Returning to his ANBU tent in the dead of night, Yako unsealed the scroll detailing Chōta's last mission.
Chōta had led a small squad tasked with recon at Sabaku Port, the Land of Wind's only harbor, nestled in the desert's southeastern edge—not far from the Land of Rivers.
The Land of Wind lacked iron deposits and had to import ore from the Land of Lightning.
Naturally, Sabaku Port became a key surveillance target for Konoha.
One Konoha squad after another had been dispatched there. No scrap of intel was ignored.
But on this mission, Chōta and his two genin pupils had died. Only one man survived: a chūnin named Nara Mi.
The scroll itself seemed unremarkable—of course it did. It was written by the only survivor.
Dead men don't testify.
It was like those brawls that ended in fatality—the dead one always "struck first."
The survivor? Always the one who claims innocence, that he only fought back.
According to the report, the team encountered two Suna squads, including an elite puppeteer.
Outmatched, they fell. Only Nara Mi escaped.
Yako then pulled the most recent mission logs from his own squad.
In the poisoning mission, Blossom Deer's team had accompanied him.
Purple Cat's and White Ram's squads had been dispatched elsewhere—nowhere near Sabaku Port.
If Chōta had died by ANBU hands, it was likely the work of another unit—perhaps Hippo Squad or Yak Squad.
But Yako didn't have clearance to access the other squads' assignments.
He stared at Nara Mi's name.
Maybe Sakumo's overthinking it. Maybe it wasn't ANBU.
Maybe it was just Nara Mi.
After all, Chōta was only a chūnin—not high-profile enough to warrant purging.
—
The next day, Nara Meika, a jōnin from Equipment Division, stepped into Yellow Dog's tent.
The moment she entered, she looked past Yellow Dog and addressed the masked figure behind him.
"Captain Yellow Dog, our clan head requests Fox's presence."
Yellow Dog nodded.
"Very well. Let him go."
The clan head in question was none other than Nara Shikakaku, the frontline commander.
Yako's head jerked toward both of them.
"But Captain… I'm ANBU. Just yesterday, you told me ANBU must stay on-mission. That we must uphold ANBU principles."
"I serve only the Hokage. Please believe me—I don't know why the commander would summon me."
Yellow Dog paused. Then said flatly:
"This is an order. Meet the commander. Follow his instructions."
Yako feigned confusion as he followed Meika out.
Of course, he understood perfectly.
This wasn't a test—it was a matter of politics.
Yesterday, Yellow Dog had lectured him at length for visiting Hatake Sakumo, fearing he might defect.
Today, when summoned by Nara Shikakaku?
Yellow Dog couldn't send him fast enough.
—
Inside the commander's tent, Shikakaku stood alone.
"Fox," he said calmly, "I'll be issuing your next assignment through Yellow Dog.
You're to assist Equipment Division in the covert production of 200 paragliders.
Nara Meika will handle the technicals.
Your job is to support her."
Yako nodded without hesitation.
"Understood. Once Captain Yellow Dog delivers the order, I'll assist her immediately."
Shikakaku frowned.
This ANBU had suddenly turned into a rigid drone.
Last night, when reporting the poison mission and demonstrating the paraglider, he'd been far more animated.
Outside the tent, Meika stood waiting.
She tried to get Fox to begin the task early, but he pretended not to hear.
Only after Yellow Dog's butterfly-masked assistant delivered the scroll did Yako move to follow her.
Meika looked him over with skepticism.
This wooden, mechanical ANBU… he's the inventor of the paraglider? Really?
—
At the Equipment Division tent, Yako saw one paraglider already disassembled.
Of the two prototypes he'd donated to the village, one had been torn apart for study.
Then his eyes narrowed.
Among the Nara personnel present… was Nara Mi—the sole survivor of Chōta's squad.
Yako's attention sharpened instantly.
So he's here…
Suddenly, being assigned this menial task didn't feel like a waste of time anymore.
Meika spoke:
"Captain Fox, we can probably replicate the paraglider by reverse-engineering it, but I'd prefer if you explained the principles. It would help us improve the design."
Yako smirked inwardly.
You sound awfully confident.
He glanced around, found a chalkboard, and began sketching.
"The critical component," he said, "is the canopy, which provides lift.
It consists of an upper surface, lower surface, and dozens of ribs aligned along the wing's span.
Due to the curvature difference between top and bottom surfaces, airflow velocity changes—creating pressure differentials. That generates lift..."
The more he explained, the more surprised he became—Meika actually understood him.
She took notes without pause, clearly keeping up.
Had she spent all night studying and testing already?
The famed Nara intelligence, passed down for generations… maybe there was something to it.
When he finished, Yako stepped back to observe.
Meika, with her twin braids and clear, clever gaze, studied the board.
Her brows furrowed, then eased. Her pen moved constantly.
After about ten minutes, she looked up and asked several detailed questions about steering lines.
Yako answered each one patiently.
In her mind, Meika was astonished.
An ANBU… with knowledge like this?
Ninja school taught basic physics—just enough to calculate kunai drop trajectories.
But this? This was aerodynamics.
Lift, drag, airflow pressure… way beyond standard curriculum.
The Equipment Division worked fast.
Within a week, all 200 paragliders were completed.
Yako looked at the rows of packed backpacks.
A major operation was clearly on the horizon.
—
Under a full moon as bright as polished silver, a new lunar cycle began.
Yako stepped into Yellow Dog's tent—only to find Hippo Squad's Captain already there.
Yellow Dog spoke:
"Fox, you and Hippo will serve as ANBU Observers on the upcoming raid.
Two hundred paragliders. Four hundred shinobi.
We're going to Sabaku Port, flying over Suna's lines, and destroying their ships and supplies."
Yako tilted his head.
"ANBU… observers?"
"Yes," Yellow Dog said.
"ANBU isn't just about executing the Hokage's orders.
We're also his eyes—collecting intelligence on enemy villages… and our own.
This operation is critical.
You and Hippo will go undercover, disguised as ordinary Konoha shinobi.
Your job is to document the results."
He paused.
"There's growing concern over the civilian-born ninjas.
Their performance has been exceptional—almost too exceptional.
Hatake Sakumo led the last few large-scale missions, and suddenly these civilians are learning advanced jutsu, standing out in combat.
The higher-ups are uneasy.
This time, Commander Shikakaku himself will lead the mission.
You and Hippo will join different squads. Blend in.
Record the civilians' behavior. Their abilities. Their loyalty."
Yako understood immediately.
Two ANBU observers—double coverage. Double insurance.
The elders don't want to be fooled.