Yuka lay weak and limp, looking at Fox with a resentful expression.
"I feel like you suddenly got stronger! Why are you this strong?!"
Yako replied, "Yuka, you need to train harder. I miss the days when we were evenly matched."
She burrowed into his arms, grumbling softly.
She really had been training diligently — but Fox's growth was simply too fast.
Yako reached down to check on her, and she trembled as she tried to dodge his hand.
He thought to himself that she was truly at her limit tonight.
"Let's talk business," he said. "Yuka, you need to go to the Land of Grass.
"The Shimura clan stole my chance at becoming ANBU Deputy Commander.
"Whether it's personal grudges or family debts — they have to die.
"Help me find him. Then I'll look for the chance to eliminate him."
Uzumaki Yuka nodded repeatedly. "Okay!"
Her face reddened as she formed hand seals and used a simple medical ninjutsu.
Yako blinked. "Hm? What's that for?"
"Reducing swelling!"
Yako felt a surge of appreciation. Being a ninja really was convenient.
The second round, he showed mercy — no partial Copper Light this time — achieving a 1-to-2 exchange ratio.
Late at night, satisfied, Yako returned to the tavern.
It had just closed. Kyoi was waiting for him.
"I thought you were on a mission and wouldn't come back tonight," she whispered shyly, leaning against his shoulder. "The baby is already more than four months… I think it's fine now…"
Yako's body stiffened.
Thankfully he had just obtained the pure-grade Senju bloodline; otherwise he would have needed the Akimichi clan's blue secret medicine again.
After a lingering, intimate moment, Yako sat at the bedside, surprised to find himself completely unfatigued.
So this was pure-grade Senju vitality — truly inhuman endurance.
The next day, he returned to ANBU.
Commander Yellow Dog and Lynx finalized arrangements for the rogue-nin investigation.
With Lynx's promotion to deputy Commander, his squad had gained a new captain — a Shimura clan ninja with the codename Wildcat.
From Yako's memory, Wildcat was relatively weak — the weakest among the four squad leaders.
His promotion felt somewhat forced.
Lynx announced that he would personally lead the Wildcat squad into the Land of Grass to investigate Sarutobi Kanosuke.
Yellow Dog then asked Fox for his opinion.
"I'll meet with the Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Kagen, and see what kind of team they plan to send into the Land of Rain," Yako said.
"Uchiha Madara puts tremendous pressure on me. I need preparation time.
"Give me at least five days."
Lynx frowned. "Too slow. At most three days. My squad departs in three."
"Then I wish you victory, Deputy Commander."
Yako had gained massive physical improvement and still needed Wood Release. There was no way he would leave early.
Yellow Dog glanced at Lynx, silently disapproving.
"Madara is more dangerous than this supposed Sarutobi Kanosuke," he said. "Fox, take the time you need. Five days it is."
Leaving ANBU, Yako entered the Uchiha compound and appeared instantly in Uchiha Kagen's courtyard.
Kagen realized with a start that he hadn't detected Fox immediately — his own perception seemed dull by comparison.
After discussion, Yako learned the Uchiha's plan.
Uchiha Kagen would lead personally, accompanied by three jonin including Uchiha Toka and eight special jonin possessing three-tomoe Sharingan, forming an elite unit.
Yako was very satisfied with their commitment.
He glanced toward Uchiha Fugaku.
"Shouldn't the young clan head come see the world?"
Kagen gave a wry smile.
"For someone of your strength, Fox, survival might be possible. But we've witnessed or heard of Madara's feats.
"Fugaku cannot go. Madara is too dangerous."
Yako nodded.
"I'll inform the reconnaissance squad. Five days from now, we meet at the village gate."
After settling all remaining matters, Yako entered Root's laboratory.
His shadow clone had monitored continuously using the Mayfly Technique. Orochimaru hadn't introduced anything suspicious.
The lab had been cleared completely — prepared solely for Fox's arrival.
Several Orochimarus stood inside, each a shadow clone handling different tasks.
For critical operations, Orochimaru trusted clones over assistants.
The original spoke:
"Fox, everything is ready. Just lie down on the operating table."
As Yako approached, he removed his mask and iron vest.
"I thought you might invite Danzo to observe such an important Wood Release experiment."
"Of course not," Orochimaru replied. "Only I know the transplant data. Otherwise, how would Danzo ever allow me to view the Sealing Scroll?"
Yako removed even his face covering, leaving only short trousers as he lay on the cold table.
Orochimaru began explaining.
"The transplant consists of three stages.
"First: diluted Hashirama cell culture, intravenous injection.
"Second: high-concentration culture, intramuscular injection.
"Third: raw Hashirama cells, spinal puncture injection.
"There may be a little pain. But someone like you, Fox, probably won't make a sound."
Yako thought silently: with multiple stages like this, he could interrupt at any moment if Orochimaru attempted anything suspicious.
With his physique, even injuries could be healed.
He wondered whether Orochimaru would complete the procedure honestly for the sake of the Sealing Scroll.
"If I still don't scream during such an extreme experiment," Yako said, "it means things are going smoothly."
Orochimaru's biological experiments reflected the brutal style of Ryūchi Cave.
The sage inheritance there involved being bitten by the White Snake Sage — survive the injection of senjutsu chakra and become a sage, or fail and become food.
Orochimaru's method was similar: inject directly; if you die, you die.
His refinement came from optimizing sequence and dosage to maximize survival rates.
Four Orochimaru clones stepped forward, locating veins in Yako's limbs and beginning the injection.
The IV bags contained milky-white liquid — diluted Hashirama cell culture.
The moment the cells entered his body, Yako smelled a pungent, root-like stench.
His nostrils flared instinctively.
Orochimaru stood beside him, recording data.
"The body is reacting to Hashirama cells — beginning partial lignification.
"Hair, including scalp hair, nasal hair, and body hair, resembles fine tree roots.
"Reversion occurring immediately. Woodification effects minimal. Overall performance excellent.
"First-stage implantation — never seen such a perfect response."