Hanzo's declaration of withdrawal brought the war in the Land of Rain to an end.
The pressure on the Hidden Leaf eased almost overnight.
At the forward base, some ninja continued to participate in the Land of Grass campaign, plotting a route of invasion into the Land of Earth.
Others — including Yellow Dog's unit — were ordered to rest and return to the village.
Back in the Hidden Leaf, Yagami entered a meeting room inside the ANBU headquarters.
The room was empty and cold, with only a single spotlight shining directly on his seat.
Sitting beneath that harsh light made him feel uneasy.
Before long, three jōnin entered.
They sat at the front dais, three desk lamps illuminating their tables but leaving their faces in shadow — only silhouettes were visible.
Yellow Dog's voice sounded, letting Yagami relax slightly.
"Fox. To be promoted to Special Jōnin, you need recommendations from three jōnin, and final approval from Lord Hokage.
Now begins the internal ANBU evaluation. Answer the questions carefully."
Yagami nodded, his eyes fixed on the three dark figures ahead.
The one in the middle was likely his squad captain, but the others he didn't recognize.
Each of them had a scroll open before them — probably his mission record.
The jōnin on the left spoke first.
"Your mission logs state that you killed a Sand jōnin in the Land of Rain.
Describe the battle in full detail. Leave nothing out."
Yagami's heartbeat quickened slightly.
To end that fight quickly and minimize casualties among his men, he had used Self-Curse Binding Seal.
It wasn't a technique he wanted to reveal — if ANBU intelligence had noticed something, this could turn bad.
He mentally reviewed what he had written in the report and recited the version exactly as submitted.
"That Sand ninja specialized in Earth Style, but my casting speed was faster.
My Earth Spears clashed again and again with his Flying Gravel.
My jutsu speed overwhelmed him — his reactions grew more desperate and chaotic.
Finally, I seized an opening and cleaved his head in two."
As soon as he finished speaking, the jōnin on the left moved.
The floor cracked — stones erupted upward like bullets, flying toward Yagami.
He formed hand seals.
A row of Earth Spears shot up from the ground, intercepting the gravel one after another.
The jōnin's strength was impressive, each impact drew closer and closer to Yagami.
Fragments zipped past his ear, close enough to graze his hair.
Too close — one shard struck barely half a meter away.
Amid the chaos, Yagami shifted his technique.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
A torrent of water surged upward, blocking the remaining stones.
As the water crashed back to the floor, Yagami looked toward the dais — sweat beaded on his forehead.
That ANBU jōnin's ninjutsu power was formidable.
Yellow Dog spoke.
"Crocodile Turtle, didn't I tell you Fox's ninjutsu proficiency is excellent?"
Yagami exhaled quietly. So it had only been a test of skill — not an interrogation about the curse seal.
The right-side jōnin stood next.
"Let's say I'm a noble from the Land of Fire hostile to the Leaf. You've been ordered to assassinate me. You cannot use ninjutsu — only taijutsu. Come."
Yagami drew a kunai from his pouch, meeting the man's blade mid-swing.
The sharp clang rang in the dim room.
"Strong arms," the jōnin murmured in surprise.
Yagami thought, Of course — I have the Senju bloodline physique. My taijutsu isn't weak.
They traded blows rapidly, kunai sparking again and again in the dark.
Yagami's movements flowed — his body flexible from his training in Cloud Flow Blade Style, allowing him to strike from deceptive angles.
The ANBU jōnin chuckled mid-duel.
"Your kunai work carries a trace of swordsmanship — tricky, venomous, varied. Not bad."
After a couple of minutes, he stepped back.
Yellow Dog spoke again.
"Well then, Crocodile Turtle, Hummingbird — will you join me in recommending Fox for Special Jōnin?"
"You've got a capable squad leader," one said.
"Better than my own unit captain," the other added.
The three signed the recommendation scroll in turn.
Yellow Dog turned to him.
"Let's go, Fox. Time to see Lord Hokage."
Relief washed over Yagami — the internal ANBU review had gone smoothly.
...
The Hokage's Office.
