The Anbu operate as the violent arm directly under the Hokage. The Hokage is too busy, so the Anbu Captain usually manages and commands in his stead.
Now that the Hokage was present, Yako only needed to stick close to Sarutobi Hiruzen—much more comfortable than following Danzo.
Hiruzen patrolled inside and outside the cave multiple times, constantly asking for details.
Yako answered whenever he could and offered guesses and suggestions when he couldn't.
There was too much fog surrounding Madara.
Several clan leaders and reconnaissance ninja returned.
Hyuga elders, Inuzuka Hiru, and other clan heads came to the Hokage, shaking their heads one after another.
Inuzuka Hiru led, saying:
"Hokage-sama, Madara's retreat was extremely secretive. With the heavy rain around, none of us found any traces of his departure.
I judge that the hundred-meter giant in the cave must be a summoning technique; otherwise, moving such a giant so covertly would be impossible."
Hiruzen nodded. "Thank you all for your hard work. Please stay by the cave entrance—I have matters to discuss with the Senju and Uchiha clan leaders."
In the empty cave remained only the Hokage and the two clan leaders: Senju Hanamoku and Uchiha Sho.
Hiruzen first addressed Uchiha Sho:
"Clan leader Sho, does the Uchiha clan still have any channel of contact with Madara?"
Sho shook his head repeatedly:
"Hokage-sama, when Madara first defected, we severed all ties with him.
Please trust the Uchiha clan—we are within the village; how could we betray it or have any connection with a villain like Madara?
I know nothing of Madara's affairs.
What puzzles me more is—if it's truly Madara, why does he have Wood Release?"
Yako thought: Here it comes, Uchiha Sho is passing the buck.
He had to. If the Uchiha took the blame for Madara, they couldn't withstand it.
Senju Hanamoku looked saddened and pained:
"I want to ask you the same—how can an Uchiha possess the most precious Senju Kekkei Genkai, Wood Release?
Madara is from the Warring States era, when there was no possibility of intermarriage between Senju and Uchiha.
Has the Uchiha clan been secretly conducting human experiments?
Are our missing Senju prodigies the subjects of your experiments?"
As the two were about to argue, Hiruzen interrupted:
"Stop! Don't dwell on the Warring States era!"
After some thought, he said:
"Madara is too important. Clan leaders Hanamoku and Sho, you two will establish an investigation team, starting here, to scout and track Madara.
Madara's desire to destroy Konoha is unrelenting—we can't ignore him.
I believe the Nine-Tails' transfer and sealing chaos likely ties back to Madara.
The Nine-Tails was once Madara's summon. He's always tried to reclaim it but couldn't act that night because of Konoha's numbers."
Hanamoku was unwilling to accept the Third Hokage's explanation but found no reasonable rebuttal.
The Senju and Uchiha's conflict was already sharp over the Nine-Tails transfer chaos. Now they had to jointly form an investigation team—only adding fuel to the fire.
Madara came from the Uchiha clan yet mysteriously mastered Senju Wood Release; who else but the Senju and Uchiha clans could investigate?
Hanamoku and Sho had no choice but to agree—intensified conflict between them was inevitable.
When their rivalry escalated, Hiruzen would step in to mediate—a task he excelled at.
Hanamoku closed her eyes in pain; with Madara alive, the village would blame him for the Nine-Tails' chaos.
Still, Hanamoku felt things weren't that simple.
Leaving the cave, Hanamoku instructed two Senju guards to pack the three clan corpses.
She murmured, "Inform Tsunade when burying them—otherwise, she won't bear it..."
Soon, a guard exclaimed, "Clan leader! Dan's wearing the First Hokage's necklace!"
The necklace was sturdy and preserved well.
Hanamoku took it to return to Tsunade.
Yako followed Hiruzen back to Konoha village.
Seven days passed on the road; the next full moon was near.
Back in Konoha, Hiruzen took Yako directly to the Hokage's office.
Only Captain Koinu awaited there.
"Fox, tell me all the details."
Yako knew the Third Hokage wanted to know exactly what Danzo had done.
This time, Yako told everything meticulously.
Encountering three Konoha shinobi controlled by Madara, then being hunted by Kato Dan; how Byakugan user Shirahige, Inuzuka Ke, and others died, and how Yako escaped using Yamanaka secret techniques.
He told how he met Danzo, who led him to Madara. The battle ensued, Danzo traded a Mangekyo Sharingan for a chance to escape.
"What? You mean that eye was rendered useless?"
Yako was surprised—had Danzo not told Hiruzen this? Was there some discord between them?
During the devastating battle at Ushigakure Mountain, the Anbu had boosted Danzo's achievements, calling him the main hero, but the Third Hokage stopped that.
Maybe the two had some current friction.
It was unclear when the Anbu and Root split, with Danzo independently leading Root.
"Yes, Hokage-sama, that eye turned into a pale, dead eye."
"Continue."
Yako then explained how Danzo confronted Kato Dan, sacrificing his other Mangekyo Sharingan to kill him.
Then Yako suggested dumping Kato Dan's corpse into the Tree Birth Technique site.
Anything involving Danzo, Yako revealed truthfully.
If he hid anything, and Hiruzen cross-checked with Danzo, he'd be finished.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, smoke filling the room, making it slightly suffocating.
Finally, Hiruzen said:
"Alright, I know everything now, Fox. Your performance exceeded my expectations.
Finish the mission report quickly and have Koinu pass it to me."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Yako returned to the Anbu base to write the report.
After Fox left, Koinu said:
"Father, before this mission, Shirahige said he noticed Fox's chakra was abnormally exhausted during the Nine-Tails' transfer sealing night. This time..."
"Work time, say your position."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen said:
"Koinu, don't get caught up in details. Fox escaped Danzo's clutches unharmed—no big issue.
If Fox had problems, Danzo's temper would have already eliminated him.
Fox is talented and worth cultivating.
The Anbu desperately need capable hands; many strong Jonin aim for the Jonin Council. Few, like you, are wholly devoted to Konoha.
If you distrust him, observe him more, but don't hinder his promotion.
If you want to lead the Anbu, you need several capable captains. Fox's growth is astonishing—worthy of investment."
"I understand," Koinu said. "It's just a pity Fox is a commoner. If only he were from the Sarutobi clan or the Ino-Shika-Cho trio."
Hiruzen said, "We'll gradually nurture the next generations of Sarutobi and Ino-Shika-Cho clans. No rush."
In the Anbu base, Otsu saw Fox returning and went to find Danzo.
Danzo said:
"Looks like Hiruzen trusts Fox. With Hiruzen's friendly but ruthless nature, he'd have killed Fox if he were a threat.
Investigations on Fox are suspended; just keep an eye on him."
Yako finished the mission report and handed it personally to Captain Koinu before leaving the base.
He returned to the village; his squad was still at the frontline camp.
This full moon cycle was the hardest, most painful.
Late at night, Yako entered the Crane Moon Tavern, shouting:
"Boss, bring me your finest sake!"
Kyoai, seeing Mitsurugi had returned, hurried over, whispering close to Yako's ear:
"Do you want spicy sake or salty sake?"
Yako was confused:
"Salty sake? Oh! I get it. I don't drink salty sake, but I want your heartfelt reciprocity!"
They walked into the backyard.
Half an hour later, Yako said,
"Change the sheets—you're not giving heartfelt reciprocity, this is clearly a fountain of reciprocity!"