Yako's vision shifted.
He returned to the previous full moon night — the final full moon of Konoha Year 40.
Yakushi Nonoū would not give Fox a child, and to make it up to him, she repeatedly used a shoulder-locking secret technique on him.
After finally being defeated by her technique, Yako left the orphanage feeling thoroughly satisfied.
He used the Mayfly Technique to reach a secluded forest deep within the wilderness.
[Arc of the Waning Moon activated!
The host has only one revival opportunity per month.
Upon death, revival occurs at the previous full moon night.
Reward: One draw.
1 — Lightning Release: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique;
2 — Summoning Technique: Enma;
3 — Five Elements Great Barrage (Beginner).]
Option one — Lightning Release: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, a master of shadow clones, had created this A-rank jutsu.
For Yako, however, it held little appeal. At mid to long range, he preferred using ninjutsu like Water Release: Water Severing Wave, rather than relying on ninja tools.
Option two — Summoning Technique: Enma.
Yako hesitated.
He almost chose it.
Enma was undoubtedly a top-tier summoning beast. Whether it was Enma's own combat power or its transformed state as the Adamantine Staff, both were extraordinarily strong.
But Enma possessed extremely high intelligence and was deeply involved in Sarutobi Hiruzen's affairs. Its will aligned closely with Hiruzen's.
If Yako summoned Enma, the creature might oppose him — or worse, expose his identity.
Suppressing the impulse, Yako chose the third option.
Five Elements Great Barrage.
Not bad.
This was Sarutobi Hiruzen's signature technique — even Orochimaru had coveted it.
The moment he selected it, knowledge flowed into him.
He could create four shadow clones, each unleashing a different elemental ninjutsu — Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Lightning — striking simultaneously to create a devastating explosion.
Dividing chakra through shadow clones was often poor tactics.
But this technique allowed five separate one-fifths to combine into something far greater than a single whole.
Its secret was not merely covering all elemental weaknesses.
The true power lay in the final explosion.
Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Lightning — arranged in sequence. Earth suppressed Water, Water suppressed Fire, Fire suppressed Wind, Wind suppressed Lightning — elemental interactions cascading into a massive detonation.
Two stages of damage.
First: the direct impact of five elemental attacks.
Second: the explosive chain reaction created by their opposing chakra properties.
Yako was now a full-attribute shinobi. This technique could serve as a terrifying trump card.
The five techniques required needed to be mid-to-long-range impact-type attacks — like Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet or Water Shock Wave.
Among his current arsenal:
Expert-level Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet — usable.
Expert-level Water Release: Water Severing Wave — unsuitable.
Water Severing Wave leaned toward slicing rather than impact, and it was too recognizable — the signature technique of Copper Fox.
He needed something like Water Release: Water Shock Wave or Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet instead.
Expert-level Wind Release: Great Breakthrough — usable.
Expert-level Earth Release: Earth Spear — unsuitable.
Earth Release techniques like Earth Dragon Bullet or Flying Gravel — wide, chaotic impact styles — would be better.
As for Lightning Release, he still lacked any expert-level technique.
The requirements for mastering Five Elements Great Barrage were extremely high — chakra reserves, multiple elemental affinities, and specific jutsu types.
At present, only two of his techniques qualified.
Yako suspected Sarutobi Hiruzen used this technique partly for showmanship.
Intimidation was part of combat. Psychological pressure could break enemies before blows landed.
He couldn't help imagining it — if a "little White Ghost" used Five Elements Great Barrage against Sarutobi clan ninja, how devastating would that be?
'I declare myself a rogue Sarutobi — who agrees? Who opposes?'
If he mastered it and impersonated a Sarutobi clan traitor… would they lose their minds?
Returning to ANBU, Yako began selecting techniques from squad scrolls.
He chose an impact-type Lightning Release jutsu:
Lightning Release: Thunder Lance.
A mid-range attack that fired a massive lightning spear from the mouth to annihilate enemies.
Other techniques could be learned slowly over time.
Collect five expert-level elemental techniques.
Give the Sarutobi clan a small shock.
Let the village see just how terrifying a "traitor of the Sarutobi clan" could be.
The full moon shone like a silver disk.
Yako waited until the first full moon night of Konoha Year 41.
His revival opportunity had returned.
Inside the ANBU base, four squad captains waited in the meeting room for the director and deputy director.
New year, new policies.
Yellow Dog and Danzo entered the room one after another.
Behind Danzo followed C, carrying a thick booklet.
C handed one to each captain.
Danzo spoke coldly.
"Peace is temporary. As Konoha's ANBU, we cannot grow complacent or allow relaxation to dull our combat readiness.
"Root has compiled an assassination manual.
"The manual contains intelligence on shinobi who threaten Konoha.
"From now on, ANBU will organize waves of assassinations according to this list.
"Whether rogue ninja or enemy village shinobi — anyone who threatens Konoha must die."
In the original records, a Root shinobi possessed a similar assassination manual — a list of ANBU targets.
Yako opened the booklet.
The first page displayed…
Uchiha Madara.
Danzo, that's a bit delusional.
Why not put the Third Hokage on the first page too? You'll probably try assassinating him someday anyway.
Assassinating Hiruzen would be far easier than killing Madara.
Flipping through, each page showed a photograph, accompanied by intelligence — abilities, preferred techniques, combat style.
As he read, Yako reflected.
Root had clearly been shaken by recent losses. They had shifted temporarily from frontline operations to intelligence coordination.
For now, they wouldn't be conducting large-scale missions outside the village.
Instead, they would quietly use Konoha's spy network to gather intelligence and direct ANBU to execute the operations.
Yako glanced at C.
A Yamanaka clan shinobi, now serving primarily as Danzo's assistant.
Lucky man. No opportunities to deal with him yet.
Continuing to read, Yako suddenly paused at a name that caught his eye.
Cloud Village jonin Takami.
Specialized in Lightning Release: Thunder Lance, possessing unique mastery and technique.
Perfect.
Yako happened to need an expert-level Lightning Release jutsu.
Yellow Dog added,
"Root agents will deliver intelligence to ANBU daily. When targets from the manual appear during missions across the shinobi world, we must respond quickly and eliminate them."
The meeting ended.
Later that night, Yako headed out, intending to ask Yakushi Nonoū how Root's spy network operated — how they gathered such detailed intelligence on enemy ninja.
When he arrived at the orphanage, however, the director's office stood empty.
He quickly opened the Right Scroll and waited.
After a long while, a seal finally appeared upon it.
Unsealing it revealed a letter — written by Yakushi Nonoū.