The full moon hung like a silver plate, the moonlight like white frost. Yoru had gained a new chance at revival.
On this full moon night, he entered the Anbu base, masked, moving through the dimly lit corridors.
The candlelight flickered across the grotesque masks of the approaching Anbu members. Each step carried urgency, the crushing of Hidden Stone Village had left everyone feeling radiant with achievement.
Though nominally under the Hokage himself, the Anbu were commanded by Danzō, entrusted by the Third Hokage to fully manage the organization.
Danzō and the Anbu executed the Third's will loyally.
From Yoru's perspective since arriving in this timeline, Danzō hadn't made any extreme moves yet. But his ambition was blatant.
After the Battle of Mount Ushi, Danzō seemed the greatest hero, yet the campaign to publicize his achievements had abruptly stopped. The Third had directly ordered the Anbu to cease propaganda.
The decimation of Hidden Stone Village was a major victory, a joint achievement by Uzumaki Mito, the Senju, and Sarutobi Hiruzen. But the rumors had cast Danzō as the main actor. He had spent half a year laying the groundwork for this opportunity.
Even the Third Hokage hadn't questioned the rumors.
Yoru went to Captain Yellow Dog's office to report on Black Ape's recovery.
"A month and a half…" Yellow Dog frowned thoughtfully.
He wanted Yoru to fully assume the squad leader duties , a crippled squad would affect the entire division.
But considering Black Ape's importance as an Akimichi, and the clan's feelings, he restrained himself.
"Understood," Yellow Dog said, taking out the Black Ape squad mission scrolls. "Monitoring Princess Uzumaki isn't urgent; I'll assign another squad. Hidden Stone Village's spies have been wiped out , every one of them dead. Until Black Ape returns, you're responsible for training the new recruits."
"Understood, Captain."
Shokyo's situation was stable for now. The Leaf Monkey Squad was wiped out; no one knew her specifics.
Meiyi's body was returned; the overall spy count matched. The Anbu had no reason to suspect anything.
Training recruits, performing simple patrols, for a month and a half, Yoru would remain in the village.
He had time to do something.
Leaving the Anbu, he headed toward the Crane Moon Tavern, pondering his next move.
Should he go to the Hokage Tower? Assassinate the Third Hokage?
Sarutobi Hiruzen's abilities, aside from summoning Enma, were limited. Even if he summoned Enma, the summon might crush him instantly, high-level summons were volatile.
Ambushing Danzō? His abilities centered on Wind Release; Yoru had no Wind chakra yet, and couldn't cultivate it in a month.
He sensed a future confrontation with Danzō was inevitable. Two lives wouldn't even guarantee survival.
[System Reminder: If killed twice by the same person, the host will die permanently!]
The system triggered a warning.
No, Danzō was too dangerous. He couldn't recklessly give up a revival chance. What if Danzō tried to kill him later?
Ambushing Yellow Dog? Forget it, Yellow Dog knew all his intel. He would die ignominiously.
Yoru jumped onto a street lamp, gazing over Konoha.
Attack the Uchiha Clan? A Sharingan lottery might activate, instant death. Heart racing.
Wearing a mask would reduce the risk of his own Sharingan being detected. Anyone who saw it would be eliminated.
Risks existed but were manageable.
Then he looked to the Senju Clan.
The Uchiha would be exterminated far in the future; no rush. But the Senju? That could happen within a year or two.
Target the Senju instead. Their abilities, large chakra reserves, and strong bodies made them suitable.
Next step: plan an action. On the night of the 14th, challenge a top Senju ninja, either the clan head, Senju Rinmu, or Tsunade.
Back at the tavern, Yoru applied the Anbu's finest medicine to Shokyo. She needed to recover quickly, a long night awaited otherwise.
Before his transmigration, he had labored like a beast. In this new world, he could finally enjoy himself.
The next day, deep in the Death Forest, Yoru stood atop a rock, surveying the new recruits:
"I am the acting leader of the Black Ape Squad while the captain recovers. You can call me Fox.
The squad now has three units. White Ram is recovering, likely returning in two weeks.
The Leaf Monkey Squad is entirely new, from leaders to members. We'll start with basic kunai throwing and coordination training…"
A masked Leaf Monkey member stepped forward.
"Fox, I'm a new Anbu, but even as a regular ninja, I've completed multiple A-rank missions. Basic kunai throwing is too simple. I deserve…"
Purple Cat frowned under her mask. The Root division was freshly formed; was it not properly integrated yet? Why so many unruly ninjas?
"You deserve what?" Yoru snapped.
Using Instant Transmission, he appeared before Leaf Monkey, slashing toward his shoulder.
Leaf Monkey dodged but grabbed Yoru's wrist, trying to deescalate:
"Fox! I didn't mean anything, I just, "
He grasped only mud.
Earth Clone?
Leaf Monkey spun to defend against a rear strike. Nothing.
Other recruits saw Fox emerge from the mud, anticipating Leaf Monkey's turn.
Yoru held the blade inverted, smashing Leaf Monkey in the brow. He flew back, unconscious mid-air.
"Captain!"
A teammate shouted, cowering under Yoru's gaze.
Yoru returned to the rock, shaking his head:
"This Anbu generation is pathetic, the worst I've ever seen."
The words felt oddly familiar, teachers in his previous life had said the same.
Even though previous generations weren't appreciated, this generation had the potential to become the best in years.
He refocused:
"Leaf Monkey has been expelled. The Root division will assess him; if beyond repair, the Anbu code dictates his elimination. Anbu's only mission is to give everything, even life itself, to complete tasks.
Obey! Obey! And obey!"
The recruits finally understood the harshness of the Anbu.
Training ended. Leaf Monkey remained unconscious.
Yoru carried him to the Root division for processing. Ten Root ninjas stood ready, from Alpha to Kappa.
Hearing that Leaf Monkey had openly defied the acting squad leader, all eyes turned to D.
D, panting, took the unconscious ninja:
"Rest assured, I'll evaluate whether he can be reconditioned. If not, he'll be handled per Anbu regulations."
Judging by D's tone, Leaf Monkey had little hope of redemption.
Many ninjas in Konoha were naive, believing the village truly cared for comrades and upheld the Will of Fire.
They were endearingly foolish , brainwashed to death by the higher-ups.