On their way back to the frontline defense zone, Umino Yoru noticed the gate guards—Shinotsuki Hikari and Hagane Sen—looking utterly dejected, a far cry from their cheerful selves that morning.
Curious, he sidled up with a teasing grin.
"What's with the long faces? Did your wives run off with someone?"
"Shut it! We're not even married!" Hagane Sen grumbled.
"Then what's the problem?"
"Ugh… it's a mess," Shinotsuki Hikari sighed. "This morning, we lucked into an A-rank mission merit—or so we thought. Turns out, we stepped on a landmine."
The two explained: after capturing the Suna spy, they'd traced him to a hidden outpost and uncovered a smuggling ledger.
The ledger exposed Mitokado Takeshi's illegal dealings with Suna—and worse, implicated Sarutobi Eijirō, the Third Hokage's nephew.
Now, they'd unwittingly pissed off both Elder Mitokado Homura and the Hokage himself. Their careers? As good as dead.
"Sen, Hikari, relax. You were just doing your jobs. No one's blaming you," Umino Yoru reassured them—though his words only made them more agitated.
"You don't know how these people operate!" Hagane Sen hissed. "Even if the Hokage lets it slide, half the village is clawing for promotions. And Mitokado Homura? That old—"
"Sen. Careful," Umino Yoru cut in sharply.
Realizing they'd said too much, the two clammed up. Seeing their mood wasn't improving, Yoru exchanged a few more pleasantries before leading his team out of Shinanogakure and toward the frontline.
A New Posting
Within the hour, they arrived at the defense zone. After a brief handover with Akimichi Toribō, the man lingered just long enough to mooch a lavish meal off him.
Then, Maruboshi Kosuke pulled him aside—to teach him one final technique.
"Konoha Style: Dancing Willows."
An S-rank genjutsu kenjutsu hybrid, this technique required no hand seals.
At close range, it trapped the enemy in a hallucination—making the user appear to vanish like leaves scattered by the wind. The victim, paralyzed, would then be cut down from their blind spot in a single, unavoidable strike.
"Yoru… I didn't expect your genjutsu talent to be this high," Maruboshi admitted, stunned. "Master the draw strike, and this technique is yours."
Umino Yoru nodded, touched.
His genjutsu aptitude surprised even him—likely a side effect of his transmigrated soul's enhanced mental energy.
Maybe not on par with Anko's… but definitely above Konoha's average.
Still, without proper genjutsu lineages, advancing further would be tough.
Reunions and Realities
After Maruboshi's group left, Umino Yoru toured the defense zone with his team, meeting the ten patrol squads under his command.
Most were cannon fodder—except three:
Ando's Squad (Root-assigned, taking over his old sector). Tatami's Squad. Ebisu's Squad.
"Yoru… Special Jonin? And now my boss?" Ebisu groaned, clutching his treasured Icha Icha like a lifeline. "How am I supposed to enjoy my books now?"
"Luck. Pure luck," Umino Yoru lied smoothly.
"Then I want double the 'welcome gifts'!"
"Fine, fine."
Tossing Ebisu two vials of "Water Bat No. 6" poison, Yoru moved on—leaving his old friend torn between pride and envy.
At least now we've got connections, Ebisu's squadmates whispered excitedly.
The Calm Before the Storm
By dusk, Umino Yoru had finished his rounds.
Unlike typical commanders, he didn't extort "tributes" from his subordinates. Instead, he distributed poison—both as a goodwill gesture and to strengthen the sector's defenses.
If Ebizō retaliates, we'll need every advantage.
Two peaceful days later—
The trap sprung.
A puppeteer squad struck Ando's patrol zone—the very sector Yoru once guarded.