Seeing the astonished look in Nara Shikakaku's eyes, Akimichi Torifu said,
"Don't worry. There are no ANBU nearby. No one will see my current condition.
I still have enough sensory ability for that.
Hearing about Mitokado Homura's death just now made my hands itch a little.
I recalled some old taijutsu techniques from the past. Luckily, I haven't forgotten things like lifting heavy weights as though they were light."
"Uncle Torifu… your strength has actually recovered, hasn't it?"
"Of course it hasn't recovered. No matter who asks, my strength is far from what it was at my peak," Akimichi Torifu replied.
"I know what you want to ask—why I refused to come out of retirement.
Shikakaku, the village is currently in a turbulent period.
When the village was first founded, the order was dominated by the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan, with the smaller ninja clans supporting them.
After the First Hokage passed away, the Second Hokage disrupted that order.
Teacher Tobirama began the great integration of Konoha, establishing a system led by ninja clans, with civilian shinobi serving as supplements.
That order was then disrupted again by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Now Hiruzen has established a new order—one that emphasizes sacrifice for the village under the Will of Fire.
In my opinion, that order is unsustainable.
It doesn't even need someone else to destroy it.
It will collapse under the weight of death itself.
It might not even last until the Fourth Hokage.
It could collapse while still in Hiruzen's hands.
Danzo's Root and the Shimura clan have been repeatedly struck.
Now Mitokado Homura has been killed.
The attacks are far too precise.
The order Hiruzen established is already collapsing.
Even an outside enemy like Onoki would not be able to identify Konoha's weak points with such precision.
These attacks are so accurate that it almost looks as though Hiruzen himself arranged them and issued the orders personally.
That means there is a faction inside Konoha that is extremely dissatisfied with the current order.
If I come out of retirement, I will have to follow Hiruzen's wishes and maintain his system.
Then that faction will immediately lock its sights on me.
My death wouldn't matter much.
But the Ino–Shika–Cho clans would suffer greatly in the confrontation.
First the Shimura clan.
Then the Ino–Shika–Cho clans.
Sometimes I even feel as though Hiruzen himself is laying out the board.
Uchiha Madara's actions resemble ANBU tactics.
If you told me Madara was cooperating with Hiruzen, I wouldn't even find it strange.
So forget it.
Let them fight it out.
I—and the Ino–Shika–Cho clans—will not step out to serve as their shield."
Nara Shikakaku stood frozen.
He had always believed he saw many things clearly.
But in that moment, he realized that after spending too long among the higher ranks, he had lost sight of the entire picture of Konoha.
Yes.
The current order of Konoha revolved around sacrifice under the Will of Fire.
Sacrifice for Konoha.
Sacrifice for one's comrades.
But that order was extremely fragile.
Shikakaku had seen too many chosen sacrifices.
Too many forced sacrifices.
And far too many large-scale sacrifices.
A system built upon sacrifice could not last.
"Uncle Torifu," Shikakaku said, "I read the ANBU intelligence scrolls. Uchiha Madara seems to have a close relationship with the Uzumaki clan. He has sheltered some Uzumaki survivors.
Our Ino–Shika–Cho clans have shinobi serving as guardian ninja for the daimyō of the Land of Whirlpools.
Will Uchiha Madara target them?
Uncle Torifu, if you don't take the position of foreign affairs adviser, the village needs an even stronger one.
Someone must deter Uchiha Madara.
Otherwise every guardian ninja will be in danger."
Akimichi Torifu replied,
"When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.
The Land of Whirlpools lies southeast of the Land of Fire, while the Land of Rain lies to the west.
They're far apart.
There's no immediate danger.
Let's watch.
Let's wait.
There's no need to rush."
Nara Shikakaku said quietly,
"Uncle Torifu… I didn't expect you to see things so clearly. Compared with you, I feel somewhat foolish."
"Clearly?" Torifu said.
"I'm not clear at all.
I still can't even figure out who this opposing faction in Konoha really is."
His expression turned serious.
"Is it the Senju clan?
Senju Hanaki is far too conservative, and Tsunade gambles too much and leaves holes everywhere. It doesn't look like them.
Is it the Uchiha clan?
If they had such strength, they wouldn't have been lying low for so long.
Is it Hatake Sakumo?
Even less likely. Sakumo is an idealist. Those idealistic beliefs are useless.
