Chapter 40: Three Moons Shining Together
“Mission complete!” Captain Kurozaru said:
“We received intelligence from Anbu headquarters that Uzumaki Clan Remnants have entered the Land of Moon. The Land of Moon is within Cloud Village’s sphere of influence, and the Anbu and spies there are responsible for the pursuit. We can return to the village.”
On the eastern coastline of the Ninja World continent, from south to north, are the Land of Fire, Land of Hot Water, Land of Moon, and Land of Lightning.
The Uzumaki Remnants wanting to escape could only choose between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Moon.
One wonders if the Uzumaki Clan feels heartbroken.
Even if they went to the Land of Moon in Cloud Village’s sphere of influence, they were unwilling to enter the Land of Hot Water in Konoha Village’s sphere of influence.
Cloud Village was one of the clan annihilation perpetrators, but in their judgment, Konoha was even more like a flood beast.
With Anbu’s strength and Konoha’s emphasis on Kushina, they might never see Kushina again until death, and Kushina Uzumaki would never know the truth of the clan annihilation.
Return to the village!
Kurozaru Squad left the Land of Waves and returned to Konoha.
Entering Konoha Village again, Yoru felt a bit dazed.
This trip to the Land of Waves and Land of Whirlpools had been over half a year.
Entering the Death Forest, Yoru noticed some changes in the Death Forest.
Trees in certain places had become smaller, and their positions had changed.
Observing the details carefully, Yoru discovered many new underground buildings in the Death Forest.
The renewed soil and replanted trees all revealed the changes here.
Jumping down from Anbu’s ceiling, Anbu had indeed undergone significant changes.
Root appeared.
The newly established Root was purely an Anbu training institution.
Danzo formulated new rules for Anbu.
Given Anbu’s terrifying mortality rate, Danzo stipulated that newly recruited Anbu ninjas must train at Root for three months.
Previous Anbu ninjas were selected from ordinary ninjas. Chunin level ninjas could be put to use immediately.
Root’s ninjutsu teachers were appointed by Danzo.
In the future, Root would gradually change flavor, becoming an independent kingdom within Anbu, directly under Danzo.
Yoru returned to his squad’s locker room.
This was his locker room before leaving the village, and this locker room belonged to Antelope Squad.
Opening each person’s locker in turn, Captain Antelope’s, Purple Cat’s, and Black Bull’s personal items had all been cleared out.
Each locker only had a mask left.
Captain Antelope, Purple Cat, and Black Bull had long died in the Land of Whirlpools and Land of Waves.
In Yoru’s own locker, his personal items were all still there.
After a sigh, Yoru organized his items.
Captain Kurozaru passed by the locker room and said, “Fox, we have three days of vacation. Report to me after three days.”
“Got it, Captain Kurozaru.”
Yoru took off the Fox Mask, removed the Anbu vest, put on his own clothes, put on his mask, and left Anbu.
Walking again in Konoha’s streets felt really good.
The sunshine was very warm, and the wind was also gentle.
If only the huge, oppressive Hokage faces on the ceiling overhead weren’t there.
After walking far away, Yoru finally took off his mask, becoming an ordinary Konoha villager.
With nowhere to go, Yoru went to Tsuruzuki Izakaya.
There were few customers at the izakaya at noon.
Inside the izakaya, the beautiful boss’s wife Qiao Yi clearly froze upon seeing Yoru.
Was that the young boy from half a year ago?
Looking at him now, the young boy’s face had gained maturity and calmness.
As a spy, Qiao Yi immediately understood this was the natural calmness that came with increased strength.
In this half year, this young boy had grown a lot.
Yoru’s strength had indeed increased significantly.
【Host Status:
Chakra Amount: 3 times Chunin level.
Chakra Nature: Earth, Water.
Ninjutsu: Basic Three Body Techniques, Earth Style: Fish in Water Reflection Jutsu, Shadow Clone Jutsu, Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu.
Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu, Basic Kunai Throwing Technique, Sword Technique（Proficient）, Body Flicker Technique（Proficient）, Cloud Style Sword Technique.
Sealing Jutsu: Karma Seal of Retribution, Contract Seal, Summoning Jutsu（Long Spear Egret）.
Other: Reflex（One Breakthrough）.】
Sword Technique and Body Flicker Technique had advanced from beginner to proficient after rigorous training and real combat.
Qiao Yi hurriedly came over: “Where have you been this half year? Why didn’t you ever come back to find me?”
“During the war, how could I stay in the village all the time?”
Qiao Yi’s eyes immediately brightened a bit.
As a spy, the intelligence she had gathered during this time was of low value.
The young boy before her had carried out a mission lasting half a year, and upon returning, his strength had grown considerably, worth probing.
After setting down a cup of sake, Qiao Yi was like a girl seeing her lover, listening to Yoru boast about his various thrilling missions on the Land of Hot Water battlefield while gently stroking the tight muscles on Yoru’s arm.
Of course, Yoru wouldn’t mention his missions in the Land of Whirlpools and Land of Waves; at this moment, he was disguised as an ordinary Chunin returning to the village for rotation after the Land of Hot Water battlefield.
“Ninja Lord, look at your right arm—it’s a bit stronger than your left. Why not try switching hands in the future, don’t always use your right hand?”
“I prefer not using hands. How about you help me, then there won’t be the trouble you mentioned.”
Two hours later.
Qiao Yi straightened her clothes and walked out from her bedroom in the backyard.
Really, busy for two hours and still didn’t extract any intelligence.
Konoha Chunin’s strength is really strong; Qiao Yi walked with a limp, her thighs aching.
Yoru, half-asleep and half-awake while maintaining basic vigilance, took a nap on Qiao Yi’s soft and fragrant bed, feeling refreshed.
At night, Yoru ordered three bottles of wine and drank slowly.
Around him were Konoha’s ninjas and villagers.
Men, when drunk, love to brag.
“The Senju Clan’s young master Senju Nawaki graduated this year. Do you know who his jonin team leader is?”
“No idea, tell me quick.”
The braggart looked smug and said, “When I was at the photo studio, I happened to see the Senju young clan head, and his leading teacher is also an impressive figure.”
“Of course I know the Senju young clan head’s teacher is formidable, tell me quick, don’t keep me in suspense.”
“Orochimaru! Third Hokage’s disciple, Princess Tsunade’s teammate, Orochimaru!”
The people around all drew in a sharp breath, exclaiming in amazement.
“If I were the Senju young clan head, could I also apprentice under Jonin Orochimaru?”
“Look at your ambition. Clearly, it’s Jonin Orochimaru taking advantage. I heard over a dozen jonin like Jonin Jiraiya, Jonin Kato Dan, and others were competing for the position of Senju young clan head’s team captain. But Third Hokage favored Orochimaru, so he was chosen.”
“True, Jonin Orochimaru guiding the Senju young clan head—who knows who’s taking advantage of whom.”
Yoru drank on the side, continuously gathering intelligence.
The izakaya is a good place; every visit brings both expenditure and gain.
Waiting until most customers had left, Yoru approached the boss’s wife.
“Get me a room on the second floor; I’ll sleep here for the next few days.”
Qiao Yi covered her small mouth with her delicate pink hand: “You just freed my hands at noon; freeing them again tonight?”
“Don’t keep my hands waiting too long.”
—
The full moon was like a silver plate, the moonlight like white frost.
Life in Konoha Village was very relaxed; daily routine guard missions were all that was needed.
Finally, full moon night arrived again.
Tsuruzuki Izakaya.
Outside the window, a bright moon in the night sky; two bright moons in the palms, three moons shining together.
