"Lord Fox, a letter has come from the village," Nara Kyoichi reported.
"The Jonin Commander meeting failed to elect a new Foreign Affairs Advisor. The Hokage has ordered us to temporarily handle the affairs of the Land of Hot Water."
He paused, then added, "Regarding the position of Guardian Ninja Captain for the Land of Hot Water, once Sarutobi Yamatori recovers, he will continue to serve in that role."
A flicker of disappointment passed through Yōkō's eyes.
The Sarutobi clan had already lost Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Sarutobi Hinotama, Sarutobi Enosuke, plus several elite Guardian Ninja. Why was Sarutobi Hiruzen still unwilling to let go?
Sarutobi Shinnosuke's ambition had cost the clan so many of its elites.
Couldn't this Guardian Ninja position in the Land of Hot Water be given to another ninja from the village?
With eight or nine thousand ninja in the village, they couldn't find someone more suitable than Sarutobi Yamatori for the role of Guardian Ninja Captain?
"Understood," Yōkō said calmly.
"You know the Anbu's style; the Anbu is not suited to guarding a Daimyō."
"During this period, you, Jōnin Kyoichi, will have full authority over all affairs. Notify me only if force (wǔ lì - martial force/military force) intervention is needed."
Nara Kyoichi wasn't surprised by this.
Anbu ninja weren't skilled at handling specific administrative matters. They were experts at killing, but asking them to study the defense layout of Tenshu Castle or plan the construction of border fortresses was completely unrelated.
Although the news of the Land of Hot Water Daimyō's disappearance had spread, it seemed as if no one was paying attention.
Whether it was the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning, or other smaller nations, they all maintained a tacit silence.
The Daimyōs of various nations had already felt the heavy pressure from the great ninja villages.
On Konoha's side, the Third Hokage's son died in a joint ambush by Kumo-nin and Iwa-nin.
Kumogakure lost the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Omoi, and Dodai.
The two villages were like volcanoes about to erupt; the slightest misstep could trigger a Great Shinobi War.
Neither the Land of Fire nor the Land of Lightning was fully prepared for a major war.
——————————
Land of the Moon, a vassal of the Land of Lightning, bordered the Land of Hot Water.
Yōkō led the Hippo Squad and had just destroyed a Kumo-nin outpost fortress.
A Kumo-nin battalion stationed inside the fortress had been completely wiped out by the Hippo Squad.
When Hippo returned to Lord Fox's side, he heard the master muttering to the fortress ruins:
"Why hasn't Kumogakure reacted yet? What are they waiting for?"
Hippo said, "Lord Fox, with you stationed at the border, the fact that Kumogakure hasn't withdrawn all the garrison troops from their outpost fortresses already shows considerable nerve."
"Shall we continue attacking the other fortresses?"
"Continue, of course we continue. Since we're already here, let's fight. We can't have all these Anbu just wandering around here doing nothing," Yōkō said.
"No matter how slow their reaction, the two villages should have come up with a solution by now. They can't just let me keep testing the limits and acting recklessly here."
Hippo thought to himself: So you do know you're acting recklessly.
However, the village stationing Lord Fox at the border was precisely to let him do as he pleased; that was Konoha's attitude.
If Kumogakure didn't back down, no one knew what trouble Lord Fox might cause next.
When Yōkō took his men to the second outpost fortress, it was already empty—the Kumo-nin had withdrawn.
"The Kumo-nin's bones aren't that hard after all, running away like this?" Yōkō said.
"It seems Kumogakure is preparing to back down."
"They can withdraw their people, but we can't leave this fortress for Kumogakure. Use Fire Release and explosive tags. Blow it up."
Just as Yōkō was demolishing the fifth Kumo-nin fortress, a Ninja Hawk delivered an order.
The Hokage had received a personal letter from the Third Raikage—Kumogakure proposed peace talks.
—
The full moon hung high in the night sky like a silver platter.
Yōkō had waited for the full moon night of September.
A few days after the full moon, Nara Rokaku and his party arrived in the Land of Hot Water.
Accompanying him was Guardian Ninja Captain Sarutobi Yamatori.
Under Nara Rokaku's arrangements, Sarutobi Yamatori resumed control of the capital's defenses.
Afterwards, Nara Rokaku's group continued onward, meeting up with Fox at the port city of Tōga Port on the coast of the Land of Hot Water.
They would wait here for the Third Raikage's arrival.
Upon meeting Fox, Nara Rokaku said, "Fox, if it weren't for your company, I wouldn't dare come to negotiate with the Third Raikage."
