The Suna-nin Frontline Camp.
Rasa entered the command tent and met the Commander-in-Chief, Ebizō.
Ebizō's expression was pained: "The losses were severe after the raid on Saba Port, correct?"
Rasa nodded and said:
"Approximately seven battalions of Konoha shinobi, under the command of Commander-in-Chief Nara Rokaku, raided Saba Port using flight tools.
I rushed there and clashed with the leaders of Konoha's Ino–Shika–Chō trio, only managing to cripple one of the Akimichi Clan Head's arms.
At the critical moment of pursuit, a single Konoha Anbu ninja blocked the chase."
"A single Anbu ninja?" Ebizō said, "Did Konoha send an Anbu Battalion Commander?"
Rasa shook his head and said:
"It wasn't Battalion Commander Yellow Dog. He wore a fox mask and mastered a powerful defensive ninjutsu.
His skin turns a red-copper color. Kunai and ninja swords cannot penetrate it, and Wind Release is ineffective.
It's fundamentally different from ninjutsu like Earth Release: Earth Spear. His ability is instantaneous, requires no hand seals, making it difficult to find an opening.
I tried to capture him using Magnet Release: Gold Dust, but he also possesses formidable Water Release ninjutsu.
The sea surface was disadvantageous for me; I couldn't pursue deeply.
Ordinary Suna-nin facing him would absolutely find no suitable countermeasure.
I believe headquarters should issue a specific order regarding him to prevent unnecessary casualties among our Suna-nin.
I call that Anbu, who wears a fox mask, possesses immunity to physical attacks, and whose skin turns coppery... 'Copper Fox'."
"Copper Fox..." Ebizō turned to a staff ninja beside him and said:
"Act according to Rasa Jonin's suggestion. Remind all Suna-nin that if they encounter Konoha Anbu's Copper Fox, they should not attack futilely; tools and Wind Release have no effect on him."
"Yes, Commander-in-Chief."
While Yōkō and Kurumi were hiding in the seaside cliff cave, a piece of news related to Yōkō rapidly spread on both sides of the Land of Rivers border.
Konoha Anbu Copper Fox possesses the ability to immunity physical attacks. Suna-nin encountering Copper Fox should not make futile attacks; focus on binding and capturing.
This news soon reached the Konoha frontline camp as well.
Inside the command tent.
Nara Rokaku summoned Battalion Commander Yellow Dog and handed him a scroll.
Yellow Dog looked at the scroll; he had already known about the intelligence inside for a while.
Yellow Dog said: "Anbu Squadron Leader Fox secretly joined the raid battalion due to a special mission. That was the task I assigned him.
My apologies, Commander-in-Chief, I cannot disclose the mission details."
Nara Rokaku nodded and said:
"I understand. The Anbu has its own duties.
After encountering the Kazekage's disciple, Rasa, I originally assigned one battalion for rearguard duty. I didn't expect that battalion's rearguard action to be extremely successful.
It was all due to Copper Fox's participation. Because of this, Sunagakure specifically publicized Copper Fox as a special enemy to all their ninja.
Tell me, what is Copper Fox's actual strength, so I can make accurate judgments."
Battalion Commander Yellow Dog said:
"This is the first time I've heard of Fox having an absolute defense-type secret technique.
The village's Scroll of Seals doesn't contain such a technique either. Judging from the description in the intelligence, it's even stronger than Iwagakure's Earth Release: Earth Spear.
Fox has strong ninjutsu talent, possessing powerful Earth and Water Release. Perhaps this is a secret technique Copper Fox developed himself."
For shinobi, reaching a certain level of strength and developing one's own secret technique is quite common.
Yellow Dog added:
"The raid mission ended several days ago. Judging from Suna's reaction, Fox should have escaped.
I haven't received any intelligence from Fox, I wonder if he encountered any problems on his escape route."
Hatake Sakumo, standing nearby, thought to himself that Fox was alive and well, and had even sent back intelligence via Pakkun.
He glanced at Nara Rokaku, then at the other Nara clansmen in the command tent.
There were some scum within the Nara clan who actually used their shadow secret technique to turn teammates into Shadow Puppets during battle.
This was absolutely intolerable to Hatake Sakumo.
He had already arranged a secret investigation targeting the Nara clan; he must root out those scum and execute them.
In one corner of the tent, Akimichi Yamashiro looked at his empty left arm, feeling some regret. If he also mastered an absolute defense secret technique, would he have not lost his arm?
His father, Akimichi Torifu, was originally a high-ranking advisor on the same level as Danzo and others, but his father was severely injured on the battlefield early on and had to retire.
As the hammer and shield, the strongest among the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, the Akimichi clan's casualty and disability rate was too high.
If they didn't charge fiercely, the Nara and Yamanaka wouldn't have the chance to use their secret techniques.
Nara Rokaku finally gave his assessment:
"We should also help promote the name 'Copper Fox' to boost the morale of the frontline Konoha shinobi.
This Anbu ninja did not hesitate to step forward in the rearguard mission; he deserves praise."
In the seaside cliff cave, Yōkō was waiting for the Suna-nin to withdraw.
After Saba Port was struck, several Suna-nin battalions were redeploying outposts and defensive traps in the surrounding area.
Yōkō went out to scout from time to time, recording all this intelligence. Another merit to claim upon return.
Yōkō also bartered some large fish he caught from a nearby village for a set of clothes, and also got some needle and thread, letting Kurumi mend the glider damaged by kunai.
While Kurumi was mending the glider, Yōkō chatted with her: "Kurumi, how many years has it been since you graduated from the Ninja Academy?"
Kurumi said: "I'm 15 this year. It's been 4 years since I graduated from the Ninja Academy."
"15 years old?"
Seeing Fox scrutinize her height, Kurumi said: "I grew up in an orphanage in Konoha. The director said there was a time when the orphanage was very poor, and everyone didn't have enough to eat, so I was malnourished and grew short, only 1.5 meters."
Yōkō asked: "Didn't the orphanage receive subsidies from the village?"
"No, the orphanage was started and maintained with difficulty solely by the director out of her kindness. I now send half of my mission earnings back to the orphanage, hoping the children there can eat better now."
Yōkō found Kurumi both pitiable and strong.
"Let me teach you some ninjutsu. Your strength is a bit weak. If you don't get stronger, how will you earn mission rewards? It wouldn't be good if everyone from your orphanage ended up malnourished."
Kurumi's chakra affinity happened to be Earth. Yōkō taught her Earth Release: Fish in Earth Reflection Technique and Earth Release: Earth-Style Rising Spears.
These two jutsu, one for escape and one for attack, were enough for Kurumi to handle Chūnin-level missions.
Kurumi had good ninjutsu talent and quickly learned these two techniques.
These two techniques were among Yōkō's core jutsu, and he had many insights into them. Having learned his techniques, Kurumi's Earth Release prowess would also become stronger in the future.
After gathering enough intelligence on the new defenses set up around Saba Port, Yōkō prepared to return to the main camp.
Choosing a night, Kurumi controlled the glider, with Yōkō in front of her, secured by a rope.
The two soared into the air, flying towards the border of the Land of Rivers.
After arriving near the camp, Kurumi landed the glider early.
The moment he landed, an Anbu ninja appeared.
"Squadron Leader Copper Fox! Battalion Commander Yellow Dog requests that you see him immediately upon your return."
Copper Fox?
Why were they calling him Copper Fox?
***
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(Chapter End)