35 "Shopping" for scrolls.

Moving through the night at the top of roofs, and trees the cold breeze of night hit their bodies which made Rei shiver quite a bit. Rei followed his father blindly to where the anbu's H.Q. should be, to his surprised even the anbu H.Q. is located in the academy.

Rei questions the architecture of the academy on how exactly it was built to contain so many things that's hidden to normal people, he remembered how complicated the hidden leaf village is, just how crazy the person was who made the plans for this village so many secrets even the root might have a secret base somewhere that even the Third Hokage doesn't know.

Just how great is this village Rei mumbled in his mind in a sarcastic tone, well it wouldn't be a ninja village if there's not enough secret right. Walking through the academy they passed by the corridors a couple of second when they were sure that nobody's around Mokichi tapped on the wall in a set of patterns, which opened up a secret passage.

Rei: Dad is this the entrance to the anbu H.Q.?

Mokichi: Sure, it is one of the entrances to the H.Q. of anbu under the direct orders of the Third Hokage.

Rei: Just one?

Mokichi: Yeah, there's a lot of entrances to avoid the place being found out by other people the process of entering isn't the same for every entrance too.

Mokichi then proceeds wear a mask with its right half in oni design highlighted by red lines while the other half looked like a blank face after saying his piece, Mokichi then lead Rei inside the hidden passage.

Rei followed his father with a puzzled look, he spied around the passage but all he saw were flickering lights and at the end of it is the actual H.Q. with people walking around that wears a mask in their anbu uniforms some with a cold demeanor, some paying respects to his father which lead Rei to believe that his father is a high rank anbu, while the others keep their silence and went to do their own businesses.

Rei's not sure about this kind of environment usually the ultimate weapon his mom gave to him works and make the big sisters or big brothers stop and say hi and dote on him, which happens more to his sister since she's just in a different league compared to him.

But this places just seems so cold Rei wonders if he could fit in. In the end Rei didn't bother since it looked like the people here are just doing their own missions and protecting their identities is something they have to so they wouldn't implicate the people close to them, besides his good looks might just work on missions in the future or not since it makes him stand out.

Mokichi: Lord Hokage let you have an access on the resources of the anbu division, so here we are.

Rei: What can I do?

Mokichi: You have access on the anbu archives it has records of all things that usually cannot be accessed even in the hidden leaf archives it has information on people, techniques, theories and studies in basic nature transformation, medical ninjutsu and so on.

Rei: I can read those?

Mokichi: Yeah, but there are those that still needs to be approve for you to have access on like A-rank ninjutsu or S-rank ninjutsu or information on highly classified documents, anything that concerns highly classified files or information.

Rei: That's ok I'll be happy with C-ranks and B-ranks, besides I think C-ranks are the best for me right now since I can practice them a lot. But what can I do in the training rooms and grounds?

Mokichi: you can use any equipment there... There's a whole load of variety of weapons you can familiarize yourself with so you won't get surprise fighting against weird and unique opponents in the future, while the grounds can be used for sparring or training techniques it is very sturdy but it can't handle extremely strong A-rank and S-class ninjutsu.

After hearing all of his father's explanation he got himself identified in the anbu's desk but a mask and uniform weren't issued yet since he is not yet a bonafide anbu who takes missions in addition to that a uniform and mask is an anbu's identity which give them their sense of pride, value, and patriotism towards the hidden leaf which cannot just be given out randomly.

Rei didn't really care about the tengo mask reception guy's explanation but has to pretend that he is listening the whole time since there might just be something important, and whenever anything important comes up his attention heightens like when he is eager to hide his sweet snacks from his mother or when he is sneaking to find out where it is and eat some secretly.

The very first thing Rei asked the man if there are training methods for meditation and mind which he needs since the balance of his spiritual energy and physical energy are giving him some trouble.

The man answered him that the best ones are probably the training method of the Yamanaka family who focuses on mind techniques and mind reading but that would be impossible for him to get and the next best thing available even in the anbu squad are just deep meditation, and training for interrogation and resisting interrogation techniques which sharpens their mind. Mokichi heard the man's suggestion which made him worry for his son since he is only six years old and being expose to such things might just warped his mind.

Mokichi: Are you sure you want this Rei?

Rei: Maybe I'll take the interrogation thing in the future but I think I could make do with the Deep meditation for now.

When Rei saw his father's eye through the hole in the mask he was sure that his father didn't want him to learn interrogation techniques at such a young age and it isn't really logically sound for a child to learn it.

Mokichi: That's good, anything else.

Rei then asked for medicine books that could help him understand the medicine practice in this world along with medical ninjutsu but the man could only tell him that the books inside the anbu archives regarding medicine are highly classified and if he wants to learn medicine he could just go straight in hidden leaf's library.

But the medical techniques he is looking for that can be copied which are Healing technique the most basic, chakra scalpel, the mystical palm technique could only be learned in Hidden leaf's hospital if someone takes him as an apprentice. The man wondered why a child would be interested in such things since it requires chakra control that even some adults don't have.

