Chapter 14: Induction and Codename
"Other arrangements? Could it be…? No, probably not. Whatever it is, I'll wait until Jiraiya-sensei returns to ask about it."
Minato walked calmly out of the Hokage Tower. As he glanced back at the top floor, where the lights of the Hokage's office still burned, a hint of contemplation flickered in his clear blue eyes.
Kakashi's father, Sakumo Hatake, was indeed one of the senior shinobi Minato deeply respected. In his earlier years, Minato had received guidance and support from the man known as the White Fang of the Leaf. However, the idea of bringing Kakashi under his wing hadn't originated from him—it had been a parting request from his teacher, Jiraiya, before he left the village.
Strictly speaking, Sakumo was even a senior to the Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.
Though Kakashi was widely acknowledged as a prodigy—having made Chūnin at just eight years old—he was still a child. After Sakumo's suicide, Jiraiya believed that Minato was the ideal person to guide Kakashi forward, especially given the younger boy's turbulent emotions and the burden he now carried. And Minato, for his part, was more than willing to help—not only for Sakumo's sake, but for Kakashi himself.
It was just unfortunate that the Hokage had already made other arrangements—though Minato had no way of knowing that Kakashi himself had volunteered for them. Ironically, had Kakashi not stepped forward on his own, Sarutobi might have placed him directly under Minato's command from the start.
In the ninja village hierarchy, aside from the master-disciple bond, there was no relationship closer than being part of someone's direct squad. That's why, in the original timeline, Obito Uchiha's placement in Minato's squad was seen by many fans as a symbol of goodwill from the Hokage toward the Uchiha clan—or at least as a gesture of appeasement.
Such arrangements were no small matter. Even though Minato hadn't taken on any official disciples, the moment Kakashi, Obito, and Rin became members of his team, they effectively became the core of the so-called "Minato faction."
Sadly, in the original timeline, Obito "died," and the Uchiha clan gradually spiraled toward extremism—eventually being pushed off the cliff by their own. All of that rendered this symbolic bond meaningless.
But in this new life, Kakashi had already stepped onto a completely different path.
Whatever the fates of others may be, Kakashi—and those he influences—are bound to change. Whether for better or worse, only time will tell.
But one thing is certain:
The boy named Kakashi Hatake will never regret his choices.
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"Forty minutes. Still within the time limit."
In a dimly lit underground hall—the training facility of the Anbu—Kakashi stood there, bloodied and disheveled, but calm. He tossed the item retrieved during his mission nonchalantly toward the cat-masked Anbu standing across from him.
His breath was slightly ragged, and a chilling aura lingered around him, though his expression remained steady.
The cat-masked Anbu's eyes narrowed with surprise.
Honestly—truly—he hadn't expected this.
Orders had already come down: regardless of the outcome, Kakashi was to be accepted into the Anbu today. The so-called test was more of a formality. A tradition.
No one had expected an eight-year-old—no matter how talented—to actually complete it.
And yet, Kakashi not only completed the task—he finished ahead of schedule.
This wasn't just any mission; it was one that many full-fledged Anbu operatives would struggle to complete in time. It was a threshold—a benchmark—and Kakashi had shattered it.
Even injured as he was, the boy had proven himself.
The cat-masked Anbu had originally planned to put this cocky prodigy in his place, to humble him a little before inducting him. But now? That idea had evaporated.
Instead, he regarded Kakashi with genuine respect—for the boy had earned it.
In the world of shinobi, things were brutally simple:
Age and status meant nothing. Only strength mattered.
Kakashi had just proven he had what it took to be one of them.
The Anbu gave a firm nod. "You've passed the assessment. From this moment, you're a member of my squad. Welcome to the Anbu, Kakashi Hatake."
"Yes, Captain."
Kakashi stood up straighter, giving a formal bow. Despite his youth, his demeanor was unshakable.
Anyone capable of leading an Anbu squad had to possess at least jōnin—or more often, tokubetsu jōnin—level strength. From the very first moment they met, Kakashi had sensed a low, persistent danger from this individual—a pressure that only those who lived in the shadows could exude.
And now this person was his commanding officer.
"In the Anbu, we are shadows among shadows," the captain continued, hands folded behind his back as he stared directly at Kakashi. "This will be the last time I call you by name. During missions, there is no past, no identity, no personal ties. Only orders and the mission. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good. Follow me to collect your equipment. Also… my codename is Black Hawk. From now on, you'll be known only by your codename during missions. Choose one."
Kakashi walked beside him in silence for a moment, then replied calmly, "Call me Shadow."
"Shadow, huh?"
Black Hawk glanced at him sidelong, thoughtful for a moment.
They arrived at the armory, a well-secured room containing rows of standardized gear.
"This is the full Anbu loadout," Black Hawk explained. "When outside the village, it goes without saying—but even when performing patrols or surveillance within Konoha, full gear is mandatory. Orders are absolute."
"Yes. Understood, not as Kakashi… but as Shadow."
After only the briefest pause, Kakashi gave his formal response—cold and precise.
"Good. You're dismissed for today. Starting tomorrow, you'll begin rotating missions. When not on assignment, continue your daily routine as usual. And remember—your identity as a member of the Anbu is top secret. Only the Hokage,
your squad leader, and I have clearance to know. No one else. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."