Orochimaru also looked at Danzo and gave him a slight nod.
Their willingness to cooperate had reached its peak.
Hashirama Cell Implantation Technique, in exchange for the Scroll of Seals!
Danzo ignored Yellow Dog's proposal, as if he didn't care about the position of Deputy Anbu Commander, and asked Fox: "Fox, describe the performance of your Wood Release ninjutsu in detail."
Orochimaru thought, Go on, inspect the goods. After you're satisfied, I can take what I'm owed.
Yōkō glanced at Orochimaru and then said:
"Let me first describe Uchiha Madara's Wood Release.
Uchiha Madara's chakra reserves are immense. He instantly trapped all of us within the Advent of a World of Flowering Trees.
Inside the Advent, it was Uchiha Madara's domain. Behind us, under our feet, above our heads—everywhere, growing tree trunks could crush us at any moment.
Only Wood Release can counter Wood Release.
Before I left the village, I went to Lord Orochimaru's laboratory to collect the experiment progress report, and Lord Orochimaru gave me several injections.
I was fortunate enough to acquire Wood Release.
Facing Uchiha Madara's Wood Release, I spread my chakra across the ground.
Trees grew wildly from the earth, pushing back against Madara's Wood Release and saving all of us.
Subsequently, I used the Wood Release: Wood Spikes technique against Uchiha Madara. He seemed very afraid of the wooden spears from this technique and used Susano'o to block it."
Yōkō summarized: "I believe I can hold out against Uchiha Madara for at least three minutes."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded repeatedly.
Holding out for three minutes against Uchiha Madara would be enough to protect one's own personnel during a retreat or buy time for comrades to unleash their trump cards.
Danzo also nodded, a rare occurrence.
He was very satisfied with the practical combat effectiveness of Wood Release.
What Danzo lacked was a means to deal with large-scale enemies: Tailed Beasts, giant summons, Susano'o—these were all his weaknesses.
The upper limit of Wind Release was too low.
If Fox could become this strong after acquiring Wood Release, wouldn't he be even stronger if he acquired it?
Yellow Dog, unwilling to let it go, pressed again: "I recommend Fox for Deputy Anbu Commander. Do any of the high-ranking officials have objections?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, seeing that Danzo remained silent, quickly said:
"The enemies facing the Anbu are becoming increasingly fearsome. We need a master to leave the village and handle these troubles. I approve of Fox as Deputy Anbu Commander."
Danzo thought for a moment. He had no one else to recommend.
The Shimura clan only had one remaining Elite Jōnin: Shimura Kōko.
Forcibly recommending Shimura Kōko was pointless, as she was no match for the two major rogue ninjas, Uchiha Madara and Kanenosuke Sarutobi.
As for Root, its talents were even more depleted.
Uchiha Mizukiku had just been recruited into Root and wasn't entirely trustworthy yet; one always had to be wary when dealing with the Uchiha clan.
Yōkō looked at Yellow Dog with gratitude. It seemed possible?
This was what was called 'value in united front work'. Power within Konoha could solve most people, but it couldn't solve truly powerful individuals.
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked another question: "What should our next steps be in dealing with Uchiha Madara and Kanenosuke Sarutobi?"
The topic was exceptionally heavy.
The Land of Grass was simpler; sending a large force of 500 shinobi there wouldn't provoke much complaint from the Daimyō.
The Land of Rain was troublesome. They couldn't very well ask Hanzo, "Please stand aside and let us move in and out freely."
Hanzo, who styled himself the Demigod of the Shinobi World, was extremely proud and would never agree.
Danzo spoke up: "Sending a large force into the Land of Rain is unrealistic. Let the Anbu handle Uchiha Madara entirely, with a deadline to eliminate him."
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yellow Dog exchanged a glance. Danzo was no longer fixated on the Deputy Commander position but was instead pressuring the Anbu.
It seemed Danzo had conceded, forced to让步.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: "Uchiha Madara must be eliminated, but we should plan carefully to avoid heavy casualties.
The pursuit and elimination of Uchiha Madara will be entrusted to the Anbu.
Fox is promoted to Deputy Anbu Commander, primarily responsible for the pursuit of rogue ninjas!"
Yōkō was inwardly thrilled.
He was finally a member of Konoha's core power structure!
'Lord Fox'... it sounded good.
After leaving the Hokage's office, Yōkō quickly caught up to Yellow Dog.
"Thank you for recommending me, Lord Yellow Dog! Without your guidance and support all along, and without your crucial push at this pivotal moment, I don't know when I would have been able to take this step!"
Battlefield Commanders and Deputy Commanders, Department Heads and Deputy Heads—these were all high-ranking officials in Konoha, addressed as 'Lord' by other shinobi.
Among them, Battlefield Commanders and Deputy Commanders were not permanent positions, while the Department Heads and Deputy Heads formed the usual core of power in Konoha.
Yellow Dog said with satisfaction: "Last time, I strongly advocated for you to become Deputy Commander. Unfortunately, Lord Danzo insisted on Lynx taking the position.
This time, Lord Danzo can't easily say much against it."
Yōkō said: "Lord Yellow Dog, if there are any dangerous missions outside the village, please be sure to assign them to me. Even though I am Deputy Commander now, I am still the most proactive squad leader under your command!"
Yōkō's flattery made Yellow Dog immensely pleased.
What Yellow Dog wanted was someone to handle the Anbu's dangerous missions.
He himself lacked the confidence to deal with enemies on the level of Uchiha Madara or Kanenosuke Sarutobi.
Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw someone rushing towards them from a distance.
Tsunade, wearing her signature deep-V green dress, skidded to a halt in front of the Hokage Building, cracking the ground under her feet.
