"Code name! Password!"
As Kakashi approached a hidden entrance behind the Hokage Building, an Anbu operative wearing a dog-faced mask materialized before him.
Had the Third Hokage not informed him beforehand that this was the Anbu headquarters entrance, Kakashi would never have guessed it.
Kakashi was already dressed in Anbu attire, complete with a mask, which explained why the operative addressed him this way.
"Hello, I'm reporting for duty today. I don't have a code name yet. The password is 'Konoha Match'!" Kakashi quickly explained to the operative.
"Enter. Proceed straight to the end, turn left, and go to the end again. Lord Hokage should have assigned you to a captain. You'll find him there."
Hearing the correct password, the Anbu operative smiled and vanished in a flash, disappearing into the shadows.
Even without the operative revealing his position, Kakashi couldn't detect where he had concealed himself.
*The Anbu members are truly masters of concealment!* Kakashi thought to himself, impressed.
This advanced level of stealth was exactly what he needed to master.
*I wonder how strong the Anbu Captain the Hokage assigned to me is!*
*And when will I be transferred to Root, under Danzo's command?*
As he continued deeper into the Hokage Building, these thoughts swirled in Kakashi's mind.
The Anbu was divided into two branches: one directly under the Hokage's command, and the other being Root, established by Danzo.
In the original timeline, Kakashi eventually left Root, having once served as Danzo's subordinate.
Thinking of Danzo, Kakashi couldn't help but recall the man's complex nature—a figure who dedicated his life to Konoha but never earned the village's recognition.
Regardless of Danzo's portrayal in the original timeline, Kakashi felt no fondness for him, simply because of the man's oppressive aura.
Moreover, Danzo was a key figure in the events that led to the death of Kakashi's father, Konoha's White Fang.
Having taken over the original Kakashi's body, he couldn't bring himself to serve his father's killer.
Although in the original story Kakashi served Danzo while in the Anbu, that was only because he was completely unaware that Danzo was the primary figure responsible for driving his father, Konoha's White Fang, to suicide.
As for why Kakashi didn't align with Danzo after leaving the Anbu in the original story, it's likely that his extended time in the Anbu allowed him to understand Danzo's true nature, leading him to suspect Danzo's role in his father's death and thus develop a deep-seated prejudice against him.
"I'm joining the Anbu solely to hone my skills. There's no need to serve that old geezer Danzo!" Kakashi firmly resolved in his mind. "If I get the chance, I'll tell Master to keep me out of Root!"
As for avenging Konoha's White Fang on behalf of the body's original owner, he'd have to put that aside for now. He simply didn't possess the strength for such a task yet. He'd consider it again when he was strong enough.
Following the directions given by the Anbu guard at the entrance, Kakashi quickly arrived at the designated location. There, he immediately spotted the back of another Anbu operative. Clad in the standard Anbu uniform, what truly astonished Kakashi was the operative's hair—it was the same silvery-white as his own!
A katana was strapped to the operative's back, just like his own.
In fact, over half of all Anbu members carried a katana.
"I am Dragon, your captain!"
Sensing Kakashi's arrival, the Anbu member turned around, his voice ringing out simultaneously. Though both wore masks obscuring their features, Kakashi could feel an intense, murderous aura emanating from the figure—a formidable presence.
"Yes, Captain!" Kakashi replied immediately, recognizing that Dragon's strength far surpassed his own.
"As Anbu members, the first thing you must understand is the weight of responsibility and honor. We are completely loyal to Lord Hokage, tasked with protecting him, safeguarding Konoha, and eliminating any threats to the village. These are our duties as Anbu."
"Konoha's current strength is undeniably due to the Anbu's contributions. Though our existence remains hidden from the villagers, we are Konoha's shadows, its unsung heroes, and an indispensable part of the village's foundation..."
Dragon's calm voice continued to resonate in Kakashi's ears as he began to lecture him on Anbu politics—a standard initiation for all new recruits, perhaps.
Kakashi listened to Dragon's words, completely unmoved. What glory was there in being a hidden hero of the Anbu, where even death went unnoticed? Kakashi craved recognition that would reverberate throughout the entire Ninja World!
Half an hour later, Dragon finally finished speaking.
Kakashi sighed inwardly with relief. *Finally, he's done! Damn, if the original Kakashi had heard this, he'd have been completely brainwashed. Good thing I'm not him—I'm treating everything Dragon just said like a fart in the wind!*
If Dragon could read Kakashi's mind, he might have choked on his own blood in fury!
"From this day forward, you must forget your former identity within the Anbu. Your codename will now be 'Wolf'!"
Dragon finally assigned Kakashi his codename: Wolf. Though it was unclear if this was Kakashi's original Anbu codename in the canon, the current Kakashi's designation within the Anbu would henceforth be Wolf.
Despite his disdain for Dragon's political indoctrination, Kakashi was surprisingly pleased with the Wolf codename.
"Now, I'll take you to familiarize yourself with the Anbu headquarters. Then, I'll teach you the most crucial concealment techniques for an Anbu operative!"