c27 — Heading to Yunyin Village
After a round of quick but rigorous preparation, the group finally departed at full speed for the Hidden Cloud Village. As elite ANBU, their pace was far beyond that of Genin, and the four of them moved across the forests like shadows. Their movements were efficient, their chakra consumption precise, and their coordination naturally seamless. Unlike inexperienced teams, they were also far more proficient in survival skills trap setting, hunting, camouflage, chakra-suppressed movement so the journey was steady and efficient. By nightfall of the first day, they had already reached the border of the Land of Fire.
The life of a shinobi was not only filled with battles. When they were not facing life-and-death missions, mundane necessities such as food, travel, and shelter still mattered. While deep within enemy territory they would never waste energy on comfort, within the Fire Country's border things were naturally easier. It was here that Yamato's ninjutsu revealed its usefulness. With a simple sequence of hand signs, his Wood Release emerged from the soil like living vines, forming a small but sturdy wooden cabin. If given more time, he could even shape the interior tables, chairs, beds. It was, in every sense, a portable house. Naruto couldn't help but marvel that Hashirama Senju's bloodline limit was just as outrageous as the legends described.
With Yamato around, the journey was unexpectedly more comfortable and efficient than past missions. Wood Release was truly a practical kekkei genkai. After several days of travel disguised as ordinary merchants, they passed through the Hot Spring Country, a small neutral nation bordering the Fire Country. They entered the capital quietly to replenish necessities food, scroll paper, ration pills then moved on without lingering. Their next destination was the Land of the Moon, a small country aligned politically with the Lightning Country.
Small nations sandwiched between the great powers each had their own means of survival. The Land of the Moon, located near the Lightning Country and historically influenced by it, often served as a staging ground for Yunyin's operations. Naturally, upon arrival Naruto and his ANBU team had to gather intelligence.
But as a minor, there were many establishments Naruto could not directly enter without drawing suspicion, especially places where bribery, gambling, and adult nightlife provided the best information. The other three Xuanguang, Liuying, and Yamato were adults and seasoned ANBU, far better suited for stealth intelligence operations. Naruto therefore assigned them to collect intel while he stayed at the inn maintaining his cover and managing mission logistics.
One day passed. They gathered nothing of value.
Three days passed. The three had explored bars, merchant routes, and informant hubs, but still found no useful intelligence. Their disguises held perfectly, but the intelligence remained sparse.
This contradicted Naruto's earlier judgment.
If the Fourth Raikage truly meant to send a large battalion toward Konoha, then the Land of the Moon positioned between Yunyin and the Land of Hot Water was strategically unavoidable. A military force of that size could not move without local cooperation. The Raikage would logically deploy units to the Moon first, then coordinate a fast joint strike through the Land of Hot Water to reach Fire Country territory before Konoha could respond. That was standard Yunyin doctrine speed, overwhelming force, and sudden aggression.
Yet everything was calm. Too calm.
No unusual movements.
No increased patrols.
No disguised Yunyin shinobi leaking traces of Lightning-style chakra.
The Land of the Moon appeared entirely normal.
Naruto frowned deeply. Could they be hiding their operations perfectly? No leaks at all?
It wasn't impossible. If he were planning something of this scale, he would also ensure absolute secrecy.
But if so… information gathering would become significantly more difficult.
Which meant they might need to abandon passive observation.
"It seems," Naruto thought, "that only a more direct approach remains."
That night, Naruto gathered Yamato and the brothers Xuanguang and Liuying inside their rented room. With the door sealed and Yamato suppressing their chakra presence using Wood Release roots, they began their strategy meeting.
Naruto spoke first.
"Since our intelligence gathering these past days has yielded nothing, we don't have the luxury to wait and hope for a mistake. We'll execute a direct capture of Moon Country shinobi. Interrogation will be faster even if it risks exposing our presence."
Xuanguang and Liuying exchanged a glance, then nodded firmly.
They had served long enough in ANBU to know when subtlety needed to be replaced by decisive action.
Yamato, calm as always, said, "It's risky, but still within acceptable limits. If we choose a low-ranking ninja and extract information discreetly, we can minimize complications. I can assist with Wood Release restraints escape will be impossible."
"Good," Naruto concluded.
"Since no one objects, we move according to this plan."
