Sensing Yagami's confusion, Yellow Dog explained:
"The Seven Ninja Swords were crafted by the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki. The Hozuki clan holds the summoning scrolls for all seven. Whether these swords are the private inheritance of the Hozuki clan or the heritage of the village itself is a point of constant, violent debate within the Hidden Mist. The current Mist leadership argues that since the materials were provided by the village, the swords belong to the Hidden Mist."
Yagami thought to himself, 'So you're aware that our own village's internal strife is bad, but in the "Garbage Heap" contest that is the Shinobi World, the Hidden Mist is definitely winning.'
Yellow Dog continued:
"The current ruling Elder of the Mist, Genji, has been pushing to make the Seven Ninja Swordsmen an official village institution rather than a Hozuki clan asset. After the death of the Second Mizukage, under pressure from the Third Mizukage and Genji, the Hozuki clan surrendered the three 'lesser' swords to the village: the Decapitation Carving Knife (Kubikiribocho), the Longsword: Sewing Needle (Nuibari), and the Blunt Sword: Helmet Splitter (Kabutowari)."
"The four truly powerful blades—Greatsword: Shark Skin (Samehada), Twinsword: Flounder (Hiramekarei), Blastsword: Splatter (Shibuki), and Thunderswords: Fang (Kiba)—remain in the hands of the Hozuki clan. The Jonin of the Mist are locked in a bloody struggle over these blades. Obtaining one grants the strength and status of an Elite Jonin; what ninja wouldn't be tempted? Our goal is to seize one of these swords. If handled correctly, we can ignite the internal friction of the Mist into a full-blown civil conflict."
Yagami considered it. If he went up against the physical-attack-oriented blades like the Sewing Needle or the Decapitation Carving Knife, his defense would hold. The plan wasn't impossible. Yellow Dog's path to Vice Minister could indeed be paved with a legendary blade.
...
Tsunade led the support troops into the front-line camp. Yagami followed Yellow Dog into the command tent. On the central platform sat Danzo, his expression a permanent mask of stone, his right eye wrapped in bandages. Beside him, Uchiha Murakumo looked positively miserable. The Uchiha were having a terrible time on this front—their Fire Style was neutralized by Water Style, and their Sharingan was countered by the [Hidden Mist Jutsu].
After a brief exchange with Danzo, Tsunade left with her medical Jonin to take over the field hospital. Once she was gone, Danzo turned his gaze to Yellow Dog.
Yellow Dog stepped forward proactively:
"Lord Danzo, the Whirlpool war cannot be dragged out any longer. Onoki and the Hidden Cloud are holding secret talks without including the Leaf. The Cloud could withdraw from the Earth front at any time to attack our vassal, the Land of Steam. Lord Hokage believes the Leaf must give its all to counter the Cloud threat, meaning this war must end quickly. His analysis suggests we target the Seven Ninja Swords to widen the rifts within the Mist. My unit is here solely to execute the Hokage's specific orders."
Using the Hokage as a shield for every sentence left Danzo with little room to maneuver. He scanned the scroll Yellow Dog handed him, which contained mission orders personally penned by Hiruzen.
Danzo said:
"As the Anbu Minister, I approve your operation. Commander Snapping Turtle is dead. I have recommended 'B' to replace him. Have you brought the confirmation scroll from Hiruzen?"
Yellow Dog had brought a direct intervention in the command structure. Danzo didn't fight it; instead, he traded. If Hiruzen wanted to push his own man to Vice Minister, Danzo wanted another battalion under his thumb. He already controlled Lynx and River Leopard; if 'B' took Snapping Turtle's mask, Danzo would control three of the six Anbu battalions.
Yellow Dog held his head high:
"Lord Danzo, the Hokage has agreed to let 'B' serve as the acting commander of the Snapping Turtle battalion. As for a permanent appointment, the Hokage will decide that with you once the Whirlpool war concludes. Here is the scroll for the temporary appointment."
To the side, 'B' shifted slightly, his gaze fixing on Yellow Dog. Yagami turned to stare back at 'B', silently supporting his commander. He didn't hesitate to suspect the worst of Danzo—Snapping Turtle's death smelled like a setup to consolidate power.
Danzo, hearing that Hiruzen hadn't granted the permanent rank, didn't explode. After a few seconds of silence, he said:
"Yellow Dog, go and carry out Hiruzen's task."
...
Leaving the tent, Yagami glanced at the silent Uchiha Murakumo. 'Poor guy, staying in a tent with Danzo must feel like living in a freezer.'
After a brief rest in their designated area, the unit headed for the coast. Yagami addressed his three squad leaders: White ram, antelope, and Deer.
"Spread out. Patrol a thirty-kilometer stretch of the coastline. Your mission is to locate the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. If you encounter Mist ninja, capture and interrogate them if possible. If you find a high-value prisoner, bring them to me so Purple Cat can extract the intel. If you spot one of the Seven, do not charge in recklessly. Contact me immediately. The Seven are a target for the entire battalion, not a single squad."
As the squads departed, Yagami stood on a jagged reef, watching the night sea. The waves crashed against the shore in endless cycles. The wind shifted from a sea breeze to a land breeze, blowing from behind him toward the dark ocean.
He remembered his first mission after transmigrating—patrolling the coast of the Land of Waves, facing danger at every turn. His first commander had been Bear, then Black ape. Now, he was the commander, sending his own squads out into the salt and shadow. He wondered if Bear had felt the same way back then: a mix of restless irritation and sharp anticipation.
***
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