Upon seeing Fox enter the tent, Yellow Dog's tone was filled with joy as he said, "Copper Fox, you've returned."
"Copper Fox? Am I not Fox anymore? Do I need to change my mask?"
A laugh actually escaped from beneath Yellow Dog's mask:
"Haha, Fox, the Sand's front-line command specifically issued an order for their ninja to exercise extreme caution when encountering a Leaf Anbu wearing a fox mask.
In that order, they referred to you as 'Copper Fox,' an Anbu ninja possessing an Absolute Defense secret technique."
Yagami said, "Commander, as my understanding of ninjutsu deepens, I managed to figure out a secret technique on my own. I didn't expect it to leave such a deep impression on the Sand."
Yellow Dog nodded and said:
"Many ninja develop original jutsu, and often these self-created techniques become their most suitable and powerful trump cards.
Your specific secret technique has never appeared in the shinobi world before; even the Anbu records are seeing it for the first time.
Well done, Fox."
As Yagami's strength continued to grow, many of the abilities granted by the system could be explained away as original creations or imitations.
The Anbu typically audited a member's strength, analyzing their jutsu and other intel to ensure they had no suspicious ties to enemy villages or factions.
In the future, this rule would exert less and less restraint over Yagami.
Rules are meant to bind the weak, because rules are written by the strong.
Yellow Dog continued:
"Fox, congratulations on completing your fourth S-rank mission.
Your performance in the Shapo Port raid was exceptional.
First, you provided the paraglider, making the raid technologically possible.
Second, in the rearguard mission, you were outstanding, single-handedly holding back an entire Sand battalion.
Finally, the Sand command issued a high-level warning about you, ordering all their ninja to be wary of your formidable physical defense.
After a comprehensive evaluation, the command considers you the second-greatest contributor to the raid mission."
Yagami asked, "Second? Then who was the first?"
"Naturally, it was Lord Nara Shikaku, who formulated the plan and led the raid force deep into the front lines."
Yagami thought to himself how foolish he was for asking; credit always went to the leadership, that went without saying.
Yellow Dog went on:
"However, since Clan Head Akimichi Yamashiro was severely wounded and lost an arm for the mission, Lord Nara Shikaku yielded the top credit to him.
By the way, there is one precaution I must remind you of.
Your Absolute Defense has become your signature ability. When performing assassination missions—specifically those involving disobedient Land of Fire nobles—you must never use it.
Even if you are at risk of dying during the mission, you cannot use your secret technique. Otherwise, the Daimyo will know the Hokage sent someone to assassinate the nobility."
"Understood."
The Daimyo was the nominal supreme leader of the Land of Fire, and the Leaf showed great respect to the Daimyo and the nobles on the surface.
However, the Anbu didn't necessarily share that sentiment.
Yagami could feel that after obtaining a title—regardless of whether it sounded good or not—Yellow Dog's attitude toward him had significantly improved.
In the world of ninja, strength was paramount.
Afterward, he returned to the Unit's tent area.
The three squad leaders—Purple Cat, White Sheep, and Spotted Deer—surrounded him.
Purple Cat asked excitedly, "Captain! The Sand are calling you Copper Fox, why is that?"
Yagami said, "In future battles, you don't need to worry about me. I've created a secret technique that allows me to ignore physical attacks."
With that, Yagami formed the hand sign for Shadow Clone.
"Deer, give the clone three kunai."
After taking the kunai, the Shadow Clone leaped back and threw all three at Yagami with full force.
The three kunai moved with extreme speed, striking Yagami's neck without mercy.
The skin on his neck instantly transformed into a dull, reddish-bronze color.
Clang, clang, clang.
After three crisp sounds, the kunai bounced off.
Deer picked up the kunai nearest to him and was astonished to find that the tip of the blade had snapped off.
With this level of defensive capability, wouldn't one be invincible in close-quarters taijutsu?
No wonder the Sand called him "Copper Fox"; he truly was like a man of bronze and iron bones.
Yagami said to his three squad leaders:
"We've cut off the Sand's maritime supply lines. Without iron ore, they can only rely on their existing weapon stockpiles.
They will likely organize a counter-offensive. During the gaps between missions, every squad must prioritize training."
After arranging the training tasks for the three squads, Yagami began to organize a new taijutsu style suited for himself.
Beyond physical defense, the Absolute Defense: Bronze Light made his fists exceptionally hard.
If someone tried to block his punch with their forearm, it would be like trying to stop a ninja blade with a dry twig.
With enough force, a single punch could shatter an enemy's bones.
In addition to his fists, Yagami's hand-blade strikes were incredibly lethal. A chop with the edge of his palm was more than an ordinary ninja could handle.
Outside the main camp, Yagami found a place filled with massive boulders and began training his taijutsu.
Everywhere his fists and feet landed, the boulders crumbled into pieces.
He spent a week familiarizing himself with the power output patterns and refining efficient moves. He named this style "Bone-Crushing Bronze Light."
As the name suggested, it was a taijutsu style aimed specifically at shattering the enemy's skeleton.
Besides establishing his taijutsu system, he also conducted ninjutsu resistance tests.
Yagami gathered several unit members with different chakra natures.
Wind Style: This was the least threatening to his Absolute Defense. Whether it was wind blades, tornadoes, or pressure-based jutsu, none could harm him.
Earth Style: Piercing attacks were useless, but he had to be careful with impact-based attacks to dissipate the kinetic energy. The force of a boulder's impact could travel through the skin and shock his internal organs and bones. He would need to find ways to strengthen his internals in the future.
Fire Style: Flames couldn't burn his skin, but the high temperature was very uncomfortable. He would still prioritize dodging Fire Style; besides, Fire Style rarely killed anyone anyway.
Water Style: These were primarily impact-based. He needed to be wary of the force and the possibility of being immobilized if trapped.
Lightning Style: Yagami did not ask his members to practice this against him.
He would not reveal his weaknesses to his subordinates. Just as Kakashi's Chidori could pierce through Kakuzu's Earth Spear, Lightning Style could disrupt the integrity of the Bronze Light, causing his defense to drop. He would need to be extra cautious when facing Lightning Style users.
Among the sparring members, there were two Yagami didn't recognize.
While he was away, the three squads had been continuously executing missions. Every squad faced the possibility of casualties, leading to personnel changes.
Purple Cat acted not only as a squad leader but also as Yagami's part-time assistant, helping him allocate and record missions and collect reports.
For Anbu ninja, training without a mission was a luxury. After only one week of training, Yagami received a new assignment.
Commander Yellow Dog said:
"Fox, the Sand recovered bodies and gear from the rearguard battalion at Shapo Port, including paragliders.
Our intel ninja report that the Sand is attempting to reverse-engineer them.
The Jonin in charge of the Equipment Department, Nara Umeka, went to investigate their progress.
A front-line squad received a distress signal from her. Nara Umeka is very important; you are responsible for rescuing her."
"Understood," Yagami said, then asked:
"Commander, for a rescue mission like this, is there a hidden execution order attached?
Is something wrong with Nara Umeka? Do I need to find a quiet place on the way back to kill her?"
Yellow Dog coughed repeatedly and said quickly, "Don't try to be clever. This is not an execution; it is a genuine, mandatory rescue. Nara Umeka is extremely important to the Nara clan, which is why we are deploying an Anbu elite to save her."
Yagami felt a bit disappointed. Not an execution? It seemed like a case of using public resources for private gain—sending Anbu ninja to do the Nara clan's dirty work.
"Fox, go see Commander-in-Chief Nara Shikaku. He will brief you on the mission details."