Yōkō found Yellow Dog: "Battalion Commander, let me participate in the discussion for this ambush operation as well."
Yellow Dog didn't find it strange and agreed.
That evening in the tent, Yōkō watched the five Jōnin studying the map, observing each person.
There were seven people in the tent.
The Jōnin commanders of the five battalions, Yellow Dog's assistant Butterfly, and Yōkō.
The two Uchiha Jōnin, Uchiha Tōka and Uchiha Michi, definitely would not leak intelligence.
In the previous life's ambush, the two Uchiha battalions received focused attacks, and even the young clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, was in mortal danger.
The two village Jōnin, Gekkō Sō and Yamashiro-dera, were both supporters of Hatake Sakumo; these two were not problematic.
All of Hatake Sakumo's supporters had been sent by the village to the Land of Whirlpools frontlines, but Hatake Sakumo himself had not come.
In missions not supported by Danzo, those sent in were all people Danzo disliked.
Yōkō glanced at Yellow Dog's assistant, Butterfly.
Could it be her?
The operational plan discussed by the five Jōnin would ultimately be compiled into a report by Butterfly and submitted to the headquarters.
In other words, Butterfly was the first Anbu to have access to the complete operational plan.
Was Butterfly a spy Danzo placed by Yellow Dog's side?
Among the six Anbu battalion commanders, Yellow Dog was the most trusted by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Danzo would inevitably pay attention to Yellow Dog.
Should he have White Ram place Parasitic Destruction Insects on Butterfly? To track and investigate?
After hesitating, Yōkō decided it was better not to take the risk.
If someone investigated Purple Cat, even knowing it was for his own good, Yōkō would still be very angry.
Don't meddle between close associates.
He couldn't rashly suspect Butterfly.
The five Jōnin were studying the terrain of the Land of Waves, looking for a slope where water from Water Release techniques could drain away quickly.
The slope they selected was precisely the one below the hill from the previous life's ambush.
Yōkō suddenly said:
"Battalion Commander, I believe we should add a backup battlefield.
I will be luring the enemy into the ambush with the Twin Swords Hiramekarei. If I advance in one direction, it's easy for the Kiri-nin to discern our intent.
It would be better to set up a second ambush point near this location.
If the resistance I encounter is too great and I have a chance to change direction, we can set the ambush at the second location.
The five battalions can be positioned in advance somewhere between the two ambush points, ensuring they can get into position at any time."
The Jōnin seriously considered this suggestion.
Copper Fox's reputation was well-known; the other Jōnin highly valued his opinion.
Yellow Dog also thought Fox's opinion was quite good.
Although it would make setting up the ambush time-sensitive, it could increase the success rate.
Fox flaunting the Twin Swords Hiramekarei along the coastline was very dangerous; there were many variables in luring the enemy into the encirclement in the initial phase.
Uchiha Tōka, who wanted to invite Copper Fox to help provide special training for Young Clan Head Fugaku, heard Copper Fox's suggestion and said:
"I also think we should prepare a backup plan. What ninja mission doesn't have unexpected events?"
The other Jōnin also agreed, so they found a second ambush point near the first one.
After the discussion ended and everyone else left the tent, Uchiha Tōka came to Yellow Dog and Fox:
"Jōnin Fox, Vice-Commander-sama wishes to find a powerful Water Release user to provide some special training for the Young Clan Head.
I heard Jōnin Copper Fox is very strong in Water Release. I wonder if we could ask Jōnin Copper Fox to provide some training for Young Clan Head Fugaku?"
Yellow Dog's ambush operation needed the Uchiha clan's full effort: "Of course. Before the official operation, let Copper Fox assist your Young Clan Head."
Yōkō also said it was no problem.
The next day, Yōkō went to the training ground outside the main camp and saw Uchiha Tōka and three Uchiha youths, the foremost of whom was Uchiha Fugaku.
Using only Water Release: Water Shockwave and Water Release: Water Gun Technique, Yōkō made the three Uchiha youths look disheveled and embarrassed.
Even though Uchiha Fugaku had awakened the Three Tomoe within a year of graduating from the Ninja Academy, faced with such a vast difference in strength, he had little ability to fight back.
He said the same thing as in his previous life: Uchiha Fugaku was neither ruthless enough nor had sufficient resolve.
After training Uchiha Fugaku, Yōkō went to Uchiha Tōka's side.
Uchiha Tōka was very grateful to Fox inwardly. Some things were inconvenient for him to say, but after being said by an Anbu Jōnin, it was no problem.
He also felt that Young Clan Head Fugaku had ample talent but lacked ruthlessness.
Yōkō said quietly to Uchiha Tōka: "Jōnin Tōka, what are your thoughts on this ambush?"
"Huh?" Uchiha Tōka thought to himself, wasn't this just an ordinary combat mission?
The only special thing was that this mission was led by the Anbu's Yellow Dog Battalion.
The Uchiha clan had some understanding of the forces within the Anbu. The Yellow Dog Battalion was powerful, having participated fully in the Land of Rivers battlefield. Both the Land of Rivers command and the Hokage were very satisfied with their performance.
Now that the Yellow Dog Battalion had come to the Land of Whirlpools, it was inevitable they would make a move.
Why was Jōnin Copper Fox asking for his opinion?
Did he think Uchiha Tōka hadn't considered enough, failing to see some issues?
Uchiha Tōka asked:
"Jōnin Copper Fox, aside from this war in the Land of Whirlpools, the Uchiha clan hasn't had dealings with the Anbu for years.
I'm not sure what opinion Jōnin Copper Fox has. Please speak plainly. I'm not good at... not good at conspiracy theories."
Yōkō said: "The Anbu has spies within Kirigakure. According to their reports, Kirigakure is placing unusual importance on the Twin Swords Hiramekarei this time.
Our five battalions ambushing Kirigakure's sword retrieval team seems like we've invested significant force, but it's actually still not enough.
Battalion Commander Yellow Dog's idea is to secretly station more powerful shinobi within the battalions.
Deploying five battalions is to show weakness to the enemy, letting the Kiri-nin sword retrieval team smoothly enter the kill zone.
Hiding more powerful shinobi is to ensure absolute counter-attack capability, catching them off guard.
This matter must be kept secret.
After you secretly position your personnel, I will report it to Battalion Commander Yellow Dog.
I just commented that Young Clan Head Fugaku lacks ruthlessness and aggression, but we also can't really let the Young Clan Head die on the frontlines like Senju Nawaki, can we?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Tōka nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand. However, all our Uchiha Jōnin have been assigned by the command to the most dangerous and intense frontlines. At most, I can arrange for 6 Special Jōnin."
Yōkō thought to himself, 6 Special Jōnin, while less than expected, was still pretty good.
Six Special Jōnin coordinating a good surprise attack should be equivalent to about 2 Jōnin.
Some Special Jōnin just lacked the opportunity to be recommended for full Jōnin; in terms of strength, they might be stronger than some of the less competent Sarutobi clan Jōnin.
Yōkō's second arrangement was successful.
He never thought that the people he could trust now would actually be the Uchiha clan, while everyone in the Anbu carried an air of danger.
Yōkō didn't have the authority to access intelligence on Yellow Dog's assistant Butterfly; he didn't know who Butterfly was.
When hinting to Battalion Commander Yellow Dog, he had to be careful not to be overheard by others and not to expose himself.
***
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(Chapter End)