Suspense and anticipation filled the air as each of those present waited to hear Fuzen's choice.

They all knew it wasn't a simple matter either since it had the potential to cause a shift in the internal structure within the village. If Danzo managed to lure Fuzen to join Root, his future influence would surely increase by a significant margin.

Respect for individual power might be a common trait shared between all hidden villages, but it didn't always matter in the grand scheme of things. What mattered in politics was having the right connections and backing. Without it, the execution and implementation of personal agendas would forever remain dreams.

In a setting like a hidden village, the degree of military potential under one's command was crucial. In case Fuzen followed his current trajectory, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume he'd become a major asset.

Impatient for an answer, Hiruzen removed his pipe to speak. "Well, have you decided?"

Noticing a random piece of rubble laying on the floor, a leftover from his previous fight, Fuzen kicked and sent it flying towards Hiruzen's head.

By tilting his head to the side, Hiruzen avoided it with annoying ease.

"Take a chill pill or something! I'm thinking here..."

He studied the marks of destruction created during his spar with Orochimaru. It'd felt fantastic to let go, but throughout the fight, he'd sensed there was still much of his power left untouched and unexplored. Hidden deep down a place where he wasn't yet able to reach.

Whatever path Fuzen chose, it had to allow him to someday reach that place and he suspected the easiest path would be to take an active part in the Second Great Shinobi War.

With that in mind, he quickly eliminated the first option. There was no way Fuzen intended to babysit a team of genin's and be confined to complete D or C-rank missions. It would be a waste of his skills, and that left the other two options.

"Ok, I've decided. I'm choosing Anbu."

"Excellent." Hiruzen nodded in approval.

Danzo, on the other hand, remained detached, as usual, and nothing appeared changed even after hearing his choice. It made Fuzen uncomfortable.

The tactics employed by Root simply didn't suit his purposes due to them often being centred around the use of covertness and deception to control events from behind. Never truly on the front line where the continual battles could be fought. Fuzen wanted to be a place that allowed him to partake in the war efforts as much as possible, and continue to temper his skills in the heat of combat.

Hiruzen stood from his chair. "Ok, ladies and gentlemen, that's it for today's show! I hope you've all enjoyed it."

With the crowd leaving, Hiruzen indicated for Fuzen to accompany him as he left through a hidden exit.

Giving Danzo one last look, he waved goodbye and moved to catch up.

"We need to discuss terms, old man!"

"Terms? What terms? You will be under the same contract as all my other Anbu's."

"Don't put me in the same category as those. I've good mad skills."

Hiruzen stopped walking and turned to face him in the narrow corridor. "Mad skills, huh?"

"You're damn straight!" Fuzen nodded confidently.

Hiruzen leaned down, attempting to look ominous. "And what if I say, no?"

Fuzen appeared to give it serious thought.

"That's what I suspected. I know you're here because you want to be. If you want money, all you need to do is complete the missions I provide you!"

"Tsh. Why do you have to act so rational? It doesn't suit you."

Hiruzen went on ahead. "Because it's my job as Hokage. Now, let's go meet your squad leader, she should be expecting us."

"Hey, hold up! You better not hold back on the missions then! I need the money..."

"What in the world do you need money for anyway? Your rent and expenses should be next to nothing as it is."

Fuzen shook his head. "I have to prepare for the future, isn't that obvious?"

"In your specific case, the obvious often eludes me."

Reaching the end of the corridor, Hiruzen stopped and did the Seal of Confrontation. In response, a circular sealing formula extended on the wall. Extending left palm, Hiruzen touched the wall, causing a hole that rippled and formed into a doorway leading into his office.

"Follow me."

Stepping through, they found a female Anbu waiting beside the desk. She had blond hair collected in a sleek ponytail and wore a cat mask with three black whisker-like markings.

"Ah, good you're here Akata. I trust you've recovered well since your return from yesterday's mission?"

"Yes, Hokage. The medical-nin's have taken excellent care of me."

"Good to hear." Going around the table to sit in his chair, he pointed to Fuzen. "This is the new recruit I mentioned."

With pale blue eyes, Akata observed him. "He's young. Are you sure he's prepared for the field?"

Hiruzen waited and allowed Fuzen to answer himself.

"Time will show," he shrugged. "I understand you've already been briefed about me and my abilities. I see no reason to add anything further, my qualifications stand by themselves. Action will always speak louder than words ever will."

"At least, you have the correct mental attitude. That's enough for now."

