The full moon was like a silver platter, its light resembling white frost. Yōkō had obtained a new resurrection opportunity.
On the night of the full moon, he entered the Anbu base, wearing his mask as he walked through the dimly lit Anbu corridors.
The flickering candlelight fell upon the masks of those approaching, making the paint on them appear even more ferocious.
Everyone's steps were hurried. Having dealt a heavy blow to Iwagakure, every Anbu member felt a sense of glory.
The Anbu was nominally directly under the Hokage himself. The Third Hokage had appointed Danzo as the Anbu Chief, granting him full authority to manage the Anbu.
Danzo and the Anbu faithfully executed the Third's will.
From Yōkō's perspective since his transmigration, Danzo hadn't made any overly radical moves yet.
However, his ambitions were already clear for all to see.
After the battle at Ushiga Mountain, Danzo seemed to have become the greatest contributor. However, the campaign to boost his reputation had abruptly stopped.
He heard that the Third Hokage had directly ordered the Anbu to cease the publicity.
Dealing a heavy blow to Iwagakure was a great achievement, a result achieved collectively by Uzumaki Mito, the Senju clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and others.
But in the rumors, Danzo became the main character. Danzo had laid plans over a great distance, scheming for a full six months to create this opportunity.
The Third Hokage did not pursue the matter of the rumors either.
Yōkō went to Battalion Commander Yellow Dog's office and reported on Squadron Leader Black Gorilla's recovery status.
"A month and a half..." Battalion Commander Yellow Dog frowned in thought.
He very much wanted Fox to fully take on the responsibilities of Squadron Leader. Having a squadron incapacitated greatly affected the battalion.
But after thinking it over, Black Gorilla was an important figure in the Akimichi clan. He had to consider Black Gorilla's feelings and those of the Akimichi clan.
"Alright, I understand." Yellow Dog took out the list of mission scrolls for the Black Gorilla Squadron, looked it over, and said:
"The monitoring mission for the Uzumaki Princess isn't very urgent; I'll assign it to another squadron.
The Iwagakure spies have all been cleaned out; every spy is dead.
Before Black Gorilla returns, you are responsible for training the squadron's new recruits."
"Understood, Battalion Commander."
Kyōi's matter was temporarily not a problem. The Leaf Monkey Squad were all dead; no one knew the specifics about Kyōi.
Mei's body had been handed over, the total spy count matched, and the Anbu hadn't discovered any flaws.
Training newcomers and completing some simple patrol and night watch duties – he probably wouldn't leave the village during this month and a half.
Then Yōkō was going to have to do something.
He left the Anbu and headed for the Tsurugetsu Izakaya, thinking as he walked.
Head straight for the Hokage Building? Assassinate the Third Hokage?
Sarutobi Hiruzen's abilities, aside from his summoning Enma, weren't particularly strong; his upper limit was relatively low.
Even if he drew Enma, he couldn't exactly use it.
Summoning Enma would just result in Enma punching him to death.
High-level summoning beasts had terrible tempers.
Ambush Danzo within the Anbu?
Danzo's abilities were focused on Wind Release. Yōkō had no Wind Attribute chakra, and he couldn't develop it within this month either.
He had a premonition that he would inevitably clash with Danzo in the future.
Facing Danzo, two lives might not be enough.
[Mochizuki's Arc reminds you: Being killed twice by the same person will result in the host's immediate death!]
His thoughts had triggered a system keyword, prompting the system to specially remind him.
No, he couldn't actively seek death against a dangerous person like Danzo. He needed to preserve his precious resurrection chances.
What if Danzo came to kill him sometime in the future?
Ambush Battalion Commander Yellow Dog?
Forget it. Battalion Commander Yellow Dog knew his capabilities inside and out; he would die a very pathetic death.
Yōkō jumped onto a street lamp, looking at the night view of Konoha.
Go to the Uchiha compound?
What if he drew a Sharingan? Wouldn't that make him skyrocket in power?
He was tempted.
He could be careful then. Wearing a mask, the Sharingan wouldn't be so easy to expose.
Just kill anyone who saw his Sharingan.
There was some risk, but it was controllable.
He then looked towards the Senju compound.
The Uchiha clan massacre was far in the future; no need to rush. The Senju clan's destruction, however, was within the next year or two.
