Yako formed a new Fox Squad, bringing along Purple Cat and the two most capable new recruits. He assigned them the masks of Antelope and Ironstag.
After receiving the mission scroll, Yako gave it a glance, then led the squad to the northwestern corner of the Senju Compound.
Their task: surveillance of a Senju clansman.
This particular Senju had a passion for fishing. On days without missions, he could spend the entire day by the water.
He was a deeply tanned fishing enthusiast, his clothes marked with the Senju clan crest.
After a brief moment of thought, Yako understood why the ANBU had mobilized a rebuilding unit like Captain Black Ape's team.
Today's mission was a heavy one—requiring lots of personnel.
The ANBU had already confirmed that Senju Haku had been in contact with remnants of Uzushio Village. Anyone who had interacted with Senju Haku could potentially know the truth behind the Uzumaki clan's annihilation.
The bolstered security at the Senju Compound was the first layer of containment.
And every scattered Senju clansman in the village was now under surveillance.
Their monitoring lasted from morning till afternoon—until an explosion shattered the calm.
The fishing-loving Senju uncle turned toward the blast, which had come from the direction of the compound. He lifted his fish basket—empty—then tossed it aside and vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Yako and the others quickly followed.
From afar, they saw a crowd in an alley just outside the Senju Compound—Senju clansmen and ANBU alike.
Seeing the other ANBU squads present, Yako didn't bother hiding and stayed close behind their target.
At the alley's edge, the fishing uncle stood on tiptoe to peer inside and muttered,
"Those rats from enemy villages are such a pain. Always snooping around Lady Mito. This must be another spy trying to dig into her affairs."
A cloth covered the corpse, making it impossible to tell who it was.
Every Senju clansman knew Uzumaki Mito was nearing the end of her life. Her condition was the clan's top concern.
An ANBU operative stepped up and addressed the Senju gathered: "This is an ANBU matter—stand back. We're handling the spy."
Through the gaps between people, Yako caught a glimpse of the corpse on the ground.
A patch of graying hair was visible—it might have been Yachi.
Footsteps echoed behind them. Senju Kaba hobbled forward, leaning heavily on his cane.
But he was doomed to see nothing. The ANBU had already taken the body away.
Senju Kaba anxiously questioned them, desperate to know what had happened.
In this life, Senju Kaba still didn't know the truth. Just last night, Yachi had met with Senju Haku—who had vanished before returning to the compound.
The compound was heavily guarded. No suspicious individuals could have entered.
Yako followed the fishing-loving Senju uncle back to the small lake, where he resumed monitoring him in secret.
Until midnight, when an ANBU agent arrived.
"Captain Yellow Dog has issued new orders! All squads are to abandon current missions and assemble at the Konoha gate!"
Yako tensed.
'No way… all I did was give Yachi a little hint, and it already caused this much change?'
Assembling at the village gate—did that mean they were going beyond the village?
The plot hadn't just shifted—it had twisted entirely. Now he was leaving the village too.
He had no more respawns left. If he died outside the village… then what?
At Konoha's main gate, Yako, acting as interim squad leader, listened to Captain Yellow Dog's briefing.
Captain Yellow Dog spoke:
"Senju Haku, traitor of the Senju clan, used today's chaos to escape the village. He headed north toward the Land of Grass.
According to intel, he may be seeking the young heir of the Senju clan—Senju Nawaki.
We must intercept and eliminate him before he makes contact!"
Yako was shaken.
'Senju Nawaki is already on the radar of the higher-ups?'
The confusion caused by Yachi earlier today was likely a calculated move—meant to create a window for Senju Haku to flee.
Captain Yellow Dog continued:
"Senju Haku is of tokubetsu jōnin caliber, skilled in Earth Release, and most critically, he possesses a unique Senju sensory technique.
By placing a finger on the ground, he can sense tremors across several kilometers and determine enemy numbers.
He's in the forest now. Pursuing him will be difficult.
