"Mission concluded!" Squad Leader Black Gorilla announced:
"According to intelligence from Anbu Headquarters, the Uzumaki remnants have entered the Land of the Moon. The Land of the Moon is under Kumogakure's sphere of influence. The Anbu and spies stationed there will handle the pursuit. We can return to the village."
Along the eastern coast of the shinobi continent, from south to north, lie the Land of Fire, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of the Moon, and the Land of Lightning.
The Uzumaki remnants, wanting to escape, only had the choice between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of the Moon.
One wonders if the Uzumaki clan felt heartache.
They would rather go to the Land of the Moon, under Kumogakure's influence, than enter the Land of Hot Water, under Konoha's sphere.
Kumogakure was one of the perpetrators of their clan's destruction, but in their judgment, Konoha was the greater scourge.
Given the Anbu's strength and Konoha's emphasis on Kushina's importance, perhaps they would never see Kushina again before they died. Uzumaki Kushina might never learn the truth about her clan's destruction.
Back to the village!
Black Gorilla's squad left the Land of Waves and returned to Konoha.
Entering Konoha Village again felt somewhat disorienting for Yōkō.
This trip to the Land of Waves and the Land of Whirlpools had taken over half a year.
Entering the Forest of Death, Yōkō noticed some changes.
In some areas, the trees were smaller and their positions had shifted.
Observing the details, Yōkō discovered several underground structures had been added to the Forest of Death.
The turned soil and replanted trees all indicated alterations here.
Jumping down through the Anbu's skylight entrance, he confirmed the Anbu headquarters had undergone significant changes.
Root had appeared.
The newly established Root was, for now, purely an Anbu training organization.
Danzo had instituted new rules for the Anbu.
Given the Anbu's terrifying mortality rate, Danzo decreed that newly recruited Anbu shinobi must undergo three months of training in Root.
Previously, Anbu shinobi were selected from regular shinobi. Chūnin-level shinobi were plug-and-play.
The ninjutsu instructors for Root were appointed by Danzo.
Later, Root would gradually change in nature, becoming an independent kingdom within the Anbu, directly subordinate to Danzo.
Yōkō returned to his squad's locker room.
This was his locker room before leaving the village; it belonged to the Antelope Squad.
He opened each locker one by one. The personal belongings of Captain Antelope, Purple Cat, and Black Bull had all been cleared out.
Only a mask remained in each locker.
Captain Antelope, Purple Cat, and Black Bull had long since died in the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Waves.
In Yōkō's own locker, his personal items were still there.
After a sigh, Yōkō sorted through his belongings.
Squad Leader Black Gorilla passed by the locker room and said, "Fox, we have a three-day break. Report to me in three days."
"Understood, Captain Black Gorilla."
Yōkō removed his fox mask, took off the Anbu flak jacket, put on his own clothes, donned a face mask, and left the Anbu headquarters.
Walking through Konoha's streets and alleys again felt wonderful.
The sunlight was warm, and the breeze gentle.
If only there weren't those massive, imposing Hokage faces looming overhead.
After walking further away, Yōkō removed his face mask, becoming just an ordinary Konoha villager.
With nowhere else particular to go, Yōkō headed to the Tsurugetsu Izakaya.
The izakaya had few customers at noon.
Inside, the beautiful proprietress, Kyōi, visibly started upon seeing Yōkō.
Was that the youth from half a year ago?
Looking at him now, his face carried more maturity and calmness.
As a spy, Kyōi immediately understood this was the natural composure that came with increased strength.
This youth had grown considerably over the past six months.
Yōkō's strength had indeed increased significantly.
[Host Status:
Chakra Reserve: 3x Chūnin-level.
Chakra Attributes: Earth, Water.
Ninjutsu: Basic Three Academy Techniques, Earth Release: Fish in Earth Reflection Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Water Release: Water Formation Wall.
Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu, Basic Kunai Throwing Technique, Swordsmanship (Proficient), Body Flicker Technique (Proficient), Cloud-Style Sword Technique.
Sealing Techniques: Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal, Contract Seal, Summoning Technique (Spear Egret).
Other: Stress Reflex (One Breakthrough).]
After arduous training and real combat, his Swordsmanship and Body Flicker Technique had progressed from Beginner to Proficient.
Kyōi hurried over: "Where have you been these past six months? Why didn't you ever come back to see me?"
"During wartime, how could I possibly stay in the village the whole time?"
Kyōi's eyes immediately brightened a little.
As a spy, the intelligence she had gathered recently wasn't very high-value.
This youth before her had been on a mission lasting half a year, returning with noticeably increased strength. He was worth probing.
Setting down a cup of sake, Kyōi, acting like a young girl seeing her lover, listened to Yōkō boast about his various perilous missions on the Land of Hot Water battlefield while gently stroking the tight muscles on his arm.
Yōkō, of course, wouldn't mention his missions in the Land of Whirlpools and Land of Waves. He was currently pretending to be an ordinary chūnin returning to the village for rotation leave from the Land of Hot Water front.
"Shinobi-sama, look at your right arm, it's more developed than your left. Perhaps you should try switching hands sometimes, instead of always using your right?"
"I prefer not using my hands. Why don't you help me instead? Then we avoid the problem you mentioned."
Two hours later.
Kyōi straightened her clothes as she emerged from her bedroom in the rear courtyard.
Really, after two hours of work, still couldn't extract any substantial intelligence.
The strength of a Konoha chūnin was truly formidable; Kyōi walked with a slight limp, her thighs sore.
In a half-asleep state, maintaining basic vigilance, Yōkō took a nap on Kyōi's fragrant, soft bed, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
As night fell, Yōkō ordered three bottles of sake and drank slowly.
He was surrounded by Konoha shinobi and villagers.
Men, when drunk, tend to boast.
"The young master of the Senju clan, Senju Nawaki, graduated this year. Do you know who his Team Leader is?"
"No, tell us quickly."
The braggart wore a smug expression: "I was at the photo studio and happened to see the young Senju clan head. His team leader is also an incredible figure."
"Of course I know the young clan head's teacher is amazing, just tell us already, stop dragging it out."
"Orochimaru! The Third Hokage's disciple, teammate of the Senju Princess Tsunade, Orochimaru!"
The people around gasped in unison, exclaiming in awe.
"If only I were the young Senju clan head, could I also become Orochimaru-sensei's student?"
"Look at your ambition. Clearly, Orochimaru-sensei is the one getting the advantage. I heard over a dozen jōnin, including Jiraiya-sensei and Kato Dan-sensei, were competing to be the young clan head's team leader. It's just that the Third Hokage favors Orochimaru, so he was chosen."
"True, with Orochimaru-sensei instructing the young clan head, it's hard to say who benefits more."
Yōkō drank his sake nearby, continuously gathering intelligence.
The izakaya was a good place; every visit involved both giving and receiving.
After waiting until most customers had left, Yōkō approached the proprietress.
"Get me a room on the second floor. I'll be sleeping here for the next few days."
Kyōi covered her small mouth with a delicate hand: "We just... liberated your hands at noon. Do you need liberation again tonight?"
"Don't keep my hands waiting too long."
--
The full moon was like a silver plate, its light resembling white frost.
Life in Konoha Village was very relaxed, just performing some daily guard duties.
Finally, the night of the full moon arrived again.
Tsurugetsu Izakaya.
Outside the window, one moon hung in the night sky. In the palms of his hands, two more moons. Three moons shining in harmony.
...
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(End of Chapter)