Noticing Fox's confusion, Yellow Dog explained:
"The Seven Ninja Swords are seven famous blades forged by the Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu. The Hōzuki clan possesses the summoning scroll for the Seven Ninja Swords."
"Within Kirigakure, there is constant debate over whether the Seven Ninja Swords are the legacy Hōzuki Gengetsu left for the Hōzuki clan, or the legacy the Second Mizukage left for the village."
"The current Kirigakure leadership believes that since the materials for the swords were all provided by the village, they rightfully belong to Kirigakure."
"Kirigakure's internal strife and power struggles are far more severe than in our Konoha. The selection for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen is fiercely contested within the village, frequently resulting in deaths."
"Kirigakure does not recognize Hōzuki clansmen as the inheritors of the Seven Ninja Swords and has been demanding that the Hōzuki clan hand over all of the blades."
Yōkō thought to himself, So you do know that our Konoha has serious internal strife too.
However, in the shinobi world where everyone compares who's worse, Kirigakure was indeed even more of a mess than Konoha.
Yellow Dog continued:
"The current elder in charge of Kirigakure's governance, Genji, has been pushing for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to become Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen, not the Hōzuki clan's Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
"After the death of the Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu, pressured by the village, especially by the demands of the Third Mizukage and Genji..."
"...the Hōzuki clan handed over the less important swords to the village: the Severed Sword: Executioner's Blade, the Longsword: Nuibari, and the Blunt Sword: Kabutowari."
"The more powerful swords—the Great Sword: Samehada, the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei, the Explosion Sword: Exploding Foam, and the Thunder Sword: Kiba—remain in the Hōzuki clan's possession."
"Centering around the Seven Ninja Swords, the jōnin of Kirigakure are locked in fierce battles. Obtaining one of the Seven Swords grants the power and status of an elite jōnin; which jōnin wouldn't be tempted?"
"Our task is to steal one of these swords. If handled effectively, it could even detonate Kirigakure's internal conflicts."
Yōkō pondered for a moment. If he were up against swords like the Longsword: Nuibari or the Executioner's Blade, which relied mainly on physical attacks, he wasn't afraid.
The plan proposed by Yellow Dog wasn't completely unfeasible.
The great merit for Yellow Dog's promotion to Vice Minister could indeed be built upon the Seven Ninja Swords.
Tsunade led the support troops into the front-line camp.
Yōkō followed Yellow Dog into the command tent.
On the podium in the command tent, Danzō sat in the center.
Danzō, as ever, was expressionless, his right eye wrapped in bandages, revealing nothing.
The expression on Uchiha Kane, sitting beside Danzō, however, was quite grim.
Uchiha Kane and the Uchiha clan had not been having an easy time on the front lines.
Fire Release was countered by Water Release, and the Sharingan was countered by the Hiding in Mist Technique.
When Uchiha Kane saw Tsunade, there was a flicker of expectation in his gaze.
For an Uchiha to actually look forward to the arrival of a member of the Senju clan would have been unthinkable in the past.
After Danzō exchanged a few brief words with Tsunade, she left with several medical jōnin to take over the front-line medical department.
After Tsunade left, Danzō looked at Yellow Dog.
Yellow Dog stepped forward proactively and said:
"Lord Danzō, the war in the Land of Whirlpools cannot drag on any longer."
"Ōnoki has held secret talks with Kumogakure, but hasn't shown any intention of negotiating with us Konoha."
"Kumogakure could disengage from the Land of Earth at any moment and turn to attack the Land of Hot Water, a vassal state of the Land of Fire."
"Kumogakure is the strongest shinobi village besides Konoha among the Five Great Nations. The Hokage believes that Konoha must go all out to deal with the threat from Kumogakure."
"Therefore, the war in the Land of Whirlpools must end as soon as possible."
"After analysis, the Hokage believes we can start with the Seven Ninja Swords, widening the cracks within Kirigakure and inciting internal conflict to end the war."
"My battalion has come to the front lines solely to execute the Hokage's mission."
Yellow Dog used the Hokage as his justification at every turn, leaving Danzō with little to say as he looked at the scroll Yellow Dog presented.
