Danzo stood atop a tree trunk, looking down at the young man below.
Suigiku bore a resemblance to Uchiha Kagami — both in appearance and in the exceptional talent reflected within his Sharingan.
"Suigiku," Danzo said calmly, "the thing your father and I feared most has come to pass.
"Uchiha Madara is alive, lurking in the shadows, plotting the destruction of Konoha.
"One of your father's most important duties during his lifetime was to prevent the Uchiha from betraying the village. That idea has always had supporters within the clan. Many believe in it."
He paused.
"The news that Madara lives can no longer be hidden. I suspect some within the Uchiha are developing dangerous thoughts — perhaps even considering defecting to him.
"Suigiku, during this mission to the Land of Rain, watch everyone. Prevent anyone from joining Madara and endangering the village."
Uchiha Suigiku's gaze hardened. "Uncle Danzo, I will complete the mission you entrusted to me."
Danzo nodded repeatedly.
Root had suffered continuous setbacks. The position of ANBU Commander had been handed to Sarutobi Hiruzen's son.
A minor loss.
Perhaps it was better this way.
Danzo could withdraw fully into the shadows, adopting a semi-retired posture while continuing to move his pieces.
If Hiruzen wished to leave the village's internal troubles to his son, then so be it.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke — regardless of his strength or temperament — simply lacked the capacity to resolve Konoha's complex internal conflicts.
"Suigiku," Danzo continued, "I grant you the Root designation 'B.' From this moment onward, you officially join Root."
Suigiku froze for a moment before suppressing his excitement. "Yes, Danzo-sama!"
In the days before departure, Yako trained relentlessly.
By day, he focused on Wood Release: Ironvine Technique.
At night, in the forest above the Hokage Rock, he practiced Wood Release techniques like Wood Locking Wall and Deep Forest Emergence.
Every day was tense and full.
Anyone looking down from above would notice several new crimson maple trees growing in the forest behind Hokage Rock.
Orochimaru had promised to keep things secret so Yako could reveal Wood Release in a dramatic moment to shock Danzo — and Yako had no intention of exposing it too early.
However…
Yako reconsidered.
He lacked sufficient Wood Release techniques. Relying entirely on Orochimaru was dangerous.
Orochimaru was too dangerous.
From now on, he couldn't be trusted.
…Perhaps he could sell Orochimaru out?
Trade that information to Yellow Dog for benefits?
How could he gain advantages without exposing himself?
As ANBU Commander, Yellow Dog occupied a private office beneath the Hokage Tower.
These past few nights, he had asked the same question.
"Butterfly, has Fox come to see me today?"
"No," Butterfly replied, a trace of sympathy in her voice.
Her sympathy was for Yellow Dog.
He had become ANBU Commander already — was Fox really going to resent him just because he wasn't made Deputy Commander?
Three or four days had passed, and Fox still hadn't come.
"Yellow Dog-sama," she suggested, "shall I summon Fox to meet you?"
"No. Not today," Yellow Dog said.
"It's natural for Fox to have some thoughts. After all, I promised him many times — even joked privately — that when I became Commander, he would be Deputy Commander.
"I wonder when he'll come to terms with it.
"I'll give him one more day. The day after tomorrow, he departs for the Land of Rain with the Uchiha. If he still hasn't come by then, it means he failed the test.
"After that, I'll bury him in endless missions — use the will of Konoha to compel him to serve me.
"Notify him half an hour before departure."
It wasn't that Yellow Dog felt nothing for Fox.
But neither was it deep sentiment.
He needed to learn to become like Danzo.
Not long after Butterfly left the office, she saw two ANBU at the staircase greet someone.
"Fox Squad Leader!"
Yako nodded, located Yellow Dog's office, and walked toward it.
As he passed Butterfly, he gave her a brief nod.
Her heart lifted immediately.
Fox had come to his senses.
He had bowed his head.
He had accepted reality.
She quickly led him inside.
Yako waited for her to knock, thinking calmly:
A little humiliation was nothing if it meant gaining greater benefits.
Look at it this way — if he hadn't become Deputy Commander, perhaps it was simply because too few Deputy Commanders had died.
If enough died… the position would inevitably become his.
The door opened.
Yako saw Yellow Dog seated behind the desk.
…And if enough Commanders died, perhaps that position would become his too.
They greeted each other as if nothing had ever happened — as though they were still the closest superior and subordinate.
In Yellow Dog's eyes, Fox had finally yielded. He had accepted his place.
Yako spoke first.
"Commander Yellow Dog, this is my first time visiting your office to congratulate you. I'm sorry I came late."
"Not late at all," Yellow Dog replied quickly. "Sit down, Fox. You're not late."
Yako glanced toward Butterfly.
"Butterfly, you may leave," Yellow Dog said immediately.
Fox clearly wanted to discuss something important.
Yako stepped closer to the desk, lowering his voice.
"Yellow Dog-sama, a few days ago I went to Orochimaru to collect a progress report on the Wood Release experiment… and I saw something I shouldn't have.
"It seems Orochimaru's research has made an extraordinary breakthrough.
"I triggered a trap and was injected with a vial of poison.
"It left me in agony, weakened for several days before I could even move."
Yellow Dog's expression changed instantly.
He had assumed Fox stayed away out of resentment.
He had never imagined Orochimaru had harmed him.
Orochimaru's arrogance, backed by the Third Hokage's favor, was well known.
Allowing Fox to collect reports had been a calculated decision — his strength made him safer than sending others.
"What was injected into you? How serious was it?" Yellow Dog asked urgently.
"I don't know what it was," Yako replied. "I was incapacitated for two full days."
The truth about Wood Release would inevitably surface someday. Concealment was a poor long-term strategy. Better to mix truth and deception.
A poisoned trap… and somehow he awakened Wood Release by coincidence.
Whether anyone believed it didn't matter.
He would stick to that explanation.
And now that he possessed Wood Release — belief was optional.
"Yellow Dog-sama," Yako continued, "Orochimaru must be watched closely.
"He obtained a test subject with Senju bloodline, and the experiment achieved a breakthrough.
"But he stopped recording real progress in his reports. I suspect the last report I delivered was falsified.
"I'm about to depart for the Land of Grass. Uchiha Madara remains extremely dangerous.
"The mission will demand much of my focus. Orochimaru's side… I ask you to keep a close eye on it."
His words made Yellow Dog feel reassured.
Fox was still his most reliable subordinate.
Yellow Dog's gaze turned serious.
"Orochimaru… relying on his strength and the Third Hokage's protection, he ignores authority entirely."
He paused, then said:
"Fox, be extremely careful during your investigation in the Land of Rain.
"And… I have another task for you."
"What is it?"
Yako had been preparing to request additional techniques — but Yellow Dog spoke first.
"Fox… during this mission, take the opportunity to weaken the Uchiha clan.
"Kill — or arrange the deaths of — several Uchiha jonin or three-tomoe users."