Yōkō had once fantasized that after his return to the village, the Third Hokage, to boost Konoha's morale and strengthen its spiritual foundation, would have him create the Advent of a World of Flowering Trees before everyone.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's magnanimity was disappointing.
After entering the Hokage's office, the expressions on everyone's faces were quite interesting.
Orochimaru, standing beside the Third Hokage, had eyes filled with pride for his experimental subject.
Look at my perfect specimen, his gaze seemed to say, using Wood Release in actual combat, able to exchange blows with Uchiha Madara himself.
He looked at Danzo, whose face was livid. Well, Danzo? Are you tempted? Don't you want to come and beg me?
Danzo's face was livid, in the literal, physical sense.
He had schemed for Wood Release for so long, had drawn Orochimaru to his side for it, had invested so many resources in Orochimaru.
And the result? Orochimaru's final experimental subject, Fox, whose strength had reached Elite Jōnin level, had actually successfully acquired Wood Release.
Even if Danzo were to master Wood Release now, its significance to Konoha would be different. He wouldn't be the first, nor the only one.
The reason Danzo so desperately wanted Wood Release was because it was the symbol of Konoha's former prosperity and could bring him power and prestige.
As Danzo looked at Fox, he felt the same nausea as if a wild dog had gnawed on the ribs he'd spent hours stewing.
It was sickening.
Yōkō looked at Danzo. What was that look in his eyes? It didn't quite seem like jealousy. It was a bit strange.
Hinotama Sarutobi's face was full of self-reproach and pain.
He had led the team to the Land of Grass to investigate the rogue ninja Kanenosuke Sarutobi, resulting in the tragic deaths of Deputy Anbu Commander Lynx and Squad Leader Wildcat.
The sacrifices were enormous, yet they had failed to uncover any useful intelligence, simply getting soundly beaten by Kanenosuke Sarutobi.
Hinotama, bearing the title of the second strongest in the Sarutobi clan, had performed poorly in the mission.
As for Hinoyuu Sarutobi, he was still in the Konoha prison. Having failed his mission, an early release was even more impossible.
In comparison, the rogue ninja investigation mission in the Land of Rain had been fought remarkably well.
Apart from the deaths of some Uchiha clansmen, there were no major losses.
Especially Fox, who had used Wood Release to contend with Uchiha Madara and ultimately succeeded in retreating with most of the effective forces.
Yellow Dog, standing on the other side of the Third Hokage, looked at Fox with a complicated expression.
During the last recommendation for Deputy Anbu Commander, he had failed to withstand Danzo's pressure, allowing Lynx to become the Deputy Commander.
And now, Fox had encountered a strange opportunity at Orochimaru's place and actually obtained the rare Kekkei Genkai, Wood Release.
Fox had told him beforehand that he was going to Orochimaru to retrieve the experiment progress report and got injected a few times by Orochimaru. Yellow Dog hadn't thought much of it at the time.
Turns out, what Orochimaru injected was First Hokage Hashirama's cells.
Yellow Dog didn't know if there was any trickery involved—whether Orochimaru had recklessly targeted an Anbu squad leader in his madness, or if Fox and Orochimaru had struck some kind of deal.
He had no way of knowing.
Fox claimed Orochimaru had forced the injections on him. Yellow Dog thought it over; if he wanted to continue using Fox, he would have to pretend that Fox had been coerced by Orochimaru.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, detecting no abnormality, looked at Fox with a kindly expression and said:
"Fox, Clan Leader Kane, you have returned. First, let the reconnaissance squad leader, Hyūga Koe, report the mission details."
Hyūga Koe quickly stepped forward and presented the mission report he had written during breaks on the journey back.
Hyūga Koe said: "Our initial search process was not smooth. It was Squad Leader Fox who suggested we could use the Uzumaki remnant, Uzumaki Nagato, to locate the target, Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara's strength is extreme.
During the battle, the Anbu were responsible for the flank, capturing the Uzumaki remnants. The Uchiha were responsible for the main front, confronting Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara used Wood Release on a massive scale, and soon the Uchiha began to suffer casualties.
Uchiha Michi, and three Special Jōnin, unfortunately fell in battle.
Subsequently, Squad Leader Fox urgently reinforced the main front and used Wood Release similar to Uchiha Madara's.
No, one cannot say it was similar to Uchiha Madara's, but rather, similar to the First Hokage-sama's Wood Release.
Squad Leader Fox's Wood Release was a maple tree Wood Release, adorned with red maple leaves, a crimson expanse.
The red was like fire, the green was like ink—their Wood Release was equally matched!"
Yōkō thought, No wonder you're so trusted by the higher-ups, Hyūga Koe, sent to supervise me while I supervised the Uchiha. These few sentences were quite skillfully spoken.
'Red like fire, green like ink'—a rather accurate summary.
Everyone could imagine the intense scene of the ink-green Wood Release clashing with the crimson Wood Release.
Hyūga Koe continued: "Squad Leader Fox was not at a significant disadvantage against Uchiha Madara and managed to rescue the poisoned and unconscious Uchiha shinobi.
The specific mission details are in the mission report.
Oh, and Uchiha Madara addressed Squad Leader Fox as... the Crimson Maple Fox!"
"Crimson Maple?" Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly, thinking that Fox had gained another signature jutsu and earned a new epithet.
'Konoha's Copper Fox' and 'Konoha's Crimson Maple'—these two titles would now point to the same person.
Just like Hiruzen Sarutobi himself, who had earned the title 'The Professor' on the battlefield, and later, because of his mastery of all five nature transformations, received the title 'The Shinobi Professor.'
The reports from Hyūga Koe, the Anbu, and the Uchiha were successively placed before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He would use these three reports to judge the true situation of the frontline battle.
