Naruto Birdcage

The effects of the anesthesia were gradually wearing off.

Obito felt as if he had just enjoyed a particularly restful sleep.

When he awoke, he was still lying on Orochimaru's operating table.

The difference was that he could once again feel the presence of his right arm.

Orochimaru was nearby, mixing some kind of solution.

Obito attempted to sit up, carefully examining his right arm.

Unlike the arm he'd had under Madara's care, this one felt brimming with power.

"Don't move," Orochimaru said, turning around and handing him a test tube filled with a green liquid.

"Drink this."

"…" Obito stared at the green liquid in the tube, feeling an odd sense of unease, but gritted his teeth and tipped it back into his mouth.

It wasn't bitter, nor did it have much taste, though it was a bit thick.

Exhaling deeply, Obito asked, "Lord Hokage, how am I doing?"

Orochimaru responded, "What's the matter? Can't you feel it for yourself?"

Obito glanced at his arm again and clenched his fist tightly.

"My arm..."

"Relax, it'll be even better than your original one."

At those words, Obito's heart settled, and he felt a surge of joy.

He swung his fist powerfully through the air, producing a sharp whooshing sound.

He then asked, "Does this mean I can train and be a ninja again, just like before?"

Orochimaru replied with a sly question of his own,

"Who's stopping you from being a ninja?"

Obito chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

He climbed down from the operating table and bowed deeply to Orochimaru.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"

Orochimaru gave a faint smile and handed him a roll of bandages and a scroll.

"Obito, you're special. Use this arm well, and don't let my efforts on you go to waste."

Obito unrolled the scroll for a quick glance and was stunned to find it contained instructions on several Wood Release techniques.

He was filled with suspicion and amazement. "This..."

Orochimaru said with a sly smile, "Consider it an additional gift from me."

Leaving Orochimaru's lab, Obito's newly-formed right arm was already wrapped in bandages, making it less conspicuous.

Imitating Kakashi's style, he wore his forehead protector tilted to cover his empty left eye socket.

Casting aside everything he couldn't figure out, Obito eagerly ran off to find Rin and Kakashi.

The three of them gathered at Ichiraku Ramen for a celebratory meal.

Obito declared that they were celebrating his recovery.

It wasn't long ago that the three had visited this place together, and Teuchi, the owner, still remembered the resilient young man who had defied death.

Back then, Obito was still missing an arm.

"Now we can go on missions together again," Rin said with a gentle smile.

"I'm going to apply to Lord Hokage right away so we can head to the frontlines," Obito added enthusiastically.

"Obito, the battles on the frontlines are already over.

Even Minato-sensei is about to return," Rin replied.

"Really?" Obito scratched his head, realizing he hadn't kept up with the latest news over the past few days.

Kakashi remained silent, quietly eating his ramen.

"Kakashi, why aren't you saying anything?" Obito asked, turning to him.

Then, his eyes darted around mischievously before he grinned.

"Kakashi, are you feeling threatened? Afraid I'll surpass you soon?"

Kakashi's expression stayed calm. "You should find another teammate."

Obito and Rin were both stunned.

Obito couldn't help but question, "Kakashi, what do you mean by that?"

Kakashi replied flatly, "I'm joining the Anbu. I won't be doing missions with you two anymore."

Obito and Rin exchanged puzzled looks.

Obito asked in confusion, "Kakashi, why would you suddenly want to join a place like that?"

Kakashi simply said, "The Anbu is a place where one can really hone their skills. I want to become stronger."

He then turned to Obito and added,

"Obito, if you want to protect the people around you, you'd better work hard and grow stronger.

Right now, you're incapable of doing anything."

Obito immediately became agitated.

"I don't need you to lecture me about that! I already know!"

He had been looking forward to fighting alongside Kakashi in the future, imagining the two of them carving out a name for themselves with their Sharingan.

He even fantasized about what their legendary titles might be—something as cool and renowned as their teacher Minato's.

But Kakashi's sudden decision to join the Anbu shattered those dreams in an instant.

"Kakashi, does Minato-sensei know about you joining the Anbu?" Rin hesitated and asked.

"This is my own decision. It has nothing to do with Minato-sensei," Kakashi replied.

"I'm already a Jonin, I know what I'm doing."

"Maybe, Kakashi, you should wait for Minato-sensei to return before..."

"I've said it already, this has nothing to do with Minato-sensei."

Rin wanted to persuade Kakashi further but was coldly interrupted by him.

Obito, a little angry, said, "What's with your attitude? Rin's just trying to look out for you!"

Kakashi responded, "Obito, if you want to lecture me, become a Jonin first."

Kakashi left alone, and Obito, fuming in his seat, muttered,

"Did this guy take the wrong medicine or something?"

Rin watched Kakashi's retreating figure, a worried look in her eyes.

Her intuition told her that Kakashi seemed to be facing something on his own.

Though Obito was angry on the surface, he couldn't stop thinking about what Kakashi had just said.

Get stronger...

Did Kakashi think he was too weak?

Could he, someone weaker than him, really protect Rin well?

Obito felt like he understood Kakashi.

Maybe it was all the recent events that had shaken him.

He looked down at his right arm, now wrapped in bandages, and clenched his fist tightly.

Get stronger!

I must get stronger!

........

Kakashi arrived at the Hokage's office.

At this time, Makoto was handling village affairs.

"I'm here to report."

Makoto glanced up briefly and spoke, "Hakumen."

Suddenly, a figure in Anbu attire appeared in the office.

Makoto told Kakashi, "Follow Hakumen and report to him."

Kakashi nodded, then left with the Anbu.

The two of them descended the stairs and entered a room on the second floor.

"Hakumen."

It appeared to be a lounge, and three people were already there.

As they entered, the others greeted them.

Hakumen removed his mask, revealing a face similar in age to Kakashi's.

"This is the new member, Hatake Kakashi, who has been assigned to our squad by Lord Makoto."

Kakashi then noticed that the people in front of him were all from the Hyuga clan, each with Byakugan eyes.

"So, this is the famous Kakashi?" someone spoke up, and all eyes turned to Kakashi, scrutinizing him closely.

Hakumen opened a nearby storage cabinet and took out a uniform and mask.

"Your registration has already been processed, and these have been prepared for you in advance."

Hakumen then introduced the three people present, explaining that their squad, including Kakashi, had twelve members in total.

Some of them served beside the Hokage, while others were assigned to duties within the Hokage building.

Besides Kakashi, all of them were members of the Hyuga clan.

Kakashi felt a bit incredulous—this Anbu squad seemed rather unique.

Hakumen then said, "Our squad is a bit special, different from other Anbu squads. We don't need any code names; we just call each other by our real names."

Kakashi pondered for a moment before asking his first question:

"What kind of missions do we usually take?"

Hakumen replied, "The missions are personally assigned by Lord Makoto and Lord Hokage. When there are no missions, we serve as their personal bodyguards, and the twelve of us take turns on duty."

Personal bodyguards...

Hakumen chuckled, "What's wrong? Are you disappointed?"

Kakashi didn't deny it and nodded,

"I thought Anbu work would be much more dangerous than that of regular ninjas."

At that moment, one of the Hyuga clan members laughed aloud,

"Why the rush? Your wish will soon be fulfilled."

Hakumen added, "When you're with Lord Makoto, there's not much to do besides running errands and delivering messages. But when you're with Lord Hokage... well, let's just say, you'll get all the danger you wish for."

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