Better to choose the Senju clan. The Senju clan's abilities were good too: massive chakra reserves, powerful physiques.
Next was to formulate an action plan: on the night of the 14th, challenge the most powerful Senju clan shinobi.
Clan Head Senju Rinoki, or Tsunade – either would do.
Returning to the izakaya, Yōkō applied the Anbu's best wound medicine on Kyōi.
Kyōi needed to recover quickly. Otherwise, the long nights would be so boring.
Before transmigrating, Yōkō worked like a dog. Couldn't he enjoy himself a little in this different world?
The next day, at a training ground deep in the Forest of Death, Yōkō stood on a rock, looking down at the new members below:
"I am the Acting Squadron Leader of the Black Gorilla Squadron. While Squadron Leader Black Gorilla is injured and receiving treatment, I will be in command of the squadron.
I am also the squad leader of the Fox Squad. You can call me Fox.
The Black Gorilla Squadron currently has three squads.
Squad Leader White Ram is also undergoing treatment and is expected to return in about two weeks.
The Leaf Monkey Squad consists entirely of new members, from the squad leader to the members.
Next, we will conduct basic kunai throwing coordination training..."
The person wearing the Leaf Monkey mask suddenly stepped forward:
"Fox, although I am new to the Anbu, I have already performed many A-rank missions as a regular shinobi.
Basic kunai throwing coordination... isn't this training a bit too basic? I believe I have the qualifications..."
Purple Cat frowned beneath her mask. Had Root just been established and not properly integrated yet?
How did Root train their newcomers? Why would there be such a troublesome shinobi?
"What qualifications do you have?"
Yōkō used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of Leaf Monkey, slashing his sword towards Leaf Monkey's shoulder.
Leaf Monkey was indeed skilled, crouching down to dodge Yōkō's blade.
He grabbed for Fox's wrist, trying to defuse the conflict: "Fox! I didn't mean anything else, I just..."
However, he only grabbed a handful of mud.
Earth Clone?
Leaf Monkey, unable to stand up in time, quickly turned on the ground, guarding against an attack from behind.
However, there was no one behind him.
The others saw Fox emerge from the mud, having predicted Leaf Monkey would turn to guard his rear.
Yōkō, holding his ninja sword inverted, slammed the hilt hard into the center of Leaf Monkey's forehead, sending him flying. Leaf Monkey lost consciousness mid-air.
"Squad Leader!"
One of Leaf Monkey's squad members shouted, but upon seeing Fox look at him, he quickly lowered his head, not daring to do anything else.
Yōkō jumped back onto the rock, shaking his head and saying:
"The Anbu really is getting worse with each generation. You are the worst batch of Anbu shinobi I've ever seen."
He suddenly froze. Why did that phrase sound so familiar? In his previous life, during school, he had heard many teachers say that.
Those teachers didn't know how to cherish things. 'Worse with each generation' meant that the current generation was definitely the best one for the next several years.
Yōkō collected his thoughts and said:
"Leaf Monkey has been expelled from the Black Gorilla Squadron. What awaits him is punishment from the Anbu and the village.
The Root ninja responsible for his training will also be disciplined because of him.
Anbu shinobi have only one mission: to complete the task with all your might, with your lives!
Obey! Obey! And fucking obey!"
The training began. The newcomers finally realized the harshness of the Anbu.
When the training ended, Leaf Monkey still hadn't woken up.
Yōkō carried him to Root to return him.
There weren't many Root ninja, from 'Boar' to 'Ram', ten in total.
Hearing Fox say that this person had openly defied the Acting Squadron Leader, all the Root ninja looked at Boar.
Boar breathed heavily, took the unconscious Leaf Monkey, and said:
"Please rest assured. I will assess whether he has the potential to be remolded. If not, I will dispose of him according to Anbu regulations."
Judging by Boar's tone, Leaf Monkey probably had no hope of being remolded.
There were many simple-minded shinobi in Konoha who believed the village was truly as the higher-ups publicized – caring for each other, cherishing comrades, upholding the Will of Fire.
They were naively adorable, truly believing the higher-ups' brainwashing, and would one day die because of that brainwashing.
...
Read 50 advance at patreon.com/CNBLUE
(End of Chapter)