Yoru followed Captain Yellow Dog to a spot about twenty meters away from the higher-ups.
The appearance of Yellow Dog signified that the Anbu had important intelligence to report to Minister Danzo.
Yoru scanned the senior figures, observing their expressions.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in armor, sat on a rock, smoking.
On one side of him were Senju clan leader Rinboku and elite jōnin Katō Dan, while on the other side were Homura Mitokado and Danzo Shimura.
It looked as though the Third Hokage was acting as a judge, trying to mediate the conflict between the sides.
Rinboku's face was dark blue with anger, yet full of pride, not yielding an inch.
On the other side, Homura Mitokado, tired from arguing, took a sip of water.
Danzo, meanwhile, remained silent.
When these high-ranking figures gathered, it was usually Homura Mitokado who spoke for the group to express their stance.
The Senju clan seemed to have significant disagreements with the upper echelon—perhaps regarding the placement of Uzumaki Kushina, or the ownership of Uzumaki Village's Sealing Book.
Both the Senju clan and the village desired control over the Uzumaki clan's legacy.
When Danzo noticed Yellow Dog, he approached.
Yellow Dog quickly reported:
"Lord Danzo, Captain Black Chimp's squad has obtained crucial intelligence.
The Uzumaki elder chose eight Uzumaki members in the end and sent them toward the Land of Waves using the Giant Drill-Beaked Bird.
Moreover, before dying, the Uzumaki elder took out a Sealing Scroll.
Captain Black Chimp is making every effort to follow the Giant Drill-Beaked Bird."
Upon hearing this, Danzo's gaze sharpened.
Even without obtaining the Sealing Book of Uzumaki Village, acquiring the Uzumaki elder's sealing techniques could temporarily serve as a substitute.
Danzo gave his orders:
"Yellow Dog, your squad has lost many members. Organize the remaining personnel into a single unit and immediately search for Captain Black Chimp.
You and Hippo are to select and train a new Anbu squad from the 2,000 Konoha ninja who came this time, forming them into a combat-ready force as quickly as possible.
Once you've assembled two full squads, you and Hippo will search for the remaining Uzumaki members and bring them—or at least the scroll—back to Konoha."
Yoru thought to himself, "That 'or' is well-chosen."
Danzo's intention was clear: if the remaining Uzumaki could be captured, do so—bring them back for proper analysis.
If not, at least retrieve the Uzumaki elder's scroll at all costs.
Yellow Dog nodded repeatedly and departed with Yoru.
Danzo then turned to glance at Rinboku.
The Senju clan was deeply rooted, and many village policies could not be executed without considering their stance.
For instance, during the Nine-Tails jinchūriki succession, the Senju clan sought complete control over the new jinchūriki.
How could the village's safety be entrusted solely to the Senju clan?
Yellow Dog led Yoru back to the squad.
"Our squad, after this grueling mission, has fewer than twenty members remaining.
Yak, I now appoint you as squad leader. Reorganize a full-strength squad and proceed to the Land of Waves to search. Fox has the temporary code set by Captain Black Chimp.
Your squad's mission is to find the remaining Uzumaki members and the scroll, and engage them.
Be careful—the secret techniques of the Uzumaki clan are hard to deal with, and they also have large summons. Captain Hippo and I will follow with two full squads to carry out the capture."
Yoru followed Captain Yak and departed.
After waiting for a long time, no equipment to disguise as Cloud ninja arrived—there was no need to pretend anymore.
When the Uzumaki clan had not yet been wiped out, killing their ninja required caution and disguises as Cloud ninja.
Now that the Uzumaki clan had been destroyed, killing them was done without hesitation. The Anbu kept their secrets; no one would know.
——
The full moon hung like a silver plate, the moonlight like white frost.
By the time Yoru reached the seaside, it was a full moon night.
From here on, things would be easier—there was a chance for a resurrection.
Yoru glanced again at Captain Yak, wondering what rewards he might receive after this resurrection.
Upon entering the Land of Waves, Anbu ninja carefully searched for the signs left by Captain Black Chimp, while inquiring if anyone had seen a three-legged bird.
After several days, they did not find the remaining Uzumaki members but received new information.
After the death of the Third Mizukage, no Fourth Mizukage had been appointed, and the Mist Village elder Genshi became the new leader, temporarily managing the village.
By the end of the month, the Anbu finally located the code left by Captain Black Chimp.
The code pointed toward the capital of the Land of Waves.
Captain Yak gathered the squad leaders to assign tasks, saying:
"Uzumaki Village has been destroyed, and now the mission shares of the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Waves are up for grabs.
The daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Waves have always been subordinates to the Land of Fire's daimyo.
While operating in the capital of the Land of Waves, we must avoid excessive killing, or it will negatively affect negotiations for future mission shares.
There are still many Uzumaki remnants in the capital of the Land of Waves—for example, among the daimyo's guardian ninja, there are Uzumaki ninja."
All Anbu ninja disguised themselves as ordinary merchants, carrying only kunai, and entered the capital of the Land of Waves.
The Land of Waves was located centrally among the three major countries: the Land of Lightning to the northwest, the Land of Fire to the west, and the Land of Water to the east. Its strategic position was complex, similar to the Land of Rain during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Yoru moved through alleys and streets, searching every trash can and tree trunk.
The kunai on his back had to be carefully concealed.
Kunai symbolized a ninja's identity; if civilians saw them, his identity would be exposed.
Inside the ninja village, a ninja's life was relatively comfortable. Outside, civilians viewed ninja with hostility.
There were many historical records of ninja slaughtering villages and nations. To civilians, ninja were like floods and beasts.
Ninja killed too many people, too quickly, causing civilian hostility and non-cooperation.
After several days of searching, Yoru finally found Captain Black Chimp.
"Captain, you…"
Black Chimp was hiding in a cramped warehouse, his left arm cut off at the shoulder.
Seeing Fox, Black Chimp's tensed muscles relaxed, and he exhaled heavily.
"Not only did we see the Uzumaki elder take out a scroll at the end, but the Mist ninja saw it too. I chased the remaining Uzumaki here, and the Mist ninja did the same.
Yemon is dead, and I lost an arm too.
Biwa Jūzō is too powerful; I'm no match for him."
Yoru was secretly alarmed—he hadn't expected the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to arrive in the Land of Waves' capital as well.
"Captain, the remaining Uzumaki?"
"I don't know. With the guardian ninja's help, they've hidden, and I can't find them."
Yoru felt a small surge of relief—Uzumaki Yuka should still be alive.
"Captain, I'll take you to find Captain Yak. The first reinforcements were Captain Yak's squad; two more squads will follow."
Black Chimp and Yoru found Captain Yak.
After discussion, the two captains decided that the Anbu would work in pairs to quickly search the capital for the remaining Uzumaki members.
They had to locate those Uzumaki kunoichi before the Mist ninja did.
Black Chimp and Yoru moved together.
Captain Black Chimp was extremely cautious, always walking to Yoru's left.
Having lost his left arm, he kept his right hand constantly guarding Yoru.
Did Yoru look that much like a traitor? Or was Black Chimp simply so cautious that he remained on alert at all times?
Kyoto was a vast city.
After several days, Yoru saw a small bird perched by a tiny lake in a Kyoto park.
A white heron—that was a white heron.