Kill or arrange the deaths of members of the Uchiha clan?
Yako thought silently, Yellow Dog… you're starting to sound like Danzo.
Yellow Dog continued, "Fox, I've only just become ANBU Commander. There are many things I still don't fully understand.
"I reviewed the classified archives. The ANBU has always maintained a plan to weaken Konoha's great clans.
"In fact, this isn't unique to Konoha — other villages do the same.
"Kirigakure weakened major clans like the Ice Release clan, the Hōzuki clan, and the Kaguya clan to maintain balance within the village.
"In this mission, the Uchiha have mobilized half their elite forces.
"They have nine jonin — four are participating, and they are their strongest.
"They have twenty-one special jonin — eight are coming.
"Fox, during the mission, can you seize the opportunity to weaken the Uchiha?
"In the end, shift the blame onto Uchiha Madara. Even the Uchiha clan won't be able to complain."
Yako immediately understood.
The higher-ups wanted to use the Uchiha to investigate Madara — their greatest internal threat — while simultaneously using Madara as a tool to eliminate Uchiha elites.
Yako himself often used Madara as a scapegoat.
Apparently, the higher-ups did too.
Great minds think alike, he thought with amusement. Madara really is the ninja world's universal scapegoat.
After a moment of feigned contemplation, Yako spoke.
"The balance here will be difficult to maintain…
"Killing a few Uchiha wouldn't be hard for me. The difficult part is doing it without the rest of the Uchiha noticing.
"I can't exactly kill all of them — that would be too difficult…"
Yellow Dog felt a sudden flicker of unease.
If Fox became too enthusiastic and wiped out all twelve Uchiha — even including Clan Head Uchiha Kagen — the consequences would be enormous.
But he couldn't dampen his subordinate's enthusiasm either.
Watching Fox hesitate thoughtfully, Yellow Dog felt reassured.
Everything was back to normal.
They were once again the conspiratorial commander and subordinate plotting in the shadows.
Having Fox by his side felt… right.
Killing all the Uchiha would be excessive. He could advise moderation later. After all, for anyone else, killing even a few Uchiha would be nearly impossible.
Twelve three-tomoe Uchiha weren't clay dolls — they were dangerously sharp.
"Fox," Yellow Dog said, "use your judgment. Under no circumstances must you expose yourself. You are the First ANBU Squad Leader. The Third Hokage and I both value you highly."
Yako spoke with apparent gratitude.
"Rest assured, Yellow Dog-sama. I can definitely eliminate a few Uchiha without the others noticing.
"If necessary, I'll silence witnesses as I go. My work leaves no loose ends.
"But…"
Yellow Dog straightened, listening carefully.
Yako thought, Now is the time to ask for something big.
"However, the mission doesn't involve only me and the Uchiha — Uchiha Madara is also there.
"I've escaped him twice, and the pressure he puts on me is overwhelming.
"He didn't even use his Sharingan — just Wood Release alone was enough to defeat me completely.
"Yellow Dog-sama, the key to completing this mission is understanding the enemy — understanding Madara.
"Commander, do you have any intelligence on Wood Release techniques?
"Without information, I cannot complete the mission — nor carry out your wishes to eliminate a few Uchiha."
"Wood Release? I have clearance for that," Yellow Dog replied. "Wait here. I'll retrieve Wood Release techniques and intelligence on Uchiha Madara.
"Wood Release techniques are extremely rare, but useless to most shinobi.
"I'll find some for you — they may help with the mission."
As Yellow Dog left, Yako felt satisfied.
Ninjas were actors.
Success depended on performance.
Half an hour later, Yellow Dog returned with two scrolls.
Yako's eyes lit up.
He had already obtained three Wood Release techniques from Orochimaru — how many would he gain here?
"Fox," Yellow Dog said proudly, "I copied quite a few Wood Release secrets for you personally. Take a look — they might help your mission."
Yako accepted the scrolls.
"Thank you, Commander Yellow Dog. I'll make good use of this intelligence."
Watching Fox leave, Yellow Dog felt deeply satisfied.
He had not misjudged him.
Perhaps Fox had felt resentment — but now he had moved past it.
Fox remained his most trusted subordinate.
Coming to request help for a mission was the best possible outcome.
After leaving the office, Yako quickly arrived at the forest behind Hokage Rock.
He opened the scroll.
The first part detailed Madara's biography — he wasn't interested.
At the end were three Wood Release techniques:
Wood Release: Exploding Spear Tree.
Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.
Wood Release: Flowering Deep Forest Emergence.
His luck was poor — he had already received Deep Forest Emergence from Orochimaru. Acting out that performance with Yellow Dog had only gained him two new techniques.
Flowering Deep Forest Emergence enhanced Deep Forest Emergence by producing blossoms that released toxic pollen capable of paralyzing and knocking out anyone who inhaled it.
Wood Release: Exploding Spear Tree was a powerful offensive-defense technique, allowing trees or wooden spears to erupt from any part of the body to block attacks or counterstrike.
Still no Wood Dragon technique — the one capable of draining chakra.
Well, no need to be greedy. He could acquire more Wood Release techniques later.
For now, mastering these would be enough.
Time passed quickly.
At the gates of Konoha, the large investigation force gathered:
A reconnaissance team led by Hyuga Ketsu.
Three Uchiha squads led by Uchiha Kagen.
Fox leading the White Ram and Flower Deer squads.
Yellow Dog had originally wanted Yako to bring the entire Fox Squad, but Yako argued successfully to bring only two units.
In the end, Yellow Dog agreed — if the Ox and Hippo squads were wiped out, he would lose his core forces.
"Kagen-sama, shall we depart?" Yako said. "We're heading out to investigate the rogue ninja Uchiha Madara. For this mission, you take command. ANBU will follow your lead."
Uchiha Kagen waved awkwardly.
"Let's coordinate together. Fox Squad Leader has encountered Madara twice. You have more experience with this enemy."
"Still," Yako replied, "you know Madara better. After all, he is an elder of your clan."
Kane laughed stiffly.
That so-called elder was causing them endless trouble.
At over seventy years old, why was he still running around causing chaos?
Yako glanced behind Kagen.
Uchiha Tōka, Uchiha Dōma, and Uchiha Suigiku — four jonin including the clan head himself.
He lingered a moment on Suigiku.
The young man was Kagami's son… and the future father of Shisui.
Dōma and Tōka were familiar faces — they had once ambushed a Mist ninja sword squad together in the Land of Whirlpool.
What drew his attention even more were the two brothers standing behind Uchiha Tōka.
Uchiha Kagerō and Uchiha Homura— both special jonin and Tōka's disciples.
If Yako hadn't sabotaged Kagero earlier, he would already have been promoted to jonin.
Brothers…
Yako felt a vague sense of foreboding.
Something about that never led anywhere good.