Chapter 270: Finally Back
As soon as he entered Kiiroinu’s office, Yoru shouted: “Minister Kiiroinu, I’m finally back in the village!”
Kiiroinu was also very happy to see Fox return:
“Fox, without you, many high-difficulty missions couldn’t be carried out. You’ve finally returned, so I don’t have to personally execute those tricky missions anymore.”
Yoru thought to himself, you’re happy too early; I’m about to go to the Land of Rain again soon.
Kiiroinu asked about the front line in the Land of Hot Water, and Yoru answered one by one.
Kiiroinu took out a scroll: “In your report, it says Sakumo Hatake rewarded ninjutsu to a total of more than 120 chunin and genin?”
“Yes, Minister. This scroll details the names of those more than 120 people.”
Kiiroinu was somewhat troubled: “If Sakumo Hatake had rewarded ninjutsu to 20 people, there might still be a possibility of tracking and investigation.
But he rewarded more than 120 people. With Anbu’s current manpower, it’s almost impossible to track them.”
Sakumo Hatake has served as commander several times. When he was on the front line, he had great authority and was qualified to issue many ninjutsu.
Sakumo Hatake was very generous, or rather very fair. As long as the mission record requirements were met, regardless of background or family name, he would grant ninjutsu.
Yoru said: “It’s still mainly about monitoring Sakumo Hatake and the people appearing around him. Monitoring all the ninjas who have received favors from Sakumo Hatake is not realistic.”
Kiiroinu nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Yoru’s judgment.
Kiiroinu picked up another scroll and said: “There’s a mission here, quite tricky…”
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
Butterfly walked in: “Lord, a mission scroll has been sent from the Hokage Building.”
Kiiroinu opened the scroll and saw it was Fox’s designated mission.
“I was still thinking of assigning you a mission, but the Hokage has other arrangements for you. You have to go to the Land of Rain to replace Orochimaru. That mission is even more important.”
The Third Hokage had sent the mission scroll so quickly, saving Yoru from having to explain to Kiiroinu.
Yoru said: “Minister, I really want to properly complete missions for Anbu, but there are always other missions interfering.”
Kiiroinu said: “Village missions take priority. Whether it’s the Land of Hot Water conflict or the Land of Rain investigation, they are the village’s most urgent tasks.”
“Minister, on the way back, Advisor Mito Mon’en asked me to recommend someone from Anbu for jonin promotion. I recommended Aries,” Yoru said:
“Instead, let Aries promote to jonin and stay in Anbu to carry out missions.
Keep Aries Squad, Hippopotamus Squad, and Yak Squad. I’ll take Flower Deer Squad to the Land of Rain.”
“Is Flower Deer Squad enough?”
“It’s enough,” Yoru said. “There are Lynx Squad and Root Ninjas in the Land of Rain. I don’t need to bring many people.”
“Good.” Kiiroinu said: “The Hokage said to let you rest for two days before going to the Land of Rain.
Before you go to the Land of Rain, first complete Aries’s jonin recommendation.”
“Good.”
Yoru returned to his squad and entered his own office.
Purple Cat was organizing scrolls in front of the cabinet when she heard the door open behind her.
“White Crane! I said unless the squad leader permits it, you can’t enter the squad leader’s office without authorization!”
Purple Cat turned her head and saw it wasn’t White Crane, but Fox. She quickly ran toward Fox.
“Fox! You’ve finally returned!”
Yoru hugged the pouncing Purple Cat and patted her back.
“The good news is I’m back. The bad news is I’m heading to the Land of Rain in two days.”
“Have to leave again?”
“Yes,” Yoru said:
“For ordinary Leaf Ninjas, peacetime means a lot of safe C-rank and D-rank missions. As long as they stay within the Land of Fire, they can avoid dangerous B-rank missions.
For Anbu, there’s no difference between peacetime and wartime.”
“How long will this Land of Rain trip be?”
“Don’t know. Quick would be one month, slow would be two months. Two months from now, it’ll be New Year, right?” Yoru said:
“Purple Cat, first write Aries’s jonin recommendation. Once it’s done, hand it to Butterfly.
Then hurry back to remove your vest. The way you look without it has been on my mind day and night.”
When Purple Cat was just hugged by Fox, she was already a bit restless. Now hearing Fox’s teasing, her face instantly reddened. She quickly turned to the table to write Aries’s jonin recommendation.
Yoru locked the door and came behind Purple Cat.
“No, Captain. If you do this, my handwriting will be all crooked.”
She had wanted to remove her vest herself, but the Captain couldn’t wait and started removing it for her from behind.
Vest, bodysuit, peeled off one by one.
The jonin recommendation ultimately wasn’t finished. Purple Cat was already picked up naked and carried to the lounge next door.
Under her pale golden long hair, Purple Cat’s skin was white like jade, like porcelain.
Half an hour later, Purple Cat came out of the lounge next door, gasping for breath. She picked up her clothes and put them on while walking, then continued sitting at the table to write Aries’s jonin promotion report.
After finishing the report, the two walked out of the office and saw White Crane sitting on a chair to the side of the entrance.
White Crane quickly stood up.
“Fox Captain! I’m the squad’s new member White Crane! I’ve been training for a long time. Please assign me to a team!”
Yoru looked at White Crane and said: “Purple Cat, you go deliver the scroll. I’ll chat with White Crane.”
“Okay, Captain.”
White Crane followed the squad leader into the office.
She sniffed. Why was there a familiar scent?
This was… Older Sister’s unique fragrance from her bodysuit?
Older Sister liked to add special herbs when washing clothes to avoid skin inflammation from not changing clothes for long periods during missions.
Yoru came in front of White Crane, startling her. She didn’t dare think about Older Sister anymore.
Yoru thought to himself, Danzo sent spies to different squads. Among them, the Kuroari Squad beside the Third Hokage was the most infiltrated, with as many as three.
Later, find an opportunity to induce White Crane to pass false intelligence to Danzo.
Yoru said: “White Crane, go to Hippopotamus Squad. Hippopotamus is an Akimichi Clan ninja, which suits you perfectly.”
“Okay, thank you, Squad Leader!”
“Go notify Aries to come see me.”
Yoru waited for Aries and gave him a simple training session.
When he was promoted to jonin, he was first asked three extreme questions, like how to complete it if the Hokage assigned the assassination of Advisor Mito Mon’en’s daughter.
In the second round, he was surrounded and attacked by several jonin, without damaging the flowers and plants in the review room.
Aries was still confused, not knowing why the Captain suddenly wanted to specially train him on such extreme questions with heavy hands.
After the special training, Yoru was very satisfied with Aries’s performance. He said:
“Aries, you performed well in the Land of Hot Water conflict.
I’ve recommended you for jonin. The jonin promotion exam will probably happen tomorrow.
I’m not worried about your practical exam. Your strength is enough to pass the jonin exam.
What I’m worried about is your interview exam.
As an Anbu jonin, when you encounter tricky questions in the interview, your thought process must be extreme, must be perverse, must fit your identity as an Anbu jonin.
Understood?”
