The Third Hokage looked at the Uchiha members — rarely seen in the Hokage's office and often kept at a distance — and spoke calmly:
"Clan Head Kagen, please do not take Advisor Danzō's remarks to heart.
Uchiha Madara remains a looming threat over the village like a dark cloud. That is why Danzō's attitude has become somewhat… extreme.
I trust you. I believe the Uchiha will stand with Konoha and will not follow Madara.
Let Fox brief you. You should also understand Madara's current strength."
Uchiha Kagen, Fugaku, and Tōka all turned their attention toward Fox.
The Uchiha had no desire to follow Madara into ruin, but they understood the terrifying power of that legendary elder.
Madara was monstrously strong — a man who, during the Warring States era, stood beneath only one individual yet above countless others.
Aside from the First Hokage, everyone else he faced had been crushed with contempt and overwhelming superiority.
And yet… Fox had survived an encounter with him.
Even figures like the Third Raikage and Madara had failed to kill Fox. His reputation and strength had been forged through surviving brutal battles again and again.
He was truly formidable.
Yako began:
"Clan Head Kagen, Uchiha Madara's body appears aged and stooped, but his chakra reserves are astonishing.
I believe his chakra has not declined with age. His taijutsu may have weakened, but his ninjutsu remains terrifying.
I do not know how he acquired Wood Release, but he relies on it heavily.
Deep Forest Emergence, Flowering Tree World, Wood Dragon Technique, and Cutting Branches Technique.
Those four techniques alone shattered five Root operatives, two squads from Lynx's unit, Lord Jiraiya, myself, and the Blossom Deer squad.
His ninjutsu has enormous range, tremendous power, and devastating impact. Even poison — something most shinobi rarely use — was handled with frightening precision.
His legs seemed impaired. Throughout the battle he stood atop wooden bridges or his Wood Dragon without moving.
My recommendation: any Konoha force smaller than three battalions should retreat immediately upon encountering Madara.
With three battalions, led by someone of the Sannin's level — someone like Orochimaru — combined techniques might allow us to resist briefly and buy time.
To defeat him outright would require far greater numbers and far greater strength."
The Third Hokage and Yellow Dog exchanged glances, silently agreeing with Fox's assessment.
A Sannin-level commander with three battalions merely to stall him…
And that was against an aged Madara.
It was hard to imagine how powerful he had been in his prime.
The good news was the information about Madara's impaired mobility. That detail noticeably eased Hiruzen's tension.
Uchiha Kagen asked:
"Captain Fox-Dono… how strong was Madara's Sharingan?"
Yako answered honestly.
"We only witnessed Wood Release techniques. We had no opportunity to verify his Sharingan abilities.
Visually, his eyes appeared to be three-tomoe Sharingan — not the unique Mangekyō pattern recorded by ANBU during his battles against the First Hokage."
During Danzō's encounter with Madara, Susanoo had appeared — but that information remained highly classified and was not shared with the Uchiha.
Within the clan, the Mangekyō had become little more than legend after their decline.
Uchiha Kagen sighed.
"It seems Madara prefers using Wood Release now.
As for how to counter him… I have little advice to offer.
Perhaps it would be better to consult the Senju clan. They might have records or research regarding Wood Release."
Hiruzen had no intention of involving the Senju.
If the matter of Uzumaki Nagato surfaced, Tsunade would explode.
"That will be all for now, Clan Head Kagen," Hiruzen said. "If you discover any new information, report it immediately."
Kagen rose.
"Third Hokage-sama… ANBU and Root have suffered heavy casualties. Please convey our condolences to Lord Danzō."
He feared another outburst from Danzō.
"I understand," Hiruzen replied. "I will speak with him."
Meaning — if persuasion failed, nothing could be done.
Kagen left in low spirits.
Outside the Hokage Tower, Fugaku asked:
"Father… Sensei… do you think Fox is hiding his true strength? Can he really survive against Madara?"
Tōka answered:
"Copper Fox endured a full-force strike from the Third Raikage. He is arguably Konoha's strongest defensive shinobi. His survival isn't surprising."
Kagen nodded.
"Yes… not surprising. Fortunately, he returned alive. If he had died, the Third Hokage would be as furious as Danzō.
With ANBU's strongest still alive, Hiruzen and Yellow Dog remain calm.
We owe Fox our gratitude."
In addition to the title "Copper Fox," Yako now carried another nickname — "ANBU's Strongest," a recognition widely acknowledged both inside and outside the organization.
Back inside the Hokage's office, Yako said to White Ram and Blossom Deer:
"Return to ANBU first."
After they left, only the Third Hokage and Yellow Dog remained.
Yako stepped forward.
"Hokage-sama, Yellow Hound-sama — I have something important to report privately."
Hiruzen tapped the ash from his pipe and replaced the tobacco.
"Another matter? What could be so private?"
Yako replied:
"In Blossom Deer's report, it was mentioned that Uchiha Madara's subordinates looked identical.
I obtained the corpse of one of them.
I suspect they are some form of Wood Release clone."
He produced a scroll and released its seal.
Hiruzen rose from his chair. He and Yellow Dog circled around the desk, watching as sealing smoke dispersed.
A pale white corpse appeared on the floor.
Key intelligence always required private reporting.
Yellow Dog crouched to examine it.
"White skin like birch bark… tough, durable.
No biological sex.
Numerous traces of Wood Release…"
He looked up at Hiruzen.
