Three Moons Shining Together

"Mission complete!" the Black Gorilla Squad Commander said.

"According to intelligence from Anbu Headquarters, the Uzumaki Remnants have already entered the Land of Moon. The Land of Moon falls within Kumogakure's sphere of influence, so the Anbu and spies there will be responsible for pursuing them. We can return to the village."

Along the eastern coastline of the ninja continent, from south to north, lay the Land of Fire, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of the Moon, and the Land of Lightning.

If the Uzumaki remnants wanted to escape, they could only choose between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of the Moon.

Yagami wondered whether the Uzumaki Clan felt bitter about it.

Even if they went to the Land of the Moon, within Kumogakure's sphere of influence, they were unwilling to enter the Land of Hot Water, within Konoha's sphere of influence.

Kumogakure was one of the culprits behind their clan's destruction, but in their judgment, Konoha was an even more terrifying beast.

Given the Anbu's strength and Konoha's regard for Kushina, perhaps they would never see Kushina again for the rest of their lives. Uzumaki Kushina would never learn the truth behind her clan's destruction.

Return to the village!

The Black Gorilla Squad left the Land of Waves and returned to Konoha.

As he entered Konoha once more, Yagami felt somewhat dazed.

More than half a year had passed since his trip to the Land of Waves and the Land of Whirlpools.

Upon entering the Forest of Death, Yagami noticed that it had changed somewhat.

The trees in certain places had become smaller, and their positions had changed as well.

After carefully examining the details, Yagami discovered that quite a few underground structures had appeared within the Forest of Death.

The freshly turned soil and replanted trees all revealed the changes here.

After jumping down through the Anbu skylight, Yagami found that the Anbu had indeed undergone considerable changes.

Root had appeared.

The newly established Root was simply an Anbu training institution.

Danzo had established new rules for the Anbu.

Given the Anbu's frightening mortality rate, Danzo decreed that newly recruited Anbu ninja had to undergo three months of training in Root.

Previously, Anbu ninja had been selected from ordinary ninja. Ninja at the chunin level could be put to use immediately.

Root's ninjutsu instructors were appointed by Danzo.

In the future, Root would gradually change in nature, becoming an independent kingdom within the Anbu, directly under Danzo's command.

Yagami returned to his squad's changing room.

This was the changing room he had used before leaving the village. It belonged to Antelope Squad.

He opened each locker in turn. Captain Antelope, Purple Cat, and Black Bull's personal belongings had all been cleared out.

Only one mask remained in each locker.

Captain Antelope, Purple Cat, and Black Bull had long since died in the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Waves.

All of Yagami's personal belongings remained in his own locker.

After a moment of wistfulness, Yagami sorted through his things.

The Black Gorilla Squad Commander passed by the changing room and said, "Fox, we have three days off. Report to me in three days."

"Understood, Captain Black Gorilla."

Yagami removed his Fox mask, took off his Anbu vest, changed into his own clothes, put on a face covering, and left the Anbu.

It felt wonderful to walk through Konoha's streets and alleys again.

The sunlight was warm, and the wind was gentle.

It would have been even better if not for the enormous Hokage faces overhead, brimming with oppression.

Only after walking some distance did Yagami remove his face covering and become an ordinary Konoha villager.

With nowhere in particular to go, Yagami went to Tsurutsuki Izakaya.

There were few customers at the izakaya at noon.

Inside the izakaya, the beautiful proprietress Kyouko was visibly stunned when she saw Yagami.

Was that the boy from half a year ago?

Looking at him now, the boy's face held more maturity and calmness.

As a spy, Kyouko immediately understood that this was the natural composure that came with increased strength.

Over the past half year, this boy had grown a great deal.

Yagami's strength had indeed increased considerably.

Host Status:

Chakra Quantity: 3 times chunin level.

Chakra Attributes: Earth, Water.

Ninjutsu: Basic Three Transformations, Earth Release: Subterranean Mirroring Fish Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Water Release: Water Wall Jutsu.

Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu, Basic Kunai Throwing Technique, Swordsmanship (Proficient), Body Flicker Technique (Proficient), Cloud Style Swordsmanship.

Sealing Jutsu: Self-Exerting Curse Binding Seal, Contract Seal, Summoning Jutsu (White Spear Heron).

Other: Reactive Reflex (One Breakthrough).

After relentless training and real combat, his swordsmanship and Body Flicker Technique had advanced from beginner to proficient.

Kyouko hurried over. "Where have you been these past six months? Why did you never come back to see me?"

"How could I possibly stay in the village the whole time during a war?"

Kyouko's eyes immediately brightened.

As a spy, the intelligence she had gathered recently had not been particularly valuable.

The young man before her had carried out a mission lasting half a year, and his strength had grown considerably after returning. He was worth probing.

After setting down a cup of sake, Kyouko looked like a maiden reunited with her lover. As she listened to Yagami brag about the various perilous missions he had undertaken on the Land of Hot Water battlefield, she gently stroked the firm muscles on his arm.

Naturally, Yagami did not mention his missions in the Land of Whirlpools or the Land of Waves. At the moment, he was posing as an ordinary chūnin who had returned to the village from the Land of Hot Water battlefield for a rotation of leave.

"Sir Ninja, look at your right arm. It's a little stronger than your left. Why not try switching hands in the future instead of always using your right hand?"

"I prefer not using my hands at all. Why don't you help me? Then there won't be the problem you mentioned."

Two hours later.

Kyouko adjusted her clothes as she emerged from her bedroom in the back courtyard.

Seriously, after two busy hours, she still had not managed to coax out any intelligence.

Konoha chūnin really were strong. Kyouko walked with a slight limp, her thighs aching.

Half-asleep, Yagami maintained the most basic level of vigilance as he took an afternoon nap on Kyouko's soft, fragrant bed, waking refreshed.

After nightfall, Yagami ordered three bottles of alcohol and drank slowly.

Konoha's ninja and villagers surrounded him.

When men drank too much, they loved to brag.

"Senju Clan's young master, Senju Nawaki, graduated this year. Do you know who the Young Clan Head's assigned jōnin is?"

"No. Hurry up and tell us."

The braggart wore a smug expression. "When I was at the photo studio, I happened to see the Senju Young Clan Head. His team leader is no ordinary person either."

"Of course I know the Senju Young Clan Head's teacher must be impressive. Just tell us already. Stop keeping us in suspense."

"Orochimaru! The Third Hokage's disciple, the teammate of the Senju princess Tsunade—Orochimaru!"

The people around them all gasped, exclaiming in amazement.

"If only I were the Senju Young Clan Head. Would I be able to become Jōnin Orochimaru's disciple too?"

"Look at that pathetic ambition of yours. Clearly, Jōnin Orochimaru is the one getting the advantage. I heard that more than a dozen jōnin, including Jōnin Jiraiya and Jōnin Dan Katō, competed to become the Senju Young Clan Head's assigned captain. It was only because the Third Hokage favored Orochimaru that he chose him."

"That's true. With Jōnin Orochimaru guiding the Senju Young Clan Head, it's hard to say who is benefiting from whom."

Yagami drank at the side, constantly gathering information.

An izakaya was a good place. Every visit came with both costs and gains.

He waited until most of the customers had left before walking over to the proprietress.

"Get me a room on the second floor. I'll be sleeping here for the next few days."

Kyouko covered her little mouth with her soft hand. "You just gave your hands a break at noon. Are you going to give them another break tonight?"

"Don't keep my hands waiting too long."

The full moon hung like a silver plate, its light like white frost.

Life in Konoha was very easy. All he had to do each day was carry out routine guard duties.

At last, another full-moon night had arrived.

Tsurutsuki Izakaya.

Outside the window, one full moon hung in the night sky; two more full moons rested in his palms. The three moons shone upon one another.