The Fox Squadron traversed more than half of the Land of Rain and arrived at the northern bank of the Yoshimizu River.
The Yoshimizu River originated from a large lake northwest of the Land of Rain, gathered several tributaries, flowed along the southern edge of the Land of Rain's basin eastward, and finally entered the Land of Rivers.
Arriving near the Yoshimizu River, Yōkō saw the majestic Yoshioka Mountains rising abruptly in the distance, grand as a city wall.
It was that very mountain range that separated the Land of Rain from the Land of Wind.
The Yoshimizu River's surface width exceeded 100 meters, making it vast and mighty.
Yōkō found a large tree to shelter from the rain and unfolded the map.
The Yoshimizu River didn't have much strategic value. A hundred-meter-wide river could be used by Water Release users to form a defensive line.
Most Suna-nin were Wind Release users; even if they occupied this river, they couldn't hold it.
Yōkō scanned the map and saw the largest town in the vicinity: Tsutamidani Town.
"Let's go, first investigate Tsutamidani Town. See if the people in the town have seen any Suna-nin."
Reaching the vicinity of the town, Yōkō had the other squadron members conceal themselves outside the town. He and Purple Cat disguised themselves as travelers and entered the town.
Purple Cat took off her mask, wearing a long waterproof cloak. The chin revealed beneath the hood was small and smooth.
The two walked through Tsutamidani Town.
There were few people on the streets; many didn't go out on such a rainy day.
After walking for a while, the two sat on a long bench, observing their surroundings while resting.
A small figure approached through the rain in the distance.
She was about eight or nine years old, carrying a basket.
"Mister, is this lady your girlfriend? Would you like to give her a blue flower? It's a rare little blue flower that only grows on the banks of the Yoshimizu River."
Hearing this, Purple Cat lifted her hood slightly and looked with delight at the small blue flowers in the basket.
Seeing Purple Cat liked them, Yōkō said, "I'll buy all your blue flowers and give them to my girlfriend."
After paying, the little girl was very happy, and Purple Cat was even happier.
Yōkō casually asked, "Little girl, what's your name? Have you seen any special people recently?"
"My name is Kon. The most special ones are you two."
"Alright, besides the two of us, are there any other special people?" Yōkō said, "We got separated from our friends in the heavy rain and are anxious to find them."
Kon looked at the money from selling the flowers and said, "Okay, I'll take you to find them!"
Kon first took Yōkō to the town's umbrella shop.
"The uncle at the umbrella shop is a very special person. He always fixes broken umbrellas and gives them to us orphans."
Seeing Kon's expectant gaze, Yōkō had no choice but to buy two umbrellas.
Kon then took Yōkō to the town's bakery.
"The auntie at the bakery is also very special. She always gives us bread that is almost expired but still edible."
Kon again looked at Yōkō with expectant eyes, forcing him to buy two loaves of bread.
After that, Yōkō bought shoes, bought gloves, and bought salted fish.
He even bought paper and pens because the stationery shop owner usually taught the orphans how to write.
It was clear that this small town took good care of its orphans.
"Alright, Kon, we can't buy any more. I can't carry anything else."
Laden with numerous bags, Yōkō had to refuse Kon's next request.
"Please, mister, just one last person. The uncle who patrols the riverbank always takes us to do work and gives us a little money as payment."
"The uncle who patrols the riverbank?"
Yōkō's interest was piqued.
The only noteworthy feature of this town was the riverbank north of the town.
"Alright, let's go see this last person you think is special."
Leaving the town, Purple Cat gestured to the squadron members in the distance, telling them not to approach.
Yōkō and Purple Cat followed the little girl to the base of the riverbank.
The River Patrol Uncle came down from the bank and saw Kon with two unfamiliar young people.
The two strangers were laden with bags hanging from their shoulders and held in their hands, not idle at all.
"Sorry, sorry." The River Patrol Uncle stepped forward and said:
"Kon is always like this. Because we take care of her and the other orphans a bit, she always recommends the town's shops to any travelers she meets.
I hope you didn't spend too much? I can reimburse you."
Kon's mouth quivered, on the verge of tears.
Purple Cat quickly said, "No, no, the bread Kon recommended was delicious. I already finished it on the way."
Yōkō said:
"Uncle, we are travelers from the Land of Grass and don't know the situation here. Can the Yoshimizu River really be held back by this embankment? Isn't it a bit dangerous?"
The River Patrol Uncle explained:
"The Yoshimizu River changed its course over a hundred years ago. After the course change, a breach was left here. The Daimyō sent people to build this embankment to block the breach.
The people of Tsutamidani Town are the descendants of the laborers forcibly conscripted by the Daimyō back then.
Fortunately, this place is poor, so not many ninjas come here. If ninja were to damage this embankment, Tsutamidani Town and over a dozen villages behind it would all be flooded."
Yōkō looked at the embankment, then at the towering Yoshioka Mountains in the distance.
Did the Suna-nin want to use this embankment for something?
After returning from the embankment, Yōkō found an inn and checked in with Purple Cat.
Purple Cat, drying her hair, said hesitantly, "Squad Leader, the rest of our squadron is stationed outside the town in the heavy rain. Is it right for us to stay in a warm hotel?"
"What's wrong with that? When you go back, just say we booked two rooms. Don't say we booked one room, isn't that fine?"
Replacing the Hyūga clan ninja with an Aburame clan ninja for White Sheep had actually freed Yōkō, giving him more freedom.
Purple Cat, blushing, said, "Wouldn't emphasizing it specifically make people more likely to get the wrong idea?"
Yōkō scooped Purple Cat up by the waist and carried her towards the bed.
Her towel loosened, revealing her long legs.
"Getting the wrong idea is a problem for tomorrow. Your most important task today is to keep your voice down. We are Anbu; we must never expose our identities. Don't you agree?"
"I absolutely will not make a sound! Absolutely not!"
All night, Purple Cat kept her lips tightly pressed together, muffling her moans, her pretty face flushed red from the effort.
She was an Anbu ninja; she must not be exposed.
Several days of investigation yielded no results.
Instead, Kon, along with three or four other orphans, followed Yōkō and Purple Cat daily, eating either bread or rice balls, getting fuller and fuller.
Yōkō sent the three squads to disperse and investigate nearby villages, but still gained no intelligence.
He began to suspect Was Hanzo's goal was simply to divert the Anbu? To concentrate his forces against Konoha's main front?
—
Unknowingly, the night of the full moon had arrived again.
The full moon was invisible, hidden by clouds covering the sky.
Seeing Yōkō standing by the window, Purple Cat said shyly, "Again by the window tonight? I'm so afraid someone might see."
"As your Squadron Leader, I must criticize you for this. We are here to gather intelligence, not specifically to stay in a hotel. Of course, we'll be by the window tonight. What if we miss some important intelligence?"
Purple Cat, while letting her towel drop, came to the window with a face full of spring radiance, carefully positioning herself to the side of the window.
The next morning.
Yōkō stood by the window, looking out at the Yoshioka Mountains.
On the other side of the Yoshioka Mountains, the climate of the Gobi Desert was a world apart from here.
Kon hurriedly ran through the streets, shouting that the River Patrol Uncle had been captured by ninja!
Yōkō put on his mask: "Purple Cat, let's go!"
The two jumped out the window and landed on the highest nearby roof.
Outside the town, Suna-nin were fighting the town's dozen or so samurai.
The fight was one-sided; the samurai were no match for the Suna-nin at all.
More and more Suna-nin were appearing in the distance. Where were these Suna-nin coming from?
***
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(Chapter End)