surprised, then quickly warned, "You know, ANBU work isn't simple. You'll offend people. Using your real name could be dangerous."
Fenghuo inhaled deeply. "I want to reach the pinnacle of the shinobi world. If I can't handle this, that would be pathetic."
"Ninja world… pinnacle?" Feitian's expression screamed 'kid, go to bed early'. But he said nothing more.
"Alright then, I'll write it down." Feitian wrote "Fenghuo" on his ANBU ID card and handed it to him. "Here's your ID. Now pick a mask."
Fenghuo grabbed a black eagle mask with white markings and slipped it on. It was a bit large, but good enough.
Suppressing a smile, Feitian taught him the hand signs for unsealing ANBU's entrance barriers, the secret communication codes, and more. Even with the cursed seal, he warned Fenghuo not to leak any information.
After introductions—done behind masks and code names, keeping identities secret—they got down to business.
"Your next mission is…" Feitian began, but before he could finish, the official order arrived:
"Protect the Hokage."
"...Seriously?" Fenghuo slumped.
He wasn't an idiot. This was a black box operation. Sarutobi Hiruzen was definitely going to indoctrinate him with the Will of Fire.
This is the ultimate test. But soon, I'll be promoted, get a raise, become general manager, CEO, marry Bai Fumei, and reach the top of my life.
He forced a smile, trying to convince himself.
Protecting the Hokage was grueling work—boring, non-stop, day and night. Thankfully, ANBU worked in shifts. Fenghuo was assigned the night watch.
As dusk fell, he fiddled with some military ration pills in the underground ANBU headquarters, then set out with three fellow ANBU operatives.
Their code names were Obayashi, Bamboo Leaf, and Grass Pheasant. All male, all sounding in their twenties.
Fenghuo followed silently.
They reached the Hokage Tower swiftly and handed over their watch with no words exchanged, only gestures.
These hand signals were part of ANBU's secret language—changing daily to prevent assassination attempts.
Perched on a tree outside the Hokage's office, Fenghuo melted into the shadows, controlling his breathing.
Sarutobi Hiruzen worked for another half hour, then looked up and said, "Fenghuo, come in."
Fenghuo's eyes twitched at the familiar tone.
He appeared inside with a swift substitution jutsu, dropping to one knee in a formal salute. "Master Hokage!"
"Hmm," Hiruzen murmured, eyes on his paperwork.
Fenghuo rose and stood silently beside him.
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