The Third Hokage looked at the few Uchiha members who rarely appeared in the Hokage's office, feeling somewhat ostracized, and said:
"Clan Head Kane, don't mind some of Advisor Danzo's statements."
"Uchiha Madara's deadly threat to the village hangs over us like a dark cloud, hence Danzo's somewhat intense attitude."
"I believe in you. I believe the Uchiha clan prioritizes Konoha and will not follow Uchiha Madara."
"Let Fox talk with you. You should also learn about Uchiha Madara's current strength."
Uchiha Kane, Fugaku, and Uchiha Tōka all looked at Fox with curiosity.
The Uchiha clan didn't want to suffer following Uchiha Madara, but they knew the strength of this senior clansman.
Uchiha Madara was absurdly strong, a figure second only to one person during the Warring States Period.
Except for the First Hokage, Uchiha Madara fought everyone with mockery and scorn, overwhelming them with sheer power.
Who would have thought that Fox could actually survive an encounter with Uchiha Madara.
The Third Raikage, Uchiha Madara... these great figures couldn't kill Fox. Fox's strength and reputation were built through being beaten again and again; he was truly strong.
Yōkō said: "Clan Head Kane, Uchiha Madara has a stooped figure, but his chakra reserve is astonishingly large."
"I believe Uchiha Madara's chakra reserve hasn't declined with age. His taijutsu might have weakened, but his ninjutsu remains formidable."
"I don't know how Uchiha Madara mastered Wood Release, but he mainly uses it against enemies."
"Advent of a World of Trees, Advent of a World of Flowering Trees, Wood Dragon Technique, Wood Spikes."
"These four techniques crushed five Root members, two squads from the Lynx Squad, Lord Jiraiya, and me along with the Kika Squad."
"Uchiha Madara's ninjutsu has an extremely large range, powerful effects, and shocking impact. Even methods rarely used by ordinary ninja, like toxins, are employed with extreme sophistication."
"Uchiha Madara's legs and feet seem to be problematic. From start to finish, he stood on a wooden bridge or his Wood Dragon, never moving."
"I believe any Konoha force smaller than three battalions should flee without resistance if they encounter Uchiha Madara."
"A force of three Konoha battalions, led by someone of the Sannin's caliber like Lord Orochimaru, using combined ninjutsu, could try to hold their own against Uchiha Madara for a while, buying some time."
"As for defeating Uchiha Madara, more people and greater strength would be needed."
The Third Hokage and Yellow Dog exchanged a glance, acknowledging Fox's assessment.
Three people of the Sannin's level leading the force could try to contend with Uchiha Madara.
And this was the aged version of Uchiha Madara. Who knew how strong Uchiha Madara was at his peak.
The good news was that Uchiha Madara had limited mobility. This was key intelligence, which lessened Sarutobi Hiruzen's tension considerably.
Uchiha Kane asked: "Squad Leader Fox, how is Uchiha Madara's prowess with the Sharingan?"
Yōkō said honestly: "We only saw four Wood Release ninjutsu; we didn't get a chance to test Uchiha Madara's Sharingan."
"Visually, Uchiha Madara's Sharingan was a Three Tomoe Sharingan, not the uniquely patterned Mangekyō Sharingan recorded by the Anbu during his battle with the First Hokage."
During that previous battle between Danzo and Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Madara had used Susano'o.
But Danzo's intelligence was secret and wouldn't be disclosed to the Uchiha clan.
After the Uchiha clan's destruction, the Mangekyō became a legendary ability.
Uchiha Kane sighed and said: "Lord Third Hokage, it seems Uchiha Madara prefers using Wood Release now."
"I can offer very little advice on how to deal with Uchiha Madara."
"Perhaps it would be better to discuss it with the Senju clan, to see if they have any records or research on Wood Release."
The Third Hokage wouldn't consult the Senju clan. If the matter of Uzumaki Nagato were exposed, Tsunade would react with furious anger.
The Third Hokage said: "Clan Head Kane, let's end the discussion here for now. If you discover any new clues, inform the village immediately."
Uchiha Kane stood up and said: "Lord Third Hokage, the Anbu and Root have suffered many casualties. I hope you can speak with Lord Danzo on our behalf; we deeply regret this."
Danzo was about to fly into another rage, and Uchiha Kane was truly afraid of him.
The Third Hokage said: "I understand. I will try to persuade Danzo."
The implication was, if persuasion failed, there was nothing he could do.
Uchiha Kane left dejectedly.
After leaving the Hokage Building, Uchiha Fugaku asked: "Father, Teacher, is Fox hiding his strength? Could he really have survived an encounter with Uchiha Madara?"
Uchiha Tōka said: "Copper Fox Jōnin withstood the Third Raikage's full-power strike. He could be called the person with the strongest defensive capabilities in Konoha. Him surviving isn't entirely unexpected."
Uchiha Kane said: "Yes, not entirely unexpected. Fortunately, he returned alive, otherwise the Third Hokage would be as furious as Danzo."
