One morning, Yako sat in his new office, reviewing a mission scroll.
Having a private workspace—it really was a luxury.
Purple Cat entered with a scroll in hand.
"Fox-sama, the Jōnin Corps has summoned all ANBU jōnin for a council meeting."
It was time.
Yako would finally attend the Jōnin Corps meeting—not as a guard, but as a proper ANBU jōnin.
"Understood. I'll head over."
At the ANBU base entrance, he spotted Yellow Dog, Black Ant, and another division leader.
He now stood as their equal.
When the Jōnin Corps convened, he had to be invited.
Though ANBU were hailed as Konoha's elite, few within its ranks actually became full jōnin.
Many ANBU operatives, once promoted, would use the opportunity to leave the shadows and become jōnin of the public corps.
Yako's gaze lingered on the third man—a known confidant of Danzo.
He wasn't sure what that man specialized in, or what kind of techniques he wielded.
The four walked together to the second floor of the Hokage Tower, entering the Jōnin Corps meeting hall.
Yako wore his fox mask and took a seat in the third row.
More jōnin filed in.
Aside from those stationed on the Earth and Uzushio fronts, and the daimyo's personal guard units, there were 121 attendees.
The first and second rows were reserved for elite jōnin and clan leaders.
Hatake Sakumo and Tsunade, both former battlefield commanders, sat at the very front.
The last to arrive were the village's senior leaders—Sarutobi Hiruzen, Koharu Utatane, and Nara Shikakaku.
Homura Mitokado remained at the Earth front, while Danzo was overseeing the Uzushio war.
Yako sat quietly.
'So this is what it feels like… to be close to power.
Let's see what kind of "closed-door" talks they've been having without the rest of us. What secrets can't be said out loud?'
Shikakaku signaled for quiet and spoke first:
"We achieved a brilliant victory in the River Country war.
But the Second Shinobi World War is far from over.
Kirigakure has declared war on us and invaded the Land of Whirlpools.
Today's agenda has two points.
First: to review the successes and failures of the River Country campaign.
Second: to mobilize reinforcements to end the Uzushio conflict swiftly.
The village plans to assign a vice commander and dispatch twenty jōnin and a thousand shinobi to the Uzushio front."
Yako's eyes flicked to Yellow Dog's back.
His division would almost certainly be deployed.
The real question—how would Yellow Dog secure his promotion to Vice Commander?
The simplest method: earn overwhelming merit on the battlefield.
Something so decisive, even Danzo couldn't protest.
But Danzo was hungry for control.
He'd never willingly share power.
Shikakaku continued:
"The war reparations from Sunagakure have started arriving.
In the next two days, we'll be distributing death benefits to over 900 fallen shinobi.
We paid a steep price—but Sunagakure's strategic ambitions were crushed completely.
The River Country daimyo's personal guard contracts, and their mission allotments, remain firmly in our hands.
During the campaign, we destroyed Sabaku Port and 21 oases along Wind Country's border.
Neither Wind Country nor Sunagakure will be able to threaten us again in the near future."
Tsunade rose abruptly.
"Konoha lost over 900 shinobi. But the frontline medical unit managed to restore combat ability to more than 600 others.
If the village had invested more in medical resources, that number would have been even higher."
Yako thought to himself:
Only Tsunade would dare interrupt Nara Shikakaku mid-report.
Shikakaku quickly responded:
"Princess Tsunade, I'm not blaming the medical corps.
Compared to Sunagakure's 1,700 dead, our losses were far fewer."
Tsunade snapped back,
"My point is that the village should invest more in medical support to save more of our shinobi!
By the end of the campaign, River Country's frontline hospitals were out of medicine.
Our med-nin had to rely solely on chakra to treat every wound.
How could that possibly be enough?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen added,
"Tsunade, every front has been short on supplies.
It's not that we don't value medical support.
But with resources split between Earth and Uzushio fronts, River Country got a smaller share."
Koharu Utatane followed:
"Tsunade, after the meeting, you can come review our stockpiles with me.
The village has been stretched across too many theaters of war—every depot is running dry."
Only after the senior elders took turns speaking did Tsunade finally sit down again.
Then Hatake Sakumo stood.
"As a battlefield vice commander, I'd like to bring up a separate matter.
During the River Country war, we trialed a jutsu merit system.
Postwar stats show a marked improvement in the strength of our chūnin and genin forces.
I recommend expanding the system—allowing basic elemental ninjutsu to be taught to any genin or chūnin with strong mission records and proven loyalty."
Shikakaku looked weary.
First Tsunade, now Sakumo?
"Sakumo," he said, "the jutsu merit system still needs evaluation.
Our spies report that Sunagakure obtained intel on many of our jutsu during the war.
Spreading techniques too widely risks leaks—and gives our enemies a chance to develop counters."
Hiruzen and Koharu didn't even offer a rebuttal.
They simply looked at Sakumo.
It was enough.
Seeing that cold indifference, Sakumo slowly sat down.
'Change is hard,' Yako thought.
'If even jutsu merit systems are met with this much resistance, how impossible must a rank-based merit system be?'
If not for the war's success, the higher-ups might've accused Sakumo of endangering Konoha by "leaking" jutsu en masse.
'The elders must be feeling the pressure,' Yako thought.
'Tsunade, bold and blunt. Sakumo, idealistic and persistent. Both raising uncomfortable truths.'
'Why can't all Konoha shinobi just raise their hands and clap on cue?
Raise your hand and bounce, clap your hands and grin—that's the perfect subordinate.'
Shikakaku continued.
"Now for the second item:
The village has decided to appoint Tsunade as vice commander of the Uzushio front.
She will lead twenty jōnin and 1,000 shinobi to the front lines."
Yako glanced over.
Tsunade didn't protest—seemed she'd accepted the role.
Then Shikakaku began reading out the names of the jōnin to be deployed.
Neither Yellow Dog nor Yako were included.
ANBU missions answered only to the Hokage—no need for the corps to know.
Those called accepted calmly.
Those not called… looked disappointed.
Hatake Sakumo stood again.
"Lord Hokage, Commander Shikakaku—I believe my name should be on that list.
I'm willing to lead a battalion on the front lines."
Shikakaku replied evenly,
"Sakumo, Danzo is the supreme commander at Uzushio.
His deputy is Uchiha Kagen.
Princess Tsunade will supplement the medical corps. That fills the key roles."
"I don't need a command position," Sakumo pressed.
"Just let me join the front lines. Let me lead a division."