Regarding the rumors about Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi Hiruzen said:
"It's obviously exaggerated to say he cut through dozens of Tailed Beast Bombs in one strike—but it makes for good conversation.
The Tailed Beasts are legendary calamity-level monsters. The villagers don't understand them, nor do they understand Hatake Sakumo.
But by linking his name with the Tailed Beasts, Hatake Sakumo's reputation is spreading among the people of Konoha.
Fox, assign your squad to discreetly spread a counter-rumor: that Sakumo was defeated by the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki, Ryuuren.
Say he was driven off by Ryuuren. We can't let these rumors about Sakumo spiral out of control."
"Understood!"
Yako silently reflected: 'Spreading rumors of Sakumo's defeat now… I wonder if the villagers will believe it?'
To the average villager, comparing Hatake Sakumo to a mythical being like a Tailed Beast was already an acknowledgment of his strength.
Sarutobi continued, "Leave the rumors to your men, Fox. You will be handling another mission."
"You'll accompany Orochimaru to the Land of Lightning tomorrow. Gather intelligence on the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki—B—"
"Understood!"
That's how it always went with leadership. Once you were given a task, it became yours for life—no substitutions.
Since Yako had retrieved intel on Kumogakure's Jinchūriki from the Earth Country outpost, he'd been saddled with every mission even remotely related to them.
'In the original timeline, Orochimaru once caused the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki, to go berserk… could this be that time?'
Orochimaru was obsessed with immortality and terrified of death—his survival instincts were maxed out.
And funny enough, so were Yako's.
Then Danzo suddenly spoke:
"Root will dispatch someone too. C will go with you."
Yako looked visibly confused. "Isn't Lord Orochimaru part of Root?"
Danzo's pupils slowly shifted, turning to stare directly at Yako.
Yako quickly bowed his head. That had been careless of him.
'Wait… has Orochimaru already left Root and I didn't know? Or has he returned to Hiruzen's side and grown distant from Danzo?'
Being 'A' of Root certainly meant something—but it was meaningless compared to the Fourth Hokage.
Sarutobi said, "Fox, Orochimaru is still 'A' of Root, but let C accompany you as well."
(T/N: Another Root Shinobi seems to have taken the letter "C")
Yako left the Hokage's office.
Back in ANBU, he gathered three squad leaders and issued new orders:
"There's been a sudden surge of rumors in the village, all praising Hatake Sakumo. They're spreading too far, too fast.
Each of your squads is to start spreading a different story—quietly and everywhere.
Say that Hatake Sakumo was defeated by the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki from Kumogakure, Ryuuren—and that he was the one who fled."
The three squad leaders accepted the order and departed.
Yako thought to himself: 'The seeds of reputation have already taken root. It's too late to cancel them out with rumors now.'
He made his way to Yellow Dog's office.
Seeing that Fox hadn't brought a mission scroll, Yellow Dog knew this wasn't a report.
"What is it, Fox?"
"Captain, according to our intel… Root's G and T are dead?"
"Yes. Both of them." Yellow Dog set down his pen, his tone solemn.
"There's a Fire Release user out there—since the war ended, they've been targeting Konoha.
Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yuu—two elites on the cusp of becoming jōnin—were killed by this Fire user.
T and G from Root were also slain by the same hand.
The rest of Root's ninja—Gold Eagle Squad—are pursuing every lead on this person, but so far… nothing.
T and G were two of Root's best. T could've even served as a squad captain in ANBU.
Who'd have thought he'd go out like that?"
Gold Eagle Squad was led by a jōnin from the Hyūga Clan. So that's who's been investigating the aftermath. That reminded Yako to watch out for Gold Eagle in future operations.
As for why T had died… well, now there was one more reason:
'Was T really squad captain material?'
"One more thing, Captain. I've been assigned to investigate intel on the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki. Round trip—at least a month."
"Mhm. I saw the mission scroll come in from the Hokage's office. Got it."
The Hatake Residence.
Kakashi came home beaming.
"Dad! The neighbors are all talking about you! They say you can fight a Tailed Beast! Dad, what's a Tailed Beast?"
Hatake Sakumo's expression was complicated. He didn't know who was spreading these stories, but he explained to Kakashi:
"Tailed Beasts are chakra incarnate—immortal disasters made flesh.
If the neighbors praise me again, just tell them it's all rumors. Don't believe them. I'm not that strong."
"Okay." Kakashi nodded on the outside, but inside he was thrilled.
No way was he going to deny those rumors. His dad was the strongest ninja in all of Konoha.
Before long, Yamashiro and the others arrived at the Hatake home.
Sakumo asked them, "The Third Hokage summoned me and asked about the rumors. You guys didn't spread them, did you?"
They all denied it.
They wouldn't do something that risky—it was easy to leave traces. The village was already looking for an excuse to come down on them.
Moonlight Kento said, "Sakumo, I think the rumors are good for you. Sure, they're exaggerated, but the villagers love that kind of thing. Your name's more well-known than ever."
Yamashiro nodded eagerly.
"Yeah, even my civilian neighbors—who know nothing about ninja besides the Hokage—have heard of 'White Fang of the Leaf.'"
Sakumo sighed. "The village already fears me. I worry they won't tolerate these rumors for long."
Moonlight Kento replied, "Rumors, once they're out, can't be reeled back in. The Hokage Building can control the ninja—but you think it can control what the villagers talk about?"
Before leaving the village, Yako made one final stop outside the orphanage.
He checked the daily menu with his binoculars.
"Hmm? Root's F and J are leaving for the Land of Iron?"
Yakushi Nono's intel was spot-on. More Root activity.
Danzo's subordinates—no matter how few—were never really few.
Danzo always hid in the shadows, sending out his loyal agents to test the waters.
But if enough of those loyal subordinates were eliminated… Danzo would eventually have to show himself. And that would be the opportunity to strike.
That midnight, Yako passed the news of F and J's departure to Yuka via Stone Panda.
He warned her in the scroll: T and G from Root had been assassinated—F and J would definitely be on alert. Early recon needed to be even more cautious.
The next morning, Orochimaru, Yako, and C from Root left the village together.
Just past the gates, C said, "Lord Orochimaru, once we cross into the Land of Lightning, I'll immediately contact our informants. They'll have the latest intel on Eight-Tails' host."
Orochimaru said nothing. Instead, he turned to Yako and asked,
"Fox, do you have a tactical plan for this mission?"
Yako was caught off guard.
'Why is Orochimaru suddenly treating me so seriously… even asking for my opinion?'