Rei then took the copies of the medical ninjutsu and made a mental note to himself to visit the Hidden leaf's library and study hard since training the mind by studying would also work in strengthening his spiritual energy it would be hitting two birds with one stone.

Since Rei doesn't have full mastery in the water release yet like how it is being used by the canon characters like Kakashi without a nearby water source and still using high level water release with his average chakra, he knew that there must be a trick somewhere so he asked about books in water release and looked for a suitable technique to learn.

While the man looked for water nature basic, advance, expert, master transformation scrolls and notes Rei looked around on what kind of techniques could he still possibly learn since his affinity is water he has to learn more to increase his arsenal for combat.

Rei found the "water release: Hiding in Mist Technique" which is specially use for assassination but Rei wouldn't mind to use it to escape his opponents as well since he found a technique originating from village hidden by mist there should be more right.

Moments later Rei found C-rank "water release: Water Prison Technique" and a technique that should be considered a B-rank because of the difficulty in chakra control requirements it has "Water Release: Water Weapons".

Rei picked the B-rank water release technique to train his chakra control as well aside from that it doesn't require him to expend a large amount of chakra, Rei then remembered the ninjutsu his father used against the missing-nin he fought and thought for sure that's at least an A-rank maybe someday he'll learn it too.

After quite some time he tried to look for the techniques the second hokage had but failed, Rei then murmured to himself I guess Hokage stuff are just classified.

Looking at all the scrolls he asked his father.

Rei: Dad, what element should I learn?

Mokichi: You're thinking of mastering a new element... water is already flexible when you gain full mastery it could be strong in defense like the earth style or strong in offense like the other three styles, do you remember the technique I used against that missing-nin its original form is a water blade capable of penetrating and slashing through solid rocks easily.

Rei: but when can I do that?

Mokichi: You are showing impatience, but it is true that water is the weakest without enough mastery. My second mastery is wind but picking up a scroll from here to learn it is a waste since I can just teach you so pick another one.

Rei: Lightning then! -said Rei full of enthusiasm.

If only Rei knew how hard it is to learn lightning nature he would probably just pick another element that day. But since he picked it up to study and maybe know the workings of chakra mode used by the raikage with the help of medical knowledge he'll soon gain he might just make something new.

But then he remembered how huge the chakra capacity of the raikage that he can maintain the technique without a care for chakra consumption so it wasn't ideal for him to use it, so in the end he'll be studying it for reference. Rei looked around and picked up "Lightning Release: lightning bullet" looking happy while walking back he thought of combining his water techniques with the modification of this lightning release, Rei also hopes that the books and notes in water release would help him how to use it without nearby water source since Kakashi can do it with his chakra reserves there must be a way.

Rei looked at his father when he receives all the copy of the scrolls he requested.

Rei: We should've brought a shopping cart.

The two men laughed.

Mokichi: Well I'll seal it first in my scroll.

Tengo mask receptionist: Well make sure to learn everything kid.

Walking back with the intent to go home Rei bumped into a dog with red markings mask anbu the person just looked at him but when their eyes meet he saw a normal and a red one on the other. Rei thought that this is definitely Kakashi since he is the only guy with a sharingan on his left eye and none on the other.

Behind Kakashi are a group of people, when Mokichi asked Kakashi on how he was doing the later replied lazily and uninterested manner which made Mokichi gloat that the guy never change and told him to stop being lazy.

Kakashi then replied that he wasn't the one who took a leave of absence. Rei didn't even notice that he also bumped into the young Itachi still part of team Ro under Kakashi's command if he knew this just might be one of the memories he looked back on a meeting with an S-class missing-nin and the best spy to ever exist. But going by his age and Sasuke things might just be about to go down so he worries on making a connection specially now that he is a reserve member of anbu with his face expose in the open.

A short while later the father and son duo arrived at their home.

Mokichi: Why did you pick so much technique scrolls, son?

Rei: I wanted to reach the very limits of chakra control since we only have average chakra reserves, dad. The one's I pick focuses on control... and I wanted to learn medicine too since it might just save my life in the future.

Mokichi: That's a valid point. I think I've already reach my maximum capacity and I could only perform water javelin about six to eight times. With six I'm sure I could still walk home and fight my way out against chunins easily with seven I could still defend myself, with eight I'll need to be carried home. - He laughed after he said his statement.

Rei: What's water javelin?

Mokichi: The technique I used to kill the missing-nin you saw me fight. It is another form of "Water release - water blade technique" which is A-rank ninjutsu. The modified form focuses on piercing with power that can definitely be considered S-rank if the target tried to blocked it without the same amount of power he sure is in for a trip to the afterlife.

Rei: Can I learn that? -Rei looked at his father like the adorable son that he is.

Mokichi: Of course, I'll teach it to you once your chakra reserves are enough to use it more than once. But son you have a lot to work on.

Rei agreed to his father's opinion that he has a lot to work on especially now that he brought home so many scrolls. Rei then asked if he could teach him assassination techniques but Mokichi made a troubled face since he didn't want to teach his son to become someone like a cold blooded killer, but then later on agreed since learning it would at least make his son be able to defend himself with such techniques.