Entering the morgue tent, Murasaki and Byakko began collecting information from the bodies.
Murasaki was about to speak when Yako said to Byakko, "Use your Byakugan to check around the tent—avoid any eavesdropping through the walls."
Byakko activated his Byakugan beneath his mask, scanning all directions. No abnormalities detected.
Only then did Murasaki speak:
"Captain, the wounds on three bodies were all caused by the same ninja sword, but the last body has varied wounds—ninja swords, steel wires, kunai.
This means an ANBU rogue struck first but was then attacked by three others.
The rogue was strong—held his ground against three opponents, killed two, then died with the last squad leader."
Yako thought and concluded:
"The two-person ANBU group and the four-person ANBU group—the enemy could control only one person each. What about time of death?"
"According to the medical ninja records, death occurred about ten days ago."
"Ten days ago… Around the same time several ANBU tasked with assassinating disobedient nobles in the Land of Fire died. Either it's a large gang or the enemy has teleportation." Yako thought for a moment:
"Have the medical ninjas log the bodies and send them back to the village for burial. Let's investigate the site where that squad died."
Not long after leaving the morgue tent, Yako saw Tsunade.
She seemed to be waiting for him.
Frowning, Tsunade stared at Yako. "Fox, I remember seeing you with Shisui-sensei, and then a couple more times. You're from Koton's ANBU, right?"
"I'm ANBU. I can't reveal my info voluntarily."
Tsunade continued, "I had a good impression of you. I recall you brought back key intel during the Ushigakure battle. Were you also at the Nine-Tails transfer sealing?"
"I can't answer that."
Yako thought: This isn't the era of Second Hokage Tobirama anymore; is it appropriate to be so blunt to an ANBU?
Seeing she couldn't get more, Tsunade let Yako leave.
Kato Dan approached from nearby. "Tsunade, why did you keep that ANBU?"
Only two knew of the secret investigation into the ANBU: clan leader Senju Hanaki and Kato Dan.
Even Tsunade didn't know Kato Dan was secretly investigating the ANBU.
Tsunade said:
"Kushina wrote to me, saying she is certain there's a Senju clan member inside the ANBU. His chakra contains sealing jutsu power.
Without his two-time help inputting chakra, she couldn't have completed the seal.
If the Nine-Tails seal had failed, over nine hundred Senju ninja might have died by the Nine-Tails.
Luckily, Kushina got secret help, or the Senju's extinction would be no different.
I have a vague feeling Fox is different, but I can't be sure it's him.
If I could treat him once, I could know for sure if he's from the Senju clan."
In the original story, the Senju were almost wiped out by the Nine-Tails sealing, and Tsunade's only mental support became Kato Dan.
After Kato Dan's death, Tsunade collapsed mentally, developing hemophobia.
Yako altered some of the plot—Tsunade's spirit was much stronger.
The Senju clan still existed, with Aunt Senju Hanaki maintaining the clan and appointing Tsunade as the young clan leader.
"Tsunade's letter? Aren't you afraid the ANBU or others might intercept it?"
"Kushina sealed it. Without the sealing hand signs, it can only be destroyed, never opened."
Kato Dan was very suspicious. "Senju sent a spy into the ANBU? That's impossible. Even the Senju can't meddle in ANBU."
Tsunade said, "I'm not sure, but I trust Kushina's judgment. She witnessed the Nine-Tails transfer sealing firsthand—no reason to hide anything."
Kato Dan looked thoughtfully at Fox's back.
The Fox Squad left camp, bypassing frontline battles, making a detour deep into the Land of Rain.
The ANBU squad they were investigating had died deep inside the Land of Rain.
Yako, cloaked, hurried through the rain.
Ahead were his three ANBU squads.
As captain, he should have led from the front to prevent squads from blindly walking into traps.
But now the real danger was some ANBU suddenly turning rogue.
Everyone in the squads was under Yako's surveillance.
Using Byakko's dōjutsu, the squad avoided Rain ninja outposts and reached the site where the ANBU squad was killed.
The squads spread out, searching for clues.
The heavy rain washed away most traces.
Yako held little hope—routine procedure, awaiting the squad's report.
He looked up at the sky.
Dark clouds covered the full moon, which should have been a silver disk above.
The rain was cold, the night chilly.
The three squads searched for a long time but found nothing.
Suddenly, a sharp dog howl startled everyone to look toward the distance.
Yako's heart jumped—was that… a Senju clan Divided Inu?
The Senju's hereditary summoning beasts—like the Yatagarasu—were passed down from elders to Senju Yuka.
Several large summons were Senju Yuka and others' greatest support to survive till now.
No contact had been made with Senju Yuka recently. Could the Senju remnants be under threat, forced to fight with large summons?
Yako quickly looked at Byakko. Byakko activated Byakugan, scanning the direction of the howl.
"Captain! Two kilometers due west, a summoning beast is charging here! It's chasing three ninja… three Konoha ninja!
The beast is very fast—should be here in minutes!"
Yako thought, "We can't just watch Konoha ninja die. Let's wait and see."
Byakko continued:
"Captain, it's a chase.
The fleeing are three Konoha ninja carrying three people—two adults, one child.
The pursuing giant summon Divided Inu was recorded by the ANBU—it's the guardian summon of Uzushio Village.
There's a woman standing on Divided Inu's head."
Yako thought: It really is Senju Yuka.
Heavy rain affected the Yatagarasu, so Senju Yuka chose Divided Inu.
The thirty-plus-meter-tall Divided Inu moved swiftly, claws flipping through the rain.
The Fox Squad inserted themselves between the Konoha ninja and Divided Inu.
ANBU threw a string of explosive tags, detonating on Divided Inu and causing it to grow extra heads.
Yako didn't want to fight Senju Yuka openly. He shouted to the three Konoha ninja:
"We are Konoha ANBU! Please come with us!"
However, the three ninja acted deaf, moving forward relentlessly.
Murasaki said, "Captain, they're under genjutsu control! One Jonin, two Special Jonin—all under genjutsu!"
Yako was stunned—was his suspicion wrong?
Did the ANBU deaths result not from Kato Dan's hand but from genjutsu?
That would require many genjutsu users in many places—a huge operation leaving no traces.
Yako preferred to believe this was accidental.
Watching Divided Inu grow closer, Yako said:
"I'll cover the rear! You continue escorting the village ninja, try to dispel their genjutsu!
Water Release: Water Array Wall!"
Yako formed hand seals, unleashing a massive water barrier.
Byakko sighed silently—Fox's power was growing.
Judging by the scale of that Water Release, he was close to Jonin level.
Divided Inu crashed into the water wall and abruptly stopped.
Senju Yuka clung to Divided Inu's ears, nearly flying into the raging water barrier by inertia.
She looked carefully and saw Fox behind the water wall.
It was Fox!
Yako silently gestured to Yuka to retreat in another direction.