NARUTO: GOD LEVEL FORGING SYSTEM

Sunflower, Qing, and Haidao stood together, observing the young captain before them.

Seeing that he was slightly shorter than himself, Captain Mink—who was only twelve years old—found the moment laced with an awkward silence.

"Are you Captain Mink?"

The girl codenamed Sunflower was the first to break it.

"That's right."

Kazuki nodded, his response concise.

"Follow me."

Sunflower, Qing, and Haidao fell in line behind Kazuki as he led them to an open area within the Anbu stronghold. There, he removed the mask from his face.

Beneath it was a strikingly handsome visage, still carrying traces of youthful sharpness.

Anbu operatives were required to wear masks during missions to conceal their identities. Many even kept them on while within Anbu's base, simply out of habit. Over time, it became common practice for most Anbu members to remain masked.

However, before leading them into battle, Kazuki needed to establish a preliminary understanding with his team. That was why he chose to remove his mask.

"Wha—"

Sunflower quickly clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle her reaction.

Captain Mink was too good-looking!

She had heard rumors about him in Anbu, and she knew he was only twelve. But she had not expected him to be this striking. Such a handsome face hidden behind a mask—it almost felt like a crime.

She couldn't help but think it was a shame.

"As the captain of this team, I'll introduce myself first," Kazuki began, his tone steady.

"My name is Kazuki. I am twelve years old. My Anbu codename is 'Mink,' and from now on, that is how you will address me. I specialize in Taijutsu and the use of ninjutsu tools. When you introduce yourselves, mention the ninjutsu you excel at as well. It will make it easier for us to coordinate in battle."

Though young, he carried himself with a composure and authority that commanded respect.

At that moment, all three members of his team shared the same thought—

This captain is no ordinary twelve-year-old.

One by one, they removed their masks, revealing their faces.

The man codenamed Haidao stepped forward first.

"My name is Hyūga Shinobu. I am twenty-two years old, and my codename is Haidao. I am a member of the Hyūga clan. With the Byakugan, I specialize in Jūken and reconnaissance."

Next was the man named Qing.

"My name is Aburame Saku. I am twenty years old. My codename is Qing. I hail from the Aburame clan and specialize in insect-based techniques and intelligence gathering."

Lastly, the female ninja codenamed Sunflower introduced herself.

In a soft voice, she said,

"My name is Moonlight Kuizi. I am seventeen years old, and my codename is Sunflower. I come from the Moonlight clan, possess a kekkei genkai, and specialize in reconnaissance and kenjutsu."

Kazuki was already familiar with the Hyūga and Aburame clans. However, his knowledge of the Moonlight clan was limited. The only one he recalled from the original records was Moonlight Hayate—the sickly yet skilled kenjutsu user.

"What's your relationship with Jōnin Moonlight Hayate?" Kazuki asked offhandedly.

"Huh? Captain, you actually know my brother?" Kuizi's lips curled into a small smile, revealing her slightly pronounced canines. "I'm Moonlight Hayate's younger sister."

Kazuki gave a small nod. It didn't really matter to him who they were.

In his squad, the only thing that mattered was that they followed orders.

With that, he proceeded to the mission department and retrieved a mission scroll. Since this was a newly formed team, Anbu regulations restricted their first assignment to a B-rank mission. Though he would have preferred an A-rank mission, he had no choice but to set that thought aside for now.

"All of you are skilled shinobi. I won't waste time on training exercises. I believe actual combat is the best way to build teamwork. I've already accepted a mission, so we're moving out now."

A quiet intensity burned in Kazuki's gaze.

Sunflower, Qing, and Haidao had already heard stories of their young captain's strength. Not long ago, he had defeated Yamato, the leader of the Second Assassination Unit.

There was no room for doubt.

Without hesitation, the three of them lowered their heads in unison and responded,

"Yes, Captain!"

Kazuki put on his mask once more, an almost imperceptible smile forming at the corner of his lips.

As expected, his battle with Yamato had been highly effective. Demonstrating his strength had saved him a great deal of trouble. Now, before anyone dared to question him, they would first have to measure their own power and determine whether they had the strength to challenge him.

Just like his three subordinates now.

They knew all too well that none of them were a match for Kazuki, so they didn't dare to voice any objections.

Good.

It seemed that among the three members of his squad, there were no reckless fools.

Kazuki was quite satisfied with the composition of his team. Judging by the personnel assigned, it was clear that the village's higher-ups had started to take notice of him. He had been entrusted with valuable manpower.

The Hyuga Clan, the Aburame Clan, and the Moonlight Clan—three prestigious families, each excelling in reconnaissance.

With these three, even without deploying his mechanical mice, Kazuki could efficiently gather intelligence within a several-kilometer radius. If they detected any abnormalities, he could immediately decide whether to engage or retreat, ensuring the survival of the entire squad.

For most Anbu teams, having even one sensor-type ninja was a luxury. Their survival often depended on pure combat ability rather than intelligence-gathering.

But Kazuki's team had three elite sensors at his disposal.

Clearly, Kakashi, after witnessing Kazuki's strength, had taken an interest in his growth.

"Alright, all provisions are packed, and our ninja gear is ready. Let's move out."

Before setting off, Kazuki addressed his team.

"During the mission, remain vigilant at all times. Don't let anything shake your composure—staying calm is the top priority for an Anbu ninja. If your performance doesn't meet my expectations, you're out. I don't tolerate dead weight in my squad. Understood? Now, let's move."

Unknowingly, a commanding presence had begun to emanate from Kazuki—a mark of a true leader.

After several days of travel, Kazuki and his Anbu team arrived in the Land of Hot Water.

For three months, Konoha's spies stationed in the region had failed to report back. Kazuki's mission was to uncover their fate.

As an Anbu captain, he had done his homework before departure.

When an undercover agent ceases communication for this long, the odds are high that something has gone terribly wrong.

The Land of Hot Water lay just east of the Land of Fire. A small, politically neutral nation, it was far safer to traverse compared to war-torn territories.

Even so, Kazuki remained cautious.

After briefing his team on protocol, they proceeded toward the spies' hidden outpost.

Near the famed hot spring town of Yunokuni, the squad arrived at a modest wooden tavern.

Kazuki, along with Sunflower, Qing, and Haidao, took a seat at a table. Moments later, a clerk approached.

"I'll have a hot spring egg," Kazuki ordered, his voice steady.

"I want one with a liquid egg white and a solidified yolk."

The clerk stiffened, an awkward smile twitching at his lips.

"Guest, you must be joking. That's not how hot spring eggs work—yolks don't solidify while the whites remain liquid."

Kazuki was about to respond, but Qing spoke first.

"Let's go. This isn't the place."

Kazuki halted him with a subtle gesture, signaling for him to remain seated. Then, he turned back to the clerk with an easy smile.

"There is such a hot spring egg. It's just that not many people have seen it before. You're young—I don't blame you for not knowing."

"Could you ask your boss to come out?"

The clerk hesitated briefly before nodding.

"Of course. Please wait a moment."

With that, he quickly disappeared into the back of the store.

A hot spring egg—liquid egg white, solid yolk.

This was the passcode Konoha's spies used in the Land of Hot Water.

The meeting point was within the hot spring district, and the phrase was designed so that even if they contacted the wrong person, it would not immediately arouse suspicion.

The lack of a proper response meant one thing: something was wrong.

And now, leaving abruptly would only make them look even more suspicious.

Kazuki and his team remained seated, waiting.

Visit patreon.com/shirokendama for more chapters