---
Return to Konoha
The Hokage's tower loomed like a silent sentinel as I stepped inside.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, pipe smoke curling in the still air. His eyes were sharper than before.
"Arashi, your handling of the Cloud incident was… unconventional," he said, setting the pipe aside. "But it worked. And now, I have something else for you."
"Another mission?" I asked.
"Something bigger. I want you… in ANBU."
---
Joining the Shadows
I froze. ANBU—the Hokage's personal black ops, ghosts of the village.
"Why me?"
Hiruzen smiled faintly. "Because you think differently. And because… Konoha will need someone like you in the days ahead."
I glanced at Hana, who had quietly entered the office as my medic-nin representative. She smiled faintly, clearly proud.
"Fine," I said. "But I want my own squad."
The Hokage's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "You choose them?"
"Yes. People I can trust."
---
Recruitment
That evening, I reviewed files of potential operatives.
Kai: A taijutsu specialist known for brutal efficiency.
Sera: A sensory-type with a rare mind-reading technique.
Ren: A ninjutsu expert who once trained under the legendary Jiraiya.
Jin: A genjutsu specialist with unmatched stealth.
And finally… Hana.
"You're adding yourself to ANBU?" she said, half teasing.
"No," I said firmly. "I'm adding us."
---
First Briefing
The newly formed squad knelt in the ANBU operations room, wearing blank masks except mine—the Storm Mask, engraved with lightning patterns.
"From now on, we are Storm Division," I said. "Our mission: eliminate threats before they reach our village walls."
A silent nod came from everyone, even Hana, now wearing her own mask—an elegant one shaped like a flower.
---
Foreshadowing
Hiruzen entered the room, handing me a sealed scroll.
"Your first mission as ANBU commander begins tomorrow. Target: unknown group interfering with Leaf trade routes."
I took the scroll, feeling the weight of my choices.
This wasn't just survival anymore. This was power—and responsibility.
---
Cliffhanger
That night, Hana approached as we stood on the Hokage monument overlooking the village.
"You've changed, Arashi," she said softly. "But promise me something."
"What's that?" I asked.
"Don't lose who you are… no matter what ANBU turns you into."
For the first time, I didn't have