Deep within the Forest of Death, inside ANBU's open-air training ground—
Yako turned around, disappointment in his voice.
"Only twenty-one ANBU without missions today?"
Hippo answered,
"Fox-sama, most ANBU squads are carrying out surveillance missions. Everyone free today is already here."
Yako pulled out a sealing scroll.
After releasing it, several ninja blades appeared.
Hippo's heart tightened.
So this was Advisor Homura's weapon vault.
Was it really necessary to use such terrifying weapons just for sparring with ANBU?
Wouldn't a kunai be enough?
Four blades were stuck into the ground.
Yako picked up the chakra-metal blade.
He looked at the twenty-one ANBU.
After a moment of hesitation, he set it back down.
These ANBU…
didn't look like they could withstand much damage.
Although he didn't specialize in chakra blade techniques like Hatake Sakumo, even casually channeling chakra into a blade would be more than these ANBU could handle.
Some of the ANBU had seen Homura fight before.
When they saw Fox put the chakra blade away, they visibly relaxed.
Good.
At least it wouldn't be that brutal.
Then they saw him pick up the Senju Greatsword.
…Wasn't that even worse?
The Senju Greatsword was famous for being indestructible.
If Fox used that—
the equipment department would cry.
Every standard ANBU blade and kunai would be smashed into iron powder.
Fortunately, Fox put the greatsword down again.
The ANBU relaxed once more.
Then he picked up the giant Fuma Shuriken.
…Was that really necessary?
Did he intend to harass them with ranged attacks too?
As expected—
he put it down again.
Finally, Fox picked up the completely black Assassination Blade.
The ANBU stared.
Did he really need assassination techniques against them?
After a moment—
Fox returned that blade to the ground as well.
Instead, a wooden spear formed in his hand.
He really hadn't needed to bring the four blades out at all.
He weighed the wooden spear in his hand.
Good enough.
"We'll use this."
Yako spoke coldly.
"The Hokage says ANBU is too weak."
"We cannot handle rogue ninja organizations."
"As deputy commander, that hurts."
"Criticizing you is the same as criticizing me."
"The Hokage's criticism must remain in our hearts."
"Turn humiliation into motivation."
He pointed the spear at them.
"You twenty-one."
"Come at me together."
"Let me see just how weak you are."
Hippo swallowed nervously.
Why did the Hokage have to criticize Fox-sama?
Fox's mood was terrible now.
"Fight me with the determination to kill me," Yako said coldly.
"Because—"
His eyes turned icy.
"I will fight with the determination to kill you."
"I'll show you why the Hokage says you're garbage."
The twenty-one ANBU accelerated simultaneously.
Some were fast.
Some slower.
They approached from different directions.
Two weapon specialists flung open scrolls midair.
Dozens of kunai burst from the seals.
Yako didn't use Copper Light.
He didn't use the Sharingan.
He simply moved sideways, dodging every kunai.
"You two—extra training!"
"In three days I want to see improved sealing formulas!"
"Too weak!"
"So slow! So few!"
"Those kunai are no better than ones fired out of someone's backside!"
The two weapon specialists nearly choked.
That insult was brutal.
How big would someone's backside have to be to launch dozens of kunai?
The first ANBU reached Yako.
He was kicked away instantly.
"A reckless idiot."
"Can't you even use the teammate on your left?"
The wooden spear flicked.
It knocked aside the second shinobi's blade.
The blunt tip stabbed forward and pressed against his throat.
"You think this is your chance to show off?"
"Why didn't you attack from behind?"
"Why circle in front of me?"
"So I can admire your mask?"
"I don't care who you are."
"If you're not stronger in a month—retire."
The third and fourth ANBU attacked together.
Blades stabbed from front and back.
The wooden spear suddenly extended.
Both of them were struck in the chest simultaneously.
"Some coordination."
"But not enough."
"You didn't even decide who's main attacker and who's support."
The fifth ANBU received a strike to the leg.
He collapsed face-first.
"Your leg strength is pathetic."
"Walk slowly from now on."
"Take two steps and you might fracture something."
"ANBU won't cover your medical bills."
Behind the group, Hippo watched with despair.
Why didn't the village just send Fox to hunt rogue ninja again?
All that power had nowhere to go.
Now the ANBU had to suffer.
"Hippo!"
Fox's shout nearly made him jump.
"You hiding behind your subordinates?"
"Letting them die so you can collect information?"
That wasn't true!
Hippo had simply been complaining about the Hokage.
"Expansion Jutsu!"
"Human Bullet Tank!"
Hippo charged.
One second later—
his massive body flew backward.
The strength difference was overwhelming.
Even the Akimichi clan's technique couldn't compete with Fox.
