Who was suitable to become the ANBU Vice Commander?
In truth, this question was aimed directly at Danzo.
Root had lost its function, and under Sarutobi Hiruzen's pressure, Danzo had relinquished the position of ANBU Commander — on the condition that Lynx be appointed ANBU Vice Commander.
No one had expected that Lynx would fail to hold the position for long, dying directly in the Land of Grass.
Although Danzo had stepped away from the ANBU, his influence over it remained substantial.
Mitokado Homura immediately wondered whether Hiruzen intended to completely eradicate Danzo's lingering influence.
"Danzo," Hiruzen said, "should the Shimura clan provide another elite jonin to serve as ANBU Vice Commander?"
Shimura Danzo fell into rare silence.
It sounded as though the Shimura clan still possessed several elite jonin to spare — as if sending one out was trivial.
He hesitated.
Over the past six months, the Shimura clan had suffered heavy casualties. Tokubetsu jonin, jonin, elite jonin — one after another had fallen.
Only a single elite jonin remained within the clan: Shimura Kōhi.
If Shimura Kōhi were to die as well, the Shimura clan would lose its high-end combat power entirely.
Elite jonin were not cabbages to be plucked at will; they were gold refined through countless battles.
Mitokado Homura spoke:
"The ANBU Vice Commander represents Konoha's high-end combat strength operating within the darkness.
The Vice Commander may fall in battle — but not so easily. Such losses severely damage Konoha's deterrence.
Anyone who hears the name ANBU should feel fear. Otherwise, how can Konoha maintain order?
My suggestion is that we choose the next Vice Commander with extreme caution.
With the WildCat squad leader fallen, the remaining three squad leaders — Black Ant, Golden Eagle, and Fox — as well as other elite jonin in the village, should all be considered.
Golden Eagle is a strong candidate. He excels in reconnaissance and is less likely to die.
Fox is also suitable. His survival ability is extremely strong, and he specializes in defensive secret techniques.
There's no need to decide today. We can wait until the Land of Rain mission concludes. What do you think?"
Danzo did not argue. He stood and left the Hokage's office.
Utane Koharu watched him go, feeling a rare trace of sympathy. Danzo had lost too much.
ANBU existed to kill — and those who killed could be killed in turn. The position of ANBU Vice Commander was extraordinarily dangerous.
Back when Yellow Dog held the role, the most dangerous missions had often been assigned to Fox. In reality, Fox had shared much of Yellow Dog's risk.
But when Lynx became Vice Commander, no one shared the danger with him — and he himself lacked the strength to face a terrifying S-rank rogue ninja.
If there were an elite jonin capable of exchanging blows evenly with any S-rank rogue ninja — maintaining at least a temporary stalemate and ensuring escape — that would be ideal.
The ANBU needed a blade. A blade sharp enough to cut — and unafraid of breaking.
Orochimaru also left the Hokage's office.
When Fox returns alive, he thought, you won't just be surprised by his defensive techniques.
He watched Danzo's figure disappear around the stairwell.
Danzo… how many forbidden techniques from the Scroll of Seals would you trade for the transplantation method of Hashirama's cells?
Land of Rain.
Yako stood in the rain, allowing the downpour to wash away any lingering scent of the Land of Grass from his cloak.
Next came dealing with Uchiha Madara.
The village had sent Uchiha clan members to confront Uchiha Madara — driving a tiger against another tiger. No matter who died, Konoha would profit.
One day later, Yako spotted a ninja hawk.
ANBU operatives had relayed news from the Land of Grass to the ANBU stationed in the Land of Rain.
After wandering for several days and confirming that no trace of the Land of Grass remained on him, Yako regrouped with the others assigned to the investigation mission.
Just as he had expected, Uchiha Madara had no intention of acknowledging them.
Madara's primary goal was arranging matters for after his death. He had little interest in a world without Hashirama.
With a grave expression, Yako addressed the group.
"I've received news. Unfortunate news.
A subordinate of Uchiha Madara — the rogue ninja Sarutobi Kanosuke — has killed ANBU Vice Commander Lynx, the WildCat squad leader, and two ANBU squads."
