The authority of an ANBU Squad Leader was vast. Within the squad's ninjutsu scrolls, one could freely learn any of the mainstream elemental techniques of the Hidden Leaf. Drawing from the Fire Style he had witnessed in previous battles, Yagami selected two high-powered techniques: the Great Fireball Jutsu and the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
The Great Fireball Jutsu was the signature technique of the Uchiha clan, requiring six seals. It was widely disseminated, and many Fire Style ninja in the village had mastered it. The Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, on the other hand, was the signature technique of the Sarutobi clan, requiring seven seals. Yellow Dog, in combat, used only taijutsu and the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
Learning these two techniques would allow Yagami to exploit elemental advantages against Wind Style users, achieving devastating results. The challenge, however, lay in raising these Fire Style techniques to the "Mastery" level. At Mastery, they could be unleashed with a single seal, just as Yellow Dog did.
After weighing his options, Yagami chose to learn the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet. He was the Hokage's man, and Yellow Dog was his direct superior; there was no future in prioritizing the Uchiha's signature move over that of the Sarutobi.
After two days of practice, Yagami wove seven seals—Ram-Horse-Snake-Dragon-Rat-Ox-Tiger—and a searing dragon of flame lunged forward. Upon striking the target or the ground, the dragon dissolved into a surging sea of fire. In terms of speed, range, and destructive power, it was an exceptional Fire Style jutsu. He kept his newfound ability hidden, ensuring no one knew he could use Fire Style.
A few days later, Hippo found Yagami.
"Captain, the plan against Hanaki Senju's relative, Mie Senju, is complete. A medical malpractice riot will break out this afternoon. Would you like to go to the Konoha Hospital and see for yourself?"
"Very well. Hippo, Lord Yellow Dog specifically mentioned applying for an S-rank mission reward for you," Yagami said. "These setups weren't inherently dangerous, but they are of great significance to the Hokage. People need to understand that not just anyone can become a Jonin."
Yagami and Hippo shed their ANBU gear, disguising themselves as civilians to enter the Hospital. Yagami wore a mask, while Hippo appeared as a small, pleasant-looking fat man with a warm smile. They say fat people don't look like villains, but to Yagami, Hippo was practically oozing malice; his belly wasn't full of fat, it was full of wicked schemes.
Entering the hospital, Hippo motioned for Yagami to sit on a bench in the hallway to watch the show. He whispered, "Captain, I've arranged for a Hidden Mist spy to die at the hands of Mie Senju, and I've staged a medical riot. This will definitely blow up."
Yagami thought to himself: 'Thank goodness I'm in the ANBU and one of the Hokage's men. Otherwise, I might be the one suffering like this.'
Before long, an old man with bloodshot eyes appeared in the corridor. He ignored others telling him not to cut the line and charged into a consultation room.
"Mie Senju! Who is Mie Senju!"
A male Senju medical ninja in the room spoke up: "Dr. Mie is on ward rounds and hasn't returned yet. Please wait outside; there are many other patients here."
"Mie Senju killed my son! If my son can't live, none of you will!"
The old man suddenly pulled out a kunai and lunged savagely at a young nurse. The male Senju ninja was skilled, but he hadn't expected the old man to attack bystanders indiscriminately. Chaos erupted instantly. The nurse was stabbed in the abdomen and collapsed in agony. The Senju ninja rushed forward and pinned the old man down.
However, the old man glared at him and yanked open his clothes, revealing two burning explosive tags underneath.
"My son is dead! None of you get to live!"
Seeing this, the Senju ninja desperately threw the old man out the window.
*Boom!*
Following a loud explosion, the old man died in mid-air. Blood splattered across the shattered glass and into the room.
Hippo whispered, "Captain, making trouble for Mie Senju directly would be too obvious. It's better to have this old man run amok and attack everyone. That way, it attracts more attention and escalates the situation. If Mie Senju has any sense of shame, she won't even think about a Jonin promotion for the next year or two."
Yagami nodded, thinking: 'This kid is truly wicked.'
That afternoon, Consultant Koharu Utatane ordered the Hospital to investigate Mie Senju for medical malpractice. Back at the ANBU, Yagami entered Yellow Dog's office.
"Commander, both Uchiha Goka and Mie Senju are in trouble. They can forget about becoming Jonin for the next couple of years."
Yellow Dog scanned the report. "Well done. Your squad's performance is much better than Golden Eagle's or Lynx's. Why can't the others come up with the creative ideas you use?"
Yagami quickly replied, "Hippo excels at this sort of thing—clear thinking and meticulous planning."
"And the last one?" Yellow Dog asked.
"The last one is Shinma, a civilian Special Jonin recommended by Sakumo Hatake," Yagami said. "He holds no official position and makes a living through missions. When he's not on a mission, he only does one thing: train his son. His life is too simple—like an egg without a single crack. It's hard to find a way in."
Yellow Dog replied, "If you say he's hard to frame, then he truly is."
Yagami felt bitter; he really didn't want to steal Hippo's credit, but Yellow Dog kept pinning it on him. Yellow Dog thought for a moment and said:
"We can't delay any longer. The Jonin Council meeting is next week. The results will be announced, and the Jonin exams will begin. We must reduce the number of opposition Jonin and prevent uncontrollable factions from forming within the village. I will arrange an out-of-village mission for Shinma. Just like the Lynx squad does, let him die in an 'accident' during the mission."
Yagami was stunned. 'That cold?' He couldn't help but ask, "Is the Lynx squad's work that crude? Direct assassination?"
"Uncontrollable factions pose a greater danger to the village," Yellow Dog stated. "For the sake of the village, the death of a few Special Jonin is an unfortunate necessity."
Everything was for the village, wasn't it? Yagami could accept framing a medical ninja with a riot, but direct physical elimination was slightly beyond his lower limit. In all his years in the ANBU, he hadn't perfectly assimilated; he had a bit too much conscience left to fit in.
Leaving Yellow Dog's office, Yagami returned to the back room of the Tavern. He wove hand signs and slammed his palms onto the ground. A barrier appeared—the Earth Tremor Barrier he and Yuka had modified. Vibrations within a hundred-meter radius were now under his monitoring: the patrons banging tables, the clinking of glasses, Qiaoyi's footsteps, and pedestrians outside.
After confirming there were no anomalies, Yagami wove signs and used the Summoning Jutsu. The ninken Pakkun appeared.
"What's the matter, Fox?" Pakkun sniffed the air in Qiaoyi's room. "Oh? The scent of life is everywhere here."
Yagami really wanted to punch Pakkun sometimes. How was his nose so sensitive?
"Pakkun, let's get to business. Warn Lord White Fang. Tell him Shinma might be in danger; someone is going to kill him."
"Who wants to kill him?"
"Me."
"You? You're going to kill him?" Pakkun stared at Fox. "Then just... don't kill him. Problem solved, right?"
"I can't. I am an ANBU Squad Leader. I 'must' kill him."
"I get it," Pakkun said. "You mean I should have Sakumo create a reason why you 'can't' kill him, so you can still report back that you tried."
"Good dog. Smart."
Pakkun's jowls twitched. Being called a dog felt like an insult, even if he was an incredibly intelligent ninken. But then again, he 'was' a dog.
Pakkun indignantly dispelled the Summoning Jutsu.
***
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