Minutes later—
all twenty-one ANBU lay on the ground groaning like worms.
Yako looked satisfied.
"Reflect carefully."
"In three days, we train again."
"I expect improvement."
ANBU had roughly seventy members divided among four squads.
Each day around twenty sparred with Yako.
Every three days, the cycle repeated.
Walking through the base corridor, Hippo wanted to remove his mask and show everyone his bruised face.
Fox-sama hit too hard.
But the training worked.
Every ANBU now clearly understood their weaknesses.
According to Fox—
after three months of intense taijutsu training, ninjutsu and secret techniques would follow.
Life was miserable.
Surveillance missions by day.
Fox's brutal training by night.
—
The full moon hung like a silver plate.
The second full moon of Year 42 arrived.
Since the leadership refused to let him leave the village, Yako would have to find a target inside Konoha this month.
Just wait.
Someone was going to suffer.
After drawing a reward, it was best to eliminate the target entirely.
Otherwise problems could appear later.
After more than twenty days of searching—
Yako finally found the perfect target.
Sarutobi Hiyu, the biological father of the rogue ninja Sarutobi Kanosuke, imprisoned in Konoha's prison.
The prison lay in the southwestern corner of the village.
Remote.
Isolated.
The leadership couldn't respond quickly.
No matter how strong Hiruzen was—
his staff couldn't strike ten kilometers away.
Late at night, the prison was silent.
Patrolling shinobi walked through the corridors.
Every cell contained dangerous criminals not yet sentenced to death.
Keeping them alive had value during war.
Willing or not, they could be used in extremely dangerous situations.
When the patrol reached the final three cells, they turned around without hesitation.
Those three cells were different.
One was a bathroom.
One was a bedroom.
The final one was a study.
This specially modified suite held only one prisoner.
The Hokage's younger brother—
Sarutobi Hiyu.
His imprisonment was merely political theater.
Even the Hokage's brother had to be punished when his son became a rogue ninja.
Hiyu stood beside the widened window.
He gazed into the night sky.
He wondered how Hatake Sakumo was performing in the Land of Grass.
He hoped Sakumo would kill his unfilial son.
Truthfully, Hiyu had always despised that illegitimate child.
Now that the boy had become a rogue ninja—
his hatred had only deepened.
If the boy had stayed within the clan, his talent might have elevated Hiyu's own status.
But now—
the stronger his son became,
the worse Hiyu's situation would be.
Suddenly—
a knock at the door.
"Come in."
An ANBU entered.
Black Ant squad.
"Jonin Hiyu—"
Hiyu frowned.
He hated that title.
He was the Hokage's brother.
Yet no one called him "lord."
Perhaps this ANBU had news.
Had Sakumo killed Kanosuke?
Or had Kanosuke killed Sakumo?
Either result would be acceptable.
If Sakumo died, it would remove a problem for his older brother.
"Jonin Hiyu… the Hokage believes you have disgraced the Sarutobi clan. Therefore—"
A kunai suddenly stabbed toward Hiyu.
But Hiyu moved quickly.
He seized the blade and stabbed it straight into the ANBU's stomach.
Strange.
What was this ANBU trying to do?
Arc of the Waning Moon system activating.
In the previous full moon, Yako had resurrected and drawn Elite Jonin-level chakra reserves.
His chakra had increased from 4.3 Kage-level to 4.5 Kage-level.
But the increase brought discomfort.
His body felt swollen.
Almost as if it were approaching its limit.
Days passed as Yako continued ANBU training.
Eventually—
the same night from his previous life arrived.
Hiyu still stood by the window.
Still staring at the stars.
Still hoping Sakumo and Kanosuke would kill each other.
Then—
BOOM.
An explosion shook Konoha Prison.
The cell door shattered.
A shadow crashed toward Hiyu.
Yako's kick struck his lower back.
Hiyu blasted through the wall and flew into the forest outside the prison.
His body slammed into a tree.
Dazed, he struggled to stand.
Someone stood on the rooftop.
But…
why were there five figures?
Not shadows.
Five identical figures.
Seeing them, Hiyu understood.
His unfilial son had come.
The bastard born from the woman he had once violated—
had come.
Five elements lit the darkness.
Earth Release: Flying Rubble.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet.
Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bomb.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
Lightning Release: Thunder Roar.
Hiyu abandoned resistance.
Neither Body Flicker nor Earth Release could escape this forbidden technique.
Five Element Grand Combo!
"You unfilial son!"
The night of Konoha erupted into chaos.
Countless shinobi rushed toward the southwestern corner of the village.
The explosion blasted a hole even in Konoha's wall.
A shadow leapt through the breach—
and disappeared into the darkness.