The other two squads will use their sensory ninja to track him.
Fox Squad, you're with me. Your task is information relay."
The ANBU squad moved in silence.
Yachi had bought Senju Haku a great deal of time—he had fled the village three hours earlier than Yellow Dog's team.
For a ninja, three hours was enough to cover 200 kilometers.
Sending an entire battalion to chase down a single Senju ninja—this showed just how seriously the ANBU regarded this mission.
Or rather—how seriously Danzo did.
If ANBU's role in the extermination of the Uzumaki clan were exposed, Danzo would be finished.
They headed northwest for over 200 kilometers—still no sign of Senju Haku.
Byakugan saw nothing. Even the Inuzuka clan's ninken had lost the trail.
Senju Haku knew Konoha's tracking methods well. His Earth Release erased footprints, and his Water Release washed away scents.
Captain Yellow Dog pondered for a moment.
"We can't just chase blindly like this. Fox, go find Rat Squad. Instruct them to proceed directly to the front lines and stay by Nawaki's side.
Monitor anyone suspicious near him.
Senju Haku may be coordinating with others. If anyone spreads his claims, we're in trouble."
Yako nodded and quickly moved to the squad ahead.
Rat Squad, upon receiving the order, accelerated toward the front lines.
Five days later, at the front—
Orochimaru led Nawaki and three other squad members away from the command camp. He suddenly turned and glanced sideways.
In the shadows of the forest, an ANBU unit quietly slipped out of the base as well.
The Rat Squad captain flinched.
Orochimaru's strength was immense—already that of an elite jōnin. Ruthless by nature, he was harsh not only to enemies but to allies as well.
Just a glance slowed the captain's heartbeat.
Nawaki noticed and asked, "Sensei, is something wrong?"
"Nothing."
Orochimaru simply found the ANBU excessive. With him present, was another squad really needed to protect Nawaki?
Nawaki possessed extraordinarily pure Senju blood. At twelve years old, he was in the phase of explosive growth.
Given time, he would certainly become a ninja as outstanding as the great Senju ancestors.
Orochimaru had accepted a simple recon mission, bringing a rookie team to scout Iwa-nin movements.
The task posed little challenge. After the Battle of Mount Ushiga, Iwagakure had suffered heavy losses and was now on the defensive in the Land of Grass. A major assault was unlikely.
Three days passed with no encounters.
Orochimaru asked, "Nawaki, given the current situation, do you believe we should advance the front-line base to further pressure Iwa-nin?"
Only when speaking to Nawaki did Orochimaru's gaze soften—filled with hope.
The other two team members—boys from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans—looked on with jealous eyes.
Nawaki thought for a moment before answering:
"I believe the advance of the front line depends not on us, nor even on Iwagakure—but on Kumogakure or Sunagakure.
No matter how great our advantage, if we push too far, we may face a fierce counterattack from Iwa.
However, if Sunagakure or Kumogakure steps in while Iwa is weakened, forcing them into a second front—that would be the perfect moment for us to strike."
Orochimaru nodded repeatedly. "Nawaki, that's good insight. Uncle Mitokado Homura is currently en route to Kumogakure. Perhaps they'll soon be unable to resist and launch an attack on Iwa."
Orochimaru was very pleased. Nawaki not only progressed rapidly in strength—his strategic awareness was excellent.
It was easy conversing with a genius.
Unlike that idiot Jiraiya—Orochimaru couldn't even stand talking to him.
Once he became Hokage, Nawaki could be nurtured as the next generation's leader.
Back at the border of the Land of Grass—
Yako was still with Captain Yellow Dog, searching for Senju Haku.
He glanced up at the moon's shape and thought,
'If Nawaki absolutely must die, let it be next month.'
Before Nawaki died, he had to at least touch him—just once.
Touch him for a reward.
If everyone sang Nawaki's praises, his bloodline ability must be incredibly strong.