"Creak!"
As the door opened, the sunlight outside streamed in, dispelling some of the darkness within.
"Come in."
Oto entered first, Hoshimi Ren followed closely, then casually closed the door behind him.
The room became dim again, but fortunately, there were still lights hanging on both walls, so seeing and moving forward was not a problem.
"Follow."
Oto spoke very little; after uttering two words, he walked forward on his own. Hoshimi Ren didn't mind, surveying his surroundings as he advanced.
This was a corridor, with doors appearing at intervals on both walls, bearing numbers like 101, 103, and so on.
The two didn't walk long before reaching the end. Oto didn't hesitate, turning to push open the last unnumbered room and entering. Hoshimi Ren followed closely behind.
Upon entering, Hoshimi Ren's eyes immediately lit up.
Compared to the corridor's lights, which seemed ready to flicker out at any moment, here a bright incandescent bulb hung from the ceiling, its brilliant light sweeping away all darkness from the room.
The room was not large, only about ten square meters. The wall directly opposite had a large iron grate installed, revealing only tiny slits and a small window, making it impossible to see inside.
Oto walked straight ahead and handed over Hoshimi Ren's application. A pair of hands reached out from within and took it back without a word.
They didn't have to wait long. Some items were handed out from the window. Seeing this, Hoshimi Ren quickly stepped forward to receive the equipment and smiled, "Thank you."
"Hmm?"
The hands that had been withdrawn immediately stopped, suspended in mid-air. After a moment, a surprised voice came from within. "Thank you? Oto, which clan is this one from?"
"I don't know."
Oto replied indifferently and turned to walk out. Seeing this, Hoshimi Ren followed, holding his items.
As they walked through the dark corridor, Oto's calm voice suddenly sounded. "This is Anbu. It might be better to put away the politeness you use outside."
"Is that so...?"
Hoshimi Ren blinked, then looked at the other's back and chuckled lightly, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Oto."
"..."
Seeing Hoshimi Ren like this, Oto didn't bother to say anything more. He led Hoshimi Ren all the way to the door of room 102, then turned around and said, "This is your team's exclusive room. They will tell you the other specific details."
After Oto finished speaking, he turned and walked out, while Hoshimi Ren responded from behind, "Alright, goodbye, Senior."
Hearing this, Oto's steps did not falter in the slightest, and he disappeared into the darkness within a few breaths.
After watching him leave, Hoshimi Ren turned his gaze to the closed door, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Hoshimi Ren didn't enter immediately. Instead, he first pulled out a mask from the items he had just received.
Red and black patterns intertwined, outlining the shape of a wolf in the limited space.
"Not bad."
Hoshimi Ren put it on his face with satisfaction, then held the items in his left arm and pushed open the door with his right hand. A sound of conversation drifted out.
"Hmm?"
The sound of the door opening attracted everyone's attention. The conversation immediately ceased, and more than a dozen gazes all turned to Hoshimi Ren, who was standing at the doorway, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"Who are you?"
A tall Monkey-Masked Anbu stepped forward, looking at Hoshimi Ren and asking in a deep voice.
Hoshimi Ren bowed slightly and smiled faintly, "I am a newcomer who joined Anbu today. Please guide me, seniors."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, the atmosphere in the room immediately became strange. Most people's expressions changed from initial surprise to sudden realization, and now to a look of amusement.
"A newcomer, huh...?"
As the Monkey-Masked Anbu muttered, the corner of his mouth under the mask curled slightly upward, and his hand silently reached for the ninja tool pouch at his waist.
"So, seniors, next I..."
Before Hoshimi Ren could finish speaking, a black shadow flew out, whistling through the air towards his shoulder!
"Tsk, a welcoming ceremony, is it?"
Hoshimi Ren smiled as he sidestepped. The black shadow brushed past him and finally struck the door, embedding itself. Upon closer inspection, it was a Shuriken.
"Good reaction."
Seeing Hoshimi Ren dodge the attack, everyone was surprised for a moment, then a playful smile appeared on their faces. The hidden weapons they had already prepared were instantly thrown out!
"Hmm?"
Seeing this, Hoshimi Ren put away his smile. A cold light flashed in his eyes as he channeled the Chakra within his body.
"Boom!"
A wave of Chakra-formed air spread outwards from Hoshimi Ren, instantly sweeping through the entire room. The hidden weapons flying close immediately stopped their advance, all being repelled and embedding themselves into a wall behind the others.
"This..."
This sudden scene instantly changed everyone's expressions. They looked at Hoshimi Ren, who stood there radiating a terrifying aura, with horrified faces.
The moment the aura swept over them, their minds instantly went blank, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably, unable to even move.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself."
Under everyone's gaze, Hoshimi Ren's calm voice came from beneath his mask.
"I am Hoshimi Ren, Codename Naraku, a new member of Anbu. Please guide me, seniors. And also..."
Just then, Hoshimi Ren suddenly retracted his Chakra, and everyone staggered in unison. Those with weaker strength almost lost control and fell to the ground.
At that moment, Hoshimi Ren turned his head to the Monkey-Masked Anbu and smiled, "Excuse me, where is my locker?"
The Monkey-Masked Anbu who was asked first froze, then, realizing, instinctively raised his hand and pointed to a spot behind him, replying, "Left row, the second locker from the bottom."
"Thank you."
After Hoshimi Ren spoke, he walked straight forward. Everyone made way as he passed, staring blankly as he went to the locker and started putting his things away.
"Click!"
Just then, another sound came from the doorway. Everyone instinctively turned to look and saw a Tiger Mask Anbu walk in.
"Hmm?"
Seeing everyone staring at him, the Tiger Mask Anbu first froze, then turned to the Monkey-Masked Anbu, a low voice coming from within his mask. "Antelope, First Squad, gather at Training Ground Four in ten minutes."
"Yes!"
The Monkey-Masked Anbu immediately replied in a solemn voice.
"Hmm."
After saying that, the Tiger Mask Anbu was about to turn and leave, but he suddenly seemed to remember something. He turned back again and looked at everyone.
"Oh, right, Hokage-sama sent word that a very powerful newcomer is arriving today. Don't provoke him."
All the Anbu: "..."
Seeing that no one was speaking, the Tiger Mask Anbu frowned and said, "What's wrong?"
The Monkey-Masked Anbu next to him opened his mouth and said through gritted teeth, "...Captain."
"Hmm?"
The Tiger Mask Anbu turned his head. The other continued, "The newcomer you mentioned... seems to have already arrived."
The Tiger Mask Anbu's pupils immediately constricted upon hearing this. His gaze shifted elsewhere. The others silently cleared a path, revealing Hoshimi Ren at the very back.
"Oh."
Hoshimi Ren blinked, then, under everyone's gaze, raised his hand to greet the other while smiling, "Good afternoon, Captain."
Before the Tiger Mask could react, the Monkey-Masked Anbu beside him quietly added, "And, he's already been provoked..."
"..."