Arashi found himself in the Anbu changing room, standing before the locker that stood out. While the others were neatly arranged in rows of four, this locker stood alone, emanating an aura of fear that kept everyone at a distance.
Ironically, mirrors were positioned on either side of the locker, reflecting the image of Arashi Uchiha. Just like this solitary locker, he always stood out and remained alone. With a heavy sigh escaping his lips, Arashi unlocked both sides of the locker, revealing its contents. "It's been two years..." he muttered, his voice filled with sadness.
His gaze fell upon the pictures he had carefully hung inside. The faces of Shisui and Naruto, those he held dear in his life, occupied the prominent center spot. Surrounding them, on each side, were the images of his father, his mother whom he had never known, Jiraiya, and many more. Each picture represented a piece of his heart, a reminder of the people who had shaped him.
Lost in his thoughts, Arashi remembered when the third Hokage had taken him into the Anbu two years ago. "I was lost... I didn't have any value besides protecting him," he muttered, clenching his fists. Naruto's image flashed in his mind, a constant reminder of the person he wanted to protect above all.
His head dropped as he reflected on his challenges during those four years. "The Hokage... he thinks nothing of us... Naruto. You and I are mere tools to him," Arashi thought, anger seeping into his words. He knew the Hokage underestimated him, believing him oblivious to the truth. It was precisely why he found himself in the Anbu, chosen for his Rinnegan, another pawn in the old man's game.
Interrupting his thoughts, a hesitant voice called from the entrance, "C-captain? We're ready." Searching for Arashi, the shinobi cautiously approached his locker in the steam-filled locker room. But to their surprise, Arashi was nowhere to be found.
Confused, the shinobi felt a hand on their shoulder. Startled, they turned around to see Arashi standing behind them, his expression unreadable. "You're slow," he remarked coldly. "Try to keep up; if you can't, stay back. I don't need dead weight with me."
"Yes, sir!" the shinobi stammered, flustered by the sudden appearance of their captain.
At only twelve, Arashi possessed the composure of a seasoned captain, radiating an aura of authority that belied his age. His Rinnegan gleamed with power and determination as he left the locker room. His uniform was pristine, and each weapon symbolized trust and legacy: a katana from his father, refined by his mentor Kakashi; Shisui's tanto, held sacred and untouched.
His mask, a wolf's visage with a black base, fierce red eyes, and swirling gold markings, was more than concealment; it was his identity as the youngest Anbu captain, a prodigy marked by the wolf's cunning and strength. The vibrant red tassel on the mask was a splash of color, a subtle hint of his youth amidst the starkness of his role. With each step, the kunai at his wrist whispered of his readiness, a constant reminder of his duty.
A bolt of lightning splits the sky, illuminating the training grounds. In that fleeting moment, Arashi saw his handpicked team, a squad of four elite Anbu, assembled and awaiting his command.
"We're ready to go, Captain!" they declared in unison.
With a nod, Arashi flickered ahead, leading his team out of the village. They moved with incredible speed and stealth, their movements fluid and silent as they traversed the dense forest. All four followed Arashi's lead, but they trailed far behind him. This was normal. After all, even the Anbu members were wary of Arashi's immense power and unpredictable nature.
'We're going to the borders of the Land of Fire, near Takigakure.' Arashi focused on the mission details. 'We've been monitoring an uprising of terrorist groups, all led by one man. He travels from village to village, calling himself the 'savior.'
Arashi frowned. 'His M.O. is fraud. He orders his men to create problems, economic, violent, and medical, for a week or so, and then when he arrives, he miraculously "solves" them.'
He paused, contemplating the man's tactics. 'He may call himself the savior; some may even call him a messiah, but to me, he's just another target.' Arashi sped up, a sense of urgency propelling him forward. 'He should've stopped before I was called.'
It wasn't long before Arashi had outpaced his squad. Even for Anbu, his speed was remarkable. He stopped, allowing them a chance to catch up.
"Let's take a two-minute break," he announced. "You've been losing momentum."
"Yes, sir!" they replied, grateful for the respite. "Also..." Arashi trailed off, his eyes narrowing.
Thud! All three Anbu collapsed without warning. Only Arashi remained standing.
He swiftly moved his unconscious teammates, concealing them amongst the trees. 'I've put them in a genjutsu,' he thought. 'I can't afford to waste time. I'll have to go all-out.'
He gathered the three Anbu together, ensuring they were hidden from view.
"The old man tries to control my life," he muttered, his voice tight with frustration. "Every decision I make, he tries to force himself into it. Anyway, enough about them. We have a mission, and I want to be back in the next few hours."
With a swift hand seal, he created a shadow clone. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"That said..." Arashi addressed his clone, "I'm far stronger than I used to be, so it's only a matter of tolerance at this point."
Arashi held out his hand, channeling a surge of chakra. "Summoning Jutsu!" he commanded.
Poof! A whirlwind of smoke erupted around him, concealing his form.
"Sora. Up," he muttered, his voice barely audible above the rushing wind.
Whoosh! The smoke cleared, revealing a magnificent creature perched beside him. Sora resembled a bird of prey, its sleek form covered in dark feathers tipped with shimmering silver. Its talons were massive, easily twice the size of any man, and when it spread its wings, a mesmerizing sight was revealed: dozens of Rinnegan eyes lined the underside, each one pulsing with power.
Sora let out a chilling cry that echoed through the forest, rattling the trees and sending a shiver down the spines of any creature within earshot.
With a single, mighty flap of its wings, Sora ascended into the sky, carrying Arashi towards the mission's objective.