After joining the ANBU Owl Squad,
Amamiya Ayane kept firmly in mind Ichii Kei's advice before departure—
Build good relationships with your teammates. Quickly.
Day One: Eat, sleep, bond with teammates, brag shamelessly with the kunoichi Eagle.
Day Two: Eat, sleep, bond with teammates, continue bragging shamelessly with Eagle…
Day Three: After some self-reflection, Ayane decided she could not continue degenerating like this. She trained in swordsmanship for an entire day.
Achievement Points +28!
Day Four: Eat, sleep, brag extensively with Eagle, successfully bluff the inexperienced girl into stunned admiration…
Day Five—
Alright. A mission finally arrived.
———
Past noon.
Ayane carried Arankiri across her back as she moved through the forest.
At this hour, the rainforest was like a steaming cauldron. Heat rose visibly from the ground, and sweat poured endlessly.
But a ninja is one who endures all things.
So even in discomfort, she only occasionally loosened her mask to let sweat slide down her delicate cheeks.
Behind her—
Chattering nonstop: Eagle.
Silent as a stone: Woodpecker.
After several days together, Ayane had concluded that Eagle's personality did not match her codename at all.
Rather than a proud, aloof raptor soaring the skies—
She was more like a pampered little lark.
Naively adorable. Constantly chirping. Still not fully adapted to ANBU's grim aesthetic despite joining half a month earlier.
"We're ANBU! The elite of the village!"
"Before I joined ANBU, I was in reconnaissance—my daily task was patrol!"
"After joining ANBU, my first mission is… still patrol?!"
The heat fueled her resentment.
"Then tell me—didn't I join for nothing?!"
The Owl Squad's first full-team assignment wasn't assassination.
Not infiltration.
It was border patrol.
For ANBU, that was roughly equivalent to—
Konoha's White Fang recovering from injuries and being assigned a C-rank cat-catching mission.
Captain Night Crow didn't care much either.
He casually split the six subordinates into two three-person teams. One south. One north.
Under Eagle's burning gaze, Ayane—following the unreasonable but sacred principle of girls help girls—nodded helplessly.
"…I think Eagle makes a valid point."
With best-friend validation secured, Eagle puffed out her flat chest proudly and looked at Woodpecker.
"See?"
Woodpecker sighed.
"Konoha's been moving frequently lately. Recon units are under heavy pressure. Isn't it right for us to reinforce them?"
Having seen enough life and death, he—though the veteran—took patrol most seriously.
Eagle muttered, "If pressure's so high, why transfer me from recon to ANBU in the first place?"
She was originally a reconnaissance sensory ninja.
Recently promoted due to merit.
At full effort, she could sense chakra fluctuations within fifty meters.
Honestly—
That range was mediocre.
The Hyūga's Byakugan started at a one-kilometer radius.
In the Fourth War, Hinata could see Amaterasu flames ten kilometers away.
And Byakugan offered full visual penetration—not just chakra sensing.
But this wasn't Konoha.
In a small village like Amegakure, Eagle was considered a rare talent.
If her combat ability weren't so weak, she'd likely already be a jonin.
Woodpecker deflected casually.
"Who knows? Maybe higher-ups have plans. As ninjas, we obey."
Ayane remained silent.
Five days were enough to notice something.
From top to bottom—
This entire squad, herself included…
Were all second-generation connections.
But that didn't mean they were useless.
They had a sensory ninja like Eagle.
Even a rarer medical ninja.
As for Night Crow—
Woodpecker had privately admitted: he was one of Amegakure's youngest jonin in recent years, capable of holding his own against veterans.
Young bulls fear no tigers.
No wonder he'd said something like—
"White Fang is avoiding our edge."
After all, Zhao Kuo once believed he rivaled Bai Qi too.
Ayane thought quietly:
This squad likely exists to gild political offspring, protect the next generation, and serve as Hanzō's method of consolidating high-level loyalty.
Woodpecker had probably realized long ago.
Playing the role of "study companion to the crown prince."
Eagle only grumbled briefly.
Soon, the trio fell quiet as they approached the border.
Though labeled patrol, they had to:
Prevent Konoha infiltrationSet trapsDiscreetly relay intelligence
Everything remained uneventful.
At the edge of their sector, Woodpecker examined an old tree. A fresh Amegakure reconnaissance mark carved into its base.
He subtly relaxed.
Taking out a kunai, he added ANBU's verification symbol.
Today—normal.
The eagle leaned over.
"Oh? That's Recon First Squad's mark! Our sector borders theirs?"
"Yes. North is First Squad. South is Fourth."
Woodpecker sighed.
"They suffered heavy casualties. Recently replenished with many new ninja. Higher-ups probably placed us between them as insurance."
Ayane noticed—
Whenever casualties were mentioned, Woodpecker grew distant. His voice lost energy.
She didn't ask.
She simply memorized the details.
Recon First Squad…
Why did that name feel familiar?
Eagle, oblivious, skipped over.
"Swan! Teach me Body Flicker again today? I improved, right?"
She sneakily produced a notebook.
"Here—your sensory ninjutsu notes. I wrote about all my experiences. No secrets withheld! If I didn't like you, I wouldn't give it!"
Ayane smiled.
"Then thank you~"
The patrol was lax.
Plenty of time for training.
As the squad's only two girls, they naturally grew close.
Eagle thumped her chest.
"It's just a technique! When we get back to the village, I'll take you to the hot springs!"
Ayane chuckled.
"Deal. But now… let me see your progress."
The moment her voice fell—
She unsheathed Arankiri—scabbard included—and suddenly slashed toward Eagle!
Eagle panicked and awkwardly activated Body Flicker.
She barely dodged—
But upon landing, tripped on a branch and nearly faceplanted.
"Unfair! Swan!"
"Why is your blade so much faster than yesterday?!"
"Didn't we agree you'd only use fifty percent power?!"
"Ah?"
Ayane scratched her head innocently.
"Sorry. I recently had a small breakthrough in swordsmanship. Didn't control the strength well…"
Her gaze drifted subtly toward the invisible interface.
A new trait shimmered.
[New Trait: Kenjutsu Initiate!]