Chapter 15: Finally A Squad Leader
After meeting the Brown Bear Squad Leader, Yoru was still assigned to the Azure Wolf Squad.
The squad changed into Cloud Ninja equipment, preparing to openly rob the Vortex Sealed Scroll.
This time, Yoru felt confident and was no longer so nervous. He now had an insider.
The Azure Wolf Captain was unreasonable, frantically urging Yoru to use Shadow Clone Jutsu to enter the small town to scout information.
Yoru’s Chakra Amount had doubled, but he pretended to complain that his Chakra was insufficient.
He also secretly gave the Shadow Clone an order to quickly lure the Whirlpool Ninja in this direction.
The memory transmitted back by the Shadow Clone showed that Yuka Uzumaki had already arrived in this town.
After two Shadow Clones, the Whirlpool Ninja rushed over.
Yoru had more Chakra remaining, making him even more calm.
Seven Whirlpool Ninja rushed over.
Yuka Uzumaki spotted the Fox at first glance. After their intimate moments, she was very familiar with the Fox’s figure.
The Fox had been dispatched by Anbu to infiltrate among the Cloud Ninja as a Spy.
The battle between both sides instantly intensified.
Yuka Uzumaki proactively selected the Fox, and she and the Fox fought farther and farther away.
An unwise Whirlpool Ninja insisted on coming to help Yuka Uzumaki.
Yoru still took a Kunai to the leg, but under Yuka Uzumaki’s cover, he found an opportunity to escape using Earth Release: Fish in Water Reflection Jutsu.
That male Whirlpool Ninja came beside Yuka Uzumaki and regretfully said, “This Cloud Ninja surprisingly mastered an Earth Release Ninjutsu for escape; it’s hard to chase.”
Yuka Uzumaki nodded, but in her heart, she was worried about the Fox. He had a Kunai stuck in his leg, and she didn’t know if it would affect his Earth Submergence.
The beginner-level Earth Release: Fish in Water Reflection Jutsu, combined with Yoru’s current Chakra Amount, could only submerge about thirty meters.
After Earth Submerging to the blind spot in the Whirlpool Ninja’s side vision, he surfaced from the Ground, didn’t move rashly, and patiently waited lying in the Bush.
When the battle ended and jumping sounds rose from afar, after the Uzumaki Clan Ninja left, Yoru used Earth Release: Fish in Water Reflection Jutsu again and disappeared.
After being completely safe, he carefully handled the Kunai in his thigh.
The clothes around the Kunai were stained red with blood; the clothes Yuka Uzumaki had just washed were dirty again.
He hid in a crevice of the Reef, ate all the remaining Ration Pills, and didn’t run around.
—
The full moon was like a silver plate, moonlight like white frost.
Until the full moon shone into the Reef crevice, Yoru emerged from the Reef crevice.
Running out of Ration Pills and starving unbearably, Yoru sneaked into a Fishing Village and stole some food.
Salted Fish and cold leftover rice—he devoured them voraciously.
After eating his fill, Yoru planned to wait fifteen days before going to find Anbu’s main force.
The closer it got to the next full moon, the safer he was.
During these fifteen days, he needed to diligently practice his Ninjutsu and Taijutsu to quickly improve his Strength.
First was Hand Seal speed.
If his casting speed had been a bit faster, his thigh wouldn’t have been hit by the flying Kunai; he could have submerged underground earlier.
Earth Release: Fish in Water Reflection Jutsu and Karma Seal of Retribution both required three seals.
Uchiha Itachi could do six seals in one second, while Yoru needed one and a half seconds for three seals—this speed was too slow.
He should quickly train muscle memory to raise his Hand Seal speed to three seals per second.
Hand Seal practice not only involved practicing Hand Seal hand speed but also coordinating with Chakra mobilization in the body; only then could Ninjutsu be used.
During practice, Yoru felt his hands were very stiff. Others were piano hands; he was plaster hands.
After five days of Hand Seal practice, his hands cramped, but he finally achieved minor success—Hand Seal speed improved significantly, reaching three seals per second.
Next was the tedious Strength and speed training.
With the System’s help and serious cultivation, they progressed together.
The nearby Fishing Village suffered, losing much Salted Fish and leftover rice.
