Inside the command tent, Nara Shikaku, Hatake Sakumo, and Tsunade—the three commanders—were all present.
Sakumo asked everyone else to leave, keeping only the trio of leadership.
Shikaku kept his gaze low.
After reading the report, Tsunade tossed it onto the table in front of him. She had expected some major military crisis; she hadn't expected it to just be a scandal within the Nara clan.
"Clan Head Shikaku, the affairs of the Jonin Council and the command post are important, but you shouldn't neglect the education of your clan's juniors. To think Nara ninja were using Shadow Secret Techniques to treat teammates as puppets... your clan's jutsu development is certainly imaginative."
Shikaku's voice was heavy as he said, "I have already requested the Anbu to execute these black sheep. Rest assured, Princess Tsunade, I will not show them any leniency."
Tsunade turned and left, wanting no part in such filthy business.
Shikaku looked at Hatake Sakumo and said, "Vice Commander Sakumo, thank you for your report. If it weren't for you, these black sheep would have continued to harm our Leaf compatriots."
Sakumo replied:
"At least fifteen Leaf ninja died at the hands of these individuals. This is no small matter. Every Leaf ninja is prepared to give their life for the village, but their lives are precious; they cannot die for no reason. I am glad Commander-in-Chief Shikaku is willing to put righteousness before family, otherwise even more Leaf ninja would have perished."
Once Sakumo also left the tent, Nara Umeka entered and approached Shikaku.
"Clan Head..." she said. "I apologize for letting Hatake Sakumo beat us to the punch. My internal clan investigation was just about to produce results."
Shikaku said.
"It's not your fault; it's just that Sakumo moved too fast. Without us noticing, Sakumo's following has grown larger and larger—large enough to quietly investigate a scandal within our Nara clan. Today, he came with ironclad evidence; I had no choice but to bow my head. I will report this matter exactly as it happened to the Hokage, and ask him to keep an eye on the faction surrounding Hatake Sakumo."
Nara Umeka said, "Clan Head, then I will go and complete the other investigation mission. The Sand have replicated the paragliders; I'll check their level of craftsmanship."
"Go then."
After everyone had left, Shikaku stared at Sakumo's report, his eyes cold and dangerous.
The difference between the Nara clan investigating and handling things themselves, versus being investigated by Sakumo and having the evidence slammed in their faces, was far too great.
...
Yagami gathered his three squads and assigned one assassination target to each squad, taking one for himself.
"The mission scrolls contain intel on the targets. Ensure the assassinations are completed within two days," Yagami said.
"Take special note: the targets have sensitive identities. You must not expose your unique abilities. Use only taijutsu, ninja tools, and paper bombs for the kill. When you act, disguise yourselves as Sand or Rain ninja."
Yagami specifically kept Purple Cat behind to speak with her privately:
"Purple Cat, you've seen the scroll. The targets are ninja of the Nara clan. In the village, Ino-Shika-Cho are one, but in the Anbu, there is no such thing. There are only successful or failed missions."
Purple Cat said, "Captain, I made my peace with that the moment I joined the Anbu. Don't worry; whether it's a Nara or a Yamanaka, if it's an Anbu mission, I will complete it."
"Good. Go."
After the three squads left, Yagami glanced at the information for his target and departed from the camp.
The target was named Nara Taku, a Special Jonin. He was currently leading a squad away from the main camp, operating on the front lines.
For the most part, the fighting between the Leaf and the Sand took place across a long front, with different squads interweaving and ambushing each other to wear down the enemy's strength. When Kage-level ninja are involved, gathering too many ninja in one place is foolish; a single large-scale ninjutsu could cause catastrophic casualties.
Utilizing the width of the front for ambush and counter-ambush, assassination and counter-assassination, and reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance was the norm for hidden village warfare.
In the northern part of the Land of Rivers' border.
On a stretch of rocky plateau, Nara Taku's squad was resting in the lee of two large boulders spaced only two meters apart.
A Genin named Hachimaru said:
"Captain, we don't need rest. Don't worry about us. The Sand we're chasing have six wounded and only two guards. If we kill those wounded, we might even get an A-rank mission reward."
Nara Taku seemed disinterested, giving a dismissive reply:
"Don't be in a rush. The closer you are to the prey, the more cautious you must be. Those wounded won't run fast."
Taku was thinking to himself that two of those wounded were puppeteers. As long as a puppeteer's fingers could move, they still had combat power; he couldn't be careless.
He looked at the energetic Hachimaru with a complex gaze. Hachimaru was proactive and lively, but unfortunately, he was weak.
"When the fight starts in a moment... let him be even braver than he imagines.'
After their break, Taku's squad continued deeper into the plateau. Hachimaru discovered dried brownish-red bloodstains on the ground. Following the trail, they soon spotted the Sand ninja by some rocks.
Two Sand ninja were standing, while six lay on the ground. Taku waved his hand, ordering all his subordinates to attack. The Genin charged forward with kunai in hand, excited. With so many wounded, they thought this would be their easiest battle yet.
However, one of the wounded leaning against a rock raised his hand. Two puppets suddenly burst from the ground behind the three Leaf Genin. The Sand wounded had actually set a trap.
With puppets behind them and Sand ninja in front, the three Genin fell into a bitter struggle.
Nara Taku appeared nearby and shouted to Hachimaru, "Don't resist! Your taijutsu is too poor, let me control you!"
"Yes! Captain!"
Hachimaru relaxed his body, allowing Taku's Shadow Possession Jutsu to take over. Suddenly, he and Taku dodged the puppet's attack in perfect unison. He found his movements faster and more efficient, praising him, "As expected of the Captain! Incredible!"
Taku controlled Hachimaru, dodging the puppets and charging toward the wounded. The two were separated by about thirty meters, charging in parallel. Hachimaru was directly facing the Sand wounded, while Taku was off to the side.
Hachimaru felt something was wrong. He watched in horror as more and more wounded staggered to their feet. As he reached them, one wounded lunged with a kunai. Hachimaru found that he made no move to dodge.
"Captain! Just control me already!"
Not only did he not dodge, but his hands were reaching for the throat of a newly risen wounded man. Hachimaru's eyes darted to the side, and he realized Nara Taku had no intention of dodging either—he was going to use Hachimaru's body to take the hit and lock the Sand ninja in place.
Wasn't this trading Hachimaru's life for an opening to pin the enemy?
Just then, a dark shadow suddenly burst from the ground beneath Nara Taku. Taku instinctively leaped backward. Because he leaped, Hachimaru—under the Shadow Possession—also leaped back, narrowly avoiding the Sand's kunai. The purple-green glint of poison on that blade made Hachimaru break out in a cold sweat.
The Genin suddenly realized he could move again. He spun his head around and saw Captain Nara Taku with a kunai buried in his abdomen.
Blood sprayed from Taku's stomach as he looked in shock at the "Rain ninja" wearing a gas mask. Why would a Rain ninja appear here?
The Rain ninja moved with incredible speed, delivering a roundhouse kick that sent Nara Taku flying toward the Sand wounded. The kick was so heavy that Taku's body flew like a cannonball. In addition to killing Taku, the impact of his body crushed two of the Sand wounded to death.
Yagami glanced at the frozen Leaf Genin, Hachimaru. He thought to himself: 'This is as much as I can do. Any more help and it won't look like a Rain ninja assassination.'
'Good luck, rookie.'