Back in Konoha.
Yellow Dog looked at the mission report scroll and said, "Fox, you also understand engineering knowledge? Water level monitoring? Hydroelectric power station construction?"
Yōkō said, "I'm proficient in Earth Release. After reading some materials in the Land of Rivers, I gave them some suggestions."
Yellow Dog took out another scroll and said, "This is the jutsu reward scroll for your squadron. There are seven jutsu in total. You go and distribute them."
Taking the scroll, Yōkō was in a good mood.
Once each subordinate had one offensive and one defensive jutsu, their combat ability would be greatly enhanced.
Yellow Dog added, "Fox, prepare yourself. This month we might head to the Land of Whirlpools battlefield."
They had just withdrawn from the Land of Rivers battlefield and hadn't even caught their breath, and now they were going to the Land of Whirlpools battlefield?
Yōkō asked, puzzled:
"Battalion Commander, the Land of Whirlpools battlefield has ANBU Commander Advisor Danzo, and the Alligator Snapping Turtle Battalion.
Why do we need to go..."
Yōkō's words stopped abruptly.
The Alligator Snapping Turtle Battalion was there to monitor the Land of Whirlpools war for the Hokage. If the Yellow Dog Battalion was still needed, it indicated that the Alligator Snapping Turtle Battalion might have encountered problems.
Or, Danzo had encountered problems.
Yōkō immediately asked, "Battalion Commander, are you planning to move up?"
Yōkō speculated that Sarutobi Hiruzen might be looking for an opportunity to sideline Danzo within the ANBU.
Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen no longer cooperated as seamlessly as they did initially.
Danzo had his own demands, which conflicted with Sarutobi Hiruzen's authority.
According to the original plot, the ANBU and Danzo eventually split, with Danzo leading the Root himself, and the Hokage continuing to control the ANBU.
It was just unknown when these events occurred.
Yellow Dog asked, "Fox, do you support me moving up?"
"Support! Of course, I support it!" Yōkō said:
"Battalion Commander, if you don't move up, how can I move up?
To be perfectly frank, I've had my eye on the position of ANBU Battalion Commander for a long time.
If I don't move up, how can my subordinates move up? Among my subordinates, there are those who want to become squadron leaders.
If you don't move up, how can we all move up together?
Battalion Commander, I absolutely support you. I represent all the shinobi of the Fox Squadron in supporting you!"
Yellow Dog said, "You are an ANBU who has earned the title Copper Fox. If you want to be a Battalion Commander, your strength is sufficient.
Perform well in the Land of Whirlpools. This is precisely why we are in such a hurry to go to another battlefield. Perhaps both you and I can achieve our goals."
Yōkō left the Battalion Commander's office, thinking that Yellow Dog might be aiming for the position of ANBU Vice-Commander.
Back in the Land of Grass, many of the Yellow Dog Battalion's missions were arranged by Danzo, such as capturing prisoners, entering the Land of Rain to negotiate with Hanzo, etc.
In the Land of Rivers, the Yellow Dog Battalion had high independence; all missions were arranged by Yellow Dog alone.
Perhaps conflicts had already arisen between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo during the Land of Grass period, but Yōkō's rank was too low to know about the high-level disputes.
He himself had hopes of promotion to ANBU Battalion Commander? The thought was exciting.
Not long after Yōkō left, ANBU Battalion Commander Black Ant entered Yellow Dog's office.
Black Ant was a Nara clan Jonin and, like Yellow Dog, an absolute trusted aide of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Black Ant handed a scroll to Yellow Dog. He said, "Yellow Dog, I've received the latest intelligence. Alligator Snapping Turtle is dead."
Yellow Dog was stunned. He had just been talking to Fox about the Alligator Snapping Turtle Battalion in the Land of Whirlpools, and now Alligator Snapping Turtle was dead?
Black Ant said: "Among the six ANBU Battalion Commanders, you, I, and Golden Eagle, needless to say, are loyal to Lord Hokage.
Bay Leopard and Lynx were trained by Danzo and are loyal to him.
After Alligator Snapping Turtle's sacrifice, Commander Danzo wanted Root's Otsu to become the new Battalion Commander. This appointment was vetoed by Lord Hokage.
Yellow Dog, the situation has suddenly become complicated. You must be very careful when you go to the Land of Whirlpools."