Is it the Hyuga clan?
Forget it. The Hyuga were ruined by the Caged Bird seal.
They only care about the petty hierarchy between main and branch families. They have no ambition at all."
Torifu suddenly looked straight at Shikakaku.
"Shikakaku… it isn't you, is it?
Are you secretly arranging these strikes against Danzo and Mitokado Homura?"
Shikakaku gave a bitter smile.
"You know the combat strength of the Ino–Shika–Cho clans.
Even if I wanted to, we simply don't have that kind of power."
At that moment, Torifu suddenly raised his hand.
"An ANBU shinobi will be passing nearby. You should go."
Shikakaku turned his head.
He himself had not sensed the ANBU at all.
Yet Uncle Torifu had detected them first.
After bidding Torifu farewell, Shikakaku left the lakeside.
His brow was tightly furrowed.
Konoha's current situation had become difficult to understand.
Was there really a faction within the village repeatedly striking at the Hokage's forces?
And if so…
Would the Ino–Shika–Cho clans, as beneficiaries of the current system, eventually be targeted as well?
Root.
The Shimura clan.
Adviser Mitokado Homura.
The enemy's targets were expanding.
After thinking it over, Shikakaku concluded that the struggle for the adviser's seat was extremely important.
That hidden faction would inevitably reveal itself.
—
Land of Rain.
"My lord! ANBU messenger hawk!"
Far away beneath dark clouds, a hawk circled in a distinctive pattern.
Antelope immediately recognized it as an ANBU messenger hawk.
Summoned beasts intelligent enough to use reverse summoning techniques were extremely rare in the shinobi world.
Aside from them, messenger hawks were Konoha's most efficient communication tool.
After calling the hawk down, Antelope examined the small scroll tied to its leg.
His face changed dramatically.
"This is bad! My lord! Lord Yellow Dog urgently summons us back to the village!"
Yako said calmly,
"In times of crisis, one must remain composed. We are ANBU. How can we panic like this?"
"My lord! Adviser Mitokado Homura has been killed!"
"What? Why didn't you say that first? Next time, report everything at once!"
Yako thought to himself that his half-exile status was finally coming to an end.
The village had recalled him under pressure.
Yellow Dog simply could not deal with dangerous enemies like Sarutobi Kanosuke or Spiral Zetsu.
Without him, the ANBU would eventually fall apart.
"Hurry. We're returning to the village."
Leaving the damp climate of the Land of Rain and entering the Land of Rivers, the ANBU felt their breathing become easier.
After ten days of travel, Yako returned to Konoha.
The death of Mitokado Homura had filled the village with tension.
Even during the brutal Second Shinobi World War, none of Konoha's leadership had died.
Yet now Homura had been killed by a rogue ninja's subordinate.
Konoha's order was wavering.
The future had become uncertain.
The daimyō had only just finished negotiations with Homura.
Now he was dead.
Wasn't Konoha supposed to be trustworthy?
Wasn't Konoha supposed to be capable of protecting the daimyō?
If even Mitokado Homura himself could be killed, how could they protect anyone?
Daimyō from every nation had sent official letters to Konoha asking whether the agreements made with Homura still held any guarantee.
For a time the village was overwhelmed, forced to send even more shinobi to the capitals of various nations.
Yako entered the ANBU headquarters and immediately reviewed the intelligence gathered during his absence.
According to the reports, Orochimaru currently had the strongest support and was the most likely candidate to become the next adviser.
Orochimaru certainly had the strength.
But Yako didn't want that.
He had worked so hard to kill Mitokado Homura.
Not to pave the road for Orochimaru.
And now Orochimaru was going to reap the benefits?
Yako arrived at the ANBU base beneath the Hokage Tower.
"Lord Yellow Dog, I apologize. My mission failed," Yako said.
"I searched the Land of Rain for Uchiha Madara's rogue organization, but Spiral Zetsu appeared in the Land of Rivers. I did not anticipate that."
Yellow Dog said, "That isn't your fault. The shinobi world is vast. Even with an ANBU squad, you couldn't possibly track Spiral Zetsu."
Yako nodded. He knew he would not be punished.
"Lord Yellow Dog, Adviser Danzo should have cooled down by now, right? Recently he kept sending me out of the village on pointless searches with no results."
"He has cooled down. And he's also been frightened.
Mitokado Homura's death deeply shocked the leadership.