Opening his desk drawer, Hiruzen took out a scroll and pitched it to Akata. "Here's your mission scroll, best of luck."

She gave a slight bow in respect to the Hokage. "If there's nothing else, we're going to leave."

"No, you're both dismissed!"

Exiting the Hokage's Office building, it didn't take more than a few minutes walk to reach a small inconspicuous building with no windows that appeared connected to the mountainside of the Hokage Rock.

"Welcome to the Anbu Headquarters," she gestured and climbed the steep wooden steps leading to the entryway.

Behind the sliding double doors was a single unfurnished room devoid of life. Undisturbed, she advanced to stand in front of the cliff wall and performed a couple of slow deliberate hand seals ending with the Seal of Confrontation. Just like previously appeared a circular sealing pattern, however, this one was more extensive.

"Come here. Direct chakra to your palm and extend it towards the seal."

Doing as ordered, Fuzen reached out channelling chakra into his left palm, which made a pathway ripple open.

"You're now keyed into the seal and can pass whenever you want by performing the Seal of Confrontation. You saw my earlier sequence of seals, correct?"

"Yeah, it wasn't as if you were hiding them."

"Those are used to integrate the chakra signature of new Anbu members. Don't use them without explicit permission from the Hokage."

"Sure thing..." Fuzen responded.

Passing through, Fuzen found a receiving area guarded by bird-masked male Anbu who greeted them as they passed and continued down the low-lit hall until reaching the in-house armoury.

"We're here to collect the equipment for the new recruit Gaijin."

Behind a counter protected by steel bars was another male Anbu, who after hearing her request gazed down the list of recent orders.

"Sign here." He passed the list out from under the bars along with a pen and indicated a dotted line.

Going out the back, he returned carrying a large box and barely managed to push it out from under the bars.

Taking the list in hand, he repeated the order. "A black coloured forehead protector. Three sets of standard uniform, one black cloak, one ninjato and a custom-made mask. Everything has been made to fit –" he looked down at him.

"What? Say it. I dare you!" Expecting the other Anbu's next words.

"Someone of your stature," came the reply.

"How weak..."

With his equipment in hand, Fuzen left.

Showing Fuzen to the changing rooms, Akata gave him five minutes to get dressed. She told him they had one last thing to do before he could join her squad on tomorrows mission.

It was a simple dressing room with private wooden lockers on each side and a bench in the middle, splitting the room in two. His was placed at the far left corner and had the name, Gaijin, written. Putting down the box, Fuzen began to change his clothes. Replacing the normal wear with one of the new sets of Anbu uniforms he'd received. Noticing the interior mirror attached to the locker door, he inspected himself.

At the most recent check-up with Tsunade, he measured 4.3 feet, considerably taller than other kids in the same age group. He and Kushina were about the same height, while Tsunade beat him by 1 foot. Aided by exorbitant life force and still rising chakra levels Fuzen was maturing faster, and Tsunade had estimated him to be about seven years old.

He still looked like a kid, but his features were becoming sharper. Muscles had started to show, become more defined and most important of all, he detected definite improvements in his nether regions. The beast was growing. Depending on when his teenage years kicked in, Fuzen predicted he might be able to start experiencing some of the true joys in life sooner than first expected.

It was one of the primary reason's he'd asked Hiruzen for extra money. If things went as expected a bigger apartment was definitely needed, and of course a specially ordered bed with space for at least three people. From experience, he knew these things didn't come cheap.

Stepping closer to the mirror, Fuzen honed in on his golden eyes glowing even brighter compared to usual. The end result, when put together with his curly mane of dark hair and brown skin, was an exotic quality, almost feral even.

Equipping the ninjato onto his back, he grabbed the last missing piece and held it in front of him. A tiger-mask with black markings. Utilizing the same principles as when walking on vertical surfaces, he connected the mask. It fit perfectly, and Fuzen loved how menacing the eyes and two fangs made it appear.

When Fuzen came back out dressed in the Anbu uniform, he found Akata leaning against the wall in a casual pose playing idly with a kunai.

"Took you long enough. I was getting impatient, here!" She swung the kunai.

"Yeah, sorry about that." He tousled the hair at the back of his head with one hand and caught the kunai between two fingers using the other. "Lead on I'll follow."

She motioned for him to return the knife but he stuffed it down together with the rest in his pouch. "Finder's keeper...It's mine now."

Instead of arguing, she just walked down the hall.

"You never mentioned where you were taking me."

"You'll know when we get there," came her cryptic answer.