Yellow Dog nodded, taking the investigation report on Alligator Snapping Turtle's death: "I'll be careful."
Black Ant added, "There are other matters we also need to investigate.
Root is conducting some dangerous experiments, led by Kō, that is, Orochimaru. Advisor Danzo and Orochimaru are even unwilling to share the experimental data and results with the ANBU.
Lord Hokage is also very dissatisfied with this matter.
Amidst these various unexpected events, the ANBU urgently needs a Vice-Commander. Otherwise, there's a risk of the ANBU slipping out of Lord Hokage's control."
Yellow Dog said, "Each of the Hokage's three disciples is a headache.
Jiraiya remains in the Land of Rain, having left the shinobi combat roster without authorization. Princess Tsunade openly defies Lord Hokage in the Jonin council. And now Orochimaru has leaned towards Danzo.
Can't experiments be done while following Lord Hokage?
What conditions could Danzo have possibly offered Orochimaru? Or did he provide some precious experimental materials?
Lord Hokage trained the Legendary Sannin, yet they each act perversely and defy reason.
The Hokage's own disciples cannot be trusted. Who exactly is worthy of trust?"
Black Ant suddenly thought of the Second Hokage. The Second Hokage's disciples also ultimately overturned many of his policies.
Konoha placed special emphasis on mentorship lineage. However, masters and disciples often easily turned against each other.
Black Ant said, "Orochimaru's experiments seem to be progressing quite well. Judging from the intelligence sent back by spies, Orochimaru is in a very good mood.
In the war against the Land of Earth, Orochimaru has rarely taken action recently, staying mostly in the experimental tent at the main camp.
We should find a way to gather more intelligence on Root.
Right under Lord Hokage's nose, Root's influence is growing larger and larger, becoming increasingly difficult to understand.
If you are promoted to ANBU Vice-Commander, your battalion, plus the recently vacated Alligator Snapping Turtle Battalion, means two Battalion Commander positions will be open at once.
Do you have any recommended candidates for Battalion Commander?"
Yellow Dog said, "I plan to have Fox take over my battalion."
Black Ant nodded and said, "Copper Fox? His strength is sufficient.
After he distinguishes himself in the Land of Whirlpools, we can indeed consider appointing him as a Battalion Commander.
He's still a Tokubetsu Jonin, right? Should we resolve his Jonin status first?"
"I have the same intention. I'll write Fox's Jonin recommendation in the next couple of days."
After returning to his squadron, Yōkō gathered all three squad leaders.
"This is the jutsu scroll I applied for on your behalf. The squad leaders should each copy the jutsu they need.
The Land of Rivers war is over. After resting and relaxing for a day or two, immediately organize an intensive jutsu learning session.
The squadron's strength must be improved as soon as possible, because we will soon follow Battalion Commander Yellow Dog into the Land of Whirlpools."
Purple Cat couldn't help but ask, "Captain, but why is Battalion Commander Yellow Dog in such a hurry to go to the Land of Whirlpools battlefield again?"
"Purple Cat, no complaints. We are ANBU. Our duty is only one thing: to follow orders."
Yōkō speculated internally that Yellow Dog was pushing so hard to earn a major achievement, allowing the ANBU to see him advance further based on merit and accept it wholeheartedly.
The Hokage could directly appoint Yellow Dog as ANBU Vice-Commander, but it wouldn't be as solid as Yellow Dog earning the promotion through mission accomplishments.
After the three squad leaders copied the jutsu needed for their respective squads, Yōkō also opened the scroll.
Inside the scroll was one Genjutsu and six elemental ninjutsu.
The elemental ninjutsu were one thing; Yōkō's current elemental ninjutsu strength was sufficient. At most, he would learn them to handle special situations and wouldn't spend extra effort on them.
His gaze fell on the Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Temple of Nirvana Technique.
This was a technique prepared for Purple Cat.
He had the Sharingan; he could try learning some Genjutsu.
The biggest characteristic of Sharingan Genjutsu is that it requires no hand seals; it's instantaneous.
This gives the Uchiha a significant advantage in seizing the initiative on the battlefield.
In the original story, one major reason Uchiha Itachi had such high intimidation was his use of Genjutsu to start fights; a single glance often decided the outcome.
The benefits of being a Squadron Leader are really good. It's much easier to obtain jutsu now.
***
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(End of Chapter)