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked: "Fox, what is your assessment of Uchiha Madara's current strength?"
Yōkō thought, If I don't boast about Uchiha Madara now, how can I prove how strong I am?
He said: "Uchiha Madara's chakra reserves are absurdly large, completely unlike a man in his seventies.
Uchiha Madara used Wood Release, genjutsu, and Susano'o.
I could not get close, so I was unable to test his taijutsu proficiency.
However, during the battle, I observed a moment of weakness in Uchiha Madara."
At these words, even Danzo looked directly at Fox.
Yōkō said: "After Uchiha Madara used Wood Release and genjutsu, his chest began to heave, and he was somewhat short of breath, proving he is not invincible.
The moment he started panting, I immediately used Wood Release and pushed back against Madara's Wood Release.
It took five seconds for Uchiha Madara's Wood Release to regain its intensity and suppress me in turn.
If we pursue Uchiha Madara again, I suggest treating it as a local war. Deploy no less than 500 shinobi. It might be possible to overwhelm Uchiha Madara with numbers."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression became exceptionally grave.
He trusted Fox's judgment. Fox was experienced and had faced Uchiha Madara head-on several times.
The fact that Uchiha Madara showed signs of exhaustion proved he might be formidable on the outside but brittle within.
He glanced down at Hyūga Koe's scroll; Hyūga Koe hadn't noticed any of this.
He then looked at Uchiha Kane's scroll; the Uchiha clan didn't know either.
It truly took a powerful Anbu like Fox to extract such crucial intelligence.
The Anbu could not afford to lose Fox.
The idea of completely killing Uchiha Madara... was incredibly tempting.
However, sending 500 shinobi into the Land of Rain would be seen by Amegakure as a declaration of war by Konoha.
Uchiha Madara was troublesome, and Hanzo was also troublesome.
If Uchiha Madara and Hanzo were to join forces, that would be even more troublesome.
If those two joined forces, 500 Konoha shinobi would not be enough.
After listening to Fox's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Uchiha Kane:
"Clan Leader Kane, the sacrifice of Uchiha Michi and the three Special Jōnin pains me deeply. I never imagined Uchiha Madara's hatred for our Konoha was so great that he would show no regard for his former clansmen when you confronted him."
Uchiha Kane said nothing, not knowing what to say.
Uchiha Madara detested Konoha, calling it a dung heap where all dreams came to die. He held no affection left for the Uchiha clan.
Uchiha Kane very much wanted to say that anyone could go investigate Uchiha Madara, except the Uchiha clan.
Whether Uchiha Madara cared for the Uchiha clan or hated them, the Uchiha clan would end up suffering.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: "Clan Leader Kane, Hyūga Koe, you may go and rest now. You too, Hinotama, return to the clan compound."
Only the high-ranking officials and the Anbu remained in the Hokage's office.
Yellow Dog was the first to speak: "Hokage-sama, the former Deputy Commander Lynx has unfortunately fallen in battle. I recommend Fox for the position of Deputy Anbu Commander!"
Yellow Dog steeled his heart. He could no longer hesitate. Now was the best opportunity. He had to repair the rift between himself and Fox.
He decided not to pursue the matter between Fox and Orochimaru.
Fox was too important to him.
Whether it was Uchiha Madara or Kanenosuke Sarutobi, neither were enemies Yellow Dog could handle.
Did he want to face Kanenosuke Sarutobi head-on like Lynx did?
His attitude towards Sarutobi Yutaka back then hadn't been particularly good; how well would a mere lackey treat him?
Rather than hesitating, dawdling, and being two-faced, it was better to show full sincerity now!
Yōkō instantly looked up, his gaze snapping to Yellow Dog.
Did Yellow Dog possess such breadth of mind? Or was he just profoundly scheming?
Yōkō recalled a line: This man must not be allowed to live!
A Yellow Dog like this was somewhat frightening.
Before I assassinate Yellow Dog, Yōkō thought, I cannot reveal my intent.
Is it time to perform the deep bond between a generous commander and his loyal subordinate again?
Yōkō's throat moved as he swallowed, to show his current excitement, and looked at Yellow Dog.
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself that Yellow Dog was being a bit hasty. He looked toward Danzo.
Mitokado Homura, after a moment's thought, spoke before Danzo could:
"The enemies the Anbu must face now are extremely troublesome. Whether it's Kanenosuke Sarutobi, Uchiha Madara, or other foes, we need a powerful Deputy Commander to lead teams on missions outside the village.
I believe Fox is an excellent candidate. What do you all think?"
Danzo frowned as he looked at Mitokado Homura.
Mitokado Homura's son, Mitokado Koe, was the Captain of the Guardian Ninja in the Land of Rivers.
With the Guardian Ninja of the Land of Grass dying one after another, Homura was likely getting anxious.
Danzo had many clansmen; Mitokado Homura only had one son.
If the rogue ninjas set their sights on the Land of Rivers, Homura's son would not escape their assassination.
Therefore, Homura was eager to push Fox into the position, probably hoping the Anbu would help deal with the complex situation.
It wasn't just Mitokado Homura who wanted Fox as Deputy Anbu Commander; Nara Rokaku was also tempted.
Nara Rokaku nodded frequently, expressing his agreement.
The position of Guardian Ninja Captain in the Land of Whirlpools was monopolized by the Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
They also feared the rogue ninjas going on a rampage and heading to the Land of Whirlpools for a massacre.
Konoha urgently needed a powerful Deputy Anbu Commander to deal with enemies in the shadows.
After hearing Mitokado Homura's stance, Danzo remained silent, instead looking at Orochimaru.
Everyone was puzzled, not understanding why Danzo seemed to be waiting for Orochimaru's opinion.
It wasn't as if Orochimaru could become the Deputy Anbu Commander.
***
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(End of Chapter)