Yellow Dog went upstairs first to report. Ten minutes later, he returned and gestured for Yagami to follow.
When the masked ANBU stepped inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi greeted him with a warm expression.
"Fox, come here."
Only Hiruzen and Yellow Dog were in the room, so they could speak freely.
The Third Hokage flipped through the dossier on his desk.
"Fox — real name, Yagami.
Born in Konoha Year 23.
Orphaned in Year 28, raised by the village.
Graduated the Academy in Year 33.
Promoted to chūnin in Year 38 — that's last year.
Your teammates perished in two separate missions, you were rescued and later recruited into ANBU.
Since joining, your missions across the Lands of Waves, Whirlpools, Grass, and Rain have all been exemplary.
You've earned multiple commendations from both former captain Black Ape and current captain Yellow Dog.
Now, Yellow Dog recommends you for promotion to Special Jōnin."
The Hokage looked up.
"Fox — tell me. Since joining ANBU, how has your mindset changed?
The ANBU are my direct operatives — the blade in my hand.
But now, I want to hear your true thoughts."
Yagami knew this was the loyalty assessment. The Hokage's test wasn't about skill — it was about heart.
He composed himself and spoke steadily.
"Lord Hokage, my parents, my instructor, my teammates — all died in battle or conflict.
At one point, I had already accepted death as my destiny. Joining ANBU seemed the proper end for someone like me.
But over time, serving within ANBU, my heart began to live again."
"The missions we undertake are cold and cruel — but through those cruel tasks, the village becomes a little better.
Because we endure the pain, others can enjoy warmth.
Lord Hokage, the great ship that is Leaf sails onward because people like you bear its weight.
I only wish to be your strength in that burden — and dedicate my loyalty to you."
Heh, Yagami thought, no one can resist a well-placed compliment.
Hiruzen froze for a second.
"Bearing the weight… yes," he murmured.
Indeed — bearing the weight.
All his sacrifices suddenly had meaning again.
The fatigue, the gray hairs — they all seemed worth it.
He was still middle-aged, yet already looked older than the retired Chōza Akimichi.
"Good. Good!" Hiruzen signed his name swiftly.
"Yagami — I hereby approve your promotion to Special Jōnin!
Because of promising young men like you, the Hidden Leaf endures its crises — and grows more prosperous with each generation!"
He called him by name rather than code name — a gesture of warmth.
Yagami felt almost awkward; he'd grown used to "Fox."
"Lord Hokage," he said, "I will never betray the Will of Fire, nor the ANBU's trust. I'll continue to complete missions in your name!"
Hiruzen nodded repeatedly.
"As a Special Jōnin of the ANBU, you are entitled to one A-rank jutsu. Tell me — what field do you wish to train?"
"I wish to learn an offensive Water Style, Hokage-sama. My attacks lack power."
At that, the Hokage nodded toward Yellow Dog, who retrieved a blue scroll from the shelf and handed it to Yagami.
Inside was the Compilation of Water Style Ninjutsu by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
One name caught Yagami's eye immediately — Water Style: Water Severing Wave.
It was the signature jutsu of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama — pure destructive force.
During the Fourth Shinobi World War, the reanimated Tobirama had sliced apart the Divine Tree's branches with this technique.
"Hokage-sama," Yagami said, "I wish to learn Water Style: Water Severing Wave."
"Oh?" Hiruzen's expression softened with nostalgia.
"That jutsu was created by my teacher. It's difficult — but I'm glad someone will inherit it.
When you master it, let the shinobi world know that your Water Style descends from my teacher, the Second Hokage Tobirama."
"Please rest assured, Lord Hokage — I'll see that this jutsu shines again."
Hiruzen smiled broadly and began transcribing the technique by hand.
As Leaf's foremost instructor, he had studied every jutsu in the village.
When the ink dried, Yellow Dog handed the scroll over.
Yagami carefully rolled it up and stored it away.
"Fox," Hiruzen said, "train slowly once you return to ANBU.
For now, stand at my other side — we have a visitor to receive."
Yagami quickly took position opposite Yellow Dog — left and right of the Hokage.
Such a stance symbolized trust and cultivation.
