In the dark corridors of the ANBU, White Goat followed Fox, the Squadron Leader, towards the squadron's changing rooms.
Beneath White Goat's mask, cold sweat continuously seeped out.
Squadron Leader Fox was very perceptive. He turned his head and asked, "White Goat, what's wrong with you?"
White Goat quickly lowered his head, letting the sweat drip onto his collar rather than fall to the floor.
"I'm fine, Captain."
During last night's Nine-Tails transfer seal operation, White Goat had attacked the Nine-Tails with explosive tags from the periphery; he hadn't followed the Squadron Leader and Battalion Commander underneath the Nine-Tails to protect the Uzumaki Princess.
It was too dangerous under the Nine-Tails. Concerned for the Squadron Leader, he had kept his attention on Fox.
The Byakugan could see chakra flow. He noticed that Squadron Leader Fox's chakra had been completely depleted several times, which was somewhat strange.
Logically, he should record these anomalies in the squad's mission report.
Mission reports documented each person's behavioral details to assess task performance and determine mission rewards.
However, White Goat did not write it down.
Squadron Leader Fox was very meticulous. If he wrote about this in the mission report, Fox would definitely see it.
White Goat stayed in the lounge late into the night.
He wanted to wait for an opportunity to report directly to Battalion Commander Yellow Dog, bypassing his immediate superior.
Purple Cat had originally intended to wait until everyone was gone to have some intimate time with Fox.
Seeing White Goat wouldn't leave, she knew it was hopeless for tonight. Since there were tasks tomorrow, she left first.
Seeing White Goat still hadn't left, Yōkō walked over and asked, "White Goat, why aren't you going home yet? Something on your mind?"
White Goat's heart tightened. Had the Captain noticed something?
"No, just a bit tired."
Yōkō remembered the Branch Family status and the Caged Bird seal that Hyūga Neji from the original story hated, and said:
"White Goat, I've heard every Hyūga Branch Family member struggles with the Caged Bird seal.
Every ninjutsu has a weakness, every sealing technique has a release seal.
The Uzumaki Princess is skilled in sealing techniques. Perhaps after she grows up, she might be able to undo the Caged Bird seal."
White Goat breathed a sigh of relief. The Captain only thought he was troubled by the Caged Bird seal.
His mental fortitude was too weak; he had been noticed acting abnormally by the Squadron Leader twice in a row.
Fortunately, the Squadron Leader trusted him somewhat.
"Thank you for your comfort, Captain," White Goat said, taking the opportunity to step down:
"Every time I return to the clan grounds, it feels like a heavy, suffocating boulder.
To escape that oppressive feeling, I volunteered for the ANBU.
It's just a bit easier to die in the ANBU, but everything else is much better than in the clan grounds."
"Haha, White Goat, I didn't know you were so humorous. The ANBU isn't just 'a bit' easier to die in; it's extremely easy to die." Yōkō stood up from the bench and said:
"Don't worry, my strength has been growing quite rapidly lately. If not necessary, you won't die."
"If not necessary?" White Goat coughed: "Captain, you're the truly humorous one. Does the Captain mean we will die when it is necessary?"
"If necessary, even I will die. Both you and I possess a firm Will of Fire, don't we?"
Yōkō left the ANBU and returned to the izakaya.
White Goat waited a long time before finally standing up from the bench.
The Fox Captain said he had a firm Will of Fire. Had he been overthinking it?
Using the Byakugan to confirm the Captain was gone, he finally left the changing room. After much hesitation, he headed towards Battalion Commander Yellow Dog's office.
Knocking on the office door, White Goat entered.
Seeing it was a Squadron Leader, Yellow Dog asked, "Well? Is there something?"
White Goat saw the stack of mission reports from the Night of the Nine-Tails Transfer Seal on Battalion Commander Yellow Dog's desk.
White Goat said, "Battalion Commander, there is one piece of information I did not include in White Goat Squad's mission report. I believe I should report it to you in person."
Yellow Dog's movements paused.
Reporting over his superior's head meant the intelligence was extremely important, or the intelligence was targeted at the person being bypassed.
Targeting Fox?
Yellow Dog said: "Speak. Explain in detail."
White Goat swallowed with difficulty and said:
"Battalion Commander Yellow Dog, I kept my Byakugan focused on our Squadron Leader to warn him if anything unexpected happened.
During the battle, I noticed the Squadron Leader had... one instance of rapid chakra depletion. It was somewhat abnormal, even abnormal, which is why I didn't include it in the mission report."
On the verge of speaking, White Goat wanted to say three times, but ultimately changed it to one.
Since joining the ANBU, Fox was the first captain he had followed.
The Squadron Leader trusted him a great deal.
The ANBU wasn't as terrifying as the legends said; the Squadron Leader didn't use his subordinates' lives to probe enemy intelligence.
Although the Squadron Leader was cold, he didn't randomly persecute his subordinates either.
The Hyūga clan had seen too many scenes on the battlefield; they knew what truly sinister captains were like.
Those captains only had eyes for the mission; anyone could die if it benefited their mission completion.
For some reason, White Goat finally softened and didn't say three times.
Beneath Yellow Dog's mask, his eyes turned gloomy.
Among the Squadron Leaders under his command, Fox was the most capable, with a high mission success rate.
He also understood that if Fox had ulterior motives, no matter how much he valued Fox, he would have to eliminate him.
Yellow Dog asked: "Fox had one instance of abnormal chakra depletion? What kind of abnormality?"
"Battalion Commander, when the Squadron Leader was near Clan Head Senju Rinoki, his chakra suddenly nearly vanished completely," White Goat said:
"But I'm not sure if the Squadron Leader used up all his chakra to dodge Clan Head Rinoki's final Water Dragon Bullet, or if it was for some other reason."
Yellow Dog's gloomy eyes eased a lot. He said:
"That final Water Dragon Bullet from Senju Rinoki's last moments – anyone who hesitated for even an instant would have been sent flying sky-high by the direct impact.
Forget Fox, even I would have certainly died facing such a Water Dragon Bullet.
However, even using the Body Flicker Technique at full power to dodge shouldn't consume all one's chakra.
Did you see if Fox was hit by the Water Dragon Bullet?
If he were hit and had to counteract the terrible Water Release impact force, that could potentially use up all his chakra."
White Goat shook his head and said:
"I'm not sure. Both the Water Dragon Bullet and the Squadron Leader's speed were too fast. Perhaps the Squadron Leader sensed the Water Dragon Bullet's immense power and unlocked his potential, causing his speed to skyrocket."
Yellow Dog frowned in thought.
A full minute later, Yellow Dog finally said:
"I understand, White Goat.
Your intelligence is very useful. However, your information alone isn't enough to label Fox as a spy; there's no compelling reason to eliminate him yet.
Nevertheless, I'm assigning you a covert A-rank mission.
From now on, keep a constant watch on Fox. Do not slack off even for a moment. Report any intelligence about Fox to me at any time, until I determine that Fox's suspicions have been cleared."
"Understood! I will!"
White Goat left the Battalion Commander's office, his mind unsettled.
He didn't know if what he had done was right.
He didn't know if reporting to the Battalion Commander was right, nor did he know if concealing part of the truth was right.
From now on, he would observe the Captain even more meticulously. He must help clear the Squadron Leader's suspicions.
(End of Chapter)