"You really went to extremes, Leaf Monkey."
Hearing Fox Squadron Leader's sympathy, Leaf Monkey said, "At the time, to complete the mission, I didn't think that much about it, Squadron Leader. Squad Leader Flower Deer's wounds are real too. Everyone is giving their all."
Yōkō glanced at Flower Deer. He had shaved his head, which was covered in knife wounds.
The wounds had split open from the strenuous activity and were oozing pinkish blood.
Looking closely, it was red blood mixed with yellowish pus.
Looking at the poisoned Shimura clan ninja, Yōkō said, "Let's rest up ahead. Treat the wounds before moving on. Don't leave any irreversible injuries. Give the Shimura ninja a few more shots of stimulants. As long as he doesn't die, it's fine."
Yōkō hadn't expected his team members to take this mission so seriously.
As the Squadron Leader, he had seen Leaf Monkey's file.
Leaf Monkey, real name Sanfuku.
A Konoha civilian Chūnin, raised by his older brother. Later, his brother died in battle, and he took over raising his brother's son, his nephew.
Not two years later, his nephew, then a Genin, also died in battle.
Sanfuku lost everything. He had already developed a death wish, prepared to die in the Land of Grass, fighting with extreme recklessness.
Because of his tragic circumstances, he was selected for Root.
Root told him they would stop at nothing to end the war quickly. By swearing allegiance to the Hokage, he could help restore peace to Konoha sooner.
A fire was lit in Sanfuku's heart. He didn't want the tragedy of his brother and nephew to repeat itself.
After joining Root, he treated every mission as if it were his last, solely wanting to end the war as fast as possible.
Such a fine Root ninja was being used to save Danzō's relative.
"Leaf Monkey, after we get back, I'll apply for a suitable jutsu for you. Don't worry, no matter what, I'll make sure you live a few months longer."
"Thank you, Squadron Leader!"
They had only rested a few minutes when White Ram suddenly said, "Squadron Leader! A Sand ninja squad at 7 o'clock, 800 meters out!"
"It seems the Sand ninjas weren't planning on a straightforward prisoner exchange either. They had a backup plan. Neither side is any good, six of one, half a dozen of the other," Yōkō immediately ordered. "Those carrying the wounded, move out first! Everyone else in the middle! I'll take the rear guard!"
The squadron set off again, Yōkō lagging at the back, carefully watching a river canyon beside them.
The sound of puppet movement came from there.
The horn-shaped canyon amplified the clicking and creaking of puppet joints.
Three humanoid puppets leaped out of the canyon, firing a dense volley of poisoned needles at the Fox Squadron.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Yōkō was prepared. A water wall over ten meters long blocked the squadron's flank.
All the poisoned needles were intercepted by the water wall. Bluish-purple ripples appeared on the water surface – the dispersed poison.
Before the water wall could fall, Yōkō rapidly formed five hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Cutting Wave!"
A jet of water shot from Yōkō's mouth, sweeping across and slicing the three puppets in half.
Mechanisms from the puppets' abdomens scattered all over the ground – gears, clockwork springs, drive belts... quite a variety.
The three puppets were greatly reduced in effectiveness.
One puppet, whose master was highly skilled, could still move its damaged upper and lower halves separately.
This was the troublesome thing about puppets; you couldn't predict their actions using human logic.
After using another Water Formation Wall to block the sharp blades on a puppet's arm, Yōkō shouted, "Get away from the canyon!"
The squadron changed direction. Putting distance between themselves and the canyon also increased the distance to the puppet masters, forcing them to jump out.
Two puppet masters, manipulating new puppets, charged at the Root squadron.
Yōkō stopped, turning to face the puppets.
Two puppets advanced on the ground, drawing his attention.
A bat-shaped puppet flapped its wings, swooping down from above to ambush the Konoha Squadron Leader.
Success!
Poisoned needles shot from the bat puppet's chest, embedding themselves in the Konoha Squadron Leader's back.
Poof!
A puff of white smoke erupted. It had been a Shadow Clone.
When?
The puppet master suddenly remembered the Konoha Squadron Leader had used a Water Formation Wall earlier. He must have created the Shadow Clone behind its cover.
Yōkō emerged from the ground behind the two puppet masters.
"Water Release: Water Cutting Wave!"
A jet of water shot forth, cutting the two puppet masters in half at the waist.
Their intestines spilled all over the ground.
Puppet masters lacked the ability of their puppets to operate separately after being bisected. The two died miserably under the Water Cutting Wave.
