The reason the Yamanaka rogue ninja were being hunted by the Anbu wasn't because they leaked the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques, but because they developed a new technique that could lead the entire Yamanaka clan to corruption.
The Mind-Body-Swap-Hearts Technique, the practice of male-female pairs, the ultimate experience.
Which Yamanaka clan ninja could withstand such a temptation?
The reason the Yamanaka clan didn't send their own people to execute the rogue ninja was probably fear of being corrupted by them.
The fact that the rogue ninja found two Yamanaka ninja who had returned from the border showed just how seductive their "I sleep with myself" technique was.
Degenerate.
The Yamanaka clan absolutely could not allow the family to fall into depravity, so they had to turn to the Anbu for help.
Given the Yamanaka clan's contributions as perfect tools, the Anbu agreed to their request without hesitation.
Thus, Team Fox was dispatched.
Purple Cat, Yamanaka Ruri, could supervise the death of the rogue ninja from start to finish. With the Anbu's oversight, there was no fear of Yamanaka Ruri succumbing to corruption.
Only Yōkō's eyes were injured.
His eyes were dirtied.
Only Yōkō's heart ached.
Jealousy caused heart-wrenching pain.
Yōkō decided he would learn all the ninjutsu and secret techniques in the entire shinobi world.
Having crossed over, he would pursue all novel experiences.
After the explosion, steamy mist instantly filled the entire bath.
Four naked bodies panicked.
"Switch back! Switch back quickly!"
"It's too late!"
Their bodies were somewhat weakened just after climax, struggling to control themselves, stumbling to respond empty-handed.
The one charging at the front was a woman with a man's soul inside.
This man's soul was responsible, the first to try and block, but unfortunately, his body was a woman's, and he couldn't utilize much of his combat prowess.
In the water mist, Yōkō made a horizontal slash with his sword.
The woman with the man's soul grabbed a tray, trying to block the ninjato.
However, Yōkō's Cloud-Style Sword Technique abruptly changed from a horizontal slash to an upward flick, slicing open the woman's throat.
His reaction speed had increased twice, making the Cloud-Style Sword Technique, which specialized in mid-fight changes, even more effective.
The man behind her suddenly let out a scream.
The Mind-Body-Swap-Hearts Technique was forcibly terminated.
The man endured the pain of the slit throat; the woman endured the death from it.
The man's soul returned to his own body, painfully calling the woman's name.
They were heretics, a pair of heretics perfectly matched in soul and body.
The death of one made life unbearable for the other.
"Ah!!!"
He raised his hands, forming a square frame with his fingers: "Mind Trans—"
A kunai suddenly shot towards him.
The Yamanaka rogue ninja watched in horror as the kunai accurately flew through the square frame formed by his thumbs and index fingers.
The kunai lodged in his chest, blood gushing out.
Truly Anbu, so powerful.
After dealing with two enemies, Yōkō looked towards the other areas.
Antelope and Black Bull had killed a female Yamanaka rogue ninja.
Not far away lay a male Yamanaka ninja, with terrible explosive tag wounds on his body.
With that, all four Yamanaka rogue ninja were down.
Yōkō looked at Purple Cat, about to ask how to handle the bodies.
At that moment, Black Bull nearby suddenly raised his kunai and stabbed towards Yōkō's side.
"Black Bull! What are you doing!"
Antelope shouted in panic, but it was too late to stop him.
Yōkō was holding his ninjato reversed. Instinctively, he thrust backwards.
Before Black Bull's kunai could hit his side, Yōkō's ninjato had already pierced Black Bull's throat.
"No!"
Purple Cat rushed towards the Yamanaka rogue ninja who had been downed by the explosive tag.
That Yamanaka rogue ninja wasn't dead yet! His lower body was blown away, but he stubbornly used one last Mind Body Switch Technique.
Purple Cat's kunai pierced the Yamanaka rogue ninja's head.
Yōkō pulled out his ninjato, glancing regretfully at Black Bull.
What a pity, how could Black Bull just die like that?
He went to Purple Cat's side, staring at the kunai in the corpse's head, and said:
"Purple Cat, you were too irrational.
First, after Black Bull died, you were too impulsive.