"I see the Third Hokage and Yellow Dog seem to be in a rather good mood now. The Anbu's top expert is still here; they aren't reduced to frantic rage like Danzo."
"We all have to thank Fox."
Now, besides the title 'Copper Fox', Yōkō, like Yamato in the original story, had gained the title 'Anbu's Top Expert'.
The latter title carried more weight, being the publicly recognized top expert within and outside the Anbu.
Inside the Hokage's office, Yōkō said to White Ram and Kika: "You two return to the Anbu first."
After White Ram and Kika left, only the Third Hokage and Yellow Dog remained in the office.
Yōkō stepped closer to the Third's desk and said: "Lord Hokage, Lord Yellow Dog, I have important matters requiring a separate report."
The Third Hokage knocked the burnt tobacco from his pipe and refilled it with fresh tobacco, saying: "More important matters? What is so crucial?"
Yōkō said: "Lord Third Hokage, I believe Kika and the others mentioned in their report that Uchiha Madara has some subordinates who all look identical."
"I obtained the corpse of one of Uchiha Madara's subordinates."
"I suspect Uchiha Madara's subordinates are some kind of Wood Release replicas."
He took out a scroll and unsealed it before them.
The Third Hokage stood up and, together with Yellow Dog, came out from behind the desk, staring at the white smoke from the sealing technique.
After the smoke cleared, a white corpse lay on the floor.
This was what a trusted subordinate did – report crucial intelligence separately, of course.
Yellow Dog crouched down to examine it.
"White skin like birch bark, tough, high strength."
"No reproductive gender, indistinguishable as male or female."
"Many traces of Wood Release on the body..."
Yellow Dog looked up at the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage's mood was getting better and better. Not only had Fox returned alive, but they had also obtained the corpse of Uchiha Madara's subordinate, and such a strange one at that.
Yōkō said: "Lord Third Hokage, Lord Yellow Dog, I'm not skilled in research. It would be best for you two to organize a team to study this strange corpse."
This was called awareness – giving good things only to your direct superiors, who would naturally appreciate it.
Yellow Dog stood up and said: "Fox, you've done well. I'll apply for another S-rank mission for you."
"Thank you, Lord Yellow Dog."
The Third Hokage suddenly thought that with this thing, he could justifiably intervene in Danzo's Hashirama Cell research.
The Third Hokage said: "Fox, you are responsible for delivering this corpse to Orochimaru's laboratory. Tell Orochimaru to report any experimental breakthroughs to me at any time."
Yōkō thought to himself, Just as I expected.
The Third Hokage must have wanted to intervene in Danzo and Orochimaru's Wood Release experiments but lacked an entry point.
Now, with this White Zetsu corpse, the Third Hokage had the right to know about Orochimaru's experiments.
Crucially, Yōkō, as the middleman, could openly contact Orochimaru.
He was also Orochimaru's spy. He had to spread the favor around and take care of everyone.
"Understood, Lord Third Hokage!"
Root's underground laboratory.
Hei led Yellow Dog and Fox through the dark passageway.
Yōkō looked at Hei. Hei was the last old-timer in Root, the last person loyal to Danzo.
If Ki was dead, could Hei be far behind?
Hei arrived at the laboratory entrance and said: "Lord Yellow Dog, please go in. I won't enter."
It seemed Hei didn't like Orochimaru's laboratory.
Yellow Dog and Yōkō entered the laboratory and saw about ten people in white lab coats.
In the dimly lit room, four operating tables each had a set of shadowless lamps above them.
Lab personnel bustled around the tables.
Yōkō saw the nearest lab technician holding an aluminum tray containing a severed hand.
The fingers of the severed hand had turned into five branches, with green buds growing on the curved brown branches.
After the body failed to withstand the Wood Release power, it turned into tree trunks and branches.
This lab technician walked to the wall of the laboratory and opened one of a row of jars.
The wall was covered with three dense rows of jars, top, middle, and bottom. The jars on the bottom row contained preserved hands, hands in various stages of tree transformation.
Some hands had fingers turned into leaves, some had palm cracks with flesh and bone inside transformed into wood fibers, and others were hairy, covered with fine rootlets on the skin.
Yōkō looked at the other two rows of jars. The middle row contained preserved ears, and the top row contained preserved hearts.
The laboratory was hexagonal, with all six walls covered in various jars and tree-transformed organs.
Just the displayed experimental body parts proved that at least a hundred people had died in Orochimaru's laboratory.
Yellow Dog approached Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was intently staring at a human head whose hair had turned into soft, root-like tendrils.
Orochimaru ignored Yellow Dog and Fox standing before him and said to a nearby lab technician: "Continue the report."
The lab technician then said: "Sir, this test subject has died, but his root-like hair is still absorbing nutrients and growing naturally, at three times the growth rate of normal human hair."
"Good, exceptionally strong vitality, but it was this very vitality that killed him."
