Yōkō followed Battalion Commander Yellow Dog to a spot about twenty meters away from the high-ranking officials.
Yellow Dog's appearance signified that the Anbu had important intelligence to report to Department Head Danzo.
Yōkō glanced at the several high-ranking officials, observing their expressions.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wearing armor, sat on a rock smoking.
On one side of him were Senju Clan Leader Senju Rinoki and Elite Jōnin Kato Dan; on the other side were Mitokado Homura and Shimura Danzo.
It seemed the Third Hokage was acting as a referee between the two sides, mediating their conflict.
Senju Rinoki's face was ashen, but full of arrogance, refusing to yield.
On the other side, Mitokado Homura, tired from arguing, took a drink of water.
As for Danzo, he remained silent as usual.
When these high-ranking officials were together, Mitokado Homura usually spoke for the others, expressing their stance.
It seemed the Senju clan had significant disagreements with the leadership, perhaps regarding the placement of Uzumaki Kushina, or perhaps the ownership of Uzushiogakure's Book of Sealing.
Both the Senju clan and the village were eager to control the Uzumaki clan's heritage.
When Shimura Danzo saw Yellow Dog, he walked over.
Yellow Dog promptly reported:
"Lord Danzo, the Black Gorilla Squadron has obtained important intelligence.
The Uzumaki Elder finally selected 8 Uzumaki clanspeople and sent them towards the Land of Waves using the Yatagarasu.
Furthermore, before her death, the Uzumaki Elder took out a sealing scroll.
Black Gorilla is doing his utmost to follow the Yatagarasu."
Hearing this, Danzo's eyes sharpened.
If he couldn't get Uzushiogakure's Book of Sealing, obtaining the Uzumaki Elder's sealing techniques could serve as a temporary substitute.
Danzo ordered:
"Yellow Dog, your battalion has lost many members. First, reorganize the remaining personnel into a full squadron and go find Black Gorilla immediately.
You and Hippo will work together to screen and train a new Anbu battalion from the two thousand Konoha ninja who came this time, getting them combat-ready as soon as possible.
After assembling two full battalions, you and Hippo will search for the Uzumaki remnants and bring them, or the scroll, back to Konoha."
Yōkō thought to himself, the use of the word 'or' was excellent.
Danzo's meaning was: bring those Uzumaki remnants back if possible, for thorough examination.
If they couldn't be brought back, it was fine, but the Uzumaki Elder's scroll must be retrieved.
Yellow Dog nodded repeatedly and led Yōkō away.
Danzo turned his head, first glancing at Senju Rinoki.
The Senju clan had deep roots and widespread influence. Many of the village's policies couldn't be implemented without considering the Senju clan's stance.
For instance, regarding this Nine-Tails Jinchūriki transition, the Senju clan actually wanted complete control over the new Jinchūriki.
How could the village's safety be entrusted solely to the Senju clan?
Yellow Dog brought Yōkō back to the battalion.
"Our battalion, after this arduous mission, has fewer than 20 members left.
Yak, I am now appointing you as Squadron Leader. Reorganize a full-strength squadron and proceed to the Land of Waves to search. Fox has the temporary codes assigned by Black Gorilla.
Your squadron's mission is to find the Uzumaki remnants and the inheritance scroll, and to engage them.
Be careful. The Uzumaki clan's secret technique inheritance is difficult to deal with, and they have large Summoning beasts. Battalion Commander Hippo and I will follow later with two battalions to carry out the capture."
Yōkō followed Squadron Leader Yak as they departed.
After waiting for a long time, no Kumo-nin disguise equipment arrived. It seemed disguises weren't needed.
When the Uzumaki clan wasn't annihilated, killing Uzumaki ninja required caution and disguising as Kumo-nin.
Now that the Uzumaki clan was annihilated, they could be killed outright. As long as the Anbu didn't leak the secret, no one would know.
--
The full moon was like a silver plate; the moonlight resembled white frost.
