The Yamanaka rogue ninjas were being hunted by the ANBU, not because they leaked the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques, but because they had developed a new jutsu capable of corrupting the clan itself.
The "Mind Transfer, Mind Exchange Technique", practiced in pairs, male and female, offered an extreme experience.
Which Yamanaka ninja could withstand such a trial?
The clan likely didn't send their own members to execute the rogue ninjas for fear of being assimilated by them.
The fact that the rogue ninjas had recruited two returning border Yamanaka ninja showed just how tempting their "I-sleep-I-secret" technique was.
Corruption.
The Yamanaka Clan could not allow their family to be corrupted and thus turned to the ANBU for help.
Thanks to the Yamanaka Clan's contributions as perfect tools, the ANBU unhesitatingly accepted the request.
Thus, the Fox Squad was dispatched.
Purple Cat Yamanaka could supervise the rogue ninjas' deaths throughout the mission. With the ANBU's protection, she wouldn't fall to corruption.
Only Yoru's eyes were wounded.
His eyes were sullied.
Only his heart ached.
Jealousy can be excruciating.
Yoru resolved to learn every jutsu and secret technique in the ninja world, traveling across dimensions, pursuing every novel experience.
The heat from the explosion instantly filled the bathhouse.
Four naked bodies panicked.
"Switch back! Quickly, switch back!"
"It's too late!"
The four, weakened and disoriented from the previous climax, stumbled, struggling to control their bodies.
At the front was a woman whose body housed a man's soul.
The man's soul acted responsibly, trying to block the attack first, but trapped in a female body, he could not exert much combat power.
Through the mist, Yoru slashed horizontally.
The woman with the man's soul grabbed a tray to block the kunai, but Yoru's Cloud Flow Sword Technique suddenly shifted from a horizontal to an upward slash, cutting her throat.
With his reflexes enhanced, the Cloud Flow Sword Technique, which specializes in adaptive strikes, was even more precise.
Behind her, a man screamed.
The Mind Transfer, Mind Exchange Technique was forcibly terminated.
The man endured the pain of a slashed throat, the woman the fatal reality of death.
The man's soul returned to his body, screaming the woman's name in agony.
They were aberrants, a pair whose souls and bodies were uniquely intertwined.
The death of one made life unbearable for the other.
"Ah!!"
He raised his hands, forming a square with his fingers: "Mind Transf, "
A kunai suddenly flew.
The Yamanaka rogue ninja, terrified, saw the kunai precisely strike from the square formed by Yoru's thumb and forefinger.
The kunai pierced his chest, blood gushing.
True to the ANBU, incredibly formidable.
After eliminating two enemies, Yoru surveyed the area.
Antelope and Black Bull had killed one female Yamanaka rogue ninja.
Not far away lay a male Yamanaka ninja, his body bearing the explosion marks of a deadly explosive tag.
With this, all four rogue Yamanaka ninja were down.
Yoru looked at Purple Cat, intending to ask how to deal with the bodies.
Suddenly, Black Bull raised a kunai and thrust it toward Yoru's side.
"Black Bull! What are you doing?"
Antelope screamed in panic but was too late to stop him.
Holding his sword backward, Yoru instinctively backstabbed.
Before Black Bull's kunai reached his side, Yoru's sword pierced Black Bull's throat.
"No!"
Purple Cat rushed to the Yamanaka rogue ninja blasted by the explosive tag.
Miraculously, the rogue ninja had survived, missing most of his lower body, yet had used his last Mind Transfer, Mind Exchange Technique.
Purple Cat's kunai pierced the rogue ninja's head.
Yoru withdrew his sword, glancing regretfully at Black Bull.
Such a pity, why did Black Bull have to die?
He approached Purple Cat, staring at the kunai lodged in the head:
"Purple Cat, you were too reckless.
First, after Black Bull's death, you acted too impulsively. As a support-type ninja, you shouldn't have rushed in so fast.
Second, the rogue ninja's brain might contain vital intel. Attacking his head with a kunai could destroy it."
"Sorry, Captain, I lack experience. I just wanted to make sure he was completely dead."
Outside the bathhouse, angry pounding erupted.
The explosive tag had blown off the roof, and the bathhouse owner arrived with samurai to confront them.
Yoru had no interest in negotiating with the owner.
A ninja mission inevitably causes property damage; the ANBU never compensates.
"Carry all the bodies, retreat!"
Including Black Bull, there were now five bodies.
Yoru wrapped two in a bath towel, Antelope carried two, Purple Cat carried one. The three swiftly withdrew.
Once away from the town, Yoru allowed the team to rest.
Purple Cat, uneasy, approached him.
"Sorry, Captain… because of our Yamanaka Clan, "
"Purple Cat! I don't want to keep lecturing, but you made a mistake again," Yoru said:
"You must always protect your secrets. The ANBU rarely uses ninjutsu on missions, relying on physical combat and explosive tags to safeguard intelligence.
Exposed ANBU information makes one a prime target for enemy village spies. That ordinary guy you see shopping could be an ANBU squad leader at night.
Never discuss personal matters unless required by a mission. Mission comes first. Do not feel guilt over a teammate's death; such emotions are meaningless for the ANBU.
Black Bull died gloriously on a mission. He was controlled by a rogue ninja, killing him brings me no emotional conflict.
If I hadn't killed him, it would have been me who died."
Though Yoru had been slightly annoyed by Purple Cat's emotional nature, he realized guiding subordinates' mindsets was part of a captain's duty.
Ensuring their fighting resolve increases mission success and survival odds.
He continued patiently:
"This mask once belonged to a teammate. He died before my eyes, a perfectly cooperative ANBU ninja.
You will die, I will die. After my death, this Fox mask will go to a new ANBU ninja.
Completing ANBU missions before death is the only requirement for an ANBU ninja."
ANBU mortality is high, largely due to Danzo's command style.
When ANBU are deployed, Danzo often has them probe intelligence while he either collects the results later or leaves.
Like in the original story when Danzo sent forces to the Land of Rain to kill Nagato, half of the ANBU elite were lost.
Or when Danzo encountered Obito and Sasuke before his death, sending his most capable ROOT subordinates to probe Obito while he leisurely observed.
Purple Cat quickly said: "I understand, Captain. I will adjust my mindset and become a true ANBU ninja."
Black Bull's death also had a significant impact on Antelope.
Within the squad, only someone like Yoru, experienced in the harsh battles of the Land of Whirlpools, truly understood that death is a constant for ANBU ninja.
Returning to the ANBU base in the Forest of Death at dawn, Yoru submitted the mission report to Captain Black Ape.
Black Ape glanced at the report:
"You even killed two extra rogue ninjas, now the Yamanaka Clan will be even more satisfied.
Oh, Black Bull died? I'll apply to ROOT for another one tomorrow."
His tone was casual, as if claiming another kunai.
He continued:
"Your subordinates have been with you for over two months, they've been lucky to survive this long.
Most of our squad's recent missions were in-village. Only missions outside the village can truly test ANBU ninjas' caliber. Train Purple Cat and Antelope well, no slacking."
Yoru replied:
"Understood. I'll supervise their training. Captain, I request to monitor Princess Uzumaki tomorrow. Two days without seeing her feels uncomfortable."
"There's such a request? No holiday for you then. I'll grant it, you monitor Princess Uzumaki tomorrow."