The Hokage's mood improved further. Not only had Fox returned alive — they now possessed the body of one of Madara's strange subordinates.
"I am not suited to research," Yako said. "Please organize specialists to investigate."
This was awareness — offering valuable assets directly to one's superiors earned trust.
"Well done, Fox," Yellow Dog said. "I'll recommend you for another S-rank mission."
"Thank you."
Hiruzen suddenly realized something.
With this specimen, he finally had legitimate grounds to intervene in Danzō's Hashirama-cell research.
"Fox, deliver this corpse to Orochimaru's laboratory. Tell him all breakthroughs must be reported directly to me."
Just as Yako had expected.
With this White Zetsu corpse, Hiruzen now had authority to oversee Orochimaru's experiments.
More importantly, Yako could interact openly with Orochimaru.
He served as Orochimaru's spy as well — both sides needed tending.
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
—
Root's underground laboratory.
A shinobi designated "C" led Yellow Dog and Fox through dark corridors.
Yako glanced at him.
C was the last veteran loyal to Danzō.
K had died… how long until C followed?
At the lab entrance, C stopped.
"Yellow Dog-sama, please go ahead. I will remain here."
Apparently he disliked Orochimaru's laboratory.
Inside, roughly ten researchers in white coats worked beneath dim lighting.
Four operating tables stood beneath surgical lamps.
One researcher nearby carried a metal tray holding a severed hand.
Its fingers had transformed into wooden branches, brown and twisted, sprouting fresh green buds.
The body had failed to withstand Wood Release's power and had turned into wood.
The researcher placed the specimen into a jar along a wall filled with containers.
The lower row held hands in various stages of tree transformation — fingers turning into leaves, cracked palms revealing fibrous wood beneath, some covered in tiny roots.
The middle row contained ears.
The top row contained hearts.
The hexagonal lab walls were lined with jars of grotesque organic specimens.
The sheer number suggested at least hundreds had died here.
Yellow Dog approached Orochimaru.
Orochimaru stared at a human head whose hair had become root-like tendrils.
He ignored their arrival.
"Continue your report," he told a researcher.
"The subject is deceased, but the root-like hair continues absorbing nutrients and growing. Growth rate is three times normal human hair."
"Excellent. Extraordinary vitality… and that vitality killed him."
After recording notes, Orochimaru looked up.
"Yellow Dog. Fox. Has Sensei summoned me?"
"We've brought you a valuable research material," Yellow Hound said. "You'll be interested."
"Oh?"
Yako released the White Zetsu corpse.
Orochimaru's eyes lit up like a predator spotting prey.
"This… this is a perfect Wood Release lifeform!"
His fingers traced the corpse's surface.
"Dense skin. Durable muscle… internal organs… no digestive system? Heart and lungs exist, but how does it gain energy?
A fiber network transports nutrients… drawn from underground organic matter… like a true plant?
It converts organic material into chakra?"
He grew increasingly excited.
A researcher attempted to hand him a previous report. Orochimaru threw it aside.
"Trash! Everything before was trash! This… this is perfection!"
Then he fell into muttering.
"Can this be applied to shinobi?
The key is chakra supply… or perhaps… Wood Release converts chakra into vitality…"
After Orochimaru finished rambling, Yellow Dog spoke:
"This comes from the Hokage. He expects regular updates."
"I assumed Danzō shared my reports," Orochimaru replied casually. "Apparently not.
You've found an excellent reason to involve yourselves. This specimen is exactly what I needed."
"Fox will collect reports periodically."
To deal with Orochimaru, someone powerful had to be sent — otherwise he offered no respect.
Sending a weaker assistant might get them killed.
Fox was different.
Killing him would take Orochimaru considerable effort.
'Perfect,' Yako thought. 'I can now meet Orochimaru openly and learn about Hashirama-cell research.'
After fighting Madara, he coveted Wood Release's versatility.
He lacked effective methods against massive enemies — tailed beasts, Susanoo, giant summons.
Wood Release countered them all.
"Has Jiraiya left the village?" Yellow Dog asked.
"No. I convinced him to stay. But he's troubled by the Uzumaki matter. Sensei forbade him from speaking about it. He's avoiding Tsunade."
—
Later, back at ANBU, Yako and Yellow Dog discussed Madara.
They reached one conclusion:
Entering the Land of Rain in the future would require extreme caution.
Encountering Madara there could easily lead to total annihilation.
After leaving ANBU, Yako returned to the izakaya — only to freeze.
Behind the counter stood a different woman.
Not Kyoi.
Alarmed, he activated his sensory ability and found her in the back courtyard.
Relief flooded him.
He hurried to her room.
She lay against the bed, perfectly fine.
"Why is there someone new at the bar?" he asked. "You scared me. I thought you sold the place without telling me."
"How could I not tell you?" she teased, setting aside her sewing and beckoning him closer.
He sat beside her, hand naturally resting on her smooth thigh.
She smiled mischievously.
"Tonight you have to behave. No investigating me."
"Huh? Why?"
She guided his hand from her leg to her stomach.
"I went to Konoha Hospital two days ago.
I'm pregnant.
You're going to be a father… I'm soon to be a mother."
"What?!"
Yako shot to his feet.
He didn't mind having a child.
He had always assumed nothing happened with Kyoi or any of the others because something was wrong with him.
Apparently… that wasn't the case.
Maybe being an ANBU shinobi, constantly tense after battles, had simply delayed things.