In the early days of Konoha's founding, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara stood as the village's two strongest figures.
Below them came names like Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi Sasuke, Hyuga Tenjin, and others.
Against Uchiha Madara, no matter who among the leadership took command, their presence alone felt diminished.
With Orochimaru's outright refusal, Hatake Sakumo seemed like the only remaining option.
Yako's heart tightened slightly. The situation was drifting out of control.
If Hatake Sakumo were made supreme commander of a war against Madara, just as Orochimaru had said—win or lose, Sakumo would suffer.
If he won, he would merely solve a problem for the higher-ups without changing their opinion of him.
If he lost, his future would be finished.
Yako assessed the situation coldly. Sakumo was powerful—but against Madara, defeat was far more likely.
Just as a headache began forming, Hiruzen spoke.
"We will discuss Hatake Sakumo's appointment as supreme commander after we return."
Either leave the Sword of Damocles that was Madara hanging over their heads, or allow Sakumo to rise through victory over Madara—both choices were difficult for the leadership.
Yako let out a quiet breath.
It seemed Hiruzen feared Sakumo gaining prestige by defeating Madara even more.
If Sakumo actually defeated Madara, calling himself a demigod among shinobi wouldn't be unreasonable.
On the return journey to Konoha, Yako moved behind Yellow Dog and began subtly sowing discord.
"Commander, what about the progress on the Assassination Manual?
Root has suffered catastrophic losses. The codename members and trainees are gone—its operational capacity is crippled.
Advisor Danzo can't personally meet every spy handler himself, can he?
Should we use the necessity of maintaining the Assassination Manual as justification to request access to some of their spy contacts?
Intelligence matters far more than assassination. Whoever controls intelligence controls influence. If ANBU gains that control…"
Yellow Dog nodded repeatedly.
Fox's analysis was precise.
Whoever controlled intelligence controlled the spy network—and thus influence.
"Fox, your suggestion is excellent. Securing control of the intelligence network is exactly what ANBU should be doing.
There's no need to sympathize with Root. For Konoha—and to continue weakening other villages according to the Assassination Manual—we must control the intelligence system.
Even gaining control over one enemy village's spy network would be a huge victory."
Yako thought silently.
Yellow Dog had become quite fluent in the rhetoric of "for Konoha."
Such a convenient justification.
Everything Fox did now… wasn't that also for Konoha?
If they could act in Konoha's name, why couldn't he?
Back in the village, Yako followed them to the Hokage's office.
The leadership argued endlessly, yet no conclusion was reached.
Eventually, Yellow Dog began internal investigations within the Sarutobi clan.
Unfortunately, Yako wasn't allowed to participate in the clan's internal affairs.
What a shame. He still had several arrangements prepared.
When Yellow Dog inevitably failed to identify Sarutobi Kanosuke, he would come to him.
After all, only Yako knew who Kanosuke truly was.
Late at night, White Crane quietly left ANBU and hurried toward the Yamanaka clan compound.
Every step filled her with dread.
The intelligence she had passed to Lord Danzo had resulted in devastating losses for Root—five agents dead.
She was terrified.
Would Root come after her?
With only Danzo left, perhaps they lacked the strength to confront her directly.
Leaving the Forest of Death safely behind, she exhaled deeply.
Entering the village, warmth seemed to return to her body.
Konoha's streets were nearly empty at this late hour.
Perhaps she should have left ANBU earlier tonight…
As she passed a park, a sudden gust of wind swept across her.
"Who—"
She never finished the word.
A mask filled her vision.
The gust slammed her against a tree.
Before she could recover, a hand closed around her throat.
They had come to verify intelligence.
It's over.
I'm finished.
Despair filled her.
Danzo was the head of Root. His division answered directly to him.
Against someone like Danzo, even the Yamanaka clan could not resist.
Her throat tightened painfully.
"White Crane. What exactly was the intelligence you took from Fox Squad?
You claimed Madara had a base in the Valley of the End. Where is it?
We searched thoroughly underground. Aside from a cave crushed by the explosion, there was nothing!
Speak! What intelligence did Fox obtain?!"
The cave they found had been fabricated in advance by Yako—a decoy to maintain logical consistency.
"I—I only had a brief moment when delivering a scroll to Purple Cat," she stammered. "I glanced at it and saw Ox Squad's report mentioning the Valley of the End…
As for whether it was accurate, shouldn't Root have verified that first?
We learned in the Academy—intelligence must be verified to avoid acting on false reports!"
Pig smashed her mask with a punch, staring at her mouth.
"Lord Danzo placed the Tongue-Severing Seal upon you. There's no need to waste words.
Come. You'll see him personally.
He'll determine whether you're lying."
Her eyes filled with terror.
Just hearing Danzo's name made the air feel colder.
Especially now, when he was undoubtedly enraged.
She couldn't resist.
Once she had been an ordinary Yamanaka ninja, part of a close-knit Ino-Shika-Cho-style team. Then suddenly, the higher-ups had selected her—forcing her into Root training.
Now she was caught between Danzo and Uchiha Madara—terrifying figures beyond her control.