A new month arrived. When 15 days remained until the full moon, Yoru began searching for Anbu marks.
Still at some seaside spot, Yoru found the Brown Bear Squad Leader.
The Brown Bear Squad Leader guarded the seaside to prevent Whirlpool Ninja from escaping back to the Land of Whirlpools via the Sea Surface.
Vortex Sealing Jutsu—Konoha Anbu was determined to get it.
There were many Anbu Captains like the Brown Bear Squad Leader; those Whirlpool Ninja who entered the Land of Waves might all die here.
Squad Leaders and Captains guarded the seaside; Hidden Whirlpool Village didn’t even know what happened here.
Yoru reported the situation of the Azure Wolf Squad encounter to the Brown Bear Captain.
“The Whirlpool Ninja you mentioned, other Anbu have encountered them these past few days too; their Strength is indeed very strong.”
The Brown Bear Captain looked at the Fox’s leg—the clothes were torn, surrounded by bloodstains, and the Wound was clearly from half a month ago.
The Brown Bear Squad Leader thought for a moment and said:
“Fox, real name Yoru.
Parents in Konoha for 18 years, moved into the Village after the First Great Ninja War.
Born in the Village in Konoha Year 23; five years later, parents died in a Traitor Ninja rebellion.
Graduated from Ninja Academy in Konoha Year 33; in Year 38, this year, passed the reduced-difficulty Chunin Exam and was selected by Anbu.
Clean background; though Strength is relatively weak, he has adapted to Anbu missions and even learned Shadow Clone Jutsu from Ling.
Follow me, Fox.
In a few days, I’ll assign you one or two Anbu Ninja to be an acting Squad Leader.
If you complete a few missions, you’ll be formally appointed as Squad Leader.”
Yoru quickly bowed his head: “Thank you, Squad Leader!”
Promotion didn’t matter; the key was that as Captain, he could receive Orders and know more Information.
For five consecutive days, Yoru followed the Brown Bear Squad Leader, who was responsible for leaving Anbu Codes nearby.
During this time, two Whirlpool Ninja tried to break through the blockade and leave Wave Country’s main island.
The Brown Bear Squad Leader easily dealt with the two Whirlpool Ninja.
The Strength gap was too large; the Brown Bear Squad Leader only used Taijutsu, no Ninjutsu.
After searching the Corpse, no Sealed Scroll was found.
Yoru felt tempted.
If he wasn’t dead by the 14th of this month, he’d go take on the Brown Bear Squad Leader—maybe he could get some good Reward.
He only dared think this while looking at the Ground; if staring at the Squad Leader, he feared the Squad Leader would skewer him with a Kunai.
“Squad Leader, aren’t you afraid Hidden Whirlpool Village will hold Konoha accountable?”
“Of course not.” The Brown Bear Squad Leader glanced at the Fox:
“I know you’re Konoha Anbu; how do these Whirlpool Ninja know who you are?
Even if they catch some evidence, the Village can completely say it’s framing by Hidden Mist Village.
Konoha Village and Hidden Whirlpool Village are allies—how could we kill our own allies?
Also, don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”
“Sorry, Squad Leader; I overthought it.”
Anbu does the Village’s dirty and tiring work; aside from Death or Danzo’s permission, no one can leave Anbu.
Yoru’s Ninja number was sealed; in the records, he was a Leaf Ninja who had already died in some mission.
Gradually, other disbanded Anbu came to find the Squad Leader.
The Brown Bear Squad Leader assigned Yoru a person—an Anbu wearing a Matsu Tori Mask.
The two formed a new squad, with Yoru as acting Squad Leader.
After sending away Matsu Tori, the Brown Bear Captain assigned the squad’s mission.
“Fox, now in the Land of Waves, there are fish and dragons mixed together: Mist Ninja, Cloud Ninja, Whirlpool Ninja, and us Anbu.
Go assassinate a Land of Waves noble Town Chief; he is a supporter of Hidden Whirlpool Village.
Be careful of that noble’s Samurai and Guardian Ninja.”
Taking the Mission Scroll, Yoru said: “Got it, I understand.”
The Mission Scroll contained much Intelligence on the noble Town Chief; Yoru was finally no longer just a tool for executing missions—he began receiving Information and had some autonomy in decisions.
