After submitting her completed registration form, Amamiya Ayane received a black-and-red oni mask.
As for her custom Black Swan mask—
That would take about a week. An ANBU craftsman would have to make it to order. For now, there was no time to wait.
[You have obtained a new Title!]
The moment her fingers touched the ANBU mask, a faint notification flickered across her vision.
Ayane didn't rush to inspect it. Instead, she followed Woodpecker to the supply depot to collect her combat gear and Military Rations Pills.
Though she was only a rookie—
ANBU was generous when it came to "workplace benefits."
Ten high-grade explosive tags.
Five kunai and five shuriken forged from refined steel.
Standard-issue ANBU smoke bombs, signal flares, and more.
Altogether, the supplies were worth roughly twenty thousand ryō.
Given the ongoing war, their black-market value was likely several times higher.
"Your equipment quota refreshes every month," Woodpecker said calmly. "Previously issued items won't be reclaimed. They're yours to handle. In the future, you can come collect them yourself."
He paused, then added in a lower voice:
"If you come right before the end of the month, you might get a few extra explosive tags. No one will say anything."
Ayane blinked in realization.
Personal ownership. End-of-month inventory clearance.
So this was ANBU's hidden employee benefit.
She nodded.
Woodpecker might seem cold and taciturn—but he took care of his own.
By the time everything was processed, dusk had fallen.
The woodpecker had no intention of resting. He led Ayane straight out of the village, heading east through the night.
ANBU truly operated with authority.
At the village gates, Woodpecker didn't even bother showing identification. A court "ANBU emergency mission" brushed aside the guards.
Ayane clearly saw—
He hadn't even slowed down.
Ordinary gate guards ranked somewhere below speed bumps in ANBU's hierarchy.
After traveling nearly a hundred li, night had deepened into pitch-black darkness. The last traces of civilization vanished.
Only then did the Woodpecker slow.
"Rest. I'll take my first watch. We move at dawn."
He made no attempt to pitch a tent or start a fire.
Instead, he leapt into a tree and settled on a thick branch for the night.
"I'll take the first watch—" Ayane began.
"No need," he cut her off coldly. "You're a fresh graduate. I don't trust you."
"…."
Rejected outright.
Ayane climbed another leafy tree nearby.
She bit into a Military Rations Pills, ignoring the dry, awful taste, and whispered in her mind:
"Status panel."
The interface appeared.
[New Title: Amegakure ANBU Member!]
[Quality: Green]
[Description: If you wear a mask long enough, you'll forget the face beneath it.]
[Effect: While wearing an ANBU mask, your Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu power increases by 15%.]
[Reward: 1000 freely assignable Achievement Points!]
One thousand points!
Jackpot!
Ignoring the slightly ominous description, Ayane focused on the reward.
Her total Achievement Points now stood at 2111.
The titles Genin and ANBU had granted her 1800 combined.
Since gaining her "cheat," she had never been this wealthy.
She also noticed something interesting.
[Genin]: While wearing an Amegakure forehead protector, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu power +10%.
[ANBU]: While wearing an ANBU mask, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu power +15%.
Which meant—
As long as she wore both a forehead protector and mask, the effects stacked.
A full 25% boost.
So—
If she advanced to Chunin, Jonin, or rose through ANBU ranks…
There would likely be new titles.
And if all titles stacked—
Then once the war ended, if she somehow earned honorary recognition from other villages…
Collected "Friendly Envoy of XX Village" headbands…
Stacked them all—
Wouldn't she eventually hit 100% amplification?
Every jutsu a critical hit?!
A wicked grin tugged at her lips.
Su Qin once wore the seals of six states—
Why couldn't Amamiya Ayane wear the headbands of five villages?
If stacking worked, she'd wrap them around her arms in rows if necessary.
Quantity could compensate for quality!
Doubt Danzo.
Understand Danzo.
Become Danzo.
"Swan, control your breathing."
Woodpecker's voice cut through her excitement less than ten seconds later.
"I know rookies get emotional before their first battlefield deployment. But we're ANBU. We don't indulge in such vivid emotions."
Her grin vanished instantly.
Thankfully, the mask hid her embarrassment.
"My codename isn't Swan. It's Black Swan."
She didn't correct his assumption—just the name.
Woodpecker replied flatly:
"Ah. My mistake. Black Swan."
Three characters. He'd handed in the form himself.
And he forgot?
Could he sound any less sincere?
Ayane suddenly understood how Nagano must have felt being brushed off.
The conversation died instantly.
Silence returned.
She turned her attention back to the panel.
Now that she was rich—
Time to spend.
The rainbow trait [Outsider] couldn't be upgraded. Pass.
The purple trait [Dilute Uzumaki Bloodline] required 20,000 points. Also pass.
That left three:
White — [Ninja Tool Throwing]
White — [Basic Combat]
Green — [Beginner Ninjutsu Mastery]
All useful.
None transformative.
Ayane didn't deliberate long.
Balanced development it is.
She gritted her teeth and dumped 2000 Achievement Points in one go—
Allocating 500, 500, and 1000 respectively.
The Shinobi World War awaited.
Any improvement could mean survival.
After all—
The greatest tragedy in life
Is dying with unspent money.