Leaving the command tent, both Mitokado Homura, Yellow Dog, and Yako felt a collective sigh of relief.
Yellow Dog's overwhelming victory in the ambush, combined with top-down pressure from Konoha's leadership, had forced Danzo to swallow his pride and retreat.
After exchanging a few words with Mitokado Homura, Yellow Dog summoned his full unit and announced:
"Starting now, Fox will serve as acting captain of the unit.
Fox, your final assignment on the Uzushio battlefield is to receive Kirigakure's reparations and return the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei."
"Understood, Yellow Dog-sama."
Yellow Dog had officially joined Konoha's upper echelon.
Those in charge of the jonin corps, ANBU, Internal Affairs, Security Division, and battlefield command all belonged to Konoha's leadership. A figure like Hatake Sakumo, despite commanding forces during wartime, held limited sway during peace.
No one knew if Sakumo had plans to take over a department himself.
Yako was now acting captain. Once the ANBU reorganization was completed back in the village, he would officially become a squad leader.
After Yellow Dog departed, Yako summoned Hippo and Yak—the two teams captains—into his tent.
Though technically part of the same unit, Yako had rarely collaborated with the other two captains directly. They weren't exactly close.
He looked at them seriously. "Hippo, Yak, what I'm about to say must not leave this room."
The two nodded solemnly, focusing in. Purple Cat, nearby, was also curious—what could Fox be about to say that required such secrecy?
Yako continued, "Currently, the ANBU has six main units, plus Root—over 360 operatives in total.
Advisor Koharu has said this is far too large for a peacetime force. There's no need to maintain such a massive ANBU division after the war.
Between post-war compensation, rebuilding border fortresses, and other expenses, the leadership intends to significantly downsize the ANBU.
Once trimmed down, ANBU will be capped at 80 members. That means only one out of every four will remain."
Hippo and Yak exchanged a grim glance.
They had both endured the harshest periods of the war under the ANBU banner—only to now face dismissal in peacetime? It was a cruel twist.
Many ANBU operatives represented their clans, sworn to serve the Hokage through this elite division. Being let go would make things difficult when reporting back to their families.
The reduction was steep—from 360 to 80.
Yako's decision to share this intel early made the two feel trusted, as if they'd been brought into his inner circle.
Once they had processed the shock, he added:
"In peacetime, our entire unit will become a single squad, subdivided into four teams. The exact list of who stays will be decided by ANBU Deputy Commander Yellow Dog.
However, as the acting captain—and soon-to-be squad leader—I have the right to make recommendations.
Hippo, Yak, I want each of you to submit a list to me in the next couple days.
Each company is to recommend four members for retention."
The two nodded earnestly.
Hippo hailed from the Akimichi clan; Yak was a skilled Earth Release user from a civilian background.
Both were capable and experienced. Given Yellow Dog's favor toward them, Yako would naturally grant them team leader roles.
Once they left, Purple Cat asked, "Captain, does that mean only four members from our company can stay in ANBU too?"
"No," Yako said.
"Our company will keep two full teams. White Ram and Blossom Deer will serve as their captains.
Purple Cat, I'll ask you directly—do you want to stay in ANBU, or retire and become a regular shinobi?
If you stay, I'll keep you on as my assistant, in charge of task logs and report writing.
If you want to return to your clan life, I'll apply for a generous reward package on your behalf."
Purple Cat hesitated. "What about you, Captain? What do you want me to choose?"
Yako reached around and pulled her gently by the waist.
"Naturally, I want you by my side. As my assistant, you won't be taking on dangerous missions. And while I'll strive to be fair in all things... for someone like you, I'm willing to use a little privilege."
Favoritism was its own form of love.
For Purple Cat, both personally and as part of her family's expectations, remaining in ANBU was the obvious choice.
"Alright! I'll stay as your assistant!"
"The Uzushio War is nearly over, Purple Cat. Tonight, we shed our armor."
"'Shed armor'? What do you mean?"
"It means taking off your battle vest."
He scooped her up and carried her behind the curtain, tossing her gently onto the mat.
"Come now. I want to see you take it off yourself."
—
Half an hour later, Yako stepped out of the tent, thoroughly refreshed. Purple Cat lay inside, too exhausted to even strap her vest back on.
Fox was simply too powerful.
She found herself wishing she were a taijutsu-type ninja instead.
—
Three days later, Fox's unit arrived at the Port in the Land of Whirlpools.
The dock had been cleared of civilians, reserved exclusively today for use by Konoha and Kirigakure.
From across the sea, a large ship approached. Standing boldly at the bow was none other than Fuguki Suikazan.
His gaze swept across Konoha's assembled ANBU, pausing longest on Copper Fox at the center.
In his mind, Fuguki weighed the odds—how likely was it he could kill Copper Fox in a one on one combat?
Intel said Copper Fox not only had an absolute defense technique, but was highly skilled in Water Release.
After mentally simulating the fight, Fuguki reached an unpleasant conclusion: he probably couldn't win.
Once ashore, Fuguki got straight to business.
"We're here to fulfill our terms of the ceasefire with Konoha.
Twenty-one Konoha prisoners of war—returned to you.
Two hundred and forty million ryō—for Konoha.
Another two hundred million—for the Land of Whirlpools.
Check it, Copper Fox. I don't want to waste time here."
Yako gestured for Purple Cat to lead a company to conduct the inspection.
The 21 prisoners from Konoha bore light wounds but were otherwise stable.
In return, Purple Cat handed over 15 captured Kirigakure shinobi.
Fuguki didn't even check them—just shot the group a scornful glance before ordering his men to herd them onto the ship.
The compensation arrived in sturdy chests, each holding five million ryō.
Purple Cat's team opened each one, carefully verifying the amount.
Yako picked up a single coin and studied the face of the Water Daimyō stamped upon it.
Ninja world currency was minted by the Five Great Nations. Curiously, there was no exchange rate between them.
Every year, the Five Great Daimyō held monetary summits to determine total print volume.
These meetings were verbal battlegrounds of their own, with no side yielding easily.
The more powerful nations—Lightning and Fire—always pushed to mint more. Weaker ones like Water and Wind, less so.
Under constant pressure from shinobi powers, the daimyo of each country maintained a delicate alliance—loose in appearance, tightly cooperative beneath.
Each nation printed its own currency per summit agreements.
While denominations were standardized, each coin bore the face of its own Daimyō.
With ninja watching their every move, the daimyo had little room for wasteful conflict.
When conflict did arise, it was left to the shinobi to resolve it—whatever result came of it, the daimyō accepted.
—
Once the funds were fully verified, Yako unstrapped the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei from his back.
Just as he reached to undo the sealing wrappings, Fuguki barked, "Don't touch it! Hand it over still sealed!"
"Afraid the Hōzuki clan might try to summon it away?" Yako smirked.
"After one war in Uzushio, you lot snatched away Samehada and Hiramekarei both. Even I, an outsider, think it's a bit much."
Fuguki replied coldly, "Not as much as wiping out the entire Uzumaki and Senju clans. I'd say you've got us beat there."
"Defamation," Yako said, lips curling. "You just say whatever comes to mind, don't you?"