Yōkō took Purple Cat and the two strongest newcomers to form a new Fox Squad, having them wear the masks of Antelope and Black Bull.
After receiving the mission scroll, Yōkō looked it over, then led the squad to the northwest corner of the Senju clan compound.
The squad's mission was to monitor one member of the Senju clan.
This Senju clansman was an avid fisherman; when he had no missions, he would fish all day long.
He was a sun-tanned fishing enthusiast with the Senju clan emblem on his clothes.
After a moment's thought, Yōkō understood why the Anbu needed to requisition a squadron like the Black Gorilla Squadron, which was still under reconstruction.
Today's mission was severe and required a lot of personnel.
The Anbu already knew that Senju Kashiwa had contact with Uzumaki remnants. Anyone who had contact with Senju Kashiwa might know the truth about the Uzumaki clan's destruction.
Increasing the defensive forces around the Senju compound was the first layer of surveillance.
Every Senju clansman scattered throughout the village had to be monitored.
The surveillance continued from daytime until the afternoon, when an explosion shattered the peace.
The fishing Senju uncle, hearing the explosion came from the direction of the clan compound, lifted his fish basket, found it empty, threw it down again, and disappeared using the Body Flicker Technique.
Yōkō and the others quickly followed.
From a distance, they saw a crowd in an alley outside the Senju compound, including both Senju clansmen and Anbu ninja.
Seeing other Anbu squads, Yōkō didn't hide either, closely following their target.
Arriving at the periphery of the alley, the fishing-loving Senju clansman stood on his tiptoes to look inside, cursing:
"Enemy village rats are so annoying, all keeping an eye on Lady Mito. Probably another spy investigating Lady Mito."
The body was covered with a cloth, so it was impossible to see who it was.
Every Senju clansman knew that Uzumaki Mito was nearing the end of her life; this was the most important matter for the Senju clan recently.
An Anbu member came to the alley entrance and said to the Senju clansmen, "Anbu is handling a spy. Please disperse, Senju clansmen, don't crowd around."
Yōkō peered through the gaps between people to look at the body on the ground.
The partially visible grayish-white hair could be Kamochi's.
A distinctive sound of footsteps came from behind. Senju Kaede arrived nearby on his crutches.
However, he was destined to see nothing, as the Anbu had already collected the body.
Senju Kaede anxiously questioned the Anbu, wanting to know what exactly had happened.
In this life, Senju Kaede still didn't know the truth. Kamochi had just met Senju Kashiwa last night, and Senju Kashiwa had encountered trouble before he could even return to the clan compound.
The area near the Senju compound was heavily guarded and wouldn't let any suspicious personnel enter.
Yōkō followed the fishing-loving Senju uncle back to the small lake and continued monitoring him from the shadows.
Until late at night, an Anbu member found Yōkō.
"Orders from Battalion Commander Yellow Dog! All squads are to abort their current missions and assemble at the Konoha gate!"
Yōkō's heart tightened.
No way? His slight hint to Kamochi actually caused so many changes?
Assembling at the Konoha gate... didn't that mean leaving the village?
Not only had the plot changed, it had changed drastically; now he had to leave the village.
He had no resurrection chance right now. What if he died outside the village after leaving?
Arriving at the Konoha gate, due to his status as Acting Squadron Leader, Yōkō directly received the mission briefing from Battalion Commander Yellow Dog.
Battalion Commander Yellow Dog said:
"The Senju clan rogue ninja, Senju Kashiwa, took advantage of the chaos this afternoon and has already left the village heading north, towards the Land of Grass.
Based on existing intelligence, it is speculated that he may be going to find the young master of the Senju clan, Senju Nawaki.
We must intercept and execute him before he meets Senju Nawaki!"
Yōkō was shocked inwardly. Had Senju Nawaki entered the sights of the village's higher-ups?
The chaos Kamochi caused in the afternoon was likely intentional, to secure an opportunity for Senju Kashiwa to escape amidst the confusion.
Battalion Commander Yellow Dog continued:
"Senju Kashiwa has the strength of a Special Jōnin, excels in Earth Release, and crucially, he has mastered the Senju perception secret technique.
By touching the ground with his fingers, he can sense earth vibrations within a radius of several kilometers, determining the number of enemies.
Now that he has entered the forest, the pursuit difficulty has increased significantly.
The other two squadrons will rely on their own sensor ninja to search for Senju Kashiwa.