Danzo will not order you to leave the village for extended periods again. That would be a serious waste of ANBU strength."
Yako lowered his voice slightly.
"Lord Yellow Dog… do you know who will become the next adviser in charge of foreign affairs?"
"I don't know," Yellow Dog replied.
"The Hokage hasn't decided yet.
Torifu has the right status but has been retired for years and lacks the strength.
Among the rest, Orochimaru is the most likely.
Some people in the village are building momentum for him, but the Hokage still seems hesitant."
"Yes. Ultimately it depends on the Hokage's attitude.
But…" Yako's voice carried a persuasive tone.
"If Lord Yellow Dog were to compete for the adviser's position, the Hokage would certainly support you."
Yellow Dog felt his heart stir.
Who wouldn't want to become a high-level adviser?
He knew how Mitokado Homura had monopolized the missions of the Land of Rivers thanks to that position.
Homura's wealth was enviable.
Beyond money and secret techniques, there was status.
Homura had great recognition among the daimyō, and many missions required his coordination.
The foreign affairs adviser held enormous power.
Yako continued,
"Orochimaru may be strong, but with that cold personality, how could he handle diplomatic missions?
If he went to negotiate with the daimyō of the Land of Grass, he might scare the poor man to death.
I can't even imagine it.
Would Orochimaru smile when meeting a daimyō—or not?
If he doesn't smile, that face would be terrifying.
Dark and eerie.
But if he does smile…
Wouldn't that be even worse?
So Orochimaru isn't suitable.
It has to be you, Lord Yellow Dog.
Your identity as the Hokage's eldest son means your words directly represent the Hokage and Konoha's stance.
The daimyō will trust you, won't they?"
Yako's eyes flickered.
If Yellow Dog defeated Orochimaru and rose to become adviser, then Yako could become head of the ANBU.
After that—
He would kill Yellow Dog.
Sarutobi Hiruzen would have no one left to rely on.
The adviser's seat would become vacant again.
At that time, Hatake Sakumo and Tsunade would no longer be able to suppress the situation.
If Hiruzen wanted to deal with enemies like Uchiha Madara, he would have no choice but to rely on Sakumo or Tsunade.
Then promoting Hatake Sakumo to adviser would face far less resistance.
Therefore—
Yellow Dog's promotion was critical.
"Lord Yellow Dog, let the ANBU help build momentum for you!"
"Wait. Don't rush. Let me think about it," Yellow Dog said, calming himself. Then he asked,
"Fox… you really want to become head of the ANBU, don't you?"
Yako prepared to retreat in order to advance.
"My lord, you misunderstand me.
I know my own limits.
Everything I have comes from Lord Yellow Dog's support.
Aside from you, I have no foundation at all. There's no way I could hold the position of ANBU commander.
That position is far too important.
It must belong to someone the Hokage trusts absolutely.
The ANBU controls intelligence inside and outside Konoha.
They are the Hokage's eyes.
They are the Hokage's direct forces—the kunai in his hand.
In the past, the Hokage absolutely trusted Adviser Danzo.
Now, the Hokage absolutely trusts Lord Yellow Dog.
If one day you became the Fourth Hokage, then perhaps you could help me compete for the ANBU commander's seat.
My loyalty to the Hokage and to you flows like the river of the Naka Shrine—endless and unstoppable.
But right now, making me ANBU commander would be pushing things.
Of course I want it a little.
But I know my own weight."
Yellow Dog nodded repeatedly.
Fox really did understand his place.
Then he asked,
"Fox, if I become the foreign affairs adviser, would you be willing to come with me as my assistant?"
Thinking about the dangers of places like the Land of Grass and the Land of Rivers, Yellow Dog felt some unease.
Among his subordinates, only Fox had the ability to protect him.
"Of course I would!" Yako said immediately.
"But Lord Yellow Dog, I could hold both roles.
I could protect your safety while also maintaining your influence within the ANBU.
Two birds with one stone.
Once you become the foreign affairs adviser, would you simply give the ANBU to someone else?
You must take the adviser's seat—
But you must not lose the ANBU either."
Yellow Dog nodded again and again.
That made perfect sense.
He decided he would return to his clan grounds and discuss it with his father.
The adviser's seat.
And the ANBU.
He wanted both.
When he leaves, Fox could temporarily manage the ANBU in his place.