Yōkō walked to the canyon's edge and spotted two Sand ninjas fleeing along the canyon floor below.
Jumping down into the canyon, he stood on the water's surface and used his fastest Body Flicker Technique – the Water Body Flicker.
Appearing abruptly behind the two Sand ninjas, Yōkō used another Water Cutting Wave.
The wave sliced off the tops of their skulls along with everything inside.
It was cruel, but he couldn't let anyone know he possessed this signature jutsu of Hanzo.
After finishing this, Yōkō waited a considerable while before climbing back up the canyon, pretending it had taken him some effort to kill the two Sand ninjas.
When he rejoined the squadron, Flower Deer said admiringly, "Squadron Leader, your Water Release jutsu are incredibly powerful."
Yōkō said, "The Water Cutting Wave was my Special Jōnin reward from Root. The Water Formation Wall was obtained for me by the previous Squadron Leader Black Gorilla." He quickly added to Black Gorilla, who had come closer, "Not you, Black Gorilla. The owner before the last one of this mask. After we return, I'll apply for jutsu for you all too. Think carefully on the way back about what jutsu you want."
Back at the camp, Yōkō went straight to the medical tent.
Tsunade first examined the most severely injured Shimura clan Chūnin, pulling open his eyelids for a careful inspection.
She said, "The toxins have attacked the nervous system. Even if cured, he'll be an idiot. Given Root's style, shouldn't you have disposed of someone like this halfway back?"
Yōkō said, "Princess Tsunade, even cured, he'd just be a Shimura clan idiot. That's precisely why he couldn't be disposed of halfway."
"Hmph," Tsunade grunted. "I see."
The three rescued prisoners, plus Flower Deer, Leaf Monkey, and the others, all received treatment inside the medical tent.
Yōkō was shooed out by the medical ninjas to wait outside for his turn.
Halfway through the treatments, two people approached. Yōkō looked over and saw it was Supreme Commander Nara Shikaku and Deputy Commander Hatake Sakumo.
The two entered the medical tent but soon came out again, both looking heavy-hearted.
Nara Shikaku stood outside the tent flap and said, "Sakumo, your recent proposal for the assessment system is a matter of great importance. Quite a few people have gotten wind of it. Some Chūnin and Special Jōnin on the frontlines have developed an extremely strong tendency to take risks. These three rescued prisoners were captured by Sand ninjas precisely because of a rash advance. Sakumo, I understand your idea, but the recommendation system is more suitable for Konoha at present. If we truly implement the assessment system, frontline Chūnin casualties will skyrocket. What do you think?"
After finishing, Nara Shikaku turned to look at Hatake Sakumo and only then noticed a ninja lurking in the shadows slightly behind and to the side.
His eyes moved slightly. Seeing it was a Root ninja, he relaxed.
As the Supreme Commander, focused on deployment and tactics, my raw combat strength isn't top-tier. I actually failed to detect a Root agent hiding in the darkness. Luckily it's Root, otherwise my conversation with Sakumo would have been exposed.
Yōkō thought, As expected of the Nara clan head. His angle of attack is so specific. Hatake Sakumo probably doesn't want his advocacy to lead to massive frontline casualties either.
Hatake Sakumo remained silent, unsure how to respond.
It was so difficult to accomplish something, yet so easy to sabotage it.
Nara Shikaku used facts to stop Sakumo from promoting the assessment system.
You want assessment? Then I'll show you how radical Konoha ninjas can become because of it.
Overzealous execution was sometimes more effective than passive resistance.
For example, if the higher-ups banned burning firewood, you just needed to find a way for a few people to freeze to death, and the policy would be abolished.
With just a small stratagem, Nara Shikaku made it difficult for Hatake Sakumo to bring it up again.
After Nara Shikaku left, Hatake Sakumo stood alone in place, deep in thought.
Yōkō pretended to be passing by and said quietly, "Putting aside my Root identity, Lord Sakumo, I support the assessment system."
Hatake Sakumo was taken aback. He took another look at the Root ninja, noting the mask.
Familiar with Root's rules, Sakumo didn't make a sound or say anything more, and simply left.
After Leaf Monkey's surgery concluded, Yōkō returned to the Root tent area.
Battalion Commander Yellow Dog found him:
"Fox, Deputy Commander Sakumo wants to know the details of the Root prisoner exchange mission. I've approved it. Go report to the Deputy Commander."
***
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