Inside the corpse tent, Purple Cat and White Ram began examining the bodies for clues.
Just as Purple Cat was about to speak, Yagami said first to White Ram, "Use your Byakugan and check the surroundings. We can't risk someone eavesdropping through the walls."
Beneath his mask, White Ram activated the Byakugan. He swept his gaze around—front, back, left, and right—but found nothing unusual.
Only then did Purple Cat begin her report.
"Captain, the wounds on three of the corpses were caused by the same ninja blade. The wounds on the last body, however, vary—some from a blade, others from wire or kunai.
This means one of the Anbu snapped and attacked, but was then surrounded by the other three. That one Anbu was extremely strong—he fought three at once, killed two, and finally died together with the squad leader."
Yagami thought for a moment before concluding,
"Two-man Anbu teams, four-man Anbu teams—no matter the setup, the enemy can only control one person. What about the time of death?"
"According to the medical ninja's notes, about ten days ago."
"Ten days… that's around the same time as the Anbu who assassinated that disobedient noble in the Land of Fire. Either we're dealing with a large organization, or someone who can teleport..." Yagami paused, then said, "Have the medical corps register the bodies and send them back to the village for burial. We'll go inspect the site where the squad died."
Not long after leaving the corpse tent, Yagami saw Tsunade.
She seemed to be waiting for him.
With a frown, Tsunade fixed her gaze on him. "Fox, I think I've seen you with Lord Hiruzen before. I've run into you a few times since then. You're from Yellow Dog's division in the Anbu, aren't you?"
"I'm Anbu," Yagami replied flatly. "I can't disclose personal information."
Tsunade continued, "I remember you. During the battle at Ushigashiyama, you brought back crucial intel. The night of the Nine-Tails transfer—you were there too, weren't you?"
"I can't answer that."
Yagami sighed inwardly. This isn't the era of the Second Hokage anymore. How can she be so direct with an Anbu?
Seeing he wouldn't talk, Tsunade let him go.
From not far away, Dan Katō approached. "Tsunade, why did you stop that Anbu?"
Only two people knew about the secret investigation into the Anbu—Senju Hanaki, the clan head, and Dan himself. Not even Tsunade knew he was investigating the Anbu from the shadows.
Tsunade said,
"Kushina wrote me a letter. She said she's certain there's a member of the Uzumaki Clan within the Anbu—someone whose chakra carries sealing power.
If not for that person helping her twice by transferring chakra, she never could've completed the sealing.
Without that help, things wouldn't have turned out as they did. Nearly nine hundred members of the Senju Clan might've been killed by the Nine-Tails.
We were lucky that someone in the shadows aided her. Otherwise, the Senju Clan would already be extinct.
I can't shake the feeling that Fox might be that person… but I'm not sure. If I could heal him just once, I'd know for certain whether he's from the Uzumaki Clan."
In the original timeline, the Senju Clan was nearly wiped out because of the Nine-Tails transfer, and Tsunade's only emotional anchor became Dan Katō. After his death, her mind shattered, and she developed hemophobia.
But Yagami had altered parts of history. Tsunade was stronger now.
The Senju Clan still survived, maintained by her aunt, Senju Hanaki, who made Tsunade the acting clan head.
Dan frowned. "A letter from Kushina? You're not afraid it'll be intercepted by the Anbu or someone else?"
"The letter was sealed. Without knowing the seal sequence, it can only be destroyed, not opened," Tsunade explained.
Dan looked genuinely puzzled. "The Uzumaki Clan sending spies into the Anbu? Impossible. Even the Senju Clan can't infiltrate the Anbu right now."
"I'm not sure either," Tsunade admitted, "but I trust Kushina's judgment. She was there that night—she has no reason to lie."
Dan's eyes followed the departing Yagami with a pensive look.
Fox's squad left the main camp, circling away from the front lines and deeper into the Land of Rain.
The Anbu team they were investigating had died far within Rain territory.
Wearing his cloak, Yagami moved swiftly through the downpour, three Anbu squads ahead of him.
Ordinarily, as the squad leader, he should have led from the front to avoid ambushes.
But tonight, his greater concern was that one of his own might suddenly turn on the others.
He kept every squad member—especially the new recruits—under his watchful eye.
Who's behind all this?
A name flickered through his mind.
Could it be… him?
Dan Katō?
Dan's involvement wouldn't surprise him, but killing Anbu outright? That didn't fit.
Has the Senju Clan dropped their restraint and started striking directly at the Anbu?
When they reached the site of the fallen squad, Yagami's men spread out, searching the area for traces of battle.
The rain poured relentlessly, any traces left behind had long since been washed away.
Yagami hadn't expected much anyway—this was routine, waiting for reports.
He looked up toward the sky.
The clouds had swallowed the full moon—yet above those clouds, the moon still shone silver and whole.
The rain was cold. The night, colder.
The three teams scoured the area for a long time but found nothing.
Then, suddenly—a sharp, echoing howl split the stormy air.
Every Anbu turned at once.
Yagami's eyes widened. That sound… the Split Hound?
It was the Uzumaki Clan's summoned beast. Legendary creatures like the Yatagarasu had been passed down by the elders to Uzumaki Yuka.
Those powerful summons were the only reason Yuka and the surviving Uzumaki could endure until now.
We haven't had contact in weeks… could they be in danger?
"White Ram," Yagami ordered.
White Ram activated his Byakugan again, peering toward the direction of the howl.
"Captain! Two kilometers west—one summoning beast, moving fast! It's chasing three ninja… they're from the Leaf! The beast's closing in—it'll reach us in a few minutes!"
Yagami's eyes narrowed. "If they're Leaf shinobi, we can't just watch them die. Hold position."
White Ram continued, "It's a pursuit. The three fleeing ninja are carrying others—two adults and one child.
The giant beast chasing them is the Split Hound, the guardian summon of Uzushio Village. There's a woman standing on its head!"
Yagami's heart jumped. Uzumaki Yuka.
The rain had grounded the Yatagarasu, forcing her to summon the Split Hound instead.
The colossal hound—over thirty meters tall—charged through the rain, its four paws pounding the mud.
Fox's unit moved between the fleeing Leaf ninja and the rampaging beast.
A barrage of explosive tags detonated across the Hound's body, only causing it to sprout several more heads.
Yagami didn't want to fight Yuka in front of his men. He shouted to the Leaf ninja,
"We're Anbu! Follow us!"
But the three ninja didn't respond—they kept moving as if deaf.
Purple Cat called out, "Captain, they're under a genjutsu! One jonin, two special jonin—all caught in illusions!"
Yagami froze. So it wasn't Dan after all? The Anbu weren't killed by him—they were controlled by genjutsu?
But for that to happen, many illusionists would need to operate across multiple fronts. That was impossible without leaving a trace.
He shook off the thought. This situation was different—an accident, perhaps.
The Split Hound charged closer.
"I'll hold it off!" Yagami barked. "Get the Leaf ninja out of here—break their genjutsu!"
He weaved hand signs. "Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A massive wall of churning water surged up, slamming between them and the incoming beast.
From behind his mask, White Ram couldn't help but think, Captain Fox's power keeps growing. With ninjutsu on this scale… he's almost at jonin level.
The Split Hound crashed into the water wall, halting mid-charge.
Uzumaki Yuka gripped the creature's ear tightly, nearly thrown forward by the force.
When she looked up, she saw him—behind the water barrier.
Fox!
Yagami made a subtle hand signal, urging her to withdraw in another direction.
***
Read 20 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666