"The first question: If the Hokage orders you to kill Advisor Mitokado Homura's daughter, how will you complete the mission?"
No hesitation allowed, that meant Yako had to answer with his raw, honest instincts.
There was certainly a member of the Torture and Interrogation Division hidden among the jōnin seated behind Nara Shikakaku someone who could detect lies.
Yako responded immediately:
"I would execute the mission without hesitation.
The key issue, in my view, is the method of execution.
Homura's daughter, raised by the advisor himself, would never betray Konoha.
To doubt her is to doubt him.
If the Hokage has to give such an order, the likely cause is some scandal tied to her one that could ruin Homura's political reputation.
Illicit affairs, cruelty, flaunting wealth in the Hokage Building any of these exposed could end his career.
That means her death must be silent.
No witnesses.
Not even Homura himself can know.
I'd track his movements and wait for a time he's out of the village then eliminate her quietly.
Killing her… would be protecting him.
The body must be destroyed completely, no traces left behind not even bones for him to find.
I don't know Fire Release, so I'd opt for a large animal disposal preferably something that digests bone—"
"Stop."
Shikakaku cut him off, raising a hand.
He glanced sideways at Yellow Dog.
'Is ANBU getting… too extreme lately?'
Yellow Dog, however, nodded approvingly.
He wasn't wrong. When assassinating someone close to a village elder, disposing of the body was critical. No evidence, no fallout.
Among the jōnin, a few recalled their own answers to similar questions pleading with the Hokage, warning Homura, showing sentiment.
Compared to that, Fox's response was cold, methodical, and surgical.
There was no "correct" answer. These questions were about exposing a shinobi's tactical instincts.
Fox's tendency: ruthless, decisive, no loose ends.
Shikakaku moved on.
"Second question: You're on an escort mission in the Land of Hot Water. A Konoha shinobi begs you to save his squad.
If you save the squad, your escort target will die.
If you stay with the escort, the squad dies.
What do you do?"
Yako thought: a classic trolley problem.
If the train keeps going, it kills five. If you divert it, one dies.
No matter the choice, someone dies.
He answered at once:
"If saving the Konoha squad guarantees the death of my escort target, then even creating a Shadow Clone to help them is off the table, as that would halve my chakra and risk the target's life.
I'd stay and finish the escort mission.
I'd also detain the Konoha shinobi who approached me, and as their superior, order them to assist me with the escort instead.
If they return, the squad still dies.
But if they help me, at least one of them survives, and my mission success rate increases.
It's the optimal path with the highest yield."
The jōnin exchanged glances again.
This… was a first. No one had ever suggested detaining the help-seeking comrade.
'That's a bit much, isn't it?' a few silently thought. 'He's taking mission logic a bit far…'
Shikakaku looked to Yellow Dog.
The latter was already reflecting.
Why didn't I think of that?
His own past answer had been to summon a beast to assist the squad, but looking back, even losing one summoning beast could've compromised his primary objective.
Shikakaku gave the third question:
"Suppose you're sent to the distant Land of Bears on a thirty-year undercover mission.
You are forbidden from revealing your identity, contacting Konoha, or ever acknowledging your true self.
You are to vanish.
How would you proceed?"
Yako didn't even blink.
"A thirty-year mission implies Konoha is pursuing a decades-long strategic goal.
The Land of Bears is under the Land of Earth's influence.
So I'd set a long-term plan, and by the end of it, I'd have full control.
The daimyō would be my puppet.
The Queen Mother would be my lover.
The nobility would kneel.
I would become the secret ruler behind the scenes.
And when the time came, and Konoha sent the signal, I would lead the Land of Bears to sever ties with the Land of Earth… and declare war on their behalf.
That would be my contribution to Konoha's victory."
Every jōnin in the room nodded, their expressions unreadable.
They'd gotten used to how Copper Fox thought.
And to be fair, his plan was the best possible outcome.
Well… maybe except the part about seducing the Queen Mother.
Did he consider her age?
Then again, if the daimyō was just a ten-year-old puppet… the Queen Mother might still be young.
Shikakaku slowly shook his head as he wrote his evaluation.
It wasn't that Yako's mindset clashed with Konoha's ideals…
It just matched ANBU's too well.
Copper Fox… is too extreme.
That was the final line Shikakaku wrote beneath his recommendation.
Better to keep him in ANBU. He's not suited for ordinary shinobi life anymore.
"Very well," Shikakaku said aloud. "The interview is over. Next is the combat evaluation."
Yellow Dog looked pleased. He hadn't worried about the interview, and he worried even less about the fight.
Shikakaku gestured toward the center of the room.
"The test will be held right here.
Three jōnin will attack you.
If you lose quickly, or if you damage anything in the meeting room — you fail."
Yako raised his hand.
"What if they break the floor or windows on purpose?"
Shikakaku replied, "Not all jōnin are ANBU. Not all jōnin use underhanded tactics.
We have our pride."
Yako froze.
…Was that a jab at him?
Was he saying Yako had no pride? That he always resorted to dirty methods?
Before he could dwell on it, the three jōnin charged — kunai in hand, attacking from three directions.
Yako raised his hand like a blade — clang! — one jōnin's kunai snapped in half.
He almost followed with a punch to the chest — but he worried about launching the man into a vase or wall.
So he reached instead for his throat.
The jōnin dodged just in time.
Another came from behind.
Yako spun, slicing through his kunai with a red-copper hand and grasped at his neck.
Got him.
Suddenly — flash!
Lightning surged.
Lightning Substitution?!
From his blind spot, the third jōnin struck — using the same high-level Lightning Release Substitution that Kakashi had once employed.
Yako's hand flew into a seal — Earth Substitution!
Boom!
The lightning tore into a mud dummy.
Yako reappeared in the far corner — right behind the lightning-style jōnin.
Too close.
If they had seen his real body, they'd know: his Absolute Defense: Bronze Light was an Earth Release secret.
They clashed in close quarters, trading blows.
The lightning user began to retreat, forming hand signs behind his ally.
Lightning Release: Groundwalk.
Yako's eyes narrowed.
He wasn't worried about the jutsu itself — he was worried about the floor.
If that breaks, I fail.
He leapt straight up and clung to the ceiling.
The lightning jōnin looked up in surprise and stopped his hand signs.
The other two appeared behind Yako, kunai flashing.
They were still probing — testing for gaps in his defense.
The fight carried them across the ceiling, down to the floor, then toward the windows.
A flowerpot tipped over.
Yako kicked one opponent aside, leaned back, and caught it just before it hit the ground.
He placed it down gently — then immediately blocked another strike.
The four fought in a tight, focused melee — taijutsu, short-range ninjutsu, nothing wide or flashy.
Five minutes passed.
"Enough!"
Shikakaku raised his hand.
"You've all held back your trump cards.
Fox — you pass.
Combat trial complete.
Once I finish your report, you can go upstairs and meet the Hokage."