The 14th had finally arrived.
All day, the Senju compound was bustling with activity, showing no signs of abnormality.
Deep into the night, Yako stood atop the Hokage Rock, peering toward the Senju compound through a telescope.
Behind him, Senju Ka and Yachi waited patiently.
Ka asked as Yako lowered the telescope, "Was the ANBU really involved in the extermination of the Uzumaki clan?"
Yako nodded. "Of course. Konoha's sluggish response was too suspicious. Kumo and Kiri had already reached Uzushiogakure, yet Konoha's intelligence division knew nothing? That's impossible."
Ka nodded back. His son hadn't died at the hands of foreign spies—he had died for coming into contact with remnants of the Uzumaki, killed by ANBU within the alleys of the Hidden Leaf.
Someone had pretended to be someone familiar to his son and struck him down with a kunai to the back of the head.
Yako continued:
"The surviving Uzumaki believe the ANBU, under the pretense of securing the Nine-Tails' transfer, severed Lady Mito's communication with the outside world.
Lady Mito knows nothing of her clan's annihilation.
The Uzumaki had wanted Princess Kushina to seal the Three-Tails—but in response, Konoha chose to abandon the Uzumaki.
They not only stood by but actively blocked information.
When the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, led over two thousand shinobi to Uzushiogakure, it was just for show—to preserve the appearance of an alliance."
Yachi had participated in that mission. He nodded, face grim.
Everything made sense now.
Poor Haku—his student had uncovered a truth that shattered everything he believed in. The village wasn't what he thought it was.
And for that truth, he was silenced by ANBU.
Yako said:
"During the day, the Senju compound is heavily guarded. We wait until deep night, when security loosens, and slip in.
Uncle Ka, you must take me to Lady Mito's residence. I carry critical intel from Uzumaki Yuka.
If we can deliver it to her, the truth about the clan's destruction will be known."
Senju Ka nodded, eyes set with determination. "Last night, you said there are traitors within the Senju, didn't you?"
To keep him from acting prematurely, Yako had spun that lie—and now he continued weaving it.
"Yes. Some Senju have sided with the village and know the truth about the massacre.
If you act rashly, they might kill you too.
We need to reach Lady Mito directly. If your son was killed by someone he trusted, it was likely one of those traitors."
Ka nodded repeatedly. This young man—clearly a trusted mole of the Uzumaki—had clear and reasoned logic.
Seeing Ka convinced, Yako turned his gaze over the rooftops of Konoha.
Tonight, the manner of my death will surpass all their expectations.
"Drink! Drink! Keep drinking!"
In the dead of night, Ka stood in the center, swaying drunkenly, reeking of alcohol.
Two men helped him stagger toward the compound.
The guards recognized Ka. With his son having died recently, they assumed he was mourning.
A drunk being helped home by friends—nothing suspicious. They let them through.
To Ka's left was Yachi, Haku's teacher and a regular face in the Senju estate.
On the right, an unfamiliar young man—perhaps one of Haku's friends.
Yako, in disguise, kept his back to the known ANBU surveillance points hidden in the surrounding trees.
Once inside, the trio moved slowly between the central and right wings of the compound.
They swayed, appearing completely drunk.
Yako counted in his head.
First courtyard…
Second…
Third…
After passing through the fourth—home to the clan's public halls and archives—they neared their destination.
Ka had said: the fifth courtyard belonged to Clan Head Senju Rinkoku. The sixth was Lady Mito's residence.
As they approached the sixth courtyard's outer wall, the three suddenly broke into a sprint.
Despite his prosthetic, Ka moved shockingly fast.
Yako pulled out a kunai—wire trailing from its handle, hundreds of explosive tags woven along the steel line.
"You—!" Ka began, startled. "You're carrying that many tags—this isn't about delivering intel to Lady Mito!"
Then he saw Yako hurl the wire-bound kunai over the wall of Rinkoku's compound.
Ka exhaled in relief.
Ah. So the tags were for the Clan Head. That was fine.
Whether Rinkoku was a traitor or not, as leader during the clan's fall, he bore the guilt of incompetence at the very least.
Ka's wife had been an Uzumaki—a gentle, steadfast woman who filled his early life with warmth.
After Tobirama's death, it became clear Rinkoku lacked the strength to lead the Senju back to their golden age.
He hoped that someday Tsunade or Nawaki would carry the torch.
Explosive tags detonated in waves across the compound's rear wall.
Smoke and thunder split the night.
Yako shouted: "Go find Lady Mito! I'll hold off Senju Rinkoku!"
Ka was deeply moved.
This Uzumaki mole… was sacrificing himself without hesitation.
Tonight, the boy would surely die—and he'd chosen to die with conviction.
Yako turned toward the study.
Inside, Senju Rinkoku still held a scroll, seemingly reading something.
When he saw Yako, rage flared in his eyes.
"Who dares intrude, you thieving brat?!"
With a flicker of Body Flicker, Rinkoku burst through the hole in the wall, heading straight for Yako.
Yako had no intention of being captured and tortured. If this was his end, it had to be loud.
"Senju Rinkoku! You've disgraced the entire clan!
You lazy, useless second-gen piece of trash!
Even a chained ninken would've made a better clan head!
You couldn't protect the Uzumaki! You couldn't even protect your own mother!
You—"
Rinkoku's breath caught. His nostrils flared in fury.
He launched forward, fist cocked, and slammed it into Yako's chest with full strength.
With that monstrous blow, Yako's chest collapsed inward.
His nerves ruptured from the shock—he felt no pain.
What had just pierced his arm?
Ah. His own shattered rib.
Behind them, Yachi stood stunned.
Wait, wasn't this supposed to be a truth-delivery mission to Lady Mito?
Why did this kid go and make it personal?!
If he didn't know better, he'd think Yako was blaming Rinkoku for the entire massacre!
Rinkoku hurled the foul-mouthed intruder away, then spotted the fleeing forms of Ka and Yachi sprinting toward Lady Mito's compound.
"What are you doing?!"
He thought Ka had betrayed the clan—that he aimed to harm his own mother.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
After forming three hand signs, a massive water dragon surged forward, crashing toward the two.
Yachi spun around atop the wall.
"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"
The wall slowed the dragon briefly—but not for long.
Though Rinkoku couldn't match the first or second Hokage, he was still a high-level jōnin with years of experience.
Ka's voice pierced the night:
"Lady Mito! The ANBU were part of the Uzumaki's—"
But Rinkoku's Water Dragon technique split—three smaller dragons coiled around the shattered earth wall and slammed into Ka's back.
Ka had been retired for years—his strength waned. The blows drove him to the ground.
His final words were never finished.
Lying flat, blood spilling from his mouth, he reached out toward Lady Mito's house—only for a blade to pierce his skull.
ANBU Captain Inuzuka Inugai had arrived.
Ka died without ever seeing her door open.
Yako also slipped into unconsciousness.
Rinkoku's punch had shattered his ribs—fragments drove straight through his heart.
As his vision dimmed, he saw waves of shinobi leap over the walls, heading toward Lady Mito's home.
[Death detected. Activating Arc of the Moonlit Watch system…]
Here it comes.
Let's see what kind of cheat I draw this time!