Fox Squad, you follow me and are responsible for relaying information."
The Anbu battalion advanced in silence.
Kamochi had bought Senju Kashiwa considerable time; Senju Kashiwa had left the village three hours earlier than Battalion Commander Yellow Dog's force.
For a ninja, three hours was enough to cover two hundred kilometers.
An entire battalion pursuing one Senju ninja showed the importance the Anbu placed on this mission.
Or rather, the importance Danzō placed on it.
Once the role the Anbu played in the Uzumaki clan's destruction became public, Danzō would be finished.
After traveling over two hundred kilometers northwest, they still hadn't caught sight of Senju Kashiwa.
The Byakugan couldn't see him, and the Inuzuka clan's ninken had lost his scent.
Senju Kashiwa was very familiar with Konoha's tracking methods. Excelling in Earth Release allowed him to eliminate footprints, and excelling in Water Release allowed him to eliminate scent.
Battalion Commander Yellow Dog thought for a moment and said:
"We can't continue chasing aimlessly like this. Fox, go find the Rat Squadron. Tell the Rat Squadron to proceed directly to the front lines and guard Senju Nawaki, monitoring any suspicious figures appearing around him.
Senju Kashiwa might have secretly contacted others. If someone relays Senju Kashiwa's rumors, that would be troublesome."
Yōkō nodded and quickly went to find the Rat Squadron on the flank.
Upon receiving the order, the Rat Squadron accelerated again, heading straight for the front lines.
The Front Lines, Five Days Later.
Orochimaru led Nawaki and the other two team members away from the headquarters camp. He suddenly turned his head and glanced sideways.
In the darkness of the forest, an Anbu squadron was also leaving the camp.
The Rat Squadron Leader was startled.
Orochimaru was powerful, already possessing the strength of an Elite Jōnin. Moreover, his temperament was ruthless – ruthless towards enemies and ruthless towards his own people.
Just one glance made the Rat Squadron Leader's heartbeat slow for a few beats.
Nawaki was perceptive and asked, "Sensei, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Orochimaru just thought the Anbu were being superfluous. With him here, did they still need to send an entire squadron to protect Nawaki?
Nawaki's Senju bloodline was extremely pure. At 12 years old, he was in a period of rapidly increasing strength.
Given time, Nawaki would surely become an outstanding ninja, like those esteemed Senju ancestors.
Orochimaru had taken a simple reconnaissance mission: to lead the newcomer squad to scout the movements of the Iwa-nin.
This mission wasn't very difficult. After the battle of Ushiga Mountain, Iwagakure had suffered significant losses and was in a defensive posture within the Land of Grass, unlikely to launch large-scale attacks for now.
During the three-day reconnaissance mission, they didn't encounter any Iwa-nin.
Orochimaru asked, "Nawaki, given the current situation, do you think the front-line camp can advance further, putting more pressure on the Iwa-nin's operational space?"
Orochimaru's gaze was only gentle and full of expectation when he looked at Nawaki.
The other two members of the squad, youths from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, looked at Nawaki with envy.
Nawaki thought for a moment and said:
"I believe whether the front-line camp advances or not doesn't depend on us, nor does it depend on Iwagakure, but rather on Kumogakure or Sunagakure.
No matter how much of an advantage we gain, if we advance too deeply, we might face a counterattack from Iwagakure.
However, if Sunagakure or Kumogakure enter the fray, taking advantage of Iwagakure's weakness to force them to open a second front, then it would be the best time for us to press our advantage."
Orochimaru nodded repeatedly and said, "Nawaki, your thinking is good. Uncle Mitokado Homura is on his way to Kumogakure. Perhaps Kumogakure will soon be unable to restrain its impulse and attack Iwagakure."
Orochimaru was very satisfied. Nawaki not only had rapidly growing strength but also possessed good judgment based on the overall situation.
Communicating with a genius was just that simple.
It wasn't like dealing with that idiot Jiraiya, with whom Orochimaru wasn't willing to say an extra word.
After he became Hokage, he could groom Nawaki as the next Hokage.
On the border of the Land of Grass, Yōkō was still following Battalion Commander Yellow Dog, searching for Senju Kashiwa.
Yōkō looked at the shape of the moon and thought to himself, if Senju Nawaki must die, please let it happen next month.
Before Nawaki dies, he absolutely must get a touch, get some reward.
This Nawaki, praised by so many, must have a very strong Bloodline power, right?
...
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(End of Chapter)