The Purple Cat squad hadn't taken on many missions lately—and the fact that they were still alive brought a bit of relief to Yoru.
Before long, Yoru met the newest additions to the unit.
The most important among them was White Ram, a reconnaissance shinobi from the Aburame Clan, skilled in insect-based tracking.
His beetles could scout up to about one kilometer away.
Yoru felt slightly disappointed. The previous White Ram had possessed the Byakugan, capable of scouting nearly three kilometers. These new bugs were a poor substitute.
Besides, insect-based surveillance had its limits—there was always a delay. The parasitic insects had to return before any information could be relayed.
White Ram suddenly spoke.
"Captain, my insects tell me you seem... not entirely satisfied with me?"
Yoru blinked. He hadn't expected the bugs to sense emotion.
"It's not dissatisfaction," Yoru replied calmly. "I was just reminded of the last White Ram. He fell on our previous mission. That's all."
Then his tone softened.
"Rejoin the formation, White Ram. Get familiar with your teammates—and let them get familiar with you."
Soon after, Captain Yellow Dog issued a new summons.
At the main camp gates, Yoru spotted Danzo flanked by two Root operatives.
Another mission under Danzo's lead.
The Anbu advanced in silence.
They left the Land of Grass and entered the Rain Country basin. Thick clouds gathered overhead, and soon, a relentless downpour began.
What started as a drizzle turned into a torrential storm.
This land was always crying.
The endless rain made life difficult here; crop yields were poor. Most plants couldn't survive. The locals survived on aquatic vegetation—water chestnuts, lilies, pond greens.
Recon squads came and went constantly, bringing reports to Danzo.
Following Danzo had its advantages—intelligence was always up to date, and the man valued his own life far too much to lead them into reckless danger.
Soon, the group stopped about three kilometers outside Hidden Rain Village capital.
According to the reports, Hanzo of the Salamander was inside the city.
Through the downpour, the city appeared as a gray blur beneath the sheets of rain.
The Anbu surrounded Danzo in absolute silence, unmoving even as rainwater streamed off their cloaks.
An hour passed.
Then, a group emerged from the misty city.
Danzo gave a subtle nod, and the Anbu units moved swiftly, cutting them off.
At about fifty meters' distance, Yoru finally saw him—Hanzo.
A mask covered his face; a cloak hung over his frame; in his hand gleamed a deadly scythe.
Hanzo's voice was calm but edged with pride:
"Danzo… my Hidden Rain has already declared war on your Leaf. How dare you come here? Do you seek death?"
There was confidence—bordering on arrogance—in every word.
The man called the Demi-God of the Shinobi World had long commanded respect from Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and even the Third Kazekage. His power was an enigma few dared to challenge.
Danzo replied coolly:
"Hanzo, for someone who calls himself a demigod, you've been thoroughly fooled by Onoki."
His voice sharpened.
"The Hidden Cloud has already declared war on the Hidden Stone. The Third Raikage himself leads a force through the Land of Waterfalls, attacking from the north. And the Leaf is pressing the Stone from the south, through the Land of Grass.
If not for your interference, we'd already be inside Earth Country by now.
Onoki promised you mission quotas and guard privileges for the Bird Country's feudal lord, didn't he? What a laugh.
If you hadn't been misled, you'd be attacking Bird Country right now. Then Iwagakure would be fighting on three fronts, and those mission rights would still be yours.
Onoki's giving you what he can't even protect—sending you to die for his gain. What a clever deal for him.
You may be strong, Hanzo, but your sense for the greater picture is pitiful.
Work with Konoha instead. I'll show you what real strategy looks like."
It was rare for Danzo to speak at such length—and disturbingly, every word rang true.
Maybe a little too true.
Hanzo's eyes narrowed in anger.
He was never much of a politician. That weakness would one day tear his village apart, birthing factions like Akatsuki—first a peaceful reform group under Yahiko, then a violent revolution under Nagato.
Now, fury overtook reason.
Hanzo's hands flew through signs.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
He skipped straight to violence.
A massive salamander appeared in a burst of smoke, scales glistening with poison.
Yoru leapt aside immediately as a blast of ancient toxic mist erupted from its jaws.
A purple haze spread fast, hissing as raindrops struck it.
The salamanders of Amegakure thrived in the rain, and this one was their strongest breed.
Raindrops only made the poison deadlier—the mist seemed to boil as it mixed with water.
Several Anbu unleashed Wind Release to disperse it, but it barely budged.
Only when Danzo himself formed signs and exhaled a roaring gale did the poison finally break apart.
Yoru cursed under his breath.
"Damn it, old man—did you really have to blow it in this direction!?"
He and his Fox Squad scrambled to evade again—only to be ambushed from the flanks.
Hanzo's men had been waiting there all along, striking before the Anbu could even land.
Kunai. Poisoned needles. A storm of attacks.
Yoru quickly formed seals:
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A surge of water rose, blocking most projectiles.
Then a Fire Dragon Flame Bullet burst forward from Yellow Dog, scattering Hanzo's troops.
"Everyone—focus on Hanzo!" Yellow Dog roared. "Create an opening for Lord Danzo!"
Danzo stood still behind them all—observing, calculating. That was his style: send others to probe, then strike—or flee—at the last moment.
Yellow Dog, too reckless for his own good, led the charge himself, his Fire Release blazing across the rain-soaked battlefield.
A massive fireball lit half of Hanzo's body in orange light.
But Hanzo was a master of Water Release.
A colossal Water Formation Wall, easily ten times Yoru's own, rose to meet the flames and snuff them out.
Yoru flanked around—barely avoiding the sweep of the salamander's massive tail.
If he'd been even a second slower, he'd be pulp.
"Earth Release: Earth Spear Barrage!"
Dozens of sharpened earthen spikes shot up, piercing toward the beast—but its slick, elastic skin absorbed the blows. Still, the spikes pinned its front legs momentarily.
"Nice work!" Yellow Dog shouted, then unleashed another Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
He had mastered that jutsu completely—raw power refined by repetition.
Three dragons of fire roared across the field, combining with other Anbu flames to engulf Hanzo.
The heat was overwhelming. Hanzo was trapped—or so they thought.
Hanzo's fingers flashed.
"Water Body Flicker!"
In an instant, both Hanzo and his salamander vanished.
Yoru felt a sudden chill behind him—then the air turned cold.
Hanzo had reappeared right at his back.
The Water Body Flicker had transported even that massive summon.
A blade gleamed through the mist.
Then—darkness.
[Host death detected. "Arc of the Full Moon" initializing...]
His last thought before consciousness faded was simple:
Such power... I wish I could use that jutsu myself...