As an ANBU squad captain, Yako had access to nearly every mainstream elemental jutsu stored within Konoha's scroll archives.
After reviewing the Fire Release techniques he'd seen in combat, he narrowed it down to two high-powered options: Great Fireball Jutsu and Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
Great Fireball Jutsu was the iconic jutsu of the Uchiha clan—six hand seals.
It was widely known and widely taught—many Fire-style users in the village had learned it.
Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, on the other hand, was the signature jutsu of the Sarutobi clan—seven hand seals.
Yellow Dog's entire fighting style consisted solely of taijutsu and this technique.
Mastering both would allow Yako to exploit elemental advantages against Wind-style users—perfect counters when deployed well.
The hard part would be raising Fire Release to [Mastery].
At the [Mastery] level, a jutsu could be cast with just one hand seal—just like Yellow Dog.
After weighing both choices, Yako settled on Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
He worked for the Hokage. Yellow Dog was his direct superior.
What was the point of learning an Uchiha technique?
Learning Fire Dragon Flame Bullet was an investment in his future.
After two days of practice, Yako completed the seven hand seals: Ram–Horse–Snake–Dragon–Rat–Ox–Tiger.
A blazing fire dragon roared forward from his hands.
Upon striking the ground or a target, it exploded into a raging sea of fire.
In terms of speed, range, and power—it was a fantastic Fire Release technique.
For now, though, Yako chose to keep his mastery of Fire Release a secret.
A few days later, Hippo found him.
"Captain, the plan against Senju Miraki is complete. The medical scandal will blow up this afternoon. Want to go watch the show at Konoha Hospital?"
"Excellent, Hippo," Yako replied. "Lord Yellow Dog specifically asked me to recommend you for an S-rank mission reward.
These operations weren't life-threatening, but their significance to the Hokage was enormous.
They need to understand—
Not just anyone gets to become a Jōnin."
Ditching their ANBU uniforms, Yako and Hippo disguised themselves as civilians and entered the hospital.
Yako wore a mask.
Hippo looked like a short, cheerful, chubby guy—radiating harmlessness.
People always said chubby types didn't look like villains.
But to Yako, Hippo practically oozed malevolence. That gut of his wasn't filled with fat—it was full of schemes.
Once inside, Hippo signaled for Yako to sit on a bench in the corridor and enjoy the show.
He leaned in and whispered, "Captain, I arranged for a Kirigakure spy to die at Senju Miraki's hands. And I set up a medical riot to erupt immediately after. It'll blow up, no doubt."
'Thank goodness I'm ANBU,' Yako thought. 'A Hokage loyalist. Otherwise, I'd probably be the one getting screwed.'
Not long after, an old man with bloodshot eyes stormed down the corridor.
Other patients shouted at him not to cut the line.
He didn't listen.
He burst into one of the examination rooms.
"Senju Miraki! Who's Senju Miraki?!"
A male Senju medic-nin inside looked up.
"Dr. Miraki is doing rounds. She's not back yet. Please wait outside—there are still other patients—"
"Senju Miraki killed my son! If he's not alive, none of you deserve to be!"
The old man suddenly pulled out a kunai and stabbed a nearby nurse in the stomach.
The medic was skilled—but he hadn't expected such indiscriminate violence.
Chaos erupted.
The nurse doubled over in pain, blood pooling around her.
The medic restrained the old man—just in time to see him yank open his shirt, revealing two burning explosive tags beneath.
"My son is dead! You all go with him!"
The medic's eyes widened.
He hurled the old man toward the window.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the building.
The old man died midair.
Blood splattered across broken glass and painted the walls.
Hippo murmured,
"Targeting Senju Miraki directly would've been too obvious. But by having this man riot and attack everyone indiscriminately… we get more eyes, more scandal.
If Senju Miraki has even a shred of pride, she can forget about becoming a Jōnin for at least the next year or two."
Yako nodded repeatedly.
'Damn. This guy really is evil.'
That same afternoon, Advisor Koharu ordered an official investigation into Senju Miraki's alleged medical malpractice.
Back at ANBU HQ, Yako entered Yellow Dog's office.
"Commander, Uchiha Gogo and Senju Miraki are both finished. No chance of Jōnin promotions this year—or next."
Yellow Dog skimmed the report.
"Well done. Your squad's performance has been far better than Golden Eagle's or Lynx's.
Why is it only your squad comes up with ideas like this?"
Yako quickly deflected.
"Hippo has a talent for this kind of thing. Sharp mind. Perfect execution."
Yellow Dog asked,
"What about the last one?"
Yako replied,
"The last is Shinma—a civilian Tokubetsu Jōnin, recommended by Hatake Sakumo.
He holds no official post. Lives off missions.
When he's not on a job, he does one thing: trains his son.
His life is so simple, it's like a flawless egg—no cracks to exploit."
"Hmph. If even you say it's tough, then it really must be."
Yako grimaced inwardly. He really didn't want to take credit for Hippo's dirty work—but Yellow Dog kept pinning it on him anyway.
Yellow Dog frowned in thought.
"We can't delay any longer. The Jōnin Council will meet next week. That's when the results will be announced and the Jōnin exam begins.
We must cut down the opposition's Jōnin numbers. No room for uncontrollable factions forming.
I'll assign Shinma an out-of-village mission. Like Lynx Squad does it—make sure he dies in an 'accident.'"
Yako froze.
'That far?'
He couldn't help asking,
"Lynx works that crudely? Just straight-up assassination?"
"The appearance of uncontrollable factions is far more dangerous to the village.
A few Tokubetsu Jōnin deaths? Unfortunate—but necessary."
'All for the village, right?'
Yako could accept framing a medic-nin.
But outright erasing someone physically?
That pushed past his bottom line.
After all these years in ANBU…
He still hadn't fully assimilated.
Still had a conscience.
Still didn't fit in.
—
That evening, back in the private room behind Tsurugetsu Tavern, Yako activated a jutsu.
He clapped his hands and touched the floor.
A barrier pattern lit up beneath him—a modified Soil Pulse Barrier he'd developed with Yuka.
Every vibration within a hundred meters was now under his surveillance.
The clatter of cups, footsteps of patrons, Kyoi's movements in the next room, footsteps of pedestrians beyond the walls—
All normal.
He formed another seal.
Summoning Technique!
A puff of smoke—and the ninja hound Pakkun appeared.
"What's the matter, Fox?"
Pakkun sniffed the air. His nose twitched.
"Oho? This whole place is thick with… life energy."
Yako resisted the urge to punch him.
'Why is that nose of his so sharp?!'
"Focus, Pakkun. I need you to deliver a warning to White Fang. Tell him Shinma might be in danger—someone wants to kill him."
"Who?"
"Me."
"...You?"
"You want to stop him from dying, don't you? I'm the one assigned to kill him."
Pakkun narrowed his eyes.
"So you want Sakumo to create a situation—an excuse—that keeps you from doing it? That lets you report mission failure without breaking orders?"
"Smart dog."
Pakkun's wrinkled face twitched.
Calling him a dog felt insulting—he was a ninja hound of extremely high intelligence.
But… he was a dog.
With a huff of irritation, Pakkun ended the summoning and vanished.