Yako stood atop the Hokage Rock.
Through his binoculars, he observed the peaceful tranquility of the Senju Clan compound.
He carefully memorized the architectural layout of the Senju estate.
The massive compound was divided into three main paths—left, center, and right.
The central path featured seven successive courtyards.
The first four were public spaces—clan shrine, meeting hall, archives, and administrative buildings. These were occasionally open to outsiders, so Yako had been able to gather intel on them easily.
The last three courtyards were residential. But he didn't know which house belonged to the clan head, Senju Rinkoku, and which one was Uzumaki Mito's.
On the 14th, when the operation went down—if Rinkoku was outside the compound, Yako could try to ambush him. But if he remained inside, Yako would need to first confirm which residence was his.
The left and right wings of the Senju compound also had seven-layer courtyards—more densely built, with fewer large halls.
On the east and west ends of the estate, there was a single long row of residences stretching over 200 meters each.
The vast buildings housed over a thousand members of the Senju clan.
Beyond the seventh courtyard, there was a massive training ground—nearly one-third the size of the entire compound.
Yako sighed internally. Am I really going to have to fight my way through the entire Senju Clan?
But he soon discovered something new—patrol squads of three roamed the compound.
Narrow alleys between courtyards teemed with Senju shinobi on patrol.
Some disappeared into certain pavilions—those must be hidden posts and lookout stations.
Still over twenty days left until the operation. There was time to find an opening.
Descending from the Hokage Rock, Yako suddenly spotted a group exiting the Hokage Tower.
He froze for a moment.
It was Senju Rinkoku and his escorts.
But after a second's thought, Yako chuckled. Why be afraid? I haven't even made a move on him yet.
He was now a well-established core member of the ANBU, pure and clean on paper.
He glanced at Rinkoku—six escorts surrounded the clan head, all with stern faces and battle-hardened auras.
Senju elites.
Back at the Tsurugetsu Izakaya, Yako ordered three bottles of sake and drank alone.
Kyo'i noticed his mood and began teasing him under the table with her foot.
"Stop that, Kyo'i. Tonight, alright? There are too many customers."
She rolled her eyes at him, then sauntered away, her round and perky hips swaying.
Just then, a middle-aged man limped into the izakaya on a crutch.
Broad face, thick neck muscles—a once-powerful shinobi now crippled.
What caught Yako's attention was the crest on his clothes: the Forest Senju emblem.
He recognized the man—a regular at the bar. A retired shinobi named Senju Ka.
Senju Ka spotted his friend Yachi at the counter waving to him, and hobbled over.
Yako downed two bottles of sake in a row, then strolled to the counter.
"Kyo'i! Don't be mad. I was wrong."
Ka and Yachi watched the playful bickering between the couple and chuckled.
Ka said, "Young man, take it from someone who's been around—cherish that girl, you're lucky to have her."
Yachi chimed in, "But come on, is there anything luckier than marrying a Senju woman?"
Ka snorted, "Still bitter you didn't marry my sister back in the day?"
"Of course I am. She died fourteen years ago in the First Shinobi War. If she hadn't, I would've married her."
Ka's expression softened with sorrow. His sister had fallen early in the war.
Yachi added, "And your little sister died twelve years ago, too. If she hadn't, well… I wouldn't have minded either. I'm not picky."
"You bastard!"
Ka swung his crutch—what remained of his leg knocked Yachi off his stool.
But Yachi wasn't angry—he climbed back up laughing. "Still strong, huh? Good thing you're crippled now. Otherwise, I'd be a goner."
The two middle-aged men kept bickering.
But Yachi quickly changed the subject. "Alright, what did you call me here for? I don't have time for small talk with a retired has-been."
Ka's expression turned serious.
"You're my son Senju Haku's jonin supervisor—his teacher. I want you to check in on him.
He just came back from a mission in the Land of Grass. Since last night, he's locked himself in his room and won't come out.
No matter what I ask, he won't talk. Something's wrong."
Yachi frowned. "I know Haku well. He's a tough kid. No way he'd lock himself up over one mission."
Ka sighed.
"His mission record is stellar—he's completed multiple A-rank missions. I even submitted a request for his promotion to Tokubetsu Jōnin. I want him to join the clan head's guard unit.
But something's off in his head. I'm afraid he might have some kind of mental breakdown."
"No chance," Yachi said firmly.
"I took him on his first mission outside the village—he killed two Suna-nin without flinching.
He's a model shinobi. Already Tokubetsu Jōnin level at 19. He'll be Jōnin by 25.
He's not the type to snap. Weaklings get broken by fear, not him."
"Just talk to him. Enough chatter."
"Fine, fine. I'll talk to him tomorrow. But tonight—you're buying, rich Senju. I'm drinking my fill."
Yako flirted with Kyo'i while eavesdropping on every word of the conversation.
What caught his interest most was that the crippled Senju Ka wanted his son to join the clan head's personal guard.
The next day, Yako arrived at the izakaya early.
Yachi soon arrived and sat at the counter, sipping his sake.
Late into the night, a tall young man walked in.
Messy facial hair, drooping eyelids, dark circles from insomnia.
"Haku, over here!"
Senju Haku looked up and slowly walked over to his teacher.
Yachi spoke encouragingly, but Haku just stared blankly at his drink.
"Haku, you've got to pull yourself together. Your mother came from the Uzumaki Clan. She gave her life for Konoha. For your father's sake, you can't fall apart now. Whatever's bothering you—tell me. I'll help."
Suddenly, Haku looked up—his eyes twisted with rage, then confusion.
He leaned in and whispered something into his teacher's ear.
Yako saw Yachi's pupils constrict. His face contorted in disbelief.
"No… Impossible! That can't be true!"
After a moment, he asked, "Did you tell your father?"
"No. I was afraid to."
"Good. Don't say a word. This is beyond you. I'll find out the truth and tell your father myself. For now, go home. Don't act out. Don't let your guard down."
"Got it. I understand."
The two of them left.
Yako replayed everything in his mind.
Senju Haku only reacted after hearing that his mother came from Uzushio.
No matter how well Danzō covered his tracks, eventually the truth would slip out.
Yako suspected Haku had encountered survivors from Uzushio during his mission in the Land of Grass.
He kept thinking—
Can I use this intel… to get close to Senju Rinkoku?