The silent agreement between the four masked ANBU signaled the official shift of the mission—from passive intelligence gathering to active information extraction. The atmosphere instantly grew colder.
Tomorrow night, the hunt would begin.
Soon, the brothers Xuanguang and Liuying captured a shinobi from the Land of the Moon. As was typical of shinobi from neutral minor countries, he was poorly organized and lacked the discipline of the Five Great Nations. His chakra control was weak, his combat ability unimpressive, but he excelled at fleeing and begging for his life a common trait of small-country ninjas who survived by avoiding direct conflict with major powers.
Once captured, Naruto pressed a kunai firmly against the man's throat. His eyes sharp, cold, and filled with killing intent that even ANBU veterans acknowledged were enough to terrify the man into complete collapse. The Moon ninja's legs trembled, and he wet his pants before Naruto even began questioning him. Under that pressure, he confessed everything he knew about his village, its shinobi, and recent movements.
But once the interrogation ended, Naruto realized the information was useless. Nothing suggested alliance movement, no mention of Yunyin troops, and no covert preparations. Not a hint of the strategic mobilization Naruto expected from the Raikage. Naruto clicked his tongue in frustration. This wasn't Konoha no one here had access to a Yamanaka to read memories, and Moon Country intelligence was shallow at best.
The three team members also shook their heads helplessly.
"There's no other way with intel this shallow," Xuanguang sighed.
Recognizing that normal intelligence gathering had reached its limit, Naruto decided to take a greater risk.
He looked at Yamato.
"Yamato, I'll need to rely on you this time. Wood Release specialists are famous for their perfect Transformation Techniques. Even their voice, posture, and scent can mimic the target with almost no flaws. I want you to transform into this ninja and infiltrate their village directly."
This was something supported by manga details: Wood Release and Hashirama-cell users had extremely fine chakra control, allowing near-perfect transformations and clone disguises.
Yamato didn't hesitate. "Understood, Captain. I'll do my best."
Before Yamato left, Naruto handed him a special chakra talisman. He secretly placed a Flying Thunder God–style marker on it an original seal Naruto had created in earlier chapters.
"Yamato, if you're in extreme danger and escape is impossible, channel chakra into this talisman. I will come for you immediately."
Yamato nodded with a rare expression of gratitude.
"Thank you, Captain. Please rest assured I will accomplish the mission."
After he left, Naruto, Xuanguang, and Liuying could only wait inside the hotel. Waiting was always the hardest part of ANBU missions. To pass the time, Naruto began asking Xuanguang and Liuying about their past experiences. ANBU veterans usually avoided such topics, but these two had developed respect for Naruto as a captain. Slowly, they opened up.
Naruto learned that the brothers, like himself, were not raised within ANBU from childhood. They were normal Academy graduates who later formed a four-man team with a jōnin instructor, taking on increasingly difficult missions. Over time, all four reached jōnin-level. Through countless battles, they forged deep bonds.
But that hope and camaraderie were shattered.
During a mission, one teammate was killed outright, and the other sacrificed himself as bait to help the brothers escape. Only the two brothers survived.
After that, grief weighed on them. Seeking a way to continue serving the village while distancing themselves from memories of their old team, they joined ANBU.
When they finished, Xuanguang asked, "So, Captain… why did you join ANBU?"
Naruto smiled lightly.
"Me? My reason isn't as complicated as yours."
He didn't elaborate, and they didn't press him.
Just then, a knock came from the door. Naruto turned, instantly recognizing Yamato's chakra signature. One glance at Yamato's expression told him everything: Yamato hadn't found much.
Yamato sat down and reported, "The village is operating normally. No unusual movements. No signs of Lightning Country shinobi. But staying longer risks exposing my disguise. My presence won't matter if discovered, but it may compromise the mission."
Naruto nodded. Yamato's judgment was correct.
Yamato added,
"However, I placed Wood Clone sentries near all major entrances and exits. I also used Wood Release to blend myself into the surrounding forest. If there's any large-scale movement, my clones will detect it immediately."
Naruto exhaled slowly. "In that case, we wait. If your Wood Clones bring us anything, we'll act. Everyone rest. We'll reassess our plan tomorrow."
The four masked ANBU settled in for another long night one that could determine the fate of their mission.
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