The Anbu were the Hidden Leaf's secret operatives — a covert force directly under the command of the Hokage. Since the Hokage was often too busy to handle every matter personally, the Anbu Commander typically oversaw their missions and coordination.
Now that Lord Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had returned to the field, Yoru only needed to follow him. It was far more comfortable than reporting to Danzo Shimura.
Hiruzen paced around the cave, carefully inspecting every corner, questioning each detail.
Yoru answered what he could; when he couldn't, he offered calculated guesses and tactical suggestions.
Too many mysteries surrounded Uchiha Madara.
Soon, several scouting teams led by clan heads returned. The Hyuga elder, Yellow Dogzuka Hunter, and others approached the Hokage, each shaking their heads.
Yellow Dogzuka Hunter spoke first:
"Lord Hokage, Uchiha Madara's retreat was perfectly concealed. The heavy rain erased any remaining traces. We found no signs of his departure.
My judgment is that the hundred-meter giant inside the cave was a summoned creature. Otherwise, there's no way such a massive being could vanish so quietly."
Hiruzen nodded. "You've done well. Please remain stationed outside. I need to speak privately with the Senju and Uchiha clan heads."
Inside the now-empty cave, only the Hokage, Senju Hanaki, and Uchiha Tokei remained.
Hiruzen turned to Tokei first.
"Clan Head Tokei, does the Uchiha Clan still maintain any secret contact with Uchiha Madara?"
Uchiha Tokei shook his head rapidly.
"Lord Hokage, ever since Madara's first betrayal, we've completely severed ties.
Please trust the Uchiha — we have no reason to betray the Leaf. How could we ever ally with someone as dangerous as Madara?
I know nothing of his whereabouts. What puzzles me more is this—how could Uchiha Madara possibly use Wood Release?"
Yoru thought to himself, Here we go. Uchiha Tokei is starting to pass the blame.
And who could blame him? The entire Uchiha Clan couldn't possibly shoulder Madara's crimes if they didn't distance themselves.
Senju Hanaki's expression darkened with grief.
"I'd like to ask you the same, Clan Head Tokei! Why does an Uchiha possess the Senju Clan's most sacred Kekkei Genkai?
Madara was from the Warring States era — there was no chance for intermarriage between our clans back then.
Are you suggesting the Uchiha have been conducting human experiments in secret?
Could it be that the missing geniuses of my clan were… used in your experiments?"
The two were about to erupt into another round of accusations when Hiruzen raised his voice.
"Enough! Do not dwell on the sins of the past!"
After a deep breath, he said:
"The matter of Uchiha Madara is too critical. Clan Heads Hanaki and Tokei — the two of you will form a joint investigation unit. Begin here, trace every lead, and locate Madara.
His hatred for the Leaf still burns. We can't afford to ignore him.
I suspect the Nine-Tails incident was also orchestrated by Madara himself. The beast once served as his summon — he's always wanted to reclaim it. The only reason he didn't act that night was because the village was on high alert."
Senju Hanaki didn't want to believe this, but she couldn't find any argument that made sense.
The tension between the Senju and Uchiha clans had already worsened since the Nine-Tails' rampage — now Hiruzen wanted them to work together? It was like pouring oil onto a blazing fire.
But since only their two clans had ties to Wood Release and Sharingan, there were no other candidates.
They reluctantly agreed.
Hiruzen knew conflict was inevitable. When it happened, he would step in to mediate — his specialty.
Hanaki closed her eyes in pain. Madara still lived, and now the village would pin the Nine-Tails disaster entirely on him. Yet deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that things weren't so simple.
After leaving the cave, Hanaki ordered her guards to recover the three Senju corpses.
Looking at the sealed bodies, she murmured, "We'll inform Tsunade when the burials are prepared. She wouldn't take it well right now…"
Then one guard exclaimed, "Clan Head! Lord Dan's body still has the First Hokage's Necklace!"
The necklace had survived intact. Hanaki took it carefully, planning to return it to Tsunade later.
Yoru followed Hiruzen back to the village — a journey of seven more days. The next full moon was not far off.
Upon returning, Hiruzen brought him straight to the Hokage's office. Inside waited Captain Yellow Dog.
"Fox," the Hokage said, "I want every detail — the real story."
Yoru understood: Hiruzen wanted to know what Danzo had truly done.
So he recounted everything — from encountering three Leaf shinobi controlled by Madara, being hunted by Kato Dan, the deaths of White Ram and Leaf Monkey, and using the Yamanaka Mind Transfer Technique to escape…
Then his meeting with Danzo, who led him to Madara. The two fought, and Danzo used a Mangekyo Sharingan to barely escape.
"What? You mean his eye was destroyed?" Hiruzen's expression hardened.
Yoru blinked — Danzo hadn't told him? Were they at odds now?
After the Hidden Stone incident, the Anbu had given Danzo all the credit — until Hiruzen personally stopped the propaganda.
Maybe their relationship had already begun to fracture.
"Yes," Yoru replied, "that eye turned completely white — like a dead man's."
"ContYellow Doge."
Yoru then explained how Danzo later confronted Kato Dan again, trading another Sharingan eye to kill him, and how he suggested sealing the corpse using Tree World Birth.
Hiruzen sat in silence, puffing his pipe. The room filled with thick smoke.
Finally, he said, "I understand. You did well, Fox — better than expected. Submit a written mission report to Captain Yellow Dog."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Yoru left to prepare the report.
After he was gone, Captain Yellow Dog said quietly, "Father, before the mission, the late White Ram mentioned that Fox's chakra flared uncontrollably the night the Nine-Tails was sealed. Now again, during this mission…"
Hiruzen interrupted him: "Address me by title during duty hours."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen exhaled a long breath.
"Yellow Dog, don't overthink it. If Fox truly had a problem, Danzo would've eliminated him already.
He's talented — we need people like him.
The Anbu lacks strong shinobi. Most jonin seek prestige in the jonin corps, but few are willing to burn themselves for the Leaf, like you.
If you want to lead the Anbu someday, you'll need a team of exceptional captains under you. Fox's growth is extraordinary — nurture him well."
"I understand," Yellow Dog replied. "It's just a pity Fox is a commoner. If only he were born into the Sarutobi or the Ino-Shika-Cho clans."
Hiruzen chuckled softly. "Patience. We'll strengthen our next generation in due time."
Meanwhile, back at the Anbu base, Agent B saw Fox's return and immediately reported to Danzo.
Danzo muttered, "It seems Hiruzen trusts the boy deeply. With Hiruzen's sly nature, if Fox were dangerous, he'd already be dead.
Suspend the investigation. Keep casual watch — nothing more."
After finishing his report and handing it personally to Captain Yellow Dog, Yoru finally left the base.
His squad was still deployed on the front lines.
The full moon cycle was approaching — always the hardest time.
Late that night, he went to the Crane Moon Tavern.
"Boss!" he called. "Bring me your best sake!"
The tavern's owner, Aya, hurried over with a smile. "You're back, Yoru! It's been a while."
She poured him a drink, and for a moment, there was peace — just the quiet sound of sake filling the cup, and the flicker of candlelight across the weary shinobi's face.