On the way back, Yako had imagined something.
He had pictured the Third Hokage standing before the entire village, calling him forward — asking him to perform Deep Forest Emergence publicly to restore Konoha's morale.
A symbolic declaration: Wood Release had returned to Konoha.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen's broad-mindedness…
was disappointing.
Inside the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was layered and subtle.
Standing beside the Third, Orochimaru looked at Yako with unmistakable pride.
Behold my perfect experimental subject.
A Wood Release user who had exchanged blows with Uchiha Madara himself.
His gaze slid toward Danzō, whose face had turned an almost literal iron-blue.
Well, Danzō? Tempted yet?
Danzō's expression was ugly.
He had schemed for Wood Release for years — invested resources, cultivated Orochimaru, endured scrutiny.
And in the end?
The final experimental subject — Fox, already elite jonin-level — had succeeded.
Even if Danzō obtained Wood Release now, it would not carry the same impact.
He would not be the first.
Nor the only.
Wood Release symbolized the First Hokage — power, authority, prestige.
And now, someone else had taken that symbol.
Danzō looked at Fox with the sour feeling of a meal slow-cooked for hours… only to be stolen by a stray dog.
Disgusting.
Yako glanced at Danzō.
That look wasn't simple jealousy.
It was something more complicated.
Sarutobi Hiaki's face was full of self-reproach.
He had led the mission in the Land of Grass.
ANBU Vice Commander Lynx and Squad Leader Wildcat had died.
Heavy casualties.
No intelligence gained.
Just beaten down by rogue Sarutobi Kanosuke.
Meanwhile, the Land of Rain mission…
Aside from Uchiha losses, it had gone remarkably well.
Especially Fox.
Wood Release against Madara.
Forced out Susanoo.
Retreated with the majority alive.
Yellow Dog stood on the Third's other side, gaze complicated.
Last time, during the vice commander recommendation, he had yielded to Danzō's pressure.
Lynx had been appointed.
Now Lynx was dead.
And Fox had returned with Wood Release.
Yellow Dog remembered Fox casually mentioning he had received injections from Orochimaru while retrieving experimental reports.
At the time, he hadn't thought much of it.
So those injections had been Hashirama cells.
He didn't know whether this was Orochimaru acting recklessly — or some deeper arrangement between the two.
Fox claimed coercion.
If Yellow Dog wanted to continue using him…
He would treat it as coercion.
The Third Hokage's expression remained gentle.
"Fox. Clan Head Kagen. You've returned. Captain Hyuga Ketsu, please report first."
Hyuga Ketsu stepped forward and submitted his prepared report.
"Our initial search was unsuccessful. It was Captain Fox who suggested using the Uzumaki remnant, Uzumaki Nagato, to locate Uchiha Madara.
Madara's strength was overwhelming.
In battle, ANBU engaged the flank to capture the Uzumaki remnant, while the Uchiha faced Madara directly.
Madara deployed massive-scale Wood Release.
Uchiha Jonin Uchiha Dōma and three Special Jonin were killed."
A pause.
"At that critical moment, Captain Fox reinforced the main battlefield and used Wood Release comparable not merely to Madara's—
—but to the First Hokage's."
Yako almost smiled.
Nicely phrased.
"Captain Fox's Wood Release manifested as crimson maple forests — red as flame.
Madara's was dark green — deep as ink.
Red and green clashed evenly."
A vivid image formed in the room.
Crimson maple against dark forest.
"Captain Fox stabilized the battlefield and extracted poisoned Uchiha shinobi.
Madara himself referred to him as…
'Red Maple Fox.'"
The Third nodded faintly.
Fox now had another title.
Copper Fox.
Red Maple Fox.
Just as he himself had once been called both Professor of Ninjutsu and Hero of Shinobi.
Reports from ANBU, the Uchiha, and reconnaissance were placed before him.
He would cross-reference them carefully.
Then he looked at Fox.
"What is your assessment of Uchiha Madara's current strength?"
Yako thought:
Time to make Madara terrifying — so I look impressive.
"Madara's chakra reserves are absurd. Nothing like a man in his seventies.
He used Wood Release, genjutsu, and Susanoo.
I could not close distance to evaluate his taijutsu.
However…
I observed a moment of weakness."
Even Danzō's eyes sharpened.
"After deploying Wood Release and genjutsu repeatedly, his breathing became labored.
His chest visibly heaved.
He is not invincible.
At that moment, I deployed my Wood Release and temporarily overpowered his.
For approximately five seconds, his techniques weakened before regaining dominance.
If we pursue him again…
It must be treated as a limited war.
Deploy no fewer than 500 shinobi.
It may be possible to overwhelm him through attrition."
The Third's face grew grave.
He trusted Fox's judgment.
Repeated firsthand engagement mattered.
Madara's exhaustion suggested limits.
He glanced at Hyuga's scroll — no such insight.
At Kagen's — nothing there either.
Only Fox had extracted this.
ANBU could not afford to lose him.
But 500 shinobi into the Land of Rain?
Hanzo would interpret that as war.
Madara was troublesome.
Hanzo was troublesome.
Together…
Five hundred might not suffice.
After Fox finished, the Third turned to Kagen.
"Clan Head Kagen. I mourn Uchiha Dōma and the others. It seems Madara's hatred toward Konoha runs deeper than we thought."
Kagen remained silent.
What could he say?
Madara had called Konoha a heap of rot where dreams had died.
He felt no attachment to the Uchiha anymore.
The Third dismissed the Uchiha and others.
Only high command and ANBU remained.
Yellow Dog spoke first.
"Hokage-sama. With Vice Commander Lynx deceased, I recommend Fox for the position of ANBU Vice Commander."
He had made his decision.
No more hesitation.
Repair the rift now.
Fox was too important.
He could not face Madara or Kanosuke himself.
Better to commit fully.
Yako's head snapped up.
Yellow Dog… bold.
Was it generosity?
Or calculation?
This man cannot be left alive, Yako thought instinctively.
But not yet.
He swallowed visibly, letting his excitement show.
The Third glanced toward Danzō.
Before Danzō could respond, Homura spoke:
"ANBU faces formidable enemies — Kanosuke, Madara, and others. We need a strong vice commander capable of leading missions beyond the village.
Fox is an excellent candidate."
Danzō frowned.
Homura's son commanded the River Country's guardian unit.
Grass Country had suffered repeated losses.
Of course he wanted stronger protection.
Nara Shikakaku nodded as well.
The Uzushio guardian units were dominated by Ino–Shika–Cho.
They too feared rogue threats.
Konoha needed a powerful ANBU vice commander.
All eyes turned to Danzō.
But instead of speaking, Danzō looked toward Orochimaru.
The room stiffened.
Why was he waiting for Orochimaru?
Orochimaru would never become vice commander himself.
And yet…
Danzō waited.