Training in Ice Release!

Night had fallen in the lush Konoha Back Mountain Valley.

Sarutobi Ryo sat still, his legs crossed on a rock. He hadn't moved all day.

Two Anbu ninjas waited in the shadows, their patience wearing thin.

These two were experienced members of Anbu Squad Six.

During the Second Shinobi World War, their squad captain and division leader had died in battle. More than half of the other members had also been killed or wounded. The squad was in danger of disappearing completely.

When the two Anbu heard they were getting a new division leader, they were happy at first.

To the survivors, Anbu Squad Six was more than just a job. It meant something precious: memories, honor, and shared experiences.

But as they waited all day, their feelings started to change.

The Hokage's eldest son, this young master, had been sitting here without moving.

It didn't even look like training.

Just as they were complaining to themselves, wondering if Sarutobi Ryo, their new boss, was deliberately making things difficult, something strange happened.

Tiny white lights began to float down from above.

With their sharp ninja eyes, they quickly realized what the white specks were.

"Snow?"

The two Anbu were surprised.

More and more snowflakes appeared.

Actually, it was only snowing within a few feet of Sarutobi Ryo.

It was springtime, a time of green growth, yet here was a strange snow scene!

Soon, frost began to spread from Sarutobi Ryo's body. Cold air flowed outwards. Snowflakes appeared on the rock, then on the grass and small bushes nearby.

At that moment, the two Anbu, who knew a lot about ninja abilities, gasped in surprise. "Ice Release?!"

Ice Release was a special ability, a Kekkei Genkai, that belonged to the Yuki Clan from Kirigakure.

Some ninjas in the distant Land of Snow could also use Ice Release, but that was because of the cold environment.

Now, seeing the snow around Sarutobi Ryo, they suddenly realized something unbelievable.

Could it be that Young Master Ryo has the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai?!

They were right.

Sarutobi Ryo had been sitting still for days, training to use Ice Release.

Nohara Rin had analyzed information and helped him try to combine Wind and Water elements in a special way. After three days and nights of hard work, using Shadow Clones at first and then his own understanding, he had finally created Ice Release chakra.

It sounded simple, but it required talent, the right method, hard work, and understanding.

Sarutobi Ryo believed he was the only one in Konoha who could do it.

Suddenly, Sarutobi Ryo opened his eyes. They shone with a cold light as he looked at the two Anbu.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"!"

When Sarutobi Ryo looked at them, they felt a blast of cold air, like being caught in a blizzard. The temperature around them seemed to drop even lower.

Then, Sarutobi Ryo stood up, and the frost on his body quickly disappeared.

The two Anbu forgot their complaints. They no longer thought the young master was playing with them.

"It really is Ice Release."

"Yes."

Sarutobi Ryo heard their conversation but didn't care. Instead, he asked their names. "Umino Ikkaku, Umino Kozane?"

The masked man and woman took off their masks.

They had determined faces and shared the same last name.

They were husband and wife and had a son named Umino Iruka.

As survivors of Anbu Squad Six, they were now assigned to Sarutobi Ryo, the new division leader.

Sarutobi Ryo casually held out his hand. A chilling aura began to flow from it.

"Young Master, congratulations."

Yamanaka Hui suddenly appeared from the shadows, startling the couple.

They realized there was another person hidden there.

Yamanaka Hui was skilled at sensing and hiding her presence. The two hadn't noticed her at all.

"Mm."

Sarutobi Ryo clenched his fist, and the cold air vanished.

He put his hands behind his back and looked at the three of them.

The new Anbu Squad Six was temporarily formed.

Normally, an Anbu squad had at least eight members: one Captain, two Division leaders, and eight other members.

But Danzo had different plans.

A four-person team was enough to handle most missions.

"Did Danzo give you any instructions?"

Sarutobi Ryo asked.

As the leader of all Anbu, Danzo could decide how things were done.

"Lord Danzo only said to follow your orders, Young Master Ryo… Our codenames are…"

"It doesn't matter."

Sarutobi Ryo waved his hand, stopping them from finishing.

Senju Tobirama had created the Anbu's secrecy rules, which Ryo respected. However, Ryo thought following old rules too closely was harmful.

Sarutobi Ryo had joined the Anbu, but he didn't plan to hide like in the original story.

The original Sarutobi Ryo never showed his face or even his name, only an Anbu mask. This didn't fit with Sarutobi Ryo's desire to change the world.

To become famous, people needed to know what you were doing.

A confident person is always open, while a petty person is always worried.

From now on, ninjas who didn't wear Anbu masks would appear.

This showed that Sarutobi Ryo was starting to fight against the twisted system of ninjas, Anbu, and even Konoha created by Senju Tobirama.

No need to follow the rules. I'm here to break the old system!

"You two can keep your old habits. I have my own ideas."

Sarutobi Ryo didn't care about Iruka's parents.

As he became more powerful, he would change more things and build up his own power… and his own followers.

Yamanaka Hui, Guren, Ringo Ameyuri, Nohara Rin… and others were just the beginning.

Unimportant people would be replaced over time.

The entire Anbu squad, and even the entire Konoha, would slowly become his.

"Since Danzo hasn't given you any tasks, I want you to do something..."

Sarutobi Ryo told the couple to follow Hatake Sakumo at all times.

They had to report his every move, especially if he left the village.

"I'll continue training in Ice Release for the next few days. If anything happens, come directly here… You two are Jonin, you can use Shadow Clone, right?"

Using Shadow Clones to report was the easiest way to communicate.

After giving them their task, Sarutobi Ryo dismissed them, ignoring their shocked faces.

He sat down again, closing his eyes. He didn't care about their surprise.

Time was short.

Hatake Sakumo might be heading towards death at any moment...

Until that moment, training was all that mattered to Sarutobi Ryo...

And with his understanding of Ice Release chakra, memories began to flood his mind...

Memories of the past, of Senju Nawaki and Namikaze Minato, also known as: Hokage Flashbacks.