After returning to the Yellow Dog Battalion's tent area, Yōkō found Yellow Dog and said:
"Battalion Commander Yellow Dog, I plan to go to the coastline again to investigate the movements of the Hōzuki clan.
After the death of Hōzuki Muragetsu, the Hōzuki clan will not let the matter rest. They may be planning a major operation."
Yellow Dog was very pleased:
"Fox, you are the most proactive ANBU ninja I have ever seen.
I have just received news that Advisor Mitokado Homura has left the Land of Earth and is on his way to the Land of Whirlpools.
He will represent Konoha Village in negotiations with Kirigakure.
The war is about to end. The Second Great Ninja War is about to end."
Mitokado Homura's departure from the Land of Earth and his appearance in the Land of Whirlpools indicated that the war in the Land of Earth was winding down.
With all other wars concluded, how could Kirigakure continue to fight against Konoha alone?
Yellow Dog continued, "When the war ends and merits are rewarded, I will be promoted to ANBU Vice-Head, and you will become a Battalion Commander."
"Then from now on, I must address you as Lord Yellow Dog!"
"Battalion Commander Fox, let us progress together."
A certain atmosphere of joy, or perhaps the thrill of their collusion, peaked in their mutual flattery.
Both were satisfied.
"Lord Yellow Dog, hearing you say that makes me even more eager to handle the follow-up matters. I will set out now to investigate the Hōzuki clan's retaliation."
"Go ahead."
Yōkō left the main camp and quickly located the returning White Goat Squad.
White Goat promptly reported in a low voice, "Captain, those two bodies were destroyed! Someone discovered my setup and sabotaged my traps!"
Yōkō thought, As expected, we still failed to obtain evidence. The Root ninja reacted very quickly. He said:
"The three squad members return to the main camp. White Goat, you come with me."
After the others had left, Yōkō said:
"White Goat, I have received orders from the Battalion Commander to investigate a Root ninja from the Aburame clan. Your task is to locate his Parasitic Destruction Insects."
Although Otsu's identity was secret, Yōkō knew his name was Aburame Ryoma.
"Understood!"
White Goat thought, This time, I must find evidence of Root framing the Battalion. I cannot afford to fail again.
The Aburame clan was easy to track. Wherever they went, they habitually released Parasitic Destruction Insects to alert the surroundings.
Yōkō couldn't find Aburame Ryoma, but White Goat could locate him easily.
The two searched along the coast for an entire day. Suddenly, White Goat said, "Found him! Captain!"
Yōkō said, "Good. White Goat, show me the direction, then find a place to hide. The next phase of the investigation mission is too dangerous. I will proceed alone."
After White Goat roughly marked the insect range of the other Aburame ninja, he left the Squadron Leader.
As an ANBU ninja, he knew not to inquire about matters beyond his purview.
If the Captain said it was dangerous, his presence would only be a burden.
At the base of a cliff along the coastline.
Otsu leaned against a reef, listening to the surrounding sounds and sensing the intelligence relayed by his insects.
One Parasitic Destruction Insect encountered the insects of another Aburame ninja. The other Aburame ninja soon departed, and Otsu paid it no mind.
Probably just another Aburame clansman on the battlefield.
Soon, the insects relayed a message: someone was approaching.
Otsu glanced sideways, still waiting for a woman.
Yakushi Nonō, the Wandering Shrine Maiden, Root's most crucial spy.
She possessed a secret transformation technique undetectable by ordinary ninja, gathering intelligence for Root in enemy nations and villages.
At this moment, Yakushi Nonō appeared as a voluptuous young woman.
As she prepared to face Otsu, Yakushi Nonō raised a hand to adjust her glasses, casually pressing her brow to prevent herself from frowning unconsciously.
Root's scheme had failed.
Yellow Dog's significant victory threatened Advisor Danzo's authority within the ANBU.
Originally, simply leaking Yellow Dog's operation plan to the Kiri-nin would have allowed them to use the intelligence to execute a counter-ambush.
Instead, while the Kiri-nin were setting traps, Yellow Dog struck with precise timing.
As the liaison for this operation, Yakushi Nonō bore undeniable responsibility.
If Yellow Dog succeeded in becoming ANBU Vice-Head, Danzo would not spare her.
