"What? Captain Hippo is dead?"
A week after the Nine-Tails transfer and sealing operation, shocking news spread through the ANBU base—Captain Hippo of Yellow Dog's division had been killed during a mission somewhere in the Land of Fire.
He'd been a powerful ninja, just one step away from jonin level.
He was also one of the captains who had gone under the Nine-Tails with Yellow Dog on that terrible night.
ANBU losing members wasn't unusual, but this time was different. From the wounds on Hippo's corpse, it was clear he'd been attacked from behind—killed by one of his own subordinates.
That could only mean one thing, a spy had infiltrated ANBU.
Over the following days, more deaths followed—each case involving ANBU killing one another, either subordinates turning on their captains or captains striking down their own men.
Tension in the Forest of Death base grew thick and suffocating.
...
In a forest somewhere in the Land of Fire, Captain Fox's unit flickered into view one after another.
Three squads formed a loose circle—some standing on the ground, some perched on boulders, others balanced on tree trunks.
At the center lay two ANBU corpses.
The air was heavy, silent.
This was the second ANBU internal killing Captain Fox's team had investigated in recent days.
After carefully examining the bodies, Purple Cat reported to Yagami:
"Captain, the dead are from Yak's unit under Yellow Dog. One attacked the other from behind, stabbing through his lung. Then they fought briefly… and both died."
"Were either of them new recruits from the Root?" Yagami asked.
If Root had sent poorly screened agents, it was possible spies had slipped into ANBU and turned violent during a mission.
Purple Cat shook her head. "The one who was ambushed was new, but the attacker had already served in ANBU for over six months."
"Six months?" Yagami nodded. "Then he's unlikely to be a spy."
Standing nearby, White Ram's brow twitched slightly. Six months is enough to rule out a spy? Fox had already been in ANBU for about a year…
Yagami looked to Purple Cat again.
"Since the Nine-Tails sealing, just our unit alone has investigated two separate cases of ANBU killing each other. I don't know about the others, but I bet there are more. This isn't coincidence. Besides spies, there are techniques that could force this—like the Nara clan's shadow manipulation, the Yamanaka clan's Mind-Body Switch, or certain forbidden jutsu. Can we rule any of those out?"
Purple Cat crouched again.
"The final attacks were kunai to the eyes—straight into the brain. Their brains are destroyed, so we can't extract memories or intel.
But I can rule out shadow manipulation. Anyone caught by that technique unconsciously pushes against the ground to break free, leaving deep, chaotic footprints. These don't have that.
As for Mind-Body Switch… I can't rule it out."
Yagami sighed. Another investigation leading nowhere.
The last case had been a disaster—three ANBU assassins died while attempting to kill a Land of Fire noble. The mission failed and nearly caused a diplomatic crisis.
Now two ANBU couriers were dead en route to the Grass frontlines, again having killed each other.
Two incidents, both internal killings. Extremely rare in ANBU history.
"Take the bodies back to the village," Yagami ordered. "Let the Interrogation Division see if they can dig up anything."
...
Back at the ANBU base, just as Yagami delivered the corpses, Yellow Dog's assistant arrived. "Commander wants to see you."
Inside the office, scrolls were scattered across Yellow Dog's desk, a mess of reports and notes.
"During the Nine-Tails transfer, ANBU took heavy losses," Yellow Dog said, voice low and frustrated. "Now, in just days, there have been over ten new cases of ANBU killing each other. Every division has deaths. What did your investigation find today?"
Yagami bowed slightly. "Same as last time, sir. Nothing conclusive. All the victims' brains were destroyed—we can't tell if it was true mutual killing or mind-control. No trace of enemies within several hundred meters."
Yellow Dog adjusted his mask, clearly agitated. "All the deaths happen outside the village. That means the enemy is probably operating beyond our walls.
Searches near the village turned up nothing. Fox, take your unit to the Land of Rain. Investigate the ANBU deaths there."
He continued, "Your squad has Yamanaka and Hyuga members. You're well-rounded. In Rain, confirm the circumstances of the ANBU casualties—and monitor the battlefield for Lord Danzo. He plans to enter the Land of Rain within two to four weeks.
The fighting between our forces and Rain Village is at its peak. Hanzō the Salamander is a legendary foe. Maybe these ANBU deaths are part of his sabotage efforts."
Yagami nodded. "Understood. What about the surveillance mission for the escalating conflict between the Senju and Uchiha clans?"
"I'll reassign that to another team," Yellow Dog replied.
The tension between the two great clans was boiling over—there had even been bloodshed.
Despite their weakened state, the Senju kept provoking the Uchiha, pressing them relentlessly.
And the Uchiha, unable to explain the appearance of Sharingan on the night of the Nine-Tails sealing, had been forced into silence and restraint.
...
That same day, Yagami led his squad out of the Hidden Leaf, bound for the Land of Rain.
He stayed alert along the way—watching the forests, watching his men, especially the newer recruits.
Who's really behind these ANBU killings?
A name surfaced in his mind.
Could it be him?
Dan Kato?
It wouldn't be strange if Kato were involved… but killing ANBU outright? That didn't fit.
Or maybe… the Senju had finally abandoned their naïve pride and were striking at ANBU in secret?
When they arrived at the Rain frontlines, Yagami reported to the command post.
The overall commander, Mitokado Homura, didn't have authority over ANBU operations but needed to know every unit's disposition to avoid confusion on the battlefield.
Inside the ANBU tent, Yagami saw many elite jonin—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Dan Kato among them.
A small strategy meeting had just concluded.
Yagami's gaze lingered briefly on Tsunade. News of the Nine-Tails disaster had already reached the front. She looked weary and grief-stricken—half her clan had died that night.
He turned to Orochimaru. Danzo's Sharingan… it must've been transplanted by him.
Yagami himself had once disposed of bodies for Orochimaru's experiments—he remembered a boy from the Shimura clan whose eyes had been taken.
He wondered if more of the Shimura had been turned into experiments for Danzo afterward.
As for Jiraiya, Yagami barely looked. The man was too busy hovering around Tsunade to show anything useful.
None of the three Sannin paid him any attention, but Yagami felt Dan Kato's gaze linger on him longer than expected.
When Kato finally turned and left, Yagami watched his back thoughtfully.
"Fox," Mitokado Homura called, "the ANBU unit that died mysteriously—its bodies are still in the medical area's storage tent. You may inspect them."
"Yes, Lord Homura."
...
At the medical camp, Yagami spotted Tsunade again. She was wearing the First Hokage's necklace, reclaimed from Nawaki, and worked tirelessly among the wounded.
Hidden Rain's use of poison from giant salamanders had left many shinobi dying slowly—if not for Tsunade, far more would have perished.
As Yagami, Purple Cat, and White Ram headed toward the corpse tent, they crossed paths with Dan Kato again.
Kato had two Senju guards flanking him.
Yagami observed him closely as they passed—his muscles were relaxed, no tension or hidden power in his stance.
Strange… did I misjudge him?
Or maybe… Yagami simply wasn't important enough to make Dan Kato nervous.
***
For 18+ scenes enjoyers I added extra scene myself on chapter 3 and 46. It has no effect on plot as I added it since og author only implied they banged and skipped it. It's optional to read and I'm open to comments on where I can improve.
Thanks for reading 🙏
Read 20 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666