"What? Captain Hippo is dead?"
A week after the Nine-Tails transfer sealing, a chilling rumor swept through the ANBU base.
Captain Hippo of the Yellow Dog Unit—dead during a mission somewhere in the Land of Fire.
Captain Hippo had been strong, just one step shy of jōnin level.
On the night of the Nine-Tails transfer sealing, he had been one of the unit commanders who followed Yellow Dog beneath the Nine-Tails itself.
ANBU deaths weren't rare. But this… this was different. Hippo had been killed by a subordinate—stabbed from behind.
A traitor in the ANBU. That was horrifying.
And over the next few days, the deaths kept piling up.
ANBU agents turning on each other—subordinates killing captains, captains killing their own men. Within the Forest of Death base, tension hung like a blade over every neck.
—
Somewhere in the forests of the Land of Fire.
The Fox Squad began to appear one by one in silent flickers.
Three teams fanned out in a loose circle—some standing on the ground, some on rocks, others atop tree branches.
At the center, two bodies.
ANBU corpses.
The air was heavy, silence near suffocating.
This was the second case of intra-ANBU killing the Fox Squad had investigated recently.
After a thorough examination, Purple Cat stepped forward and reported to Yako.
"Captain, the deceased are from the Yak Squad under Yellow Dog. One of them ambushed the other from behind and drove a ninja blade through his lung. A brief scuffle followed… both died in the end."
Yako asked, "Were either of them new transfers from Root?"
If Root had let their screening slip and sent in a spy, it was possible said spy had snapped mid-mission for the sake of intel.
Purple Cat replied, "The one who was ambushed was a newcomer, but the one who struck first had been in the ANBU for over six months."
"Six months… That's too long for a planted spy," Yako murmured.
Off to the side, White Ram raised an eyebrow. Six months is enough to clear someone of suspicion? Fox himself has only served about a year.
Yako turned back to Purple Cat.
"Since the Nine-Tails transfer sealing, our squad alone has investigated two of these killings incidents. Who knows how many more have occurred elsewhere.
"This isn't coincidence. Aside from the spy theory, it could be the Nara Clan's shadow manipulation jutsu, the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Body Switch Technique, or even some forbidden jutsu—all capable of forcing people to kill each other.
"Can we rule out the Naras or Yamanakas?"
Purple Cat responded carefully:
"Both made their final attacks with kunai aimed at the eyes, piercing the brain. The brains were too damaged to extract information.
"Still, I can rule out shadow manipulation. Victims of that jutsu instinctively struggle, digging their feet into the ground. We'd see disturbed soil, deep footprints—there were none.
"But the Mind Body Switch… I can't rule that out."
Yako had no answer. Once again, the investigation had ended with nothing.
Last time, it was three ANBU operatives on an assassination mission targeting a noble from the Land of Fire. They died in the noble's garden. The mission failed and nearly caused a diplomatic incident.
This time, two ANBU were delivering intel to the frontlines in the Land of Grass—killed on the way.
Both deaths: teammates turning on each other.
Extremely rare for the ANBU.
"Bring the bodies back. Let's see if the Interrogation Division can extract anything."
—
Back at base, just as Yako handed over the corpses, an assistant from Yellow Dog approached.
"The Commander wants to see you."
Inside the Commander's office, scrolls were scattered haphazardly across the desk.
Yellow Dog looked up.
"The Nine-Tails transfer cost us dearly. And now over a dozen ANBU-on-ANBU killings. Deaths in all six ANBU divisions.
"What did you find today?"
Yako answered, "Apologies. Same as last time. Nothing.
"The brains were destroyed—no way to determine whether it was genuine infighting or the result of genjutsu, secret techniques, or forbidden jutsu.
"We found no traces of enemies hiding or laying in ambush within several hundred meters."
Yellow Dog pushed up his mask, a rare sign of frustration.
"All the deaths happened outside the village. The enemy may be striking from beyond our walls.
"Local patrols turned up nothing. Fox, take your squad to the Land of Rain. Investigate another ANBU death.
"Your team has Yamanaka and Hyūga members—you're well-rounded.
"While you're there, also monitor the war situation for Lord Danzo.
"Lord Danzo intends to move into the Land of Rain in the next half-month or so.
"The fiercest fighting right now is against Amegakure. If this is the work of Hanzo the Salamander, it could be rear-line sabotage."
Yako nodded. "What about our task of monitoring the escalating conflict between the Senju and Uchiha?"
"I'll assign that to another squad in the village."
Tensions between Senju and Uchiha were climbing fast—injuries and bloodshed weren't uncommon anymore.
Strangely, the weakened Senju Clan had become more aggressive, constantly provoking the Uchiha.
The Uchiha, unable to explain the presence of Sharingan during the Nine-Tails sealing, had been left defenseless against public suspicion. All they could do was endure.
That same day, Yako led his squad out of Konoha toward the Land of Rain.
He stayed cautious the entire journey.
Watching the road ahead.
Watching every teammate behind him—especially the newer ones.
Who's killing the ANBU?
One name floated to the surface of Yako's mind.
Could it be… him?
Kato Dan?
That he was involved wasn't too surprising—but to be executing ANBU directly?
That was another matter.
Has the Senju abandoned their idealism and started striking from the shadows?
—
Upon reaching the Land of Rain, Yako led his squad to report at the front-line command center.
Mitokado Homura didn't have authority over the ANBU but needed to be kept informed of all forces present—including covert ones—to avoid fatal misjudgments.
Inside the ANBU command tent, Yako found many high-ranking shinobi gathered.
Orochimaru. Jiraiya. Tsunade. Kato Dan.
A strategy meeting among jōnin had just concluded.
Yako's eyes fell briefly on Tsunade. The devastation of the Nine-Tails sealing had reached even the front lines.
Her expression was drawn, grief-stricken.
Much of her clan had died in the sealing.
She was barely holding it together.
Next, he glanced at Orochimaru.
Danzo's Sharingan… it must have been Orochimaru who transplanted it.
Yako had once helped dispose of the post-experiment bodies. A boy from the Shimura Clan—his eyes were removed.
Did any of the Shimura realize their kin had become test subjects for Danzo?
As for Jiraiya… Yako didn't even bother. The man was too busy trying to cozy up to Tsunade to be of use.
None of the three gave Yako a second glance.
But Kato Dan…
He looked at Yako. Just for a moment. Yako noticed.
As Dan turned to leave, Yako tilted his head slightly, watching his retreating figure in thought.
Mitokado Homura broke the silence:
"Fox. The squad that died under suspicious circumstances—their bodies are still in the medical storage tent. You're free to inspect them."
"Yes, Mitokado-sama."
—
At the medical tent area, Yako spotted Tsunade again.
She wore the First Hokage's necklace, retrieved from Nawaki, and was hard at work in the treatment zone.
Amegakure used giant salamanders in battle—their venom was deadly.
Many shinobi had been poisoned.
If not for Tsunade, they'd be dying slowly, one after another.
As Yako, Purple Cat, and White Ram approached the corpse storage tent, they passed Kato Dan again—this time on his way to see Tsunade.
He was flanked by two bodyguards from the Senju Clan.
As they crossed paths, Yako studied him closely.
Dan's muscles were loose, relaxed. Not the slightest hidden tension, not a hint of hostile readiness.
Did I get it wrong? Yako wondered.
Or maybe… someone like me isn't even worth Kato Dan's caution.