The scroll contained a mission statement personally written by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Danzō said:
"As the Head of the ANBU, I approve your operation."
"Battalion Commander Alligator Snapping Turtle is dead. I recommend Otsu replace Alligator Snapping Turtle as Battalion Commander. Did you bring Sarutobi's reply scroll?"
Yellow Dog had brought a mission concerning the Seven Ninja Swords arranged by the Hokage, representing the Hokage's direct interference in the front-line command.
Danzō didn't comment on that, instead bringing up the matter of having Otsu from Root become an ANBU Battalion Commander.
Danzō's meaning was clear: You, Sarutobi Hiruzen, can interfere. I even know your little scheme—you want to push for a Vice Minister of ANBU.
But, one of the ANBU battalions must fall under my control.
Danzō directly controlled the Lynx and Bay Leopard battalions. If Otsu could become a Battalion Commander, wearing Alligator Snapping Turtle's mask, then Danzō would control three ANBU battalions.
In that case, giving Yellow Dog the position of ANBU Vice Minister wouldn't be unacceptable.
By asking if Yellow Dog had brought Otsu's appointment, Danzō was negotiating terms with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Yōkō noticed that Yellow Dog actually wasn't afraid of Danzō.
Yellow Dog lifted his head and said:
"Lord Danzō, the Hokage has agreed to let Otsu temporarily assume the position of Battalion Commander, serving as the acting commander of the former Alligator Snapping Turtle battalion."
"As for the official candidate for Battalion Commander, after the war in the Land of Whirlpools concludes, the Hokage will decide together with you."
"This is the Hokage's appointment scroll regarding the acting Battalion Commander for the Alligator Snapping Turtle battalion."
Beside them, Otsu's head tilted slightly as he stared directly at Yellow Dog.
Yōkō turned his head to stare at Otsu, using his actions to support Battalion Commander Yellow Dog.
Yōkō did not hesitate to speculate about Danzō with the worst possible intentions.
This time Danzō had come to the Land of Whirlpools not with his direct subordinates, the Lynx or Bay Leopard battalions, but with the Alligator Snapping Turtle battalion.
Now that Alligator Snapping Turtle was dead, it was hard to believe Danzō hadn't orchestrated it behind the scenes.
Hearing that Sarutobi Hiruzen had not agreed to Otsu officially becoming an ANBU Battalion Commander, Danzō did not erupt on the spot. After a few seconds of silence, he said:
"Yellow Dog, go carry out Sarutobi's mission first."
Yōkō followed Yellow Dog out. As he turned his head, he glanced at Uchiha Kane, who had remained silent the whole time.
Poor Uchiha Kane, being in the same tent as Danzō must feel like being trapped in an icehouse.
After leaving the command tent and taking a brief rest in Yellow Dog battalion's tent area, the battalion headed straight for the coastline and fanned out along the shore.
Yōkō said to his three squad leaders, White Goat, Antelope, and Flower Deer:
"Spread the three squads out and patrol the coastline within about thirty kilometers."
"Your mission is to search for the Seven Ninja Swords."
"If you encounter Kiri-nin, capture and interrogate them if possible to gather intelligence on the Seven Ninja Swords."
"If you encounter valuable prisoners, you can bring them to me and let Purple Cat extract the intelligence."
"If you encounter the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, do not charge in recklessly. Contact me as soon as possible."
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are to be dealt with by the entire battalion; they are not opponents we can handle alone."
After all three squads had left, Yōkō stood on a reef, gazing at the sea under the night sky.
Wave upon wave surged towards the shore.
During the day, the sea breeze blew inland; at night, the land breeze blew out to sea.
The wind blew from behind him, heading out over the ocean.
Yōkō remembered when he had first transmigrated and was sent on a mission to the Land of Waves, constantly patrolling the coastline and encountering many dangers.
His squadron leader back then was Brown Bear, and his second squadron leader was Black Gorilla.
Now he was a squadron leader too, and he had also sent his three squads out along the coastline.
He wondered if his former squadron leader, Brown Bear, had felt the same way—restless yet expectant.
***
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(Chapter End)