After the Fox Squad lost two members, Yako submitted a request to Root, asking for replacements—preferably retired ANBU who could be recalled for duty.
But Danzo had been deliberately stalling the training and assignment of new ANBU recruits. It was deeply unsettling.
Who knew whether the new recruits sent over would be spies planted by Danzo?
Sarutobi Hiruzen trusted Danzo too much. In the early days of Hiruzen's administration, Danzo had been a crucial ally. The two had developed a sort of path dependency.
Danzo would handle the dirty, difficult matters. And when he went too far—too cruel—Hiruzen would step in as the mediator.
Right now, neither Yellow Dog nor Yako had the influence to shake Danzo's place in Hiruzen's heart.
Yako gathered the entire squad.
"Though the war is over, our missions are more dangerous than ever. They may not be as frequent, but they're riskier.
Besides missions, each team must focus on training and find ways to strengthen themselves.
If any of you lack ninjutsu, speak to me. The squad's resources are open to all of you.
I'll be dropping into your training sessions from time to time.
No notice. No greetings. No reports. No escort. I'll walk straight in.
My goal is for every single member of this squad to reach at least Tokubetsu Jōnin level.
I'll be watching your mission records closely, and I'll recommend you for promotion as soon as I see the opportunity—just like White Ram and Blossom Deer."
The squad looked at their captain with excitement in their eyes. He truly wanted them to grow stronger—to become ANBU elites.
After the meeting, White Ram's squad escorted six Iwa-nin prisoners behind Yako toward Root's new base.
Since the ANBU restructuring, Root had moved out of the main ANBU compound and built its own facility.
It was even more remote—located beyond the Forest of Death, nestled against the very wall of the village.
Root agent C was surprised.
"You're escorting prisoners personally, Captain Fox?"
"Had nothing better to do tonight," Yako replied. "Root's been demanding more and more captives. Looks like we'll be making regular trips here."
C didn't argue. Orochimaru required at least fifty test subjects every month.
The fact that ANBU had sent a squad captain to escort the prisoners—that was a message. They weren't happy.
The quota was too much. ANBU was under pressure.
Inside Root, C led them to the experimental sector.
The deeper they walked into the dark hallway, the stronger the stench of preservatives grew.
Orochimaru emerged from the lab, his eyes immediately falling on the six bound prisoners.
One by one, he grabbed their throats and snapped their necks.
Even Yako was stunned. Even C froze.
C protested, "Lord Orochimaru… these were just freshly captured."
Yako watched the smooth, almost fluid way Orochimaru killed—but said nothing.
Until the last one. Orochimaru stopped.
"From now on, my lab will only accept captives with both Earth and Water chakra natures.
Single-nature Iwa-nin are worthless to me."
Blossom Deer frowned. 'They were lucky enough that we captured Earth-natured shinobi at all—under pursuit from several enemy squads, there hadn't been time to check chakra attributes.'
Yako spoke:
"Lord Orochimaru, if you require dual-natured captives with both Earth and Water, then ANBU simply won't be able to provide fifty per month.
Even if we had three assassination units doing nothing else, there's no way we could capture that many—let alone with such specific traits."
Orochimaru gave Fox a long glance.
"Then… 25 from ANBU, 25 from Root.
And if we're short on prisoners, I'll replace them with chakra-gifted children.
I can also use the Earth-Water nature myself."
Yako was surprised. Orochimaru… was compromising? That was rare.
He didn't argue—he simply led White Ram's squad to leave.
But then—
A sudden chill swept through the corridor.
Yako turned back, confused, locking eyes with Orochimaru.
The hallway darkened. The air dropped to freezing.
C, more familiar with Orochimaru, instinctively reached toward his weapon pouch.
With a twitch of his left hand, Orochimaru pulled out a shuriken—no one saw where it came from—and hurled it at Yako.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
Yako raised his arm. His skin turned the color of bronze, clinking and ringing as the shuriken bounced off.
Then, Orochimaru formed hand seals. A streak of lightning shaped like a white serpent shot toward Yako.