After recording the experiment, Orochimaru looked up and asked: "Yellow Dog, Fox, does Sensei Hiruzen need something?"
Yellow Dog said: "Orochimaru, the Hokage sent us to deliver a precious experimental material. You will definitely be interested."
"Oh? What experimental material?" Orochimaru gestured for the lab technicians to clear an operating table.
Yōkō stepped forward and unsealed the White Zetsu corpse.
Orochimaru's eyes changed, like a venomous snake discovering a delicious field mouse.
"This... this is a perfect Wood Release life form!"
The White Zetsu had birch-like skin, a tough body, and occasional wood nodules raised on its body.
Everything about it fascinated Orochimaru greatly.
"Who created this! Why is there such a perfect Wood Release life form?" Orochimaru's fingers traced over the White Zetsu's body:
"Taut skin, resilient muscles, internal organs... no digestive system? It does have heart and lungs, but how does it obtain energy?"
"A fibrous network inside transports nutrients, drawing them from underground organic matter, just like real trees?"
"It has chakra inside and can convert organic matter into chakra?"
Orochimaru grew increasingly excited. Another lab technician brought a report, but Orochimaru forcefully threw it away.
"Trash! Everything we did before was trash! This is the perfect form of a Wood Release life form! But..."
Orochimaru fell into thought again, then muttered to himself:
"But can such methods be applied to shinobi?"
"The key question is how to use one's own chakra to sustain Wood Release tissues?"
"No, the ultimate transformation is using chakra to sustain Wood Release tissues, which then convert into vitality to nourish the self..."
Yellow Dog waited for Orochimaru to finish his muttered soliloquy before speaking:
"Orochimaru, this is the experimental material the Hokage sent you."
"The Hokage needs to be kept informed of the Wood Release experiment's progress at all times. After all, we provided this more valuable experimental material."
Orochimaru said indifferently: "I thought Danzo would show Sensei Hiruzen the experiment reports. So he hasn't."
"You found a good excuse. This experimental material is indeed something I urgently need."
Yellow Dog said: "From now on, I'll have Fox come periodically to collect the experiment reports."
To deal with Orochimaru, they had to send someone strong enough, otherwise they wouldn't get his respect.
Orochimaru was moody and unpredictable. Sending his assistant Butterfly might result in her dying at Orochimaru's hands.
Sending Fox was different. If Orochimaru wanted to kill Fox, it would take him over ten minutes at least.
Yōkō thought to himself that from now on he could legitimately visit Orochimaru to learn about the progress of the Hashirama Cell research.
He scanned the laboratory, wondering which materials contained the Hashirama Cells.
After fighting Uchiha Madara, Yōkō coveted the versatility of Wood Release.
He lacked means to deal with large-scale enemies.
When facing the ninja world's top-tier combatants – Tailed Beasts, Susano'o, sage creatures from the sacred sites, and other large summons – Yōkō had limited options.
Wood Release could suppress almost all large-scale enemies; both Susano'o and Tailed Beasts were countered by Wood Release.
Yellow Dog asked again: "Orochimaru, Jiraiya hasn't left the village without authorization, has he?"
"No, I persuaded him to stay. But he's keeping the Uzumaki clan matter in his heart, and Sensei Hiruzen won't let him talk about it. He's avoiding Tsunade now, afraid to see her."
Yellow Dog and Yōkō returned to the Anbu and discussed Uchiha Madara for a while.
They reached a consensus: they must be extremely careful when entering the Land of Rain in the future.
If they encountered Uchiha Madara in the Land of Rain, it was highly likely they would be wiped out, just like Root.
Leaving the Anbu, Yōkō returned to the izakaya and was startled to see another woman behind the counter – it wasn't Kyōi!
He quickly activated his sensing ability and detected Kyōi in the backyard, which relieved him.
Entering the backyard, Yōkō headed straight for Kyōi's bedroom.
He saw Kyōi resting comfortably against the bed, which put his mind further at ease.
"Kyōi, why is there another person in the izakaya? You scared me. I thought you sold the izakaya without telling me."
"How could I? How could I not tell you?"
Kyōi put down the needlework in her hands and gestured for Yōkō to come over.
Yōkō sat beside Kyōi, his hand naturally resting on her firm, pale leg.
Kyōi smiled slyly and said: "Tonight you have to behave; no investigating me."
"Ah? Why?"
Kyōi moved Yōkō's hand from her leg to her lower abdomen: "I went to Konoha Hospital the day before yesterday. I'm pregnant! You're going to be a father, and I'm going to be a mother!"
"What!"
Yōkō jumped up in an instant!
He didn't mind having a child. He had always thought that the lack of news from Kyōi all the way to number six meant he was infertile.
But it seems now that it wasn't his fault after all.
Perhaps it was because he was an Anbu ninja, constantly tense after the war – his baby boom was just later than that of normal Konoha ninja!
***
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(Chapter End)