Yellow Dog's unit returned to the forward base, carrying the spoils of war.
The central hills of Uzushio offered high ground and decent drainage. It was here that the command tents were pitched.
Inside the main operations tent, Yellow Dog was reporting to Shimura Danzō and Uchiha Kagen.
Kagen reviewed the scroll in his hands.
"ANBU's Yellow Dog Unit successfully eliminated Hōzuki Lingetsu, wielder of Hiramekarei. Using the sword as bait, they ambushed three Mist squads, killed two elite jōnin, and over forty Mist-nin... at the cost of only twenty casualties on our side."
He set the scroll down, visibly shocked.
Had a regular Konoha unit pulled this off, it would've birthed a war hero.
But Yellow Dog's squad was ANBU. Their accomplishments were not for celebration—but to remain hidden.
Yellow Dog stepped forward.
"Commander, Vice Commander, that was only the first phase of my plan."
"The real blow comes next."
"We now possess Hiramekarei. After this humiliation, the Mist's next retrieval unit will be larger, stronger. More than my unit alone can handle."
"We should bait them again—with a larger trap. I'm requesting a mass-scale ambush operation. Five full squads, minimum."
Kagen's heartbeat quickened.
An ambush with five full squads—nearly 300 shinobi. If executed well, they could wipe out hundreds of Mist-nin.
That would change the course of the entire war.
Mist had deployed over 3,000 shinobi to the Uzushio front. After months of attrition, both sides had lost hundreds.
But if Mist lost another 400–500?
Konoha would gain overwhelming momentum.
And for the Uchiha Clan, this prolonged war was a nightmare.
Their Fire Style was countered by Mist's Water Release.
Their Sharingan—nullified by Hidden Mist techniques.
Kagen was tempted—but he didn't speak yet.
Not with Danzō in the room.
Sharing space with that man was psychological torture.
Danzō rarely spoke. When he did, it was either cold sneer or cutting criticism.
And if Kagen left command to fight on the frontlines?
Danzō would take over task assignments.
That would be… dangerous.
Everyone in Konoha knew it—
Danzō Shimura despised the Uchiha more than anyone.
'If only it were Tsunade in charge…'
She'd fled to the medical tent the moment she arrived and hadn't looked back.
Danzō finally raised his head from the scroll. His single visible eye fixed on Yellow Dog.
"…Very well. I approve your plan."
Off to the side, B tilted his head—then quickly corrected himself.
Yako caught the subtle reaction.
Even B's surprised Danzō agreed so easily…
One small operation wasn't enough for Yellow Dog to secure the Vice Commander position.
But if he led a large-scale ambush to victory?
That would seal it.
In fact, Yako suspected Hiruzen had already begun preparing for a postwar Konoha.
Danzō's power in ANBU had grown too large for peace.
After all, it was no longer the era right after the Second Hokage's death.
Hiruzen no longer needed the old guards' protection.
After this war, he could finally kick Danzō out—and take full control of Konoha.
Yellow Dog stood straighter, awaiting orders.
Danzō finally spoke again.
"Yellow Dog Unit, Uchiha Toka Unit, and Uchiha Higane Unit, Moonlight Kento Unit, Yamashiro Unit… Five squads total. Prepare your operation."
Yellow Dog exhaled.
Smooth.
No pushback. No sabotage.
Kagen's mind was already at work.
'This is a good chance to let the younger generation earn some merit.'
He turned to Yellow Dog.
"Come with me. We'll head to the jōnin command tent and finalize the plan."
Once they'd left, B lingered behind.
He hesitated, lips twitching.
He wanted to ask why.
Why had Danzō, who swore to stop Yellow Dog's promotion to Vice Commander, just handed him the perfect opportunity?
After all—if Yellow Dog became Vice Commander, ANBU would fall fully under the Sarutobi faction.
Even the water wouldn't be able to seep in.
Still, B didn't question it aloud.
Danzō must have a reason.
Sure enough, the old man turned to him.
"B. Activate the Miko."
"Have her contact Fuguki Suikazan."
B's pupils shrank.
The Miko—their living relay in Kirigakure.
The most important asset Root had in the Mist.
And Fuguki…
That man had betrayed Kirigakure's secrets more times than anyone could count.
"Yes, sir!"
—
In the jōnin tent, five squad leaders had gathered.
Yako didn't recognize the two Uchiha, but he did know Moonlight Kento and Yamashiro—both were Sakumo's men.
So, Danzō had chosen two civilian jōnin—Sakumo's loyalists.
Add in the Uchiha, whom Danzō hated, and Yako felt a chill.
Yellow Dog addressed the group.
"I'll have Copper Fox draw them in again. He'll lead the Mist-nin inland."
Everyone turned to look at Yako.
This was the infamous Copper Fox, the one everyone was whispering about.
For anyone else, this bait role would be suicide.
But with absolute defense, he might just survive.
Yellow Dog continued.
"We five will select terrain, divide forces, and plan the tactics."
After the meeting, Yako returned to his team on the training field.
Standing before his unit, he addressed them.
"After returning from the River Country front, I submitted another request for jutsu training. One of those jutsu is Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall."
"Earth counters Water."
"In this war, that will be crucial."
"We lost two comrades in the last ambush. I want the rest of you to live. To grow stronger."
"Starting now—Earth Wall training."
He called out two shinobi.
"You. Earth Release.
You. Water Release."
"You'll spar."
"Antelope, simulate a Mist-nin.
Black Ape, defend."
Antelope unleashed a powerful water surge.
Black Ape's Earth Wall crumbled immediately.
Yako watched calmly.
"Black Ape—change the shape. Like mine."
He weaved seals.
A new Earth Wall rose.
This one wasn't vertical—it was trapezoidal.
Wider at the base. Narrower at the top.
'A gravity dam is far better than a plain wall,' Yako thought.
Black Ape hesitated, but after several attempts, he managed to replicate it.
Antelope fired again.
This time, the Earth Wall held firm.
Even as the Water Style died out, two-thirds of the trapezoidal wall remained intact.
Yako turned to the others.
"Listen up. A vertical Earth Wall is simple—but structurally flawed."
"A trapezoidal wall absorbs pressure better."
"The more water hits it, the more the slope presses into the ground—it anchors itself."
"Add a little Chakra Shape Transformation, and your jutsu becomes infinitely more useful."
"I've heard of idiots carving dog heads into their Earth Walls."
"That's nonsense."
"It wastes chakra. Wastes motion. Never do that."
"Optimize your Earth Style.
That's how you protect your team."
The full moon hung overhead like a silver disc.
Yako gazed up.
It was full again.
That meant one thing:
His resurrection ability was back.
This time, he could fight without fear.