"I've heard the Raikage has been in a furious rage this whole time. They say he personally demolished not just the Raikage Building, but even its foundations."
"Don't worry, Lord Rokaku," Yōkō's tone was steady. "If it's just about protecting you alone, I am confident I can ensure your safety even in front of the Third Raikage."
Hearing this, the expressions of Nara Rokaku's guards darkened considerably.
What did that mean?
Were they not worth protecting? Were they not afraid of the Raikage?
Couldn't he even offer a single reassuring pleasantry?
Yōkō paid no mind and continued asking, "I didn't expect you personally would come for the negotiations, Lord Rokaku. Has the candidate for Foreign Affairs Advisor still not been decided?"
Nara Rokaku sighed lightly, "Neither Orochimaru nor Jiraiya is willing to take the position of Foreign Affairs Advisor, so I had to make this trip myself."
Konoha Village was truly running out of capable people.
Yōkō nodded slightly and said, "Lord Rokaku, for any future dangerous missions outside the village, I can accompany you as a guard."
Nara Rokaku was momentarily stunned—Fox was proactively offering goodwill.
The Ino–Shika–Chō Trio Clans were eagerly hoping to formally establish an alliance with Fox.
Fox, who could kill a Tailed Beast head-on, could no longer be considered an ordinary Kage-level powerhouse.
The three clans hadn't yet found a suitable entry point, but Fox had taken the initiative to show friendliness.
Rokaku pondered for a moment, signaled his guards to step back a bit, and lowered his voice:
"Fox, the position of Anbu Minister cannot remain vacant for long. I wonder if you are interested in taking the post?"
Beneath the mask, Yōkō smiled. Talking with smart people was effortless; Rokaku had clearly discerned his intentions.
Fox had never hidden his ambitions within Konoha.
Squad Leader, Squadron Leader, Platoon Leader, Vice Minister, Minister—what he sought in Konoha wasn't actually much.
"I am indeed interested in the position of Anbu Minister," Yōkō stated bluntly. "I just don't know if the other high-ranking officials in the village will agree."
Nara Rokaku gave him a meaningful look. "Fox, it seems you don't have a clear understanding of your own strength."
"Learning Wood Release might not be a big deal; the village has many secret techniques."
"But your strength, demonstrated by killing a Tailed Beast head-on, has made you a presence more fearsome than the Tailed Beasts themselves."
"If you want to be the Anbu Minister, then you are the only candidate."
"If you wanted to be the Foreign Affairs Advisor, even if both Orochimaru and Jiraiya desired the position, they would have to step aside for you."
Yōkō shook his head. "I'm not interested in being the Foreign Affairs Advisor. You know the Anbu, Lord Rokaku—I'm not suited for walking in the sunlight."
"Becoming the Anbu Minister is my ultimate goal."
Nara Rokaku nodded. Fox's self-assessment was very accurate.
He only wished to be the Anbu Minister and had no interest in positions like Advisor, Elder, or even Hokage.
During this period, Fox had beaten the Kumo-nin into a rout; and in the shadows, unknown to most, he had also assassinated the abbot of the Fire Temple.
That old monk was certainly no pushover.
If Fox were to infiltrate the Land of the Moon or the Land of Lightning and carry out continuous assassinations, the Third Raikage would likely lose sleep over it.
——————————
Two days later, the Third Raikage arrived at Tōga Port.
Standing on the ship's bow, the Third Raikage was tall and burly.
Spotting the Konoha contingent on the shore, especially that Anbu with the fox mask, the lightning around his body suddenly surged violently as he instantly entered Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
"Fox!"
The Kumo-nin's hearts tightened. Before leaving the village, the elders had repeatedly urged the Raikage not to be impulsive, but upon seeing Fox, the Raikage still lost control.
The new Foreign Affairs Advisor, Darui, hurriedly shouted, "Lord Raikage! Please calm down! Remember the purpose of our trip!"
But his shouts were drowned out by the crackle of lightning.
The Raikage shattered the ship's bow railing and charged forth like a bolt of lightning.
The Kumo-nin only had time to see the splinters of wood flying everywhere.
On the shore, all the Konoha ninja felt their hearts clench; the lethal feeling of being locked onto by a powerful foe was heart-pounding.
Nara Rokaku's breathing remained unchanged, but he sneered inwardly: The Third Raikage really looks down on people too much, losing control in a situation like this.
If I didn't have some backing, would I have come to negotiate with the Raikage?
Sure enough, he saw Fox take a step forward and clasp his hands together.
"Absolute Resistance: Crystal Mist!"
***
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(End of Chapter)