The Konoha squads raced through the high mountains of the Land of the Moon.
Every ninja was excited; if they were slow, there would be nothing left.
The Kumo-nin commander, Darui, leader of the Storm Release clan, had been slain by the Konoha commander, Hatake Sakumo.
Konoha's fighting spirit was high, their momentum at its peak. The Kumo-nin, having lost their central pillar on the battlefield, fled in disarray.
Hatake Sakumo was very cautious, fearing there might be traps deep within the Land of the Moon, and that Konoha ninja might suffer large-scale casualties due to reckless advancement. He did not issue orders for a dispersed pursuit.
Once they dispersed, all Konoha squads would be unable to support each other, making it extremely dangerous.
The front line was too wide for Hatake Sakumo to oversee everything.
The Fox Unit also did not disperse; its four squads searched for Kumo-nin squads separately, not far from Yōkō.
Yak watched the significant commotion of jutsu in the distance, feeling extremely puzzled.
What was going on? It hadn't been that long since he last fought alongside the Spotted Deer Squad, so how had their strength improved so much?
Upon encountering a Kumo-nin squad, the Spotted Deer Squad immediately saturated the area with combination jutsu.
After a series of combination jutsu, the Kumo-nin squad was eliminated at medium to long range.
The Spotted Deer Squad was holding a grudge. During the battle to kill Darui, Unit Captain Fox had taken the White Ram Squad, leaving their Spotted Deer Squad with nothing.
Seeing the Kumo-nin, the Spotted Deer Squad saw red.
The Yak Squad could also achieve similar effects with combination jutsu, but after using them, the squad members' chakra decreased rapidly, causing problems in subsequent fights.
However, the Spotted Deer Squad acted as if it were nothing. They had just used three rounds of jutsu, yet their subsequent taijutsu combat was swift and completely unaffected.
Did they take pills?
Had the Akimichi clan developed some new special secret drug?
Yak specifically went to Hippo's side and asked, "Hippo, did the Akimichi clan release a new secret drug?"
Hippo shook his head and said, "No. I know what you're suspecting. Their enhanced jutsu isn't due to secret drugs. It's more like... it's more like they gained a lot of extra chakra out of thin air."
Both were puzzled and looked towards the location of Unit Captain Fox.
Unit Captain Fox stood on the hillside, arms crossed over his chest, watching the battle below.
Seeing Unit Captain Fox's gaze turn towards them, they didn't dare slack off, quickly separating to pursue Kumo-nin squads respectively.
The pursuit lasted half a day before it had to be called off upon detecting Kumo-nin reinforcements.
Kumo-nin battalions from the border fortress in the Land of Lightning, and the Land of the Moon's Daimyō's Guardian Ninja, all came to provide support.
The goal of this conflict was to resolve the Kumo-nin entrenched on the Land of the Moon's border; there was no need to escalate the war. Hatake Sakumo led the Konoha ninja back to the Land of Hot Water.
The Kumo-nin gathered their remaining troops, keeping a wide berth from Konoha's Edge.
The news of the great victory was sent back to the village, and now they awaited negotiations between the two sides.
The intensity of the fighting abruptly dropped to zero.
Using the pretext of patrolling the border, Yōkō left the camp.
He opened the right scroll; Yakushi Nonō had arranged to meet him at a hot spring bathhouse in a certain town.
Having been in the Land of Hot Water for so long, Yōkō had never gone to a hot spring bathhouse to enjoy himself.
Yōkō found the best bathhouse in town and rented a private bath.
He lay comfortably in the bath, enjoying the sensation of hot water washing his skin.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, someone entered the bath.
"Sir, would you like a massage?"
Yōkō looked up and saw a handsome male attendant. He then looked towards the entrance.
The Earth Vibration Barrier he had set up had been silently dismantled.
"I need a massage. Let me check your hands first. I'm afraid you might get putty on them later."
Yakushi Nonō smiled, knelt behind Yōkō, and began massaging his shoulders.
"I know it's you, but could you not appear in a male form when you see me? It makes me very uncomfortable."
Anyone would get goosebumps having their shoulders gently massaged by a handsome young man.
Yakushi Nonō stood up, first neatly placing several scrolls aside, then removed her clothes and shed the secret technique putty covering her body.
Yōkō found it quite interesting to watch.
Yakushi Nonō's chest binding was almost like a women's competitive swimsuit from his previous life – when worn, it flattened everything, but once undone, full, soft, pear-like breasts sprung forth.
He hadn't seen this sight last time in the cave.
Yakushi Nonō's real skin was as pale as milk, smooth and tender from being treated with medical chakra.
When she stepped into the pool, it seemed as if the hot spring water deliberately avoided touching that skin.
Watching Yakushi Nonō's nude body disappear into the pool water, Yōkō reached out and drew her into his embrace.
"Putty is so bad for the skin. Let me wash it off for you quickly, get it all clean."
Yōkō's hands wandered freely. Before long, the two began researching the depths of their alliance.
Water splashed, making a splashing sound.
After their busyness, Yakushi Nonō leaned against Yōkō's chest, waiting for her rapid breathing to calm down.
Yōkō said, "Your disguise secret technique is incredibly powerful. Can you disguise yourself as anyone you want?"
"Much of my intelligence is gathered this way. I disguise myself as someone's friend to extract information from them; it's hard to expose in a short time. Even under the Byakugan, my putty is identical to fat."
Yōkō was tempted to test it with his Byakugan, but feared scaring Yakushi Nonō.
A Konoha civilian possessing the main family's Byakugan without the Caged Bird Seal would be too shocking if revealed.
Yakushi Nonō said, "Fox, the conflict with the Land of Lightning has reached a temporary conclusion; neither side wants to fight anymore. Danzo has permitted me to return to the village. This winter, I will stay at the Konoha Orphanage."
Yōkō said, "With the border conflict over, we can now focus on dealing with Root.
Returning to Konoha Village will make it easier to investigate Root.
I wonder how far Danzo's investigation into the Uzumaki remnants has progressed? Is there still an opportunity for us to act?"
Yakushi Nonō said, "I have several hidden informants in Konoha who provide me with intelligence long-term.
Danzo places extreme importance on the Uzumaki remnants. Besides wanting to eliminate any future trouble completely, another important reason is to avenge the deceased Shimura clansmen.
As far as I know, Root has already traced the trail to the Land of Rain.
After leaving the Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki remnants passed through the Land of Waves, the Land of the Moon, the Land of Iron, and the Land of Grass."
Yōkō's heart tightened. Had they actually traced it to the Land of Rain? This was troublesome.
He had to find a way to break Root's reach, make Danzo feel the pain.
Seeing the unusually grave look in Fox's eyes through his mask, Yakushi Nonō assumed he was pondering how to sabotage Root and Danzo's plans.
The power struggle between Yellow Dog and Danzo's ANBU faction was so intense that whatever Danzo wanted to do, the Yellow Dog faction was bound to oppose it.
For Yakushi Nonō, this was a perfect opportunity.
She hoped the orphans captured by Root would receive their codenames later, survive longer, and give her a chance to save them.
Yakushi Nonō massaged Fox, seemingly encouraging him, urging him to carefully contemplate how to deal with Danzo.
She even used her ample bosom to massage him, causing Yōkō's thoughts to wander.
After once again verifying the depth of their alliance, the two reluctantly left the hot spring pool.
Yakushi Nonō set off to return to Konoha Village, while Yōkō, a few days later, welcomed Mitokado Homura, who had come to the front lines for negotiations.
***
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(Chapter End)