Yellow Dog believed that Fox was becoming increasingly reliable.
Recently, Fox Squad had the lowest attrition rate among the three squads under Yellow Dog's command.
A low attrition rate meant these Anbu ninja were all growing stronger.
Age was also a part of strength.
If a ninja could live to 30, experience alone could make them an exceptionally skilled squad leader.
Yōkō continued: "Battalion Commander, I saw a large gathering of puppet masters in the Land of Wind. Their movements are suspicious; I suspect they might set sail from Saba Port, take the sea route to bypass and attack the rear of our Konoha lines."
"Hmm?" Battalion Commander Yellow Dog glanced at the map hanging to the side and said:
"If they take the sea route... it's highly likely they would go upstream from the Shirano River in the western part of the Land of Rivers.
Fox, first write a detailed mission report, then go to the command tent."
When Yōkō entered the command tent, he found that both Nara Rokaku and Hatake Sakumo looked very grim; one could say their faces were ashen.
Battalion Commander Yellow Dog said, "Fox, report."
"We were in the Land of Wind..."
Yōkō had just started speaking when Battalion Commander Yellow Dog interrupted him.
Yellow Dog said: "Hold the report on the Land of Wind intelligence for now. Report on another matter first."
Yōkō was somewhat confused. What matter could be more important than an elite Sunagakure puppet master force attempting a flanking sneak attack?
Nara Rokaku waved his hand, signaling everyone else in the command tent to leave.
Soon, only five people remained in the command tent: Nara Rokaku, Hatake Sakumo, Yellow Dog, Yōkō, and Nara Baika.
Yellow Dog said: "Fox, report on the mission to eliminate the Nara clan rogue ninja."
Yōkō, not understanding the reason, honestly recounted the mission.
He was responsible for one person, and the three squads were each responsible for one, making four total. They disguised themselves as Mist ninja to carry out the elimination.
Nara Rokaku asked: "Captain Copper Fox, after your squad eliminated the rogue ninja, did any other situations arise?"
Yōkō said:
"No, none whatsoever. After my squad eliminated the rogue ninja, we immediately received the order to rescue Jonin Nara Baika.
I didn't delay, turned in the rogue ninja elimination mission, accepted the rescue mission, and left the main camp right away."
Nara Rokaku nodded, but his expression didn't relax at all, saying:
"Some unpleasant rumors have appeared in the main camp, saying that every Konoha ninja must be wary of Nara ninja. That Nara ninja use their shadow secret techniques to manipulate their comrades into dying.
These rumors... were they not spread by your squad?"
"Absolutely not me! It definitely wasn't my squad."
Although Yōkō's tone was urgent, he wasn't panicked internally.
This turmoil wasn't aimed at attacking Yōkō; an obscure Anbu squad leader like him in the main camp wasn't worth targeting with rumors.
The codename Copper Fox was somewhat famous, but ordinary ninja didn't even know which Anbu member Copper Fox was.
Yōkō glanced at Hatake Sakumo's grim expression.
This rumor was less aimed at the Nara clan and more aimed at Hatake Sakumo himself.
Hatake Sakumo's extremely high moral standards did not permit Konoha ninja to kill each other.
He had led the initial investigation into the Nara clan rogue ninja; he was the one who exposed the matter, forcing the Nara clan to clean house.
Originally, after the cleanup, the matter should have been concluded.
But now rumors had emerged, putting the Nara clan in a very awkward position.
Which ninja clan didn't have rogue ninja?
The Uchiha clan's rogue ninja, Uchiha Madara, caused immense damage to the village.
The Senju clan also had rogue ninja, albeit fewer in number.
When ninja encounter injustice, they tend to solve problems with a kunai; if it leads to major disaster, they have no choice but to become rogue ninja.
Among the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru became a rogue ninja, yet no one held the Third Hokage accountable.
The Nara clan produced some scum; Nara Rokaku, as the clan head, accepted the blame, entrusted the Anbu with a swift cleanup – there was absolutely no problem with that.
However, spreading rumors to continue attacking the Nara clan felt like excessive pursuit.
Which ninja clan doesn't produce a few bad apples?
Yōkō's gaze shifted between Hatake Sakumo and Nara Rokaku, unsure how the two would ultimately resolve this.
Hatake Sakumo spoke: "Lord Rokaku, your handling was very timely; the several rogue ninja have been dealt with. I am very surprised by the rumors within the main camp."
Nara Rokaku's eyes moved slightly, then he said:
"Deputy Commander Sakumo, with a major battle imminent, a few rumors are insignificant. Let's hear the intelligence that Copper Fox brought back from the Land of Wind."
Yellow Dog said to Fox: "Then, Fox, you tell us."
Yōkō thought, This is bad. Hatake Sakumo wants to become Hokage, but the Nara clan, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, won't support him now, at least not in the short term.
Yōkō quickly changed the subject, saying:
"Commander, Deputy Commander, Battalion Commander, within the Land of Wind, we discovered abnormal market movements regarding Yellow Hardwood.
Large quantities of Yellow Hardwood were being purchased and sent in the direction of Sunagakure.
On the road from Sunagakure to Saba Port, we saw a transferring elite force of puppet masters.
At least 200 puppet masters, accompanied by numerous puppets, were heading towards Saba Port.
Judging from the soaring price of Yellow Hardwood, the 200 puppet masters we saw might only be one batch of the assembled forces.
The final number of Sand ninja gathering at Saba Port will certainly be more than 200."
Nara Rokaku looked at the map on the table and said:
"Konoha is fighting on three fronts. Whether it's Genin reinforcements or material supplies, everything is stretched taut like a bowstring at its limit.
But Sunagakure's situation is even worse.
The Sand ninja have suffered frequent setbacks on the front lines, and were severely hit at Saba Port, losing large amounts of logistical supplies.
They can't wait any longer. They are making their final, desperate gamble like a cornered beast."
Nara Rokaku pondered for a few seconds, then said:
"Let's use one decisive battle to completely resolve the Sunagakure threat.
Deputy Commander Sakumo, I will command the frontal battlefield. You command the response to Sunagakure's elite assault force.
This might be the final battle of the war in the Land of Rivers.
Deputy Commander Sakumo, with you and I coordinating, and the Konoha ninja united as one, we can certainly secure victory in this war for Konoha."
For a moment, Hatake Sakumo's killing intent overflowed. Yōkō's scalp went numb, and he almost activated his Absolute Defense: Copper Light.
The rumors targeting the Nara clan weren't spread by Hatake Sakumo, but in the end, they were attributed to him.
A simple rumor had pushed Nara Rokaku and Hatake Sakumo into opposition. Hatake Sakumo was holding his breath in frustration.
The Sand ninja were about to become Hatake Sakumo's punching bag.
After Hatake Sakumo and the Anbu had left, Nara Baika stepped forward and said:
"Clan Head, the rumors definitely weren't spread by Copper Fox's squad, but it's also unlikely they were spread by Hatake Sakumo. Should I organize an investigation to find the source of the rumors?"
Nara Rokaku's eyes were clear and sharp, completely unlike his earlier appearance of being angered by the rumors. He said:
"I know. The source of the rumors isn't Copper Fox's squad, nor is it Hatake Sakumo.
However, someone hopes for us to oppose Hatake Sakumo, so we'll just follow the script and perform.
We'll oppose Hatake Sakumo a few times next, so others can't say we are making trouble without reason."
Nara Baika was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood the intricacies involved.
***
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(Chapter End)