Entering the corpse tent, Purple Cat and White Goat began gathering information from the bodies.
Just as Purple Cat was about to speak, Yōkō first said to White Goat: "Use your Byakugan to check the area around the tent first, to avoid eavesdroppers."
White Goat activated his Byakugan beneath his mask.
He turned in a circle, checking front, back, left, and right, but found nothing unusual.
Only then did Purple Cat speak:
"Captain, the wounds on the three corpses were all caused by the same ninja sword, but the wounds on the last corpse are of various shapes – ninja sword, wire, kunai.
This means that this time, one ANBU member launched a surprise attack and was then surrounded and attacked by the other three.
That attacking ANBU member was very strong, holding his own against three opponents, killing two in succession, and then dying together with the final squad leader."
After thinking, Yōkō summarized:
"Two-person ANBU teams, four-person ANBU teams... the enemy can only control one person each time. Time of death?"
"According to the medical ninja's records, the time of death was ten days ago."
"Ten days ago... Several ANBU ninja who assassinated the disobedient noble in the Land of Fire also died around ten days ago. Either it's a large group, or the enemy has teleportation abilities..." Yōkō thought for a moment and said:
"Have the medical ninja register the bodies and send them back to the village for burial. Let's go scout the location where this squad died."
Not long after leaving the corpse tent, Yōkō saw Tsunade.
Tsunade seemed to be waiting for him.
Tsunade frowned, staring at Yōkō, and said: "Fox, I remember seeing you at Teacher Hiruzen's place, and then I encountered you two or three more times. You belong to the Yellow Dog Battalion of the ANBU?"
"I am ANBU. I cannot voluntarily disclose my information."
Tsunade added, "My impression of you isn't bad. I recall you brought back crucial intelligence from the battle at Ushiga Mountain. On the night of the Nine-Tails' transfer and sealing, were you also on the scene?"
"I cannot answer."
Yōkō thought to himself, This isn't the era of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, anymore. Is it appropriate for you to so bluntly question an ANBU member like this?
Seeing she couldn't get anything out of him, Tsunade let Yōkō leave.
Kato Dan walked over from not far away: "Tsunade, why did you stop that ANBU member?"
The matter of secretly investigating the ANBU was known only to two people: Clan Head Senju Hanaki and Kato Dan.
Even Tsunade didn't know that Kato Dan was secretly investigating the ANBU.
Tsunade said:
"Kushina wrote me a letter. She said she is certain that there is a member of the Uzumaki clan in the ANBU, whose chakra contains the power of sealing techniques.
If that ANBU member hadn't helped her twice in a row, inputting chakra into her, she couldn't have completed the seal.
If the Nine-Tails seal hadn't been completed, the situation wouldn't be what it is now. Over nine hundred ninja of the Senju clan might have all died at the hands of the Nine-Tails.
Fortunately, Kushina received help from that hidden person; otherwise, the Senju clan would be practically wiped out.
I have a faint feeling that this Fox is somewhat different, but I'm not sure if it's him.
If only I could treat him once, then I would know if he is really from the Uzumaki clan."
In the original story's plot, the Senju clan was nearly wiped out due to the Nine-Tails' transfer and sealing, and Tsunade's sole emotional support became Kato Dan.
After Kato Dan's death, Tsunade's spirit completely collapsed, and she developed hemophobia.
Yōkō had changed part of the plot, so Tsunade's mental fortitude was much stronger.
The Senju clan still existed, her aunt Senju Hanaki maintained the clan's operations, and had made Tsunade the young clan head.
"Kushina's letter? Aren't you afraid it might be intercepted by the ANBU or others?"
"Kushina's letter was sealed. Without knowing the hand seal method, one can only destroy it, not open it."
Kato Dan was very puzzled: "The Uzumaki clan sent a spy into the ANBU? That's impossible, right? Even the Senju clan can't interfere with the ANBU now."
Tsunade said, "I'm not sure either, but I believe Kushina's judgment. She experienced the Nine-Tails' transfer and sealing firsthand and has no reason to hide anything about this matter."
Kato Dan looked thoughtfully at Fox's retreating figure.
The Fox Squadron left the main camp, bypassed the front-line combat zones, and detoured deep into the Land of Rain.