She looked at Fox, who was behind Yellow Dog, and said, "Orochimaru says you've mastered Wood Release?"
It was no wonder Tsunade was agitated. Wood Release was the signature secret technique of the Senju clan, the culmination of the Senju bloodline.
Among so many Senju shinobi throughout history, very few had mastered Wood Release.
Whether against Tailed Beasts or large summons, Wood Release's adaptability and flexibility were arguably the strongest in the shinobi world.
Knowing that the Anbu now had a Wood Release user, someone of Tsunade's temperament couldn't possibly not have a reaction.
If Tsunade hadn't come to find Yōkō, the village leadership would have suspected something was going on between them.
Yōkō looked at Yellow Dog, not answering on his own.
The boss is here; I should follow the boss's lead now.
Yellow Dog, thinking it inappropriate for Tsunade to cause a scene here, said, "Fox, give a small demonstration of your Wood Release."
"Yes, Lord Yellow Dog!"
After forming hand seals, a tree grew to the side.
A tree adorned with red maple leaves, two stories high—not taller than the Hokage Office's third floor.
Details. Just enough for the Third Hokage to catch a glimpse from the corner of his eye, but not so flashy as to be ostentatious.
Sure enough, the Third Hokage came to the window and saw Yellow Dog and Fox being stopped by Tsunade below.
Tsunade looked at the maple tree giving birth by chakra, her eyes dazed.
She had once believed her younger brother Nawaki would definitely master Wood Release.
Nawaki's Earth and Water Release were equally strong; he possessed dual chakra natures by birth.
She never expected to see Wood Release here, like this.
Tsunade's eyes shifted, a cold laugh in her heart. Did the higher-ups really think it was Orochimaru's experiment that allowed Fox to master Wood Release?
Fox's physique was extremely unique. Only those who had his sealing jutsu etched onto them could sense the powerful sealing properties within his chakra.
In all likelihood, Fox was a Senju clansman with dense Uzumaki bloodline, one of the hidden pieces left by her father, Senju Rinoki, before his death.
Not only was Tsunade somewhat agitated, but other shinobi passing by also felt uplifting upon seeing Wood Release.
The eternal Genin, Maruboshi Kōsuke, happened to be turning in a D-rank mission.
He looked up at the First Hokage's face on the Hokage Rock, then turned to look at the maple tree created by Wood Release. For a moment, it seemed as if Konoha had hope of returning to the era when a single village could dominate the shinobi world.
Tsunade said to Fox: "Use Wood Release well. Do not disgrace its renowned power."
With that, Tsunade turned and left.
Yellow Dog thought to himself, Is Tsunade trying to win over Fox using Wood Release as a connection?
She doesn't actually think that just because Fox mastered Wood Release, he has some connection to the Senju clan, does she?
Back at the Anbu headquarters, Yellow Dog notified everyone that the Third Hokage would come to the Anbu in one hour to announce an important appointment.
Purple Cat hurried into Fox's office, her eyes shining with惊喜. "Fox! I heard you're going to become Deputy Commander?"
Yōkō quickly steadied Purple Cat's heavy belly. "Don't run! Your belly is this big already, why are you in such a hurry?"
Purple Cat held her own belly. "Shinobi are different from civilians. We're not that fragile."
"The baby is due next month, right?"
"Yes, I'll be taking maternity leave next month."
Yōkō stroked Purple Cat's hair and said:
"I will soon become the Deputy Anbu Commander. After today, you can start your maternity leave. When you return, you will be the Assistant to the Deputy Anbu Commander."
Purple Cat said happily, "Great! After I attend your promotion ceremony, I will apply for maternity leave from Lord Fox, the Deputy Anbu Commander!"
Yōkō said, "Wildcat sacrificed, and I was promoted. That leaves two squad leader positions vacant in the Anbu. I need to go discuss the candidates for Anbu squad leaders. Goodbye for now, Assistant to the Deputy Commander."
There was a Head Commander's office in the Anbu, which Yellow Dog didn't use often, preferring to stay in his underground office in the Hokage Building.
Sitting across from Yellow Dog, Yōkō said:
"Sir, Hippo is a veteran of the Anbu. I believe Hippo can replace Wildcat as a squad leader."
Hippo was Yellow Dog's trusted subordinate from back when he was a Battalion Commander.
Hippo was also a shinobi from the Akimichi clan, part of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, and thus trusted more by Yellow Dog.
Yellow Dog strongly agreed and asked, "And what about the squad leader position you're vacating?"
Yōkō said: "For the original Fox Squad, I recommend White Ram as the new squad leader.
Yak should also move with Hippo to the new squad.
Kika, Antelope, Leaf Monkey, and Black Gorilla should be appointed as team leaders.
Furthermore, I would like to recommend Antelope, Leaf Monkey, and Black Gorilla for promotion to Jōnin."
Not only did Yellow Dog not veto any of this, he praised the individuals highly.
Fox was the village's newly advanced Kage-level shinobi, and an Anbu Kage-level shinobi at that.
With Fox's current status, no one would oppose his recommendation of a few Anbu Jōnin.
Apart from the Head of the Jōnin Command, ordinary Jōnin didn't even know who was in the Anbu.
Yellow Dog had gained Fox's support and could now send Fox on dangerous missions.
He had also newly gained the Hippo Squad, significantly increasing his influence within the Anbu.
From this point on, Danzo had little overt power left within the Anbu.
"Fox, let's go. To the training hall."
All Anbu shinobi, except for the Nine-Tails and Hokage Building surveillance teams, had gathered in the Anbu main hall.
They saw the Third Hokage, Head Commander Yellow Dog, and Fox standing on the podium.
There was one more chair on the podium, evidently prepared for Fox.
***
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(End of Chapter)