The weakening of the Earth Spears gave Yoru a glimmer of hope.
Using the Water Array Wall to block the enemy's vision, he formed the signs for a Shadow Clone.
The Stone jōnin knew that the Fox ANBU could infiltrate via the earth, so simply using Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique again would hardly succeed. Yoru had to coordinate a direct assault with the clone.
The Water Wall fell. Two Yoru's charged, one to the left, one to the right.
One leapt high, sword raised, striking downward. The other curved in an arc, slicing at the jōnin's side.
The Stone jōnin scanned the battlefield. He assumed the airborne attacker was the clone's feint, while the ground-level approach was the real one.
The Fox ANBU had mastered A-Rank Earth Clone, a nearly "cheating" technique. The clone required contact with the ground to function. The fox would never give up this advantage.
Every step the jōnin watched the earth, seeking signs of a clone's activation.
Earth Spears shot up again, but noticeably slower.
The jōnin's abdomen was severely wounded, his spleen ruptured. He was near the limit of his strength.
Yoru's reflexes were lightning-fast. Dodging several spikes, he reached the jōnin's side.
A horizontal slash!
The jōnin had seen Cloud-Style Swordplay before. Guarding against feints, he slightly raised his armored arm, prepared to protect his throat.
Yet the Fox's blade didn't curve—it cut straight to the waist.
This Fox… is cunning, impossible to predict…
The blade struck the arm armor—metallic clang, sparks flying.
Something's off!
The force felt wrong—too weak. A taijutsu ANBU couldn't be this underpowered.
Did the Fox abandon A-Rank Earth Clone and jump from the air?
The next strike caught the jōnin off-guard, hit his brow before the other arm could block.
Death.
Two ANBU squads, five lives spent, killed one Stone jōnin. Six, if you count Yoru's previous resurrection. Was his life worth nothing?
Breathing hard, he retreated, wary of hidden jutsu. Only when the jōnin's body collapsed with a dull thud did he relax.
He turned to issue commands:
"White Ram! Don't rush to the Black Ape Captain! Use your Byakugan to locate the enemy main force. The troops that breached the border must be nearby!"
White Ram, bleeding from a stone spear wound, activated the Byakugan. Soon, his face paled with terror.
"Fox! It's the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki! He commands at least 300 Stone shinobi, including six elite jōnin. One's chakra rivals the Tsuchikage himself. Two kilometers from here, 10 o'clock direction!"
Yoru's mind jolted.
Damn it… the ANBU leak about the Uzumaki funeral brought the Third Tsuchikage here.
He hurried to the Black Ape Captain, Leaf-Monkey Squad wiped out, Captain sprawled, one leg twisted grotesquely from Earth Release. Pain wracked him, but he grinned faintly.
He had expected the Fox and White Ram to die facing another Stone jōnin. Yet Fox not only survived but saved him.
"Captain! White Ram saw Ōnoki!"
The Black Ape Captain's face tightened. The Tsuchikage himself?
Quickly, he made a decision, lifting his arm from Fox's shoulder, balancing on one leg:
"Fox! Purple Cat! You two are unharmed, ignore everything else. Report this immediately to Lord Danzo!"
Yoru nodded. Life of the Captain or White Ram didn't matter compared to this intelligence.
After leaving Black Ape and White Ram safely behind, Yoru and Purple Cat sped toward Ushi Mountain.
If the captain survived, it would be easier to explain how Yoru obtained A-Rank Earth Clone. A new captain would be harder to bluff.
After twenty kilometers, they reached Ushi Mountain.
A deep valley guarded by ANBU awaited.
"Urgent intelligence!"
The guards, recognizing the emergency, allowed them to pass without obstruction.
Danzo, observing from afar, saw ANBU sprinting openly through the trees. No silent infiltration, every second counted.
Yoru located Captain Yellow Dog. The captain gestured, "Don't report first. Take Fox to Lord Danzo immediately."
"Lord Danzo! Over 300 Stone shinobi are approaching, led by the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki! Ten o'clock, 15 minutes ago, 20 kilometers from here!"
Danzo's normally stoic face showed surprise.
Ōnoki?
Flying, cunning, resilient, top-tier ninja.
Yoru watched carefully, wondering if Danzo regretted telling the spy about Uzumaki Mito's fate.
Going too far… my life isn't a gamble for his ambition.
Danzo vanished with a swift body flick behind the valley.
Soon, the Third Hokage, Senju Rinmu, Tsunade, and Kato Dan arrived at the front.
The Third Hokage waved to Yoru: "Fox, brief me on your squad's encounter."
He remembered Fox, frequently appearing in ANBU reports, high mission completion, steadily growing skill. A core ANBU operative.
Yoru summarized the situation, focusing on White Ram's Byakugan reconnaissance:
"Lord Hokage, the Third Tsuchikage leads five shinobi battalions, 300 Stone ninja. At least six elite jōnin ahead, one with chakra rivaling the Tsuchikage. The enemy's reconnaissance squads are all jōnin-led, moving quickly. Even the rear units aren't slow—they just rested and are ready to fight."
Hiruzen nodded, impressed: "Well done."
Yellow Dog, with Fox and Purple Cat, withdrew as the higher-ups devised strategy.
Yoru glanced at the moon. A waning crescent.
I've already died once this cycle… what will I do in the coming battle?