Yako was in the middle of a tactical breakthrough.
With chakra reserves already at the jōnin level, he could now take the ninjutsu-heavy route.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
A rushing wall of water surged up, shielding him from three Sand shinobi.
The ground was drenched from the constant rain, making Water Style cost little chakra.
"Earth Style: Earth Spear Barrage!"
The Sand shinobi leapt back under pressure from the wall of water.
But before they could land, jagged spears of earth erupted from the ground, stabbing into their lower backs mid-air.
Two others seized the opening, charging straight at Yako. Their kunai gleamed with a slick coat of black-purple poison as they hurled them forward.
"Earth Style: Earth Substitution Technique!"
The poisoned kunai struck nothing but a clump of soft mud.
Beneath the battlefield, Yako glided silently using the Hidden Fish in Earth Technique, surfacing behind them like a phantom.
Attack, defense, substitution, and stealth — he cycled between the four jutsu, cutting down Sand shinobi one after another.
With their squad captain's support, the others in his unit pressed even harder.
Parasitic insects, kunai, exploding tags — every strike hammered down on the Sand forces.
The battlefield shifted under the overwhelming advantage of the Fox Squad; the Sand shinobi began to fall back in disorder.
From the corner of his eye, Mache noticed an entire Sand division crumbling.
He turned his head, and there it was — that ANBU captain who hadn't fallen to his first strike.
That was the trouble with Konoha. Its foundation was vast, and somehow, geniuses always crawled out from the cracks.
By rights, his Wind Release should have been enough to slaughter three Konoha squad captains in one strike. But this Fox Captain was different. He had not only survived, he had slain a Sand division commander.
"Well done, Fox! Move out to support the Yak Squad!" Yellow Dog roared.
Though Yellow Dog couldn't overpower Mache, neither could Mache bring him down quickly.
Yako glanced toward the Yoshigane Mountains. A rumbling echoed through the peaks.
"Blossom Deer Squad stays here — hold the remnants of the Stone shinobi division! Purple Cat and White Ram, with me!"
Leaving one squad to contain the scattered Sand shinobi, Yako led the others straight toward the base of the mountains.
At the foot of the range, the Yak Squad clashed with Sand shinobi guarding the cavern mouth, all while hammering away at the cavern walls.
The squad captain, Ironstag, stood planted against the cliffside, unleashing jutsu without pause.
"Earth Style: Rupturing Palm!"
Each strike shook loose boulders that crashed down into the cavern entrance.
If they could bring down the mountain face entirely, hundreds of meters of stone would collapse, sealing the cavern shut.
Alongside Ironstag, two more squad captains hammered the rock with their own Earth Style.
Yako didn't know Rupturing Palm. Instead, he threw himself into the melee, cutting down Sand shinobi one by one.
Not long after, he spotted another Sand division breaking through Captain Hippo's blockade, charging toward the cavern.
He called over Blossom Deer, leaned close, and whispered a quick order.
Blossom Deer nodded once, then vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
Yako himself rushed to intercept the division.
Minutes later, locked in fierce battle, Yako barked to Purple Cat: "Fire the signal flare!"
A crimson light burst into the sky, illuminating the towering cliffs.
Soon, more flares winked to life in the distance.
"Hold on! Reinforcements are coming!" Yako shouted.
Mache and the Sand commander both spotted the flares.
Nearby Konoha shinobi, drawn by the signal, began converging.
Mache wasted no time.
One massive Wind Slash forced Yellow Dog back, and with a sharp order to retreat, he led the remaining Sand shinobi scrambling up the rock face toward the mountain crest.
The mission has failed.
Still, Mache thought, at best the Leaf could destroy only this one cavern near the Land of Rain.
Once the Stone had more time, once they gathered more Earth Style users, the tunnel could be dug out again.
***
At the mountain summit, the rain eased.
By the halfway mark, it stopped entirely.
On the southern slope, a dry, hot wind gnawed at his patience.
Leaping down, Mache found waiting Sand shinobi assembled at the base.
At their head stood the Sand village adviser — Elder Chiyo's brother, Ebizō.
Mache immediately bowed and reported:
"Advisor-sama, the ambush failed. Rain didn't notice us, but ANBU from Konoha appeared out of nowhere."
Disappointment creased Ebizō's face.
This cavern route had been the Wind Country's hope — a chance to bring precious fresh water into their parched land.
He had thought a new oasis might soon bloom on the nation's northern edge.
"Do not despair, young man," Ebizō declared. "The wars of Konoha with Rain and Stone are not yet finished.
When I return to the village, I shall urge the Kazekage to declare open war on the Leaf.
With our puppets and Wind Release, we will strike while the Leaf is weak and crush them. Even with twenty thousand shinobi, they cannot fight on four fronts.
Once Konoha falls, nothing will stop us. We will bring water to the Land of Wind."
***
On the northern slope of the Yoshigane Mountains—
Yellow Dog stood beside Yako, watching as the Yak Squad continued battering the cavern.
Captain Hippo had fallen, cut down by the Sand commander.
That man was strong.
But Yellow Dog didn't flinch. Turning to Yako, he said,
"Fox, you've done well. Not only did you face down and kill a Sand division commander, but you also tricked Mache into retreating with your signal flares.
And since you were the first to discover their movements, I'll credit you with primary merit in the mission report."
The truth, however, was darker.
The Sand commander had died by Yako's hidden hand — the Self-Binding Curse Mark. A jutsu that could never see the light of day.
If he wanted more authority, if he wanted powers he didn't need to hide, he would need promotion.
"Captain Yellow Dog," Yako asked carefully, "what does it take for an ANBU to be promoted to Tokubetsu jōnin? Do my strength and record… qualify?"
"You? More than qualify."
Yellow Dog favored capable subordinates — not those who died every other week, forcing squads to be rebuilt.
The Third Hokage himself had once told him to cultivate trusted aides, stockpiling talent for the day he might inherit the mantle of ANBU Commander.
"Once we return," Yellow Dog promised, "I'll take you to the Hokage himself. The appointment is his to bestow, but with your record, he won't refuse."
"Thank you Captain for your trust."
Yellow Dog's grin showed his satisfaction.
Four hours later, the Yak Squad finally brought the mountainside down. Boulders crashed, filling the cavern to the brim.
"Move out," Yellow Dog ordered. "We'll head for Amegakure. If we can secretly reach Hanzo's men, we'll show good faith. After ruining the Sand's plot, perhaps he'll agree to a truce."
By the time they returned to Teigu Town, it was past midnight.
From a distance, Yako caught sight of Lan frantically untying the ropes binding the old river guard.
She was crying, tugging at the knots with trembling hands that just wouldn't budge.
A kunai whistled out of the darkness, thudding into the ground at her feet.
Startled, she froze — then, mustering her courage, grabbed the weapon and slashed the ropes apart.
For the first time, Yako felt his system had value.
The fates of some people… had changed, all because of the Arc of the Waning Moon.