More critically, Danzo would not spare her orphanage—her only vulnerability.
She paused and washed her hands in the sea.
A special powder dissolved into the seawater as she did so.
On the distant sea surface, a walrus appeared. Stimulated by the peculiar scent, it left the reef and submerged into the water.
Yakushi Nonō felt slightly relieved. Success, I've caught the walrus's attention.
She continued toward the meeting point with Otsu.
Reaching the vicinity of the cliff, she descended and saw Otsu leaning against a reef behind.
Otsu stared at Yakushi Nonō. "The Lord demands an explanation, one that proves you did not betray him."
Yakushi Nonō replied unhurriedly:
"I led Hoshigaki Kisame to the rendezvous point. Two Root ninja arrived, confirmed the code phrase, and both sides exchanged intelligence.
Everything proceeded smoothly in between.
The operation plan Hoshigaki Kisame saw indicated that Yellow Dog would ambush yesterday.
The Kiri-nin went to set traps the day before yesterday. Everything seemed correct.
However, the intelligence provided by the two Root ninja to Hoshigaki Kisame was flawed. Yellow Dog had reached the ambush site the day before yesterday.
The Kiri-nin were scattered while setting traps and were caught completely off guard.
They had no time to employ the Hiding in Mist Technique or combined Water Release, resulting in the Kiri-nin's devastating defeat.
This operation's failure is entirely due to the erroneous operation plan delivered by the two Root ninja."
Yakushi Nonō threw a scroll to Otsu. "This is my report scroll. It explains everything clearly."
Otsu immediately smacked the scroll away, sending it flying into the seawater.
Watching her scroll float in the water, Yakushi Nonō thought, This won't end well today.
She frowned. Otsu wasn't even giving her a chance to explain.
Otsu produced another scroll and tossed it to Yakushi Nonō.
Yakushi Nonō opened it, and her pupils abruptly contracted.
She finally understood the issue: the two Root ninja, Jin and Ki, had been killed. The Jin and Ki she met were impostors.
Setting the scroll aside, Yakushi Nonō quickly pondered and said:
"To kill Jin and Ki, the enemy must be at least an Elite Jōnin.
And to extract intelligence from Jin and Ki, the enemy is highly skilled in interrogation, or...
No, interrogation is impossible. No method could make Jin and Ki talk.
It must be the Yamanaka clan's secret technique, reading intelligence from the corpses.
He obtained Root's code phrase and met with me...
Possesses the ability to kill Jin and Ki, and has a Yamanaka ninja for support..."
Yakushi Nonō operated as a spy in enemy villages, so she was less familiar with internal Konoha affairs.
Danzo only permitted her to return to Konoha Village, to her orphanage, for two months at the end of each year.
The remainder of the time, she was required to gather intelligence for Danzo.
Hearing Yakushi Nonō's analysis, Otsu frowned in thought and said:
"Few individuals meet these criteria. Jin and Ki were quite capable.
Plus, having Yamanaka assistance... The Yamanaka ninja witnessed him kill Root agents but did not report it to Command.
More importantly, it's connected to Yellow Dog.
There's only one possibility: Copper Fox from Yellow Dog's Battalion!
His assistant, Purple Cat, is the Yamanaka clan ninja, Yamanaka Ruri."
Otsu nodded repeatedly. Cross-referencing intelligence with Yakushi Nonō, he had his answer.
Yakushi Nonō said, "May I leave now? The Kiri-nin are investigating the Swordsmen's defeat. It's difficult for me to manage over there."
The next instant, Yakushi Nonō's face turned pale.
Parasitic Destruction Insects swarmed around them like a whirlwind.
"No!" Otsu said.
"Failure must be punished. You will return to Root with me. The Lord is highly dissatisfied with your spy work in Kirigakure. There is no further need for you to remain undercover there."
Yakushi Nonō thought, Just as I feared...
The insect whirlwind enclosed them, filled with the unsettling sound of flying insects.
The vortex abruptly tightened, intent on capturing Yakushi Nonō.
In the distant seawater, Yōkō exposed only his eyes and forehead. He was about to act but forced himself to halt.
A tall figure with orange hair appeared, the Great Sword Samehada strapped to his back!
Hoshigaki Kisame?
***
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(Chapter End)