The authority of an ANBU squad leader was significant. Within the squad's jutsu scrolls, one could freely learn most of Konoha's mainstream elemental jutsu.
Considering the Fire Release jutsu he had seen in previous battles, Yōkō selected two with considerable power: the Great Fireball Technique and the Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique.
The Great Fireball Technique was a signature jutsu of the Uchiha clan, requiring six hand seals.
This technique was widely disseminated, and many Fire Release users in the village had learned it.
The Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique was a signature jutsu of the Sarutobi clan, requiring seven hand seals.
Yellow Dog, in combat, used only taijutsu and the Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique.
Learning these two techniques would allow him to exploit the chakra nature advantage against Wind Release users, achieving surprising effectiveness.
The difficult part was raising the Fire Release jutsu to the Mastery level.
At Mastery, it could be executed with a single seal, just like Yellow Dog.
After comparing both, Yōkō decided to learn the Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique.
He was the Hokage's man, and Yellow Dog was his direct superior. What was the point of learning the Great Fireball? Learning the Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique had better prospects.
After practicing for two days, Yōkō formed the seven hand seals – Boar → Horse → Snake → Dragon → Rat → Ox → Tiger – and a scorching fire dragon surged forward.
Upon hitting an enemy or the ground, the fire dragon transformed into a raging sea of flames that spread out.
Whether in terms of speed, attack range, or damage, it was an excellent Fire Release jutsu.
He would keep his knowledge of Fire Release hidden for now, not letting anyone know.
A few days later, Hippo found Yōkō.
"Captain, the plan targeting Senju Mie is complete. The medical dispute conflict will erupt this afternoon. Will you go to Konoha Hospital to see?"
"Alright, Hippo. Battalion Commander Yellow Dog specifically instructed me to apply for an S-rank mission reward for you," Yōkō said:
"These recent operations weren't very dangerous, but they are highly significant for the Hokage-sama."
"They need to understand that not just anyone can become a Jonin."
Yōkō and Hippo removed their ANBU attire, disguising themselves as ordinary people to enter Konoha Hospital.
Yōkō wore a face mask, while Hippo was a short, chubby man with a warm smile.
They say fat people don't look like bad guys, but in Yōkō's eyes, Hippo was practically oozing villainy. It wasn't fat in his belly, but sinister schemes.
After entering Konoha Hospital, Hippo signaled Yōkō to sit on a bench in the corridor to watch the show.
He whispered to Yōkō, "Captain, I've already arranged for a Kiri-nin spy to die at Senju Mie's hands. Now I've set up this medical dispute; it will definitely blow things up."
Yōkō thought to himself, Thank goodness I'm in the ANBU, on the Hokage's side, otherwise I might be the one suffering.
Before long, an old man with bloodshot eyes entered the corridor.
Others told him not to cut in line, but he ignored them, rushing into a consultation room.
"Senju Mie! Who is Senju Mie!"
A male Senju medical-nin in the room said:
"Doctor Mie is doing rounds in the wards and hasn't returned yet. Wait outside, there are still many patients here."
"Senju Mie killed my son with her treatment! If my son can't live, none of you will either!"
The old man suddenly drew a kunai and viciously stabbed a young nurse in the consultation room.
The Senju male ninja was skilled, but he hadn't expected the old man to attack people nearby indiscriminately.
The consultation room instantly descended into chaos.
The young nurse, stabbed in the abdomen by the kunai, bent over and fell to the ground in pain.
The Senju male ninja quickly stepped forward and subdued the old man.
However, the old man glared furiously at the Senju male ninja, pulled open his clothes, revealing two burning explosive tags underneath.
"My son is dead! None of you will live!"
The Senju male ninja saw this and immediately threw the old man out of the window.
Boom!
After the explosion, the old man died mid-air.
Blood splattered on the shattered glass and back into the consultation room.
Hippo whispered:
"Captain, directly targeting Senju Mie would be too obvious. It's better to have this old man cause a medical dispute and attack others indiscriminately."
