The Water Formation Wall fell.
Atop the cofferdam, more than a dozen masked figures appeared—Konoha's ANBU.
On the water below stood over twenty Iwa-nin, grim and battle-ready.
"Fox Squad, Joint Technique—Begin!" Yako commanded sharply.
Four shinobi stepped forward, each unleashing a roaring Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet.
Four dragons of flame burst forth, surging ahead with fierce heat.
Yako stood at the center. Two more shinobi flanked the Fire Release users, weaving their own hand seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The greatest flaw of Fire Release was its sluggish speed—hard to land a hit in real combat.
But now, carried by a gusting wind, the fire's speed and destructive power surged to a new level.
Under their combined effort, the four fire dragons swept across dozens of meters of water surface.
With Wind Release enhancing their range, the flaming dragons surged outward, engulfing the Iwa-nin in a blazing inferno.
Those with quicker reflexes leapt to avoid the flames—but eight or nine were instantly consumed.
Fox Squad's combination technique had drawn blood.
'And they say Fire Release can't kill,' Yako thought with a smirk. 'Look at that.'
The Iwa-nin in midair stared in horror at the devastating cooperation of Konoha's ANBU.
In the narrow confines of the canyon, Fire Release burned even fiercer.
Just then, Purple Cat moved. Her Mind Body Switch Technique took hold of the Iwa-nin captain.
The captain struggled, taking several seconds to break free. By the time he regained control, fear twisted in his gut—Konoha's next jutsu was already on its way.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A thin, high-pressure stream of water jetted from Yako's mouth.
It carved through the canyon wall to the side, slicing off a massive chunk of stone with surgical precision. Boulders crashed into the river, sending up waves of white spray.
The water jet swept across the sky—cutting the airborne Iwa-nin clean in half.
Some had encased themselves in stone armor, hoping to buffer the blow.
It made no difference.
Yako's Water Severing Wave cleaved through flesh and rock alike.
This death was even more horrifying than fire. Dismembered bodies rained down into the water, blood trailing behind them—drawing brainless fish to the scent.
The fish thought someone had come to feed them.
Even the Iwa-nin captain fell to the wave.
Yako waved White Ram forward to clean up the stragglers while he leapt up to the canyon ridge by the Yoshimizu River.
Behind him, Kojii Chisa remained where she was, her slender eyes fixed on Fox Squad's ANBU.
That gesture just now—adjusting her glasses—it had been too smooth. Too familiar. Something about it stirred a strange certainty within her.
'I've seen that ANBU before...'
Once on the ridge, Yako left his squad to mop up what remained and quickly began searching the surroundings.
Soon, he found it—a symbol carved into a wagon. A coded mark.
Konoha had numerous spies embedded even in Iwagakure. The Land of Fire valued this hydroelectric plant highly, so ANBU had activated a spy stationed there.
Several wagons were parked nearby—locals from the capital come to witness the completion of the power plant's foundation.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
The pressurized stream slashed forward, neatly shearing off the top of a wagon.
Yako landed atop the cart and looked down at the merchant sitting inside.
He spoke the intel received from the spy:
"Chairman Kanishi of the Land of Earth— Retainer of the Chancellor of the Treasury.
The Iwa-nin infiltration squad is finished. The Land of Fire's Chancellor, Lord Idaha Haneda, has arrived in the capital of the Land of Rivers. He'd like to have a word with you."
Kanishi's face paled—not because this ANBU was powerful, but because he had just revealed Kanishi's true identity. He'd thought himself well hidden in the Land of Rivers.
Yako jumped into the wagon, kicked open the door, and motioned for Kanishi to follow.
Kanishi stumbled out on trembling legs—only to see the battlefield drenched in blood. The Iwa-nin were almost all dead.
The survivors, spotting Kanishi, grew tense and rushed toward him.
Kanishi had been their employer. His orders had required him to personally witness the destruction of the hydro plant before the mission could be considered complete.
Now, only four Iwa-nin remained. They closed in, surrounding Kanishi.
Yako looked at him and said flatly, "What now? Still planning to struggle?"
Kanishi shook his head and turned to the Iwa-nin.
"The mission is complete. There's no point resisting anymore. Konoha already knows everything. Your only task now is to escort me safely to the capital."
The Iwa-nin exchanged glances. Then looked to their squad leader.
The man grimaced, then nodded.
Yako swept his gaze across the area, brow furrowing. One member of White Ram Squad had fallen.
Even in a dominant position, danger had found its way in. One dying Iwa-nin had taken the ANBU with him.
At that moment, Kojii Chisa climbed back up from the cofferdam.
Purple Cat approached her and said respectfully:
"Miss Kojii Chisa, the Chancellor of the Treasury has entered the capital. He requests your audience."
Chisa first examined the woman's light golden hair. Then her sharp, compact figure. Finally, she stared into the eyeholes of the ANBU mask, trying to glimpse her gaze beneath.
Purple Cat blinked. What was with this woman's sudden hostility?
"I understand," Chisa said coolly. "We'll return to the capital together."
Chairman Kanishi, the surviving Iwa-nin, Konoha's ANBU, Kojii Chisa, and the officials of the Land of Rivers all departed as one.
Chisa drifted to the rear of the group, walking beside Fox Squad's ANBU.
"Have we met before?" she asked softly.
"We're on assignment. Do not engage with ANBU," Yako replied bluntly.
Chisa ran headfirst into a wall of ice-cold professionalism—but that voice, she was sure she had heard it before.
The group arrived at the capital's Tenshu Castle.
Inside the great hall—
The Daimyo of the Land of Rivers sat on the central throne. At his left was Idaha Haneda, Chancellor of the Treasury of the Land of Fire.
Behind Haneda stood Yellow Dog.
Yako entered and quietly took his place beside Yellow Dog.
Haneda was a large, rotund man in an embroidered robe and a delicate gold-threaded hat—essentially the Fire Nation's Minister of Finance and Central Bank Governor.
He held vast influence, escorted personally by Yellow Dog. He was one of the main patrons of both ANBU and Root—not only assigning them well-funded state missions, but also allocating special operational budgets.
His interest in this hydroelectric project was no secret. He had come in person, hoping to import the technology into the Land of Fire.
Haneda looked at Kanishi and said:
"So it was you, Kanishi. Last time I met with the Earth Nation's chancellor, you were the one pouring my wine."
Kanishi bowed low. "Lord Haneda, yes… it was me."
The Daimyo of the Land of Rivers motioned for his sister to sit at his side.
Kojiii Chisa sat, but her eyes never left Fox Squad's ANBU.
Not Haneda. Not the ANBU captain. Not even the heavyweights of Konoha caught her eye—her mind churned only with one question:
Who was under that mask?
Once everyone had taken their place, the Daimyo spoke:
"Today, we welcome Lord Idaha Haneda of the Land of Fire.
Because of the power plant incident, our nation has suffered much unrest.
Konoha and Suna are already clashing in our western borders. I don't wish to see turmoil reach the capital.
Lord Haneda, if you would, please share the Fire Daimyo's instructions."