By the time they reached the coast, Yōkō had waited until the night of the full moon.
Things would be easier from now on, with one resurrection chance.
Yōkō took an extra look at Squadron Leader Yak. What good reward would he get after this resurrection?
After entering the Land of Waves, the Anbu ninja carefully searched for the marks left by Black Gorilla and inquired everywhere if anyone had seen a large three-legged bird.
After spending several days, they didn't find the Uzumaki remnants, but they did receive new information.
After the Third Mizukage's death, a Fourth had not been selected. The Kirigakure elder Genji became the new leader, temporarily managing Kirigakure.
Nearing the end of the month, the Anbu finally found the codes left by Black Gorilla.
The codes pointed towards the direction of the Land of Waves' capital.
Squadron Leader Yak gathered the squad leaders to assign tasks. He said:
"With Uzushiogakure destroyed, the mission shares for the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Waves have now become available.
The Daimyō of the Land of Whirlpools and the Daimyō of the Land of Waves have always been vassals of the Land of Fire's Daimyō.
Our actions in the capital must not cause excessive killing, otherwise it will be a disadvantage for the upcoming mission share negotiations.
There are still quite a few Uzumaki remnants in the Land of Waves' capital. For example, there are Uzumaki ninja among the Land of Whirlpools' Daimyō's Guardian Ninja."
The Anbu ninja all disguised themselves as ordinary merchants, carrying only kunai concealed on their persons, and entered the Land of Waves' capital.
The Land of Waves was situated between three great nations: the Land of Lightning to the northwest, the Land of Fire to the west, and the Land of Water to the east. The situation here was complex, akin to another war-torn Land of Rain.
Yōkō moved through the streets and alleys, searching every trash can, every tree trunk.
The kunai on his back had to be carefully hidden.
Kunai were a symbol of ninja identity. If seen by civilians, their cover would be blown.
Ninjas were relatively comfortable within their villages. Outside, they were viewed with hostility by all civilians.
The shinobi world had many records of ninjas slaughtering cities and destroying nations. In the eyes of civilians, ninjas were like flood beasts and savage beasts.
Ninjas killed too many, too quickly, leading to civilian hostility and non-violent non-cooperation.
After searching for several days, Yōkō finally found Squadron Leader Black Gorilla.
"Squadron Leader, you..."
The Black Gorilla Squadron was hiding in a narrow storeroom. His left arm had been cleanly severed at the shoulder.
Seeing it was Fox, Black Gorilla's tensed muscles relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief.
"Not only did we see the Uzumaki Elder take out a scroll at the end; the Kiri-nin saw it too. I chased the Uzumaki remnants here, and so did the Kiri-nin.
Leaf Monkey is dead, and I lost an arm.
Momochi Zabuza is too powerful; I was no match for him at all."
Yōkō was inwardly shocked. He hadn't expected a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to also come to the Land of Waves' capital.
"Squadron Leader, what about the Uzumaki remnants?"
"Unknown. They are hiding with the help of the Guardian Ninja. I can't find them."
A hint of joy rose in Yōkō's heart. Uzumaki Yuka should still be alive.
"Squadron Leader, I'll take you to Squadron Leader Yak. The first group supporting us is the Yak Squadron. Two more battalions will come later."
Black Gorilla and Yōkō found Squadron Leader Yak.
After the two squadron leaders deliberated, they decided to have the Anbu operate in pairs within the capital to find the Uzumaki remnants as quickly as possible.
They must find those Uzumaki kunoichi before the Kiri-nin do.
Black Gorilla and Yōkō operated together.
Squadron Leader Black Gorilla was truly cautious, always walking on Yōkō's left side.
He had lost his left arm, so his right hand was always guarding against Yōkō.
Did Yōkō really look that much like a traitor? Or was Black Gorilla himself extremely cautious, hence his constant wariness?
The capital was large.
After spending several days, Yōkō saw a small bird land beside a small lake in a park in the capital.
An egret. It was an egret.
...
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(Chapter End)