C placed the scroll onto the Third Hokage's desk. Hiruzen scanned the contents, his expression shifting to one of sheer disbelief.
"A diversionary tactic... a riot staged to the southeast of the Daimyo's migratory camp. Then, two smoke bombs deployed around the main pavilion. Once the haze cleared, four Guardian Shinobi were dead. All four... were from the Shimura clan?"
Hiruzen's voice grew heavy as he read the specifics. "Three killed by kunai to the temple. The captain, Shimura Kobira, burned to a charred husk by Fire Style. Fire Style again..."
Shimura Oka, Sarutobi Yui, and Root agents like D and F—they had all fallen to Fire Style.
A profile was forming in the minds of everyone in the office: a fire-using ninja with elite infiltration and Body Flicker skills, repeatedly targeting the Hidden Leaf, specifically striking at Root and the Shimura clan. This assailant operated in the Land of Rivers, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Iron—always choosing locations far from the village.
The elders cast side-glances at Danzo. They couldn't quite pin down which specific sin had triggered such a vendetta; Danzo had committed so many that the list of potential enemies was endless.
"This string of assassinations is severely disrupting the Leaf's operations!" the Third Hokage barked. "With this many Guardians dead, how can other Daimyos continue to trust us? What about the Grass Daimyo? Has he made a statement?"
C replied quickly, "The surviving Guardians report that the Grass Daimyo has already written to the Fire Daimyo requesting support. He suspects... he suspects the assassin wasn't after him, but specifically targeting Captain Kobira. He informed Hyuga Shin that he intends to personally recruit two of his own Guardians. In other words, the Leaf's contingent will be reduced from eight to six."
A crack in trust had formed. The Grass Daimyo was clearly rattled.
"Danzo," Hiruzen asked, "what is your take on this?"
Every eye turned to the Root Commander. Orochimaru glanced at Copper Fox, his first thought drifting to the possibility of long-distance reverse-summoning—meaning Fox could theoretically appear in the Land of Grass and return in an instant. But he dismissed it. Fox specialized in Earth and Water; surely his Fire Style wasn't strong enough to suppress a Jonin like Kobira.
Yagami, meanwhile, remained impassive. 'No one knows I can use Fire Style. They'll never look my way.'
"The sacrifice of my clansmen is a heavy burden," Danzo said coldly, "but this affair now threatens the Leaf's defense of all Daimyos. I propose the formation of a dedicated investigation force to capture this fire-user. This matter is currently more critical than the friction with the Hidden Cloud."
He turned to his star pupil. "Orochimaru, you will lead this force. Root and the ANBU's Lynx Division will be under your command."
Yagami's heart skipped a beat. 'Orochimaru leading? That's troublesome.'
He had planned to kidnap a Root ninja with the Cursed Tongue Seal to study a counter-measure, but he realized he had to shelf that plan immediately. Orochimaru was too sharp; any suspicious movement would lead to a slip-up. Yuka and the others would have to vanish into the depths of the Land of Rain and wait out the storm.
'Let them investigate. They won't find a thing.'
As the meeting wound down, Hatake Sakumo spoke up: "Lord Hokage, Advisor Danzo, the loss of the Shimura Guardians is tragic. However, how shall we handle the Cloud's provocations on the Steam border? I reiterate my request to lead a team there."
C glared at Sakumo. To him, it looked as though Sakumo was shamelessly gunning for power the moment Danzo suffered a blow. Danzo's expression was dark, but he remained silent. He didn't care about the Land of Steam right now; he only wanted the head of the man who was hunting his family.
Hiruzen and Homura exchanged a look of shared resignation. Aside from Orochimaru and Sakumo, the village had no other Kage-level fighters capable of standing alone. Homura couldn't go; as the Foreign Affairs Advisor, his priority was traveling to the Land of Grass to salvage the Leaf's reputation and assure the Daimyos of their reliability.
"Sakumo," the Third finally relented, "you will lead four battalions to the Steam border. For now, we will not escalate the scale of the conflict. Maintain restraint. This is a limited engagement. Force the Cloud to back down, and that will be enough."
Sakumo nodded, his posture relaxing. Even if the elders disliked him, they were forced to rely on him.
After the meeting, Yagami followed Yellow Dog back to the ANBU wing. "Commander, if the Lynx Division is going with Orochimaru, will ANBU send anyone to the Land of Steam?"
"Yes," Yellow Dog said. "The Hokage needs eyes on that border; he can't rely solely on Sakumo's reports. You'll go, Fox. Take your division to the Land of Steam."
"Understood, Commander."
This was exactly what Yagami wanted.
...
Two nights later, Yagami felt the tug of the contract chakra. He was reverse-summoned to the foot of a small hill in the plains—the Evergreen Sacred Mountain.
To the Grass Daimyo, this was a holy site where the first Daimyo's body was formed from the earth. Deep within the mountain's hollow, Yagami found a secret laboratory. It was crude compared to Danzo's facilities, but inside he found Uzumaki Kanon. She was covered in bite marks but alive.
After rescuing her, Yagami warned Yuka: "Danzo is desperate. He's sent a massive investigation force—Orochimaru, the Lynx Division, and Root recruits. We cannot move again for a while. Hide deep in the rainforests of the Land of Rain and wait for the heat to die down."
Yuka nodded. Orochimaru's reputation was fearsome. "You be careful too, Fox. You're in the lion's den."
"My cover is solid," Yagami assured her. "I've framed all my actions against Danzo as a power struggle between Yellow Dog and Root. No one suspects me."
Returning to the Leaf, Yagami locked the door to his underground basement. He wouldn't return here until Orochimaru's investigation was disbanded.