Everyone stared at Fox in shock.
The news was terrifying.
Even the ANBU Vice Commander could be killed by a rogue ninja?
Uchiha Kagen and Uchiha Tōka exchanged glances.
Ancestor… please stop, they silently thought. This has gone too far. These crimes will all be pinned on the Uchiha clan.
If the village couldn't deal with Uchiha Madara, could it not still deal with the Uchiha clan?
"The situation has become even more severe," Yako continued.
"We must locate Uchiha Madara before Sarutobi Kanosuke returns to the Land of Rain and reunites with him.
If we face both of them at once, we will certainly die."
The others nodded. That assessment was undeniable.
"It seems directly searching for Madara is hopeless," Yako said. "The last time we encountered him was because ANBU tracked down a surviving member of the Uzumaki — his name is Nagato Uzumaki.
Nagato is a subordinate Madara is cultivating and values greatly.
Around nine years old. Red hair. Long bangs covering his eyes.
He has two companions — about the same age. A boy with orange hair, and a girl with blue-violet hair.
We change our investigation direction. Begin the second search phase."
Everyone nodded quickly.
As expected of ANBU — their intelligence far surpassed others.
Three nine-year-old children — red hair, orange hair, blue-violet hair — such a group would be extremely conspicuous.
Yako followed behind the Uchiha shinobi, considering how to make use of them.
The village's intention for this mission was not merely investigation. At minimum, they wanted the Uchiha clan to meet Uchiha Madara — to test both sides' attitudes.
Would Madara show any lingering sentiment toward his clan? Would he show mercy toward Uchiha shinobi?
After Madara's era, the Uchiha clan had split into three factions.
The first faction, led by Uchiha Kagen's father Uchiha Homura, was the neutral faction.
They were the largest group and believed the clan should distance itself from war and live peacefully within Konoha. Even if life within the village was imperfect, it was better than endless battlefields and countless enemies.
The second faction, led by Madara's former loyal subordinate Uchiha Mōra, was the militant faction.
Much of the Uchiha clan's poor reputation came from them. Uchiha Mōra himself had been imprisoned by the Second Hokage, sealed away personally and never released.
The more deeply an Uchiha loved, the more extreme they became after falling into darkness.
Some neutral Uchiha, after losing loved ones, transformed into militants, harboring deep resentment toward the village and its leadership.
The third faction, represented by Uchiha Suigiku son of Kagami, was the assimilationist faction.
They believed the Uchiha should abandon past glory entirely and integrate into the village — dedicating everything to Konoha.
The era of the Warring States, when they were the second-greatest clan, was long gone. Clinging to such titles held no meaning.
Even the Senju — once the greatest clan — had faded.
Past glory meant nothing. Reliance on Konoha was the only path forward.
Conflict between these three factions was constant, held together only by the neutral faction's efforts at mediation.
If Uchiha Mōra were here, he might truly be able to speak with Madara.
As for Uchiha Kagen… unlikely.
After Madara became a rogue ninja, the clan leadership had passed to Uchiha Homura, who forbade anyone from following Madara.
Among the four Uchiha jonin participating in this mission, Uchiha Kagen and Uchiha Tōka were neutralists.
Uchiha Suigiku, son of Uchiha Kagami, represented the assimilationist faction.
The final jonin, Uchiha Dōma, was — according to ANBU intelligence — a militant who believed he hid his stance well.
He held deep dissatisfaction toward Konoha's current leadership.
The greatest problem the Uchiha posed to the leadership was their unpredictability.
Even the most obedient assimilationists could change drastically under the right stimulus, transforming into extremists overnight.
Someone was staring at him.
Yako turned and saw Uchiha Gogo.
Back when the Uchiha clan recommended Gogo for jonin promotion, Fox had personally arrested him from the Uchiha Police Force, accusing him of causing the death of a fallen shinobi's orphan within the Police headquarters.
Gogo remained only a Tokubetsu jonin.
Because of his brother's incident, Uchiha Toka had never shown Fox a friendly expression.
Only Fox's status as an ANBU squad leader kept the brothers from openly confronting him.
Nothing unexpected will happen with these two Uchiha brothers… right?