"This way, it attracts more attention and blows things up."
"As long as Senju Mie has any sense of shame and wants to be promoted to Jonin, it will be impossible for the next year or two."
Yōkō nodded repeatedly, thinking, This guy is truly wicked.
That very afternoon, Advisor Utatane Koharu ordered Konoha Hospital to investigate the medical accident involving Senju Mie.
Returning to the ANBU, Yōkō entered Yellow Dog's office.
"Battalion Commander, both Uchiha Mahiru and Senju Mie are in trouble. They can forget about promotion to Jonin for the next year or two."
Yellow Dog glanced at the report and said:
"Well done. Your squad's performance is much better than the Golden Eagle Squad and the Lynx Squad."
"Why can't the others come up with the ideas you've used?"
Yōkō quickly said: "Hippo is good at this sort of thing. He thinks clearly and arranges everything appropriately."
Yellow Dog asked: "What about the last one?"
Yōkō said: "The last one is Shinma, the civilian Tokubetsu Jonin recommended by Hatake Sakumo."
"This person holds no position and makes a living by taking missions."
"When he has no missions, he only does one thing: train his son."
"His life is too simple, like an egg without a crack. It's hard to find a point of attack."
Yellow Dog said: "If even you say it's hard to frame him, then it must be truly difficult."
Yōkō felt bitter inside. He really didn't want to claim Hippo's credit, but Yellow Dog kept attributing it to him.
Yellow Dog thought for a moment and said:
"We can't delay any longer. The Jonin Commander meeting will be held next week. The recommendation results will be announced then, and the Jonin assessments will begin."
"We must reduce the number of Jonin from the opposition faction and prevent the emergence of uncontrollable factions within the village."
"I will assign Shinma a mission outside the village. Like the Lynx Squad does, have him die in an accident during the mission."
Yōkō was taken aback. So ruthless?
He couldn't help but ask: "The Lynx Squad's work is that rough? Direct assassination?"
"Uncontrollable factions appearing in the village pose a greater danger to the village. For the sake of the village, the deaths of a few Tokubetsu Jonin are an unavoidable necessity."
Everything was for the village, wasn't it?
Yōkō could accept using medical disputes to frame a medical-nin, but direct physical elimination was a bit beyond his bottom line.
After all these years in the ANBU, I still haven't perfectly assimilated. I have too much conscience; I don't fit in well.
After leaving Yellow Dog's office, Yōkō returned to the room in the rear courtyard of the Tsurugetsu Izakaya.
He formed hand seals and slapped the ground.
A barrier technique appeared on the floor – the Earth Vibration Barrier that Yuka and he had improved.
Vibrations within a hundred-meter radius were under Yōkō's surveillance.
The vibrations from patrons slamming tables, clinking glasses, Kyōi's footsteps, and the steps of passers-by outside the izakaya.
Detecting nothing unusual, Yōkō formed seals and used the Summoning Technique.
The ninken Pakkun appeared before Yōkō.
"What's up, Fox?" Pakkun sniffed the scent of Kyōi's bedroom and said, "Oh? It's full of the scent of life here."
Yōkō sometimes really felt like punching Pakkun.
Why does his nose have to be so sharp?
"Pakkun, business. Warn the White Fang-sama that Shinma might be in danger, that someone wants to kill him."
"Who wants to kill him?"
"Me."
"You? You want to kill him?" Pakkun stared at Fox and said, "Then just don't kill him. Problem solved."
"I can't. I'm an ANBU squad leader. I must kill him."
"I see. You mean, let Sakumo create a reason why you can't kill him, so you can also report completion."
"Good dog. Smart."
The folds of flesh on Pakkun's face twitched. Calling him a dog felt a bit insulting; he was a ninken of extremely high intelligence.
But he really was a dog.
Pakkun angrily released the Summoning Technique.
***
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(Chapter end)