"Restricted area. Unauthorized personnel, keep out!"
The so-called ANBU—short for Special Assassination and Tactical Squad—was a covert force established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
Directly under the Hokage's command, they handled sensitive missions and the protection of Konoha.
But the moment Hakken kicked aside two guards like they were nothing...
The ANBU operative, now on the ground, adjusted his mask and barked out his warning with feigned righteousness.
Restricted area? Unauthorized personnel?
What a joke of a village.
"I'm here for someone. Where is Anko Mitarashi being held?"
With a light leap, Hakken landed in front of the downed operative and drove a kick into his chest.
The cold edge of his Zanpakutō pressed against the man's throat. There wasn't a trace of panic on Hakken's face. He wasn't the least bit flustered for breaking into ANBU territory—if anything, he looked eerily calm.
He'd already made a scene.
There was no turning back now.
He raised his blade.
And brought it down.
With a sickening crack, the Zanpakutō pierced clean through the man's hand.
At this point in time, ANBU had only recently been restructured.
Their direct commander was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Which meant most of the so-called ANBU guards were barely Chūnin level.
To Hakken Yoru, that kind of strength wasn't even a threat.
"I don't want to make this any worse for you."
"Where's Anko?"
Standing over the downed ninja, Hakken slowly twisted the blade embedded in his hand.
The searing pain of torn flesh and splintered bone pushed the man's body to its limit.
And just like he said—Hakken wasn't here to pick a fight.
But if this guy kept his mouth shut, he had no issue taking him out and asking the next one.
Every second wasted meant Anko could be enduring something far worse than this.
If he didn't get the answer he needed, his fury would burn through any restraint.
Why had ANBU taken Anko?
It didn't take much for Hakken to figure it out.
Pair that with the whispers he heard from villagers on the way in, and it all clicked.
Orochimaru.
He'd defected—earlier than expected.
That part had caught him off guard.
He didn't care why. But ANBU was clearly trying to extract information about Orochimaru from Anko—and were using methods far beyond standard protocol. It was something even the original timeline hinted at.
Hakken had gone on a mission.
And while he was away, they took his sister.
This was rage that came from the core of his being.
"Cell Five…"
As the young ANBU's vision blurred, he caught a glimpse of the blade raised high above him. Desperate to survive, he gave up the answer.
From his perspective, it wasn't even classified information. Not worth dying over.
If he died, that'd be the end of everything.
But what he couldn't understand was—how could this boy carry such terrifying killing intent all the way here?
This was Konoha.
Was he seriously planning to go on a killing spree in Konoha?
Cell Five?
Hakken stepped off him, briefly sensing the approaching surge of chakra from afar, then let out a cold snort and charged into the ANBU base.
Many came to block his path.
But once this demon entered combat mode—no one could stop him.
Forget Kakashi Hatake being off guarding Kushina Uzumaki—even if he was here, Hakken Yoru wouldn't flinch.
Anko could be suffering right now.
That alone was enough for him to fight through everything, even if it meant taking wounds in return.
Boom!
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
With a furious kick, the door to Cell Five burst open—and the sight inside finally eased Hakken's tightly wound nerves.
Anko sat there, heavy cuffs locked around her wrists.
Across from her was a still-young Ibiki Morino, his face not yet marred by scars, calmly questioning her.
"Who are you?"
At the sight of Hakken, Ibiki instinctively tensed.
He didn't let the boy's small stature fool him.
That blade in his hand was still dripping fresh blood onto the floor, and the aura radiating from him was like that of a demon. Feeling shaken was only natural.
"Brother?"
Anko blinked, staring at the boy in front of her with confusion. There was a flicker of unfamiliarity in her eyes—but the moment she noticed the blood dripping from his sword, that uncertainty vanished. She suddenly thrashed in her seat, trying to stand.
"What did you do to my brother?! He doesn't know anything about Orochimaru!"
This woman... was her first instinct seriously to think he was the one being hurt?
Hakken let out a sheepish grin as he walked over and casually shattered the iron cuffs around her wrists.
"Let's go, sis. We're going home."
He helped Anko up, and finally, Hakken let out a breath of relief.
Judging by her condition, she hadn't been subjected to Genjutsu interrogation yet.
He'd made it in time.
"Stop!"
A voice rang out behind them. Ibiki had drawn a kunai, glaring hard at the two.
"She's a suspect."
Swish!
Swish!
Two arcs of steel flashed through the air—Ibiki felt a sudden chill across his face, and instinctively staggered back in shock.
He hadn't even seen the strikes coming.
"Suspect, my ass."
With his Zanpakutō slung across his back, the boy walked forward step by step, Anko at his side, moving toward the faint light at the end of the corridor.
Her hand gripped tightly in her brother's warm palm, Anko realized something.
None of that blood belonged to Hakken.
He had come for her.
With him here, everything would be okay.