Yagami was in the midst of a tactical evolution.
With chakra reserves at the jōnin level, he could finally transition into a full ninjutsu combat style.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
A wall of water surged upward, blocking the attacks of three Sand-nin.
Rain covered everything—the perfect battlefield for Water Style, consuming little chakra.
"Earth Style: Rising Spear Forest!"
The three Sand-nin, forced back by the water wall, leapt into the air—
only to be impaled through the back by a burst of earthen spears rising from below.
Two more Sand-nin moved in from either side, seizing the opening.
Their kunai gleamed with black-purple poison as they flung them at Yagami.
"Earth Style: Earth Substitution!"
The poisoned kunai struck nothing but a puddle of soft mud.
Beneath the surface, Yagami used the Earth movement technique to move unseen, resurfacing behind his enemies.
One attack, one defense, one substitution, one infiltration—
Yagami cycled seamlessly through four techniques, each motion claiming another Sand-nin's life.
With their captain's support, the rest of the squad fought harder than ever.
Parasitic insects, kunai, explosive tags—the battlefield blazed with ANBU precision.
Under Fox Squad's relentless pressure, the tide shifted sharply—the Sand forces were driven into retreat.
Mache's peripheral vision suddenly opened to an empty flank—one entire Sand battalion was collapsing.
He turned, eyes narrowing at the masked ANBU captain he'd failed to kill earlier.
So that's him…
That was the infuriating thing about Hidden Leaf—its vast resources and endless talent.
By rights, a single Wind Style from Mache could annihilate three average leaf captains.
But this Fox captain was different—strong enough to have already slain one Sand battalion commander.
Captain Yellow Dog shouted over the roar of battle, "Excellent work, Fox! Go assist the Yak Squad!"
Though Yellow Dog couldn't overpower Mache, neither could Mache finish him quickly.
Yagami turned toward the Kichikō Mountains—the rumble of collapsing rock echoed from afar.
"Deer Squad stays to hold the Sand stragglers! Purple Cat and White Sheep, with me!"
Leaving one team behind to contain the remnants, Yagami led the others toward the base of the mountains.
There, Yak Squad was locked in combat with the Sand defenders guarding the cavern entrance,
while simultaneously using jutsu to destroy the tunnel.
Yak stood on a rocky ledge, hands flashing through seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Splitting Palm!"
Each strike caused entire slabs of stone to crash into the cavern mouth below.
If they could bring down the upper face of the cliff, the tumbling rocks—hundreds of meters tall—would bury the cavern completely.
Two other squad leaders were assisting with their own Earth Style techniques.
Yagami didn't know Earth Splitting Palm, so he rushed to engage the Sand-nin directly.
Before long, he spotted another Sand battalion breaking through Hippo Squad's line and heading straight for the caverns.
He called Deer over, whispered something quickly in his ear.
Deer nodded once—and vanished with a Body Flicker.
Yagami turned to intercept the incoming Sand battalion himself.
Minutes of fierce combat passed.
Then Yagami shouted to Purple Cat, "Fire the signal flare!"
A red flare shot into the night sky, bursting bright against the towering cliffs.
Moments later, other signal flares lit up in the distance.
"Hold the line!" Yagami shouted. "Reinforcements are on their way!"
Mache and the remaining Sand commander both saw the twin signals rising far away.
Nearby Leaf units also noticed and immediately began moving toward their position.
Mache's expression hardened. He made a snap decision.
After unleashing a massive Wind Slash that forced Yellow Dog back,
he ordered a full retreat.
He and the surviving Sand-nin scaled the cliff face and fled toward the mountain ridge.
The mission failed, he thought grimly.
But even if Leaf destroyed the caverns near the Rain border,
once he gathered more Earth Style specialists, the entire passage could be rebuilt.
When they reached the summit, the rain lessened.
Halfway across the Kichikō Mountains, it stopped completely.
Descending the southern side, a dry, hot wind whipped against Mache's face, souring his mood.
At the base of the mountains, he saw the waiting Sand forces.
At their head stood none other than Elder Ebizō, the Sand Village's chief advisor.
Mache knelt and reported,
"Advisor, the raid has failed. The Rain Village didn't detect us—but the Leaf ANBU appeared out of nowhere."
Ebizō's expression darkened with disappointment.
That underground waterway had been the Wind Country's greatest hope—
a chance to bring precious freshwater to their barren lands.
He had imagined that soon, a green oasis would bloom north of the Wind Country.
"Do not despair," Ebizō said solemnly.
"The wars between Leaf, the Rain, and the Stone are far from over.
When I return, I will persuade the Kazekage to declare war on Konoha.
With our puppetry and Wind Style superiority, we'll strike while they're weak.
Even if Leaf commands twenty thousand shinobi, they cannot fight on four fronts.
Once Leaf falls, nothing will stand in our way. We'll bring the river's water safely into the Wind Country."
...
On the northern side of the Kichikō Mountains,
Captain Yellow Dog and Yagami watched as Yak Squad continued collapsing the cavern system.
Captain Hippo had just been killed—slain by one of the Sand battalion commanders.
The enemy commander had been exceptionally powerful.
But even as he faced the loss of an entire squad, Yellow Dog barely reacted.
He turned to Yagami and said,
"Fox, excellent work. Not only did you defeat a Sand battalion commander head-on,
you also used a flare to fake reinforcements and scare off Mache."
"You were also the first to detect the Sand's movements.
In the mission report, I'll credit you with the top merit."
Yagami had killed that commander using his forbidden technique—the Curse Seal of Retribution—a power he couldn't reveal.
He needed more authority and legitimacy—
more techniques he could use openly.
So he asked,
"Captain Yellow Dog, what are the requirements for an ANBU to be promoted to Special Jōnin?
Do you think my strength and record are enough?"
"Enough? Of course more than enough."
Yellow Dog smiled. He liked subordinates who survived and got results—not those who kept dying and forcing him to rebuild squads.
Just recently, the Third Hokage himself had told him to cultivate trusted lieutenants—
future candidates to succeed him as ANBU Commander.
Yellow Dog said,
"When we return, I'll take you to meet the Hokage personally.
The title of Special Jōnin requires his direct assessment.
"With your performance record, he won't hesitate."
"Thank you, Captain Yellow Dog—and thank you for the Hokage's trust."
Yellow Dog nodded, clearly pleased.
After nearly four hours of labor, Yak Squad finally brought down the mountain face—
tons of rock thundered down, completely sealing the cavern mouth.
"Let's move," Yellow Dog ordered.
"We'll head for the Rain Village and establish secret contact with Hanzo's people.
Now that we've destroyed the Sand's plot, we've shown good faith.
Let's see if Hanzo is willing to make peace with Hidden Leaf."
...
By the time they returned to Teigoku Town, it was already dawn.
From afar, Yagami spotted Aoi, frantically trying to untie the ropes binding the old river warden.
She didn't know what had happened—tears streamed down her face as she struggled with the knots.
A kunai whistled through the air, striking the ground beside her feet.
Startled, she looked around, then, gathering her courage, picked up the blade and cut the ropes free.
For the first time, Yagami felt that his Arc of the Moon system had truly done something meaningful.
Some people's fates had changed—
because of him.
After spending over a year in this world as a villain,
it felt strangely unfamiliar…
to do something good.
Youth, he thought with a faint smile, is always a little reckless.
***
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