"Mission complete!" Captain Black Ape announced.
"We've just received intel from Anbu Headquarters — the remaining survivors of the Uzumaki Clan have already entered the Land of the Moon. That territory falls under the Hidden Cloud Village's influence, so their Anbu and spies will handle the pursuit. We can return to the village."
Along the eastern coastline of the ninja continent, from south to north, lie the Land of Fire, the Land of Steam, the Land of the Moon, and finally the Land of Lightning.
For the surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan trying to escape, their only options were between the Land of Steam and the Land of the Moon.
One couldn't help but wonder… did they feel a pang of bitterness?
Even though the Land of the Moon was under the control of one of their executioners — the Hidden Cloud Village — they still refused to flee toward the Land of Steam, which was part of the Hidden Leaf's sphere of influence.
The Hidden Cloud may have been one of the clans' butchers, but in their eyes, the Hidden Leaf was the true monster.
Given Anbu's strength, and how much Leaf valued Kushina Uzumaki, perhaps they would die without ever seeing her again. And Kushina herself would never learn the truth behind her clan's destruction.
Return to the village.
Black Ape's squad departed the Land of Waves and made their way back to the Hidden Leaf Village.
As Yagami stepped into the village again, a faint daze swept over him.
Half a year had passed since he left for the missions in the Land of Waves and the Land of Whirlpools.
Upon entering the Forest of Death, Yagami immediately noticed some changes.
Some trees were smaller, and others had shifted position.
Careful observation revealed new underground structures hidden within the forest.
The freshly turned soil and re-planted trees made it clear — this place had been transformed.
Dropping down through Anbu's ceiling entrance, Yagami found that things there had changed as well.
Root had appeared.
Recently established, Root was currently just a training division within Anbu.
Danzo had introduced new regulations for Anbu.
Given the unit's terrifying mortality rate, he decreed that all new recruits must undergo three months of training within Root before joining active service.
Previously, Anbu members were selected directly from the ranks of ordinary shinobi — any chunin-level ninja could be plugged in right away.
The ninjutsu instructors of Root were personally appointed by Danzo.
In time, Root would inevitably evolve into something else… an independent kingdom within Anbu, loyal only to Danzo.
Yagami returned to his team's locker room — the same one he had used before leaving the village. It belonged to Team Antelope.
He opened each locker in turn.
Captain Antelope, Purple Cat, and Black Bull — all their personal belongings had been cleared out.
Only their masks remained in each locker.
All three had died in the missions to the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Waves.
Yagami's own locker, however, still held his personal items.
After a quiet sigh, he began to organize them.
As he worked, Captain Black Ape passed by the room.
"Fox, we've got three days off. Report to me after that."
"Understood, Captain Black Ape."
Yagami removed his fox mask, took off his Anbu vest, changed into his own clothes, and put on a simple face covering before leaving Anbu headquarters.
Walking once again through the streets of the Hidden Leaf Village… felt wonderful.
The sunlight was warm, and the wind gentle.
If only that enormous, oppressive Hokage Rock wasn't staring down from above…
Once he was far enough away, Yagami took off his mask entirely, blending back into the crowd like an ordinary villager.
With nowhere in particular to go, he headed to Tsurugetsu Tavern.
It was noon, and there were few customers.
Inside, the beautiful tavern owner, Qiaoyi, froze for a moment upon seeing him.
That boy from half a year ago?
Now, the same young man carried a new air of calm maturity.
As a spy, Qiaoyi instantly recognized that composure — it came from strength.
This boy had grown.
And indeed, Yagami's power had increased tremendously.
...
[Host Status]
Chakra Capacity: Three times that of a standard chunin
Chakra Attributes: Earth, Water
Ninjutsu: Basic Three Techniques; Earth Style: Hiding like a Mole Technique; Shadow Clone Jutsu; Water Style: Water Formation Wall
Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu; Basic Kunai Throwing; Swordsmanship (Proficient); Body Flicker Technique (Proficient); Cloud Flow Sword Style
Sealing Arts: Self-Binding Curse Seal; Contract Seal; Summoning Technique (White Heron Spear)
Other: Reflex Enhancement (One-time Breakthrough)**
...
After long training and real combat, his swordsmanship and Body Flicker Technique had both advanced from basic to proficient.
Qiaoyi leaned forward eagerly. "Where have you been all this time? Why haven't you come back to see me?"
"During wartime, how could I possibly stay in the village the whole time?"
Her eyes immediately lit up.
As a spy, she'd been struggling to gather worthwhile intel lately.
But this young chunin had just returned from a half-year mission, stronger than ever — definitely worth probing.
After setting down a cup of sake, Qiaoyi slipped into character — a young woman seeing her lover again — listening intently as Yagami "boasted" about the dangerous missions he'd supposedly undertaken on the Land of Steam frontlines, all while her delicate hand brushed against the tight muscle of his arm.
Of course, Yagami said nothing of his true assignments in the Lands of Whirlpools and Waves.
He played the part of a chunin back from a standard battlefield rotation.
"Ninja-sama, your right arm seems much stronger than your left. Maybe you should try switching hands from time to time? Don't overuse the right one."
"I prefer not to use my hands at all. Why don't you help me instead? That way, there's no need to worry."
Two hours later…
Qiaoyi emerged from the back room, adjusting her clothes.
Damn it. Two hours of "work" and she hadn't managed to extract a single useful piece of intel.
Leaf's chunin were terrifyingly strong. Her legs wobbled, and her thighs ached.
Yagami, half-awake yet fully alert, had taken a brief nap on her soft bed — refreshed and relaxed.
When night came, he ordered three bottles of sake and drank slowly.
Around him, Leaf shinobi and villagers chatted noisily.
Drunken men loved to brag.
"Did you hear? The young heir of the Senju Clan, Nawaki, just graduated! Do you know who his jonin instructor is?"
"No idea, who?"
The storyteller smirked proudly. "I saw him at the photo studio. The teacher's quite something."
"Come on, tell us already, don't keep us guessing."
"Orochimaru! The Third Hokage's disciple and teammate of Tsunade the Princess — Orochimaru!"
The crowd gasped in awe.
"I wish I were Nawaki… maybe I could train under Orochimaru too?" (TN: *...* If only he knew)
"Ha! You've got it backward. It's Orochimaru who's lucky! I heard even Jiraiya, Kato Dan, and a dozen other jonin wanted the position, but the Third favored Orochimaru and gave him the post."
"True enough. With Orochimaru guiding the Senju heir, who knows which of them benefits more?"
Yagami quietly listened while sipping his sake, absorbing every scrap of information.
The tavern was always a treasure trove — you gave something, you got something back.
When most of the customers had left, Yagami walked up to Qiaoyi.
"Book me a room upstairs. I'll be staying here for a few days."
She covered her lips with a coy smile. "We just wore out our hands this afternoon. Planning to 'free them' again tonight?"
"Don't keep my hands waiting too long."
...
The full moon shone like polished silver, its light pale as frost.
Life in the Hidden Leaf was peaceful — only routine guard duties to handle each day.
Finally, another full-moon night arrived.
At Tsurugetsu Tavern…
Outside the window hung one moon.
In his palms, two more.
Three moons shone as one.
***
If you're interested and wish to support me, you can read advanced chapters:
p-atreon.com/Redestro666