He wondered who warranted such formality.
Moments later, a white-haired ninja with a short blade on his back entered the office.
Hiruzen greeted him warmly.
"Sakumo, please, have a seat."
"Lord Hokage," Sakumo Hatake said, bowing slightly before sitting on the couch.
He glanced at the two ANBU guards — recognized Yellow Dog on the right, a veteran known for his fire jutsu and close combat.
The one on the left, wearing a fox mask, was new — but his posture, the way his muscles held tension — spoke of skill.
Yagami's heart skipped. The White Fang of the Leaf.
At this point in history, Hatake Sakumo had yet to slay Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law — not yet infamous across the nations.
Sakumo asked quietly, "Lord Hokage, may I ask why you've summoned me?"
Hiruzen motioned for Yagami to deliver a scroll.
The ANBU stepped forward and presented it to Sakumo.
As Sakumo unrolled the parchment, Hiruzen spoke.
"The war with the Hidden Rain has just ended — but now Hidden Sand village has declared war.
Yellow Dog's squad disrupted one of their schemes — they attempted to divert the rivers of the Land of Rain into the Land of Wind.
That plan failed, but both the Rain and the Leaf are now on guard.
Believing we've suffered heavy losses across the Lands of Steam, Grass, and Rain, the Sand see opportunity in our exhaustion.
We cannot avoid it. The next battlefield will be the Land of Rivers."
"Sakumo— I want you to serve as deputy commander there.
Nara Shikaku will act as overall commander. You will be the spearpoint on the front line."
Sakumo fell silent.
Yagami was surprised — in the legends, the White Fang valued comrades above all. Why hesitate to lead?
Hiruzen continued.
"Orochimaru remains in the Land of Grass, working with Mitokado Homura to prepare an assault into the Land of Earth.
Jiraiya has encountered personal matters — fulfilling a promise tied to Mount Myōboku's prophecy.
Among the younger generation, only you can fill this role."
Sakumo bowed slightly.
"Lord Hokage, I will never shrink from duty. But I have one request."
"Speak."
Hiruzen's tone cooled a little.
Sakumo continued calmly.
"Lord Hokage, I hope that during the River Campaign, we can replace the recommendation system for Special Jōnin and Jōnin promotions with a merit examination system.
At present, promotion depends on recommendation by higher-ups and final approval by you — and while your judgment is beyond reproach, many capable chūnin remain overlooked.
I propose this:
Those who complete a set number of A-rank missions should automatically be promoted to Special Jōnin.
Those who complete a set number of S-rank missions should automatically advance to Jōnin.
That way, every ninja sees a tangible goal, and rank better reflects true ability.
The same could apply to access to higher-level jutsu — after fulfilling mission requirements, one could earn them through merit.
The exact quotas, of course, would still be determined by you, Lord Hokage."
Yagami was stunned. What is Hatake Sakumo doing?
The recommendation system was the foundation of Hokage authority — the means of distributing opportunity.
Replacing it with exams would make rank purely merit-based — practically revolutionary.
He felt a pang of sympathy.
He had fought and bled in ANBU, and in the end received just two jutsu — Earth Spear and Water Severing Wave.
If Sakumo's system existed, at least there would be a progress bar: "Mission Tip — only 100 more S-rank missions until your forbidden technique reward!"
Even if unreachable, the goal would be clear.
If he weren't ANBU, Yagami thought, I'd probably support Sakumo.
Then again… does being ANBU mean I can't?
Hiruzen's eyes lowered.
"Sakumo, the recommendation system was established by the Second Hokage himself. It cannot be changed overnight.
I will consider your proposal carefully — but for now, the Sand's provocation takes priority."
Sakumo nodded.
"Understood, Lord Hokage. I accept the post of deputy commander for the River Campaign.
And please, consider my request."
After he left, Hiruzen turned to Yellow Dog.
"Yellow Dog — Hatake Sakumo has gathered a group of followers around him, speaking of this so-called 'fair evaluation system.'
Add a long-term mission to your roster. Investigate his circle. Gather intelligence.
I want to know exactly what they're planning."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
***
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