Inside the Hidden Sand front-line main camp.
Rasa entered the command tent and met with the Commander-in-Chief, Ebizo.
Ebizo's expression was heavy with grief. "The losses from the surprise raid on Shapo Port were severe, were they not?"
Rasa nodded and said:
"Approximately seven battalions of Leaf ninja, under the command of Nara Shikaku, used flying ninja tools to raid Shapo Port.
I arrived and engaged the heads of the Leaf's Ino-Shika-Cho clans, but only managed to disable one of the Akimichi Clan Head's arms.
At the critical moment of pursuit, an Anbu ninja from the Leaf blocked our way."
"A single Anbu ninja?" Ebizo asked. "Did the Leaf send an Anbu Commander?"
Rasa shook his head and said:
"It wasn't Commander Yellow Dog. He wore a fox mask and mastered a powerful defensive ninjutsu.
His skin turned a reddish-bronze color; kunai and ninja blades could not breach his defense, and Wind Style was equally ineffective.
It is fundamentally different from techniques like Earth Style: Earth Spear. His ability is instantaneous, requiring no hand signs, making it very difficult to find an opening.
I tried to capture him with Magnet Style Gold Dust, but he also possessed a powerful Water Style jutsu.
The ocean was unfavorable for me, so I couldn't pursue him deeply.
An ordinary Sand ninja would find no suitable countermeasure against him.
I believe the command should issue a specific order regarding him to prevent pointless casualties among our ranks.
I call this fox-masked Anbu, who possesses immunity to physical attacks and skin that turns reddish-bronze... Copper Fox."
"Copper Fox..." Ebizo turned to a staff ninja nearby.
"Act according to Jonin Rasa's suggestion. Warn all Sand ninja: if you encounter the Leaf Anbu Copper Fox, do not engage in futile attacks. Focus on binding and capturing."
"Yes, Commander-in-Chief."
While Yagami and Kurumi were hiding in the cave on the seaside cliff, news regarding Yagami spread rapidly across both sides of the Land of Rivers' border.
The Leaf Anbu Copper Fox possesses the ability to ignore physical attacks. Upon encountering Copper Fox, Sand ninja must not waste energy on useless offenses; use binding or capturing techniques instead.
This news soon reached the Leaf's front-line main camp as well.
Inside the command tent.
Nara Shikaku summoned Commander Yellow Dog and handed him a scroll.
Yellow Dog glanced at the scroll; he was already aware of the intelligence within.
Yellow Dog said, "Anbu Unit Leader Fox secretly joined the raid battalion for a special mission. This was an assignment I gave him.
Forgive me, Commander-in-Chief, I cannot disclose the details of the mission."
Nara Shikaku nodded and said:
"I understand. The Anbu have their own duties.
After encountering the Kazekage's disciple, Rasa, I originally designated a battalion to cover the rear. I didn't expect their success to be so absolute.
It was all due to Copper Fox's involvement. For this, the Hidden Sand even specifically labeled Copper Fox as a special threat, announcing him to all their ninja.
Tell me, what is Copper Fox's true strength? It will help me make accurate tactical judgments."
Commander Yellow Dog said:
"This is the first I've heard of Fox having an Absolute Defense secret technique.
Such a technique isn't in the village's Scroll of Seals either. Based on the intelligence descriptions, it is even stronger than the Hidden Stone's Earth Style: Earth Spear.
Fox has great talent for ninjutsu and possesses powerful Earth and Water Styles. Perhaps this is a secret technique he developed himself."
For a ninja of a certain level of skill to develop their own secret technique was quite common.
Yellow Dog added:
"The raid ended several days ago. Judging by the Sand's reaction, Fox should have escaped.
However, I haven't received any intel from him yet. I'm not sure if he encountered any trouble during his retreat."
Beside them, Hatake Sakumo thought to himself. 'Fox is doing just fine; he even sent intel back via Pakkun.'
He looked at Nara Shikaku, and then at the other Nara ninja in the tent.
There were scoundrels within the Nara clan who were actually using Shadow Secret Techniques to turn their teammates into shadow puppets during combat.
This was something Hatake Sakumo absolutely could not tolerate.
He had already arranged for a secret investigation into the Nara clan to weed out those traitors and execute them.
In a corner of the tent, Akimichi Yamashiro looked at his empty left sleeve, a trace of regret in his heart. If he had mastered an Absolute Defense technique, would he have avoided losing his arm?
His father, Akimichi Torifu, was once a high-level advisor on par with Danzo, but he had been severely wounded on the battlefield early on and forced to retire.
As the strongest "Hammer and Shield" of the Ino-Shika-Cho, the casualty and disability rate of the Akimichi clan was far too high.
If they didn't charge in aggressively, the Nara and Yamanaka would never have the chance to use their secret techniques.
Nara Shikaku made a final evaluation:
"We should also help promote the name 'Copper Fox' to boost the morale of our ninja on the front lines.
This Anbu ninja stood up without hesitation during the rearguard mission. He deserves praise."
In the cave on the seaside cliff, Yagami was waiting for the Sand ninja to pull back.
After Shapo Port was hit, several Sand battalions were busy re-establishing sentry posts and defensive traps.
Yagami went out for reconnaissance periodically, recording all the new intel. Returning with this would be another significant merit.
He also visited a nearby village, trading a large fish he caught for a set of clothes and some needle and thread, allowing Kurumi to stitch up the paraglider that had been damaged by kunai.
As Kurumi mended the paraglider, Yagami chatted with her. "Kurumi, how many years has it been since you graduated from the Academy?"
Kurumi said, "I'm fifteen this year. I graduated four years ago."
"Fifteen?"
Seeing Fox eyeing her height, Kurumi said, "I grew up in an orphanage in the Leaf. The matron said there was a period when I was little where the orphanage was very poor and no one had enough to eat. I was malnourished, so I stayed short. I'm only 1.5 meters."
Yagami asked, "Didn't the orphanage get subsidies from the village?"
"No, the orphanage was run privately by the matron out of the kindness of her heart; it was a struggle to maintain. Now, I send half of my mission rewards back there, hoping the children can eat better than I did."
Yagami found Kurumi both pitiable and remarkably strong.
"Let me teach you some ninjutsu. Your strength is a bit lacking. If you don't get stronger, how can you earn enough rewards? It wouldn't be good if everyone from your orphanage ended up malnourished."
Since Kurumi's chakra nature happened to be Earth, Yagami taught her Earth Style: Underground Projection Fish Jutsu and Earth Style: Earth Flow Spear.
One for escape and one for attack; these two were enough for a Chunin to handle most missions.
Kurumi had decent talent and learned them quickly.
These were Yagami's core techniques, and he had much insight to share. By learning from him, her future Earth Style prowess would be significantly enhanced.
Once he had gathered enough intel on Shapo Port's new defenses, Yagami prepared to return to the camp.
Choosing a dark night, Kurumi piloted the paraglider while Yagami secured himself to her with ropes.
The two took flight, heading toward the border of the Land of Rivers.
Upon nearing the camp, Kurumi landed the paraglider ahead of time.
As soon as he touched down, an Anbu ninja appeared.
"Captain Copper Fox! Commander Yellow Dog requests that you see him immediately upon your return."
Copper Fox?
Why was everyone calling him Copper Fox?