Faced with the village leadership's near-explicit pressure, Senju Rinmu stayed silent for a long while.
All eyes from the higher-ups were fixed on him, waiting for his submission—his compromise.
After much deliberation, Rinmu finally said, "I will recall Tsunade. She will return from the frontlines to assist in Kushina's development and training."
Tsunade was the greatest common ground between the two sides—both the Third Hokage's prized student and the Senju Clan's princess.
"Tsunade, huh…" Hiruzen Sarutobi, more than anyone, knew her heart. Tsunade's love for the village ran far deeper than Rinmu's.
For the sake of the village, there was nothing she wouldn't do.
The village was her grandfather's life's work. She would never let the Jinchūriki become a threat to it.
Seeing Hiruzen's attitude soften, Danzo and Mitokado Homura didn't push further.
Behind Rinmu, Kato Dan's face lit up with anticipation. He would finally see Tsunade again.
The Third Hokage motioned for both parties to withdraw.
Before they left, he added, "Yellow Dog, I want a detailed report on tonight's events as soon as possible."
"In ten minutes, I'll have it on your desk."
That same night, the Third Hokage sat in silence, carefully reading through the report.
It was thorough and factual—no embellishments. Every step that Yellow Dog's unit witnessed or took was meticulously detailed.
The turning point had come when Captain Fox discovered the Kumo spy.
Fox had reported to Black Ape, who led the team in pursuit. That just happened to coincide with the kidnapping of the Uzumaki Princess.
Hiruzen nodded to himself. So that's how it played out.
After the annihilation of the Uzumaki clan, several promising rookies had emerged within the Anbu. Fox was among them.
He had demonstrated increasingly refined kenjutsu, mimicking Kumo's style. His growth in blade work was methodical and traceable—definitely not the sudden skill of a hidden Kumo agent.
Then something caught Hiruzen's eye—his eyebrows arched.
Uzumaki Kushina's classmate, Namikaze Minato, had killed a Kumo spy?
Black Ape had nothing but high praise for the boy.
Fox, a seasoned Anbu captain with superior reflexes and kenjutsu, had been slightly outclassed by Minato.
A ten-year-old stronger than a unit commander?
This was the first time Namikaze Minato had entered Hiruzen's attention.
A remarkable seedling.
He immediately issued an order to the Ninja Academy—Minato was to receive focused mentorship and cultivation.
Given what had happened, it was likely Minato and Kushina would become friends. And through Minato, the village could influence Kushina as well.
In terms of both strength and social influence, Minato was a valuable investment.
Time passed in the endless routine of surveillance duties.
Days later.
The full moon hung like a silver plate in the sky. Moonlight blanketed the village like white frost.
It was once again the night of the full moon.
At midnight, after the shift change, Yako perched silently atop a tree outside the Senju compound, using binoculars to observe.
The Senju compound was vast—covering a full tenth of Konoha's center.
This once-glorious clan was now nearing the end of its golden age, yet still boasted twelve elite jōnin and over thirty jōnin overall.
Within the compound, both Mito and Kushina were completely safe.
Yako's eyes shifted to the outskirts, and soon spotted a couple in an alley nearby.
The woman was a Senju kunoichi; the man, a civilian ninja from the village.
Thanks to Tobirama's pro-civilian policies, the Senju were eager to integrate. After the fall of the Uzumaki Clan, many Senju women began considering civilian ninja for marriage.
Purple Cat, crouched beside Yako, also peered through her binoculars, watching the couple. After a few moments, she set them down, face slightly flushed.
The man's hands were rather… unrestrained. They kept exploring.
Senju women were known for their curves—scaling that terrain was no easy feat.
Purple Cat, being a woman herself, grew a bit embarrassed.
She glanced around, only to find that the other three teammates had their eyeholes glued to their binoculars.
"Ahem."
She gave a subtle cough to remind them not to overdo it.
Spying on an affectionate couple wasn't exactly in the spirit of the Will of Fire.
Antelope and Black Ox looked sheepish, lowering their binoculars.
These were comrades of Konoha, after all. Peeking into their intimacy wasn't right.
Yako, however, remained unmoved. In fact, he even reprimanded Purple Cat:
"Purple Cat, you made several fatal mistakes. If we weren't inside the village, your actions could have killed the entire squad.
First, you made a sound.
As Anbu, how can you possibly make noise during surveillance?
This is outside the Senju compound. They're aware we're collecting intel around Kushina, so our exposure here isn't dangerous.
But if this were a mission in a foreign city? If we were exposed, would you be the first to cover our retreat?
Second, you made assumptions.
Just because the scene was suggestive, you lowered your guard. What if that civilian ninja was a spy?
What if, the moment you put your binoculars down, he turned and killed the Senju kunoichi?
Every unfamiliar face near the Senju grounds is a potential threat to the Princess.
Third, you have no authority to command Antelope and Black Ox.
Until I issue an order, all three of you are to follow my commands precisely.
Now—pick up your binoculars. Watch. Watch closely. Miss nothing."
Under her mask, Purple Cat's face was burning. Redder than when she'd seen the couple's flirting.
"Understood! Captain Fox! I was wrong!"
Antelope, Black Ox, and Purple Cat all scrambled to resume surveillance—eyes fixed on the steamy scene before them.
Antelope and Black Ox were practically trembling with intensity. Their captain was a genius. Handsome, intense—and with a perfect excuse to ogle under the pretext of duty.
Little did they know, the Senju compound was under extreme surveillance.
In the surrounding trees, no fewer than three Anbu squads had eyes on them.
Ten minutes of heavy petting later, the Senju kunoichi, cheeks flushed and legs shaky, retreated into the compound.
The stench of love lingered in the air.
The civilian ninja remained rooted in place, staring at the spot where she disappeared.
From the nearby branches, Black Ape signaled with hand signs.
Yako responded with a series of signs, then gestured to his team—withdraw.
Purple Cat's guilt only deepened. That silent, gesture-based communication between units—that was the Anbu norm.
Captain Fox was strict… but this made him all the more reliable.
Once they were far enough away, Yako spoke.
"Follow that civilian ninja. Eliminate the possibility he's a spy."
The squad tailed the man at a distance, watching him return home.
He climbed to the second floor, turned off the lights, and drew the curtains.
Purple Cat noticed that Captain Fox wasn't moving, so she remained silent.
They waited. From midnight until dawn.
Only after the man left again did Yako motion for the team to move.
They entered the single-family house.
Cautiously, Yako inspected every inch of the place.
The more he looked, the more something felt off.
"Purple Cat—check the bed.
Black Ox—inspect the bathroom.
Antelope—search the desk."