He dodged instantly.
This full-moon cycle… I've already died once.
It's not the next full moon yet. If Orochimaru's gone mad and wants to kill me here… what should I do?
White Ram stepped in front of Yako, unleashing a swarm of kikaichū that instantly filled the corridor.
But Yako didn't sense any true killing intent from Orochimaru. He placed a hand on White Ram's shoulder.
"Wait. Stand down."
The insects withdrew.
Orochimaru lowered his hand as well. The attack ended.
He eyed Fox from head to toe.
"Fox. That absolute defense of yours—is it an Earth Release secret technique?"
Yako froze. He'd never shared the nature of that jutsu with anyone. Yet Orochimaru had guessed it on the spot.
'Was it the way I dodged that Lightning Release? Did that give it away?'
"And you're skilled in techniques like Water Release: Water Severing Wave," Orochimaru continued, voice cold and slithering through the corridor.
"Fox…
Would you be interested in joining my experiments?"
"No," Yako replied flatly.
He didn't just have Earth and Water Release. He carried Senju blood.
He was definitely going to explore Hashirama cells eventually.
But not now.
Orochimaru had only just begun his research into Wood Release. His experiments were still crude. Going now would be suicide.
It was Year 40 of the Hidden Leaf.
He remembered—Yamato was born in Year 41, and taken as an infant for Orochimaru's experiments.
If Yamato could awaken Wood Release, it meant Orochimaru's research would stabilize next year.
'This year, there's no way I'm touching Hashirama's cells.'
As he watched Fox leave with his squad, Orochimaru felt genuine regret.
==
That night, Danzo entered the Hokage's office.
After hearing Danzo's complaint, Sarutobi frowned.
"You're saying—Orochimaru invited Fox to participate in his experiments, and Fox rejected him?
Orochimaru claims Fox, with both powerful Earth and Water Release, is a highly valuable subject?"
Hiruzen pondered for a moment, then turned to his assistant.
"Summon Yellow Dog."
Yellow Dog arrived and, upon hearing Danzo's request, immediately pushed back:
"Absolutely not! Fox would never join Orochimaru's experiments!
He's my squad captain—not some high-value specimen for dissection!
Advisor Danzo, I ask you not to bring this up again."
It was rare to see Yellow Dog confront Danzo so directly.
Before Danzo could respond, Hiruzen interjected:
"Danzo, let's put this matter to rest for now. Fox isn't just any Jōnin—he's an ANBU squad captain.
Look elsewhere for your experimental subjects. Forget Fox."
Danzo scowled.
"You won't let me use the Senju clan. Without viable subjects, how are the experiments supposed to progress?"
Hiruzen replied:
"Tsunade's grown cautious. Best not to touch the Senju clan for the time being."
Danzo said nothing and left the office.
Yellow Dog turned to Hiruzen.
"Lord Hokage. Black Ant Squad handles your security and relays your orders.
The Lynx Squad is more often under Advisor Danzo's command.
That means the only Jōnin under my full control are Golden Eagle and Fox.
With the ANBU downsized, we've shifted to an elite structure. Where else am I going to find another Jōnin like Fox—someone who's been under my command for nearly two years, strong, full of potential, and completely trustworthy?
Didn't you say yourself we need to strictly control the number of Jōnin?
Most Jōnin don't want anything to do with ANBU—they'd rather sit around in their committee meetings pointing fingers."
"Yes, yes, fine! That's my fault." Hiruzen, unusually, admitted he was wrong.
Then he changed the subject.
"Next, I want you to secretly investigate the Jōnin candidates recommended by Hatake Sakumo, Tsunade, and Uchiha Kagen.
Find flaws in their backup candidates. If there aren't any… invent some.
I'll selectively approve the Tokubetsu Jōnin recommendations, but as for full Jōnin promotions—
Those cannot be allowed through easily.
This is the ANBU's top postwar priority."
"I understand," said Yellow Dog.
"I'll have Golden Eagle and Fox Squads begin investigating the shinobi recommended by Tsunade, White Fang, and Uchiha Kagen."