Copper Fox was known to be proficient in Earth Release, Water Release, and Sealing Techniques, and had occasionally used Wind Release. This was common knowledge among Konoha's higher-ups.
When assassinating the Tokubetsu Jōnin of the Five Noble Clans, using Earth and Water Release would highly likely draw suspicion.
His advantage lay in the increasingly comprehensive abilities obtained through the system.
He could create a new identity.
This new identity would completely avoid using Earth Release, Water Release, and Sealing Techniques, focusing primarily on other abilities.
Once he supplemented his Lightning Release, he would focus on Fire Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, and Taijutsu. This way, no one would be able to suspect him.
He could even occasionally mix in some ocular techniques and genjutsu to mislead and add pressure to the Five Noble Clans.
You've taken all the benefits, leaving others with nothing. How can that be allowed?
Time passed day by day, with Yōkō continuously gathering intelligence on the Five Noble Clans.
One day, Yōkō went to the dense forest above the Hokage Monument, activated his Byakugan, set up an Earth Vibration Barrier, confirmed no one was around, and summoned Hakuji and Hakuyū.
He found Uzumaki Yuka and explained his plan.
"Yuka, I've obtained intelligence. A Tokubetsu Jōnin from the Shimura clan is currently on a mission in the Land of Grass."
"Next month, he will return to Konoha to participate in the Jōnin assessment."
"Yuka, select elite members of the Uzumaki clan and go to the Land of Grass to find him."
"Once you find him, do not act. Use Reverse Summoning on me late at night. Let me handle it to avoid exposing you."
Uzumaki Yuka said urgently, "How can we stand by when taking revenge on Shimura Danzo? Fox, just provide the intelligence; we'll take action!"
Yōkō shook his head: "No, listen to me. You are too vulnerable."
"If exposed, the Uzumaki clansmen we've worked so hard to hide will face annihilation."
"I'm different. I have ways to conceal my identity."
"I am most familiar with Konoha ninja, as you know. When one of us acts against our own, we have the intelligence advantage."
"You just need to help me find him and use Reverse Summoning on me at midnight. I'll handle the rest."
After returning to the village, Yōkō began rigorous training.
Since transmigrating, he had always waited for system rewards, unwilling to train hard.
But this matter was too important, so he trained with extreme seriousness this time.
During the day, while hiding in tree canopies for surveillance missions, he simultaneously trained his arm and grip strength.
At night, after surveillance missions ended, he practiced taijutsu in Konoha's remote training grounds.
With the Byakugan's help, he could precisely control the flow of chakra within his body, making his taijutsu training more efficient.
He also secretly expanded the izakaya's wine cellar, converting it into a hidden underground training ground.
Each time, he waited until no one was monitoring the izakaya, secretly moved the earth far away using Earth Release, and reinforced the cellar walls with Earth Release.
After the underground training ground was completed, he planned to ask Yuka for a few barrier techniques to prevent others from discovering his underground training ground.
The second identity, his alternate persona, was tentatively set to focus on Fire Release and Taijutsu.
Fire nature was his fourth chakra nature. Training Fire Release to a level usable in combat was like a right-handed person learning to write with their left hand.
For Hatake Sakumo's sake, for the Uzumaki clan's sake, Yōkō was worrying himself sick.
The Tsurugetsu Izakaya's wine cellar grew larger and larger.
For an izakaya, having a large underground wine cellar wasn't excessive, right?
The cellar's back wall had a hidden door. Behind it was Yōkō's private underground training ground.
The underground training ground was about 60 square meters.
Not huge, but sufficient for taijutsu and ninjutsu training.
Late one night, Yōkō felt the prompt of the contract chakra.
With the Byakugan, using Reverse Summoning to leave Konoha was more convenient and he didn't fear exposure.
When he arrived beside Yuka, Yōkō noticed the surroundings weren't rainy.
He was in the Land of Grass.
Beside Uzumaki Yuka were two Uzumaki ninja.
"Fox, do you remember them? They are Uzumaki Genchō and Uzumaki Kaichō, the former Daimyō Guardian Ninja you rescued from the Root laboratory in the Land of Whirlpools."
Uzumaki Genchō and Uzumaki Kaichō had long wanted to meet the Konoha spy who saved them.
Operating undercover in Konoha was extremely dangerous, and he rarely appeared. Seeing the Konoha ANBU member wearing the fox mask, they felt excited.
"Thank you for saving us, brothers. That bloody laboratory was torture to stay in for even a single day."
Yōkō said: "It was my duty. After all, we share the same bloodline."
Yōkō thought to himself, My bloodline is a later acquisition, not the original. I still feel a bit guilty compared to the genuine article.
Uzumaki Kaichō and the others had heard from Yuka about Fox's deeds, how he provided various forms of high-wire assistance after the Uzumaki clan's destruction, and now trusted him completely.
Yōkō said: "Be extremely cautious. Don't be rash because of revenge. Our enemy is the Konoha leadership. We must be careful, and then more careful. The path of revenge is long; we cannot rush."
Uzumaki Yuka and the others nodded repeatedly.
"Yuka, I came this time firstly to check your progress and remind you not to be rash."
"Secondly, I wanted to ask if the Uzumaki clan has any barriers that block others' prying and sensory perception."
"I've set up a small underground base within Konoha and don't want others to discover it."
Uzumaki Yuka first reported the intelligence they had gathered: the Shimura clan Tokubetsu Jōnin was currently within the Kusagakure Capital. They would notify Fox immediately once he left the capital.
Then, Yuka formed hand seals and summoned the Sealing Book.
This was an inheritance scroll based on the accumulated knowledge of the Uzumaki clan elders, supplemented by the techniques of other Uzumaki ninja.
After searching through the index, Uzumaki Yuka said:
"For an underground base, there's a sealing barrier here called the Vine-Earth Concealment Barrier. It was a technique jointly developed by the Uzumaki elders and the Senju clan back then."
"It uses vines to disguise the underground space as natural plant root systems, blocking reconnaissance and perception."
After learning this sealing barrier, Yōkō used Reverse Summoning to leave.
He returned to the izakaya's underground training room and spent two days setting up vines around the cellar walls, inscribing curse marks on them, and completing the Vine-Earth Concealment Barrier.
From now on, he would practice ninjutsu and taijutsu in this underground training room.
Over ten days later, around 4 AM, Yōkō suddenly opened his eyes.
He felt the contract chakra of the Stone Panda clan.
Rolling out of bed away from Kyōi, Yōkō quickly used Earth Release to burrow into the underground training room.
After summoning Hakuji and Hakuyū, Hakuji said, "Lady Yuka says she has found the target!"
Yōkō nodded, had Hakuyū return to Yuka's side first, then used Reverse Summoning.
Yōkō appeared outside the Kusagakure Capital.
Seeing Yuka and the other two lying prone in the tall pasture grass, Yōkō also lay down.
He saw hundreds of tents in the distance, forming a large encampment.
Uzumaki Yuka said excitedly, "Fox, I've obtained intelligence. The Shimura clan Tokubetsu Jōnin will return to Konoha early this morning."
"The Guardian Ninja Jōnin for the Daimyō of Grass is from the Shimura clan."
"The target, as a promising young member of the Shimura clan, is here helping his clan's Guardian Ninja Jōnin control the Kusagakure Capital."
"As you said, he is about to undergo the Jōnin assessment, so he will leave the capital early tomorrow morning."
***
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(Chapter End)