"Please don't!" Jenli shouted, grabbing Yako's wrist.
But Yako was far stronger.
As he swung his arm, the force flung Jenli into a support column behind Yakushi Nono. She slammed into it and slid down, catching awkwardly on the railing.
Clang!
The pillar visibly shuddered from the impact.
Yako froze.
Despite such a brutal collision, Jenli never let go of his wrist. Her small hand was gripping it so tightly her fingers had begun to twist out of shape.
Yakushi Nono was still bound by the Binding Curse Mark, unable to move—her eyes wide with fear.
Yako's red-bronze fist hovered just inches from her forehead.
Jenli coughed blood and pushed herself up with one trembling hand.
"Captain Fox... please! The Director's a good person! I'm begging you—please don't kill her!"
Yako lowered his gaze to the girl kneeling at his feet.
Her eyes were full of pleading.
Yakushi Nono's terror gave way to confusion… as she saw Yako slowly lower his fist and help Jenli up.
He first checked her spine where she had hit the column. After noting a minor fracture, he said, "You know medical ninjutsu. Heal yourself first."
"I can endure," Jenli said quickly. "Captain Fox, the Director is a good person! I don't know what it's like to have a big sister… but to me, she is my big sister!
There must be some misunderstanding. Why would you want to kill her?!"
Yako replied calmly, "Jenli, we first met on the battlefield in the Land of Rivers. You're one of the few truly untainted shinobi I've ever known.
I believe you when you say she's a good person—to you and the orphans. But to me… she nearly got me killed.
She sold out the ambush plans for our ANBU squad to the Mist.
If I hadn't been cautious ahead of time, I'd already be dead.
Even if she failed this time, eventually she would leak my info again—to someone higher up, and I'd be killed on some future mission.
I'm sorry, Jenli. Your Director may be good to you, but to the Leaf, she's a traitor who nearly got five battalions slaughtered."
"Please… just let her explain! How could she be responsible for the deaths of five entire battalions? Please—!"
Jenli was already sobbing. But before she could say more, Yako brought down a hand chop to the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious.
He turned to finish the job—when Nono suddenly leapt backward.
Yako's eyes widened.
Since mastering the Binding Curse Mark, this was the first time someone had ever broken it.
Sweat poured down Nono's forehead—it had taken immense effort to dispel the seal.
Seeing Yako's tensed stance, she quickly shouted:
"Have you heard of the Seal of Tongue-Curse Eradication?!"
Yako froze mid-punch, his red-bronze fist once again inches from her forehead.
It worked.
She bet right.
If this ANBU was well-versed in Uzumaki sealing techniques, he had to know about that jutsu.
Seal of Tongue-Curse Eradication—it was the Uzumaki Clan's.
If Danzō ever mastered it, all of ANBU could become his puppets.
And judging by Yako's pride, he'd never allow that.
She gambled this secret would buy her life—and it did.
A ninja's strength wasn't just in combat, but also in information.
Reveal just the right piece of intelligence, and even death could be bargained away.
Yako withdrew his fist and said coldly:
"You're terrifying, Yakushi Nono. You'd better convince me quickly—I don't like being led by the nose.
You have one minute to explain. Otherwise, you're dead."
He wasn't exaggerating.
The fact that she'd broken his Binding Curse Mark in under 30 seconds meant she had knowledge of Uzumaki techniques—and that made her valuable.
Dangerous… but valuable.
Nono said:
"When the Uzumaki Clan was wiped out, several of the Uzumaki Guardians—high-level jōnin—were captured by Danzō.
He built a secret research base in the Land of Whirlpools to study their sealing arts.
I can give you the location."
Yako scoffed, "Why should I believe you? What if it's a trap?"
"I broke your Binding Curse using the knowledge from that lab. Their research has almost fully cracked the Seal of Tongue-Curse Eradication.
I could tell from how you spared Jenli—you value her. That's why I'm offering to cooperate.
You don't want Danzō branding that seal on you, do you?"
Yako didn't actually fear that.
He was an ANBU jōnin, not someone Danzō could control so easily.
But if Danzō did master the seal, it would become far easier to brainwash Root recruits.
No need for trust, no need for loyalty—just a seal, and they'd blindly obey and die for him.
Currently, Danzō had to train and screen every Root ninja.
Every one that died was a setback.
After B's death, it would take Danzō years to replace someone equally skilled and loyal.
Yako muttered:
"You think I'm that easy to fool? If it's Danzō's lab, it'll be heavily guarded. I'd be walking into death."
"You really think you can trick me with a few words? I should kill you right now."
But despite the tough talk, both of them could tell Yako's killing intent had faded.
He did want access to Danzō's research lab.
Yako said:
"Give me the location. This is our first and only deal—if you lie to me, I'll personally burn your orphanage to the ground.
But if you cooperate… Commander Yellow Dog won't forget you."
Nono understood instantly.
The feud between Danzō and Yellow Dog had reached a boiling point.
She could exploit that rift—maybe even fan the flames to weaken Danzō and force him to back off.
As for Copper Fox, his actions were cold, but his heart warm—especially to Jenli.
He wasn't a bad ally.
Nono crouched to heal Jenli's fractured spine while calmly stating:
"Twenty kilometers southeast of the Uzushiogakure capital, there's a cave beneath the mountains.
That's Danzō's secret lab.
It contains rare Uzumaki sealing jutsu—not just the Seal of Tongue-Curse Eradication, but also more.
Good luck."
After finishing Jenli's treatment, Nono disappeared from the fishing village.
Seeing Jenli and her three genin still unconscious nearby, Yako quickly vanished as well.
For the upcoming infiltration, he'd call on Uzumaki Yuka via the Stone Panda Clan's reverse summoning.
Not only to assist him—but to help her recover the secrets of her own clan.