Someone… please help me…
"You're not coming?"
The grip tightened as he prepared to drag her away.
At that moment, a figure flashed into existence.
White Crane saw a fox mask.
Yako grabbed the man's wrist and squeezed hard enough that bone creaked audibly.
The grip loosened instantly, releasing her throat.
With a flick, Yako sent the man flying backward.
He landed heavily, shocked at Yako's strength.
It resembled the monstrous strength of certain Senju.
"Pig, White Crane is my subordinate. Are you reaching into my squad now?"
Under the mask, Pig frowned deeply.
Fox was troublesome.
Strong personally—and trusted by both Yellow Dog and the Third Hokage. Neither force nor authority would work easily against him.
When Pig remained silent, Yako continued.
"White Crane is involved in a leak within Fox Squad. She will return with me for investigation.
It seems you may also be involved. Consider how you will explain yourself to Yellow Dog-sama and the Hokage."
White Crane tried to speak—to confess that Danzo had ordered her to gather intelligence—but the moment the thought formed, the seal activated.
Her body went numb, collapsing instantly.
Yako lifted her by the collar.
"Lord Danzo is furious," Pig said coldly. "You'd better think about how you'll explain why your intelligence contained such serious flaws."
"You steal my intelligence and now question me?"
Pig vanished.
Yako frowned and left with White Crane.
Along the way, she trembled helplessly, desperate to tell him the truth—but every attempt triggered paralysis from the seal.
Back at ANBU headquarters, Yako found Yellow Dog.
Seeing Fox carrying White Crane into the office, Yellow Dog looked confused.
"Yellow Dog-sama," Yako said quietly. "I believe I've found leverage to force Advisor Danzo to relinquish control of the spy network."
"What leverage?"
Yako placed White Crane into a chair.
"As far as I can tell, she bears the Tongue-Severing Seal.
Root moved ahead of us because they planted spies within ANBU.
White Crane is one of them.
She was forced into it through the seal.
I suspect there are more."
Yellow Dog's expression darkened.
He hadn't expected Danzo to sink so low as to infiltrate ANBU itself.
Yako lowered his voice further.
"There may even be spies inside Black Ant Squad."
That squad reported directly to the Third Hokage.
If it had been infiltrated, what secrets remained secure?
Yellow Dog's eyes shook slightly.
"We keep this quiet. We investigate discreetly, identify all infiltrators, then present the evidence to the Hokage.
If everyone acts like Danzo, how can ANBU function?
Should we just stamp everyone with the Tongue-Severing Seal and let Danzo rule unchallenged?"
Yako already knew of five ANBU agents bearing the seal.
If the Hokage discovered his own direct squad was compromised…
He would not take it lightly.
"Yellow Dog-sama," Yako said, "where can I obtain the Tongue-Severing Seal? I want to attempt removing it. Otherwise she cannot cooperate."
"The seal was recorded in the Scroll of Seals after Princess Tsunade provided it to Danzo.
This is serious—but you have talent in sealing techniques. Wait here."
Half an hour later, Yellow Dog returned with a scroll.
"Study this immediately. And uncover all of Danzo's infiltrators."
"Yes, sir."
Back in Fox Squad headquarters, the room was empty.
Yako laid White Crane across his desk.
She trembled and wept quietly.
Threatened, dragged before Yellow Dog, hearing plans to strip Danzo of power… she felt stripped of all dignity.
Yako spoke slowly.
"You know nothing about true darkness.
Welcome to Konoha's shadows.
The village is not only bonds and friendship. It is also filled with darkness."
Once she began accepting that reality, he continued.
"You are Purple Cat's sister. You won't remain under Danzo's control.
Yellow Dog has noticed you. The Third Hokage will not allow this to continue.
I will attempt to remove your seal."
Hope flickered in her eyes.
Most of this… had never been her choice.
All night, Yako studied the seal, tracing its structure.
Near dawn, he bit his finger and began drawing blood-based seal patterns across her forehead, neck, shoulders, and chest.
The Tongue-Severing Seal was a blood curse—removal required blood as well.
After forming hand seals, the crimson patterns glowed faintly and writhed.
They flowed into her mouth like living script.
Twenty minutes later, the seal unraveled.
The hexagram pattern upon her tongue faded piece by piece.
Yako exhaled.
"Done. The seal is gone."
She swallowed hard.
"Danzo-sama's seal… really gone?"
"You just said Danzo's name freely. That's proof enough."
"What happens if they come after me?"
"I'll handle the fallout. Tell us about the other infiltrators. The Hokage and Yellow dog will protect you."
Tears filled her eyes again—this time from relief.
No wonder her sister trusted Fox completely.
He gave people a sense of safety.
As Yako turned to leave, she grabbed his hand.
"Please… don't go."
Her gaze drifted toward his private rest room.
"I know about my sister… and you..."
Yako lifted her gently and walked toward the room.
Moments later, he sighed softly.
Purple Cat had pale golden hair and porcelain skin.
But her younger sister… seemed even more delicate.
And thus, the bond between sisters ran just as deep.