As the squad's functional support ninja, you shouldn't have charged ahead so quickly.
Second, the rogue ninja's brain might contain important intelligence. You shouldn't have attacked his head with a kunai; it likely damaged his brain tissue."
"Sorry, Captain. I lacked experience. I just wanted to make sure he was completely dead."
Angry pounding suddenly sounded from outside the bath.
The explosive tag had blown off the roof, and the bathhouse owner had brought samurai to question them.
Yōkō didn't want to deal with the bathhouse owner.
When ninja executed missions, property damage was inevitable. The Anbu had no precedent for compensation.
"Carry all the bodies, retreat!"
Including Black Bull, there were now five corpses.
Yōkō grabbed a bath towel, wrapped up two bodies, Antelope carried two, Purple Cat carried one, and the three quickly retreated.
After putting distance between themselves and the town, Yōkō had the squad rest.
Purple Cat, feeling uneasy, came before Captain Fox.
"Sorry, Captain, because of our Yamanaka clan—"
"Purple Cat! I don't want to lecture you constantly, but you've made another mistake." Yōkō said:
"You must always be mindful of protecting your secrets.
The Anbu rarely uses ninjutsu during missions, mostly relying on taijutsu and explosive tags to resolve fights, precisely to protect their intelligence.
Anbu members who expose their intelligence easily become primary targets for enemy village spies.
Some ordinary-looking uncle you see shopping in the village might be an Anbu squadron leader at night.
Unless required by the mission, don't talk about anything related to yourself.
The mission comes first.
Also, don't carry guilt or blame for a teammate's death. These emotions are meaningless for the Anbu.
Black Bull died, gloriously, in the line of duty.
He was controlled by a rogue ninja; I killed him without any emotional fluctuation.
If I hadn't killed him, I would be dead."
Yōkō was initially slightly annoyed by Purple Cat's abundant emotions, but then he reconsidered; doing ideological work for subordinates was also part of a captain's duties.
Ensuring subordinates maintained firm fighting spirit could increase mission success rates and improve his own chances of survival.
Yōkō continued patiently guiding her:
"This Purple Cat mask of yours used to belong to a former teammate of mine.
He died right in front of me; he was an Anbu ninja who worked seamlessly with me.
I will die. You will die too.
After I die, this Fox mask will be given to a new Anbu ninja.
Completing the Anbu mission before death is the only requirement for an Anbu ninja."
One major reason for the high Anbu death toll was Danzo's command style.
When the Anbu was deployed, Danzo would have them probe for intelligence. He himself would either move in last to finish things off or simply turn and leave.
Just like in the original story when Danzo took people to the Land of Rain to kill Yahiko, he sacrificed nearly half of the Anbu elite in one go.
Or like before his death, when he encountered Obito and Sasuke, he sent his most capable Root subordinates to test Obito while he leisurely observed the intelligence, unwrapping his arm guards.
Purple Cat quickly said, "I understand, Captain. I will change my mindset, become a true Anbu ninja."
Black Bull's death was also a significant shock to Antelope.
In the squad, only someone like Yōkō, who had experienced the brutal battles in the Land of Whirlpools, understood that death was the norm for Anbu ninja.
Returning to the Anbu's Forest of Death base in the early morning, Yōkō found the Black Gorilla Squadron Leader to report the mission completion.
Black Gorilla glanced at the mission report and said:
"Killed two extra rogue ninja. The Yamanaka clan will be even more satisfied now.
Oh, Black Bull died. I'll apply for another one from Root tomorrow."
Black Gorilla's tone was as if he were talking about picking up a new kunai. He added:
"Your subordinates have been with you for over two months now. These two have pretty good luck, surviving this long.
Lately, most of our squadron's missions have been inside the village.
Missions outside the village are what truly test an Anbu ninja's mettle. Make sure Purple Cat and Antelope train hard, no slacking."
Yōkō said:
"Understood, I'll encourage them to train. Squadron Leader, I request to monitor the Uzumaki Princess tomorrow. Not seeing her for two days, I feel somewhat unaccustomed."
"There's such a request? Then you'll have no days off. I'll grant it; go monitor the Uzumaki Princess tomorrow."
...
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(End of Chapter)