The ANBU squad they needed to investigate had died deep within the Land of Rain.
Yōkō, wearing a cloak, ran swiftly through the rain.
Ahead of him were his three ANBU squads.
Logically, as the squadron leader, Yōkō should be at the very front to prevent the squadron from rashly entering a trap.
However, what required more caution now was the possibility of a certain ANBU ninja suddenly launching a surprise attack.
Every member of every squad was under Yōkō's surveillance.
Relying on White Goat's dōjutsu, the squadron avoided the Rain ninja outposts and arrived at the place where the ANBU squad was killed.
The squadron fanned out, searching the surrounding area for any possible clues.
The rain was pouring down; even if there were traces, they would be washed clean by the heavy rain.
Yōkō didn't hold out much hope either, just going through the motions, waiting for the squads' investigation results.
He looked up at the sky.
--
The dark clouds obscured the full moon. Above the clouds should be a full moon like a silver platter.
The rain was cold, the night was chill.
The three squads investigated for a long time but found nothing.
Just then, a loud, high-pitched dog bark startled everyone, making them turn to look into the distance.
Yōkō's heart skipped a beat. Was that... the Uzumaki's Hell Split Dog?
The inherited summoning creatures of the Uzumaki clan, such as the Yatagarasu, had been passed down by the elders to Uzumaki Yuka.
These few large summoning creatures were the greatest reliance for Uzumaki Yuka and the others to hold on until now.
He hadn't been in contact with Uzumaki Yuka recently. Had the Uzumaki remnants encountered some threat, forcing them to use a large summoning creature in battle?
Yōkō quickly looked at White Goat, who activated his Byakugan, looking in the direction of the bark.
"Squadron Leader! Two kilometers due west, a summoning creature is running towards here! The summoning creature is chasing three ninja... they are three Konoha ninja!
The summoning creature is very fast, estimated to arrive here in a few more minutes!"
Yōkō thought for a moment and said: "We can't stand by and watch Konoha ninja die. Let's wait and see."
White Goat continued reporting:
"Captain, it's a pursuit.
The ones fleeing are three Konoha ninja. They are carrying three people – two adults and one child.
The pursuing giant summoning creature is the Hell Split Dog. The ANBU has records; it is the village guardian summoning creature of Uzushiogakure.
A woman is standing on the Hell Split Dog's head."
Yōkō thought, it really is Uzumaki Yuka.
It was raining heavily; the Yatagarasu was affected, so Uzumaki Yuka chose the Hell Split Dog instead.
The over-30-meter-tall Hell Split Dog was very fast, its four paws flying through the rain.
The Fox Squadron inserted itself between the Konoha ninja and the Hell Split Dog.
An ANBU ninja threw a series of explosive tags. The tags exploded on the Hell Split Dog's body, causing it to grow several more heads.
Yōkō didn't want to fight Uzumaki Yuka in front of everyone. He shouted to the three Konoha ninja:
"We are Konoha ANBU! Please come with us!"
However, the three Konoha ninja acted like they were deaf, continuing forward.
Purple Cat said, "Captain, they are under a Genjutsu! One Jōnin, two Tokubetsu Jōnin, all are under Genjutsu!"
Yōkō was stunned. Was his suspicion wrong? Were the ANBU deaths not caused by Kato Dan, but by Genjutsu?
If they died from Genjutsu, it would require many Genjutsu users operating in many places, making it impossible to leave no trace at all.
Yōkō preferred to believe that the current situation was a coincidence.
Yōkō looked at the rapidly approaching Hell Split Dog and said:
"I'll hold the rear! You continue escorting the village ninja, and find a way to release their Genjutsu!
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
After forming hand seals, Yōkō released a massive Water Formation Wall.
Seeing this, White Goat sighed inwardly. Squadron Leader Fox's strength was increasing.
Judging by the scale of this Water Release, he wasn't far from Jōnin level, was he?
The Hell Split Dog crashed into the Water Release, its momentum halting abruptly.
Uzumaki Yuka gripped the Hell Split Dog's ears tightly, almost flying into the turbulent Water Formation Wall due to the inertia.
When she looked carefully, she saw Fox behind the Water Formation Wall.
It's Fox!
Yōkō secretly made a hand gesture, signaling Yuka to go in another direction.
(Chapter End)