Once they left the capital of the Land of Rain behind, Danzo gave his orders to Captain Yellow Dog and then disappeared into the storm with Root's operatives.
Captain Yellow Dog gathered three squad leaders before him and laid out the mission.
"Hidden Rain has entered the war unexpectedly. The village is hedging its bets with two approaches.
First, on the front lines—Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya will lead their forces into the Land of Rain, seeking to crush the Rain ninja's main force.
Second, negotiation.
Hanzō has stated his terms. If we drive out the Sand, he is willing to talk. Whether it is by direct combat or diplomacy, both are essential if we want to win this war.
According to Hanzō's information, our division will head for the Yoshimizu River in southern Rain. We are to investigate the Sand's purpose there and drive them out of Rain's territory.
Remember: the war against Iwagakure is the core of the Second Shinobi World War. If we want to strike the Land of Earth from both north and south together with the Cloud, we must resolve the Rain front quickly.
The three squads will each cover a stretch of the Yoshimizu River. Capture Sand shinobi, interrogate them, and uncover their scheme in the region."
Yako was assigned to the river's central stretch.
By now Captain Yellow Dog tacitly recognized Fox Squad as the strongest, so when missions were divided, Fox Squad's assignments were always the hardest.
Too much success had made them stand out. Time to lie low again.Just like in his past life back at the office—do more, get more, but never get more. Only more work.Say you can double-side print, and suddenly the entire department's printing is on your desk. Until you quit, there's no escape.
The squads dispersed, each in a different direction.
Half a day later, White Ram suddenly called out. "Captain! Large group of ninja ahead!"
Yako quickly led the squad to higher ground for better sightlines.Through the telescope he saw only mist and rain—no details.
He couldn't help but miss the old White Ram; with his eyes, he would have identified the figures already.
"Captain! My insects have detected Aburame insects ahead! They're Konoha shinobi!"
"Oh? Perfect. Likely Orochimaru's main force."
Yako ordered White Ram to make contact with the main force, to warn them they were ANBU—avoid needless misunderstandings.
Before long, four shinobi emerged. At the lead was a woman in a mask, high-collared jacket, and carrying a jar on her back—an Aburame.
She scanned the group, eyes fixing on the mask of White Ram. "Is that you?"
Yako blinked. Had she identified a fellow clansman through the insects?
He stepped in front of White Ram. "Aburame, remember Konoha's secrecy edict."
Even if you recognize kin, how could you say it aloud?
"Apologies, Captain," the woman said. "I am Aburame Chima, here to deliver an order from Deputy Commander Orochimaru. He commands that if ANBU are present, their captain is to meet with him immediately."
Yako hesitated, unsure why Orochimaru wanted ANBU specifically. But as Root's Ka and with authority over ANBU divisions, Orochimaru's summons could not be refused.
On the march, Aburame Chima kept glancing at White Ram. Even after Yako's rebuke, she couldn't help stealing looks. White Ram fell back to the rear of the formation. Yako joined him and asked quietly:
"White Ram. Before you entered ANBU, was there some unfinished trouble? What is Chima to you?"
White Ram faltered.In ANBU, reliability was everything. His captain would judge whether he had the right to remain here.Finally, he spoke:
"Captain… our clan breeds insects inside our bodies. It's difficult for us to marry outside. Chima was assigned to me as a fiancée. But… I could never feel anything for her. She's a good girl, but to help her forget me, I chose to vanish—by joining ANBU."
Yako gave a knowing chuckle. "Joining ANBU is indeed a way to disappear. Women, though… feelings grow with time. The key is simply how long. Why worry?"
White Ram only shook his head. "Captain, you don't understand. I feel nothing for Chima. Worse—my insects reject hers."
"Wait." Yako narrowed his eyes. "You mean… when you two are together, your insects must also be compatible?"
"Yes," White Ram said. "On the wedding night, it is like the exchange of fluids. Our insects must exchange as well—mate with each other. My insects loathe hers. We could never be together.When Aburame couples have children, it is the insects born from both parents' colonies that become the symbiotic partners for the offspring."
Yako sucked in a sharp breath, imagination painting the scene.An Aburame couple on their wedding night—and all across the floor, the walls, the roof, the windows—countless swarms of insects coupling in unison.
Ino–Shika–Chō, he'd already learned, were complicated enough. But the Aburame? Even worse—hair-raisingly so.
"That really is physical aversion," Yako muttered. "Not just you, but even your insects. I'll warn her again—tell her not to seek you out or ask about you."
At the front of the formation, Yako pulled alongside Chima. "Chima-taichō. Stop looking back. There is no one in my squad you know. Understood?"
Her lips trembled, and she nearly cried. "Understood, Captain."
They reached Konoha's main force. Exhausted shinobi leaned against trees, taking what rest they could in the downpour—more loosening stiff muscles than true respite. Four hundred strong, they searched for the chance to finish the Rain once and for all.
The Land of Rain and the Land of Wind—hated destinations for Konoha shinobi. The environment here was hellish; one trip could strip ten pounds off a body.
At the front, Yako saw the commander of this front: Orochimaru. Tsunade and Jiraiya stood beside him.Jiraiya was whispering endlessly into Tsunade's ear, so focused he didn't notice ANBU's arrival.Yako heard him trying to comfort her, urging her not to sink into despair over Kato Dan's death.
Tsunade turned away with visible disgust. Her expression, her posture—everything radiated loathing.
Orochimaru's eyes slid toward Yako. "Fox. If I recall, you serve under Captain Yellow Dog. Your mission relates to the Rain campaign, does it not? Report it. I need your intelligence for my strategy."
Yako glanced at the people at Orochimaru's side—Jiraiya, Tsunade, two advisers. Not exactly the place for ANBU briefings.But Orochimaru's face hardened with impatience. Yako immediately lowered his gaze.
With the favor he enjoyed from the Third Hokage, with his importance to Danzo—Orochimaru was the law.
So Yako relayed the encounter with Hanzō outside Rain's capital, including the conditions he had set.
Orochimaru's smile thinned. "That Danzo would actually agree to such terms… laughable. I will crush Hanzō on the battlefield. No compromise is needed."
His voice dropped, silken and cold. "Fox, you may go."
Yako thought grimly, I hope when Hanzō pounds you into the dirt, you can keep talking that tough.