Inside the ANBU base, in the changing room of the Fox Squad, only Yako remained.
The empty silence made him almost wish Leaf Monkey was there.
He created a Clone and, beneath his mask, opened his Sharingan.
Like he was posing for a photograph, he kept shifting his stance.
The Clone occasionally changed hand signs, signaling when the Sharingan would be visible and when it would be hidden by the mask.
After several trials, he confirmed that if an enemy stood outside a thirty–degree angle of his vision, they wouldn't notice the Sharingan.
Using it required extreme caution. Unless it was a desperate fight, the risk of exposure was far too great. If anyone discovered it, things would quickly spiral out of control.
The Uzumaki, the Senju… now even the Uchiha had spies within Anbu. And all three happened to be the same person.
At present, Yako's Sharingan was only at the single tomoe stage, enhancing his perception — primarily his taijutsu.
He wondered if, once it evolved to two or three tomoe, it might awaken other powers — copying, genjutsu, and beyond.
A few mornings later, Yako lingered lazily in Kyoi's bed.
Since his return, her tavern had been opening late, closing early — she had grown a little indulgent.
Yako teased her: even if she gave up being a kunoichi, she still needed to train. Otherwise, she couldn't keep up in bed. Every time they sparred under the sheets, she had to fight two against one — and no woman could withstand that forever.
Speaking of a worthy opponent, Yako thought of Yuka. In that regard, none performed better than her.
After a lingering kiss goodbye with Kyoi, he stepped out into the streets.
With several bundles of white flowers in hand, he headed for the Memorial Stone.
Behind it, new graves had been dug.
Standing among the rows, Yako glanced left and right. Such a small area would never hold everyone if the war dragged on.
The distant forest would soon have to be cleared for more space.
Using the squad roster, he found the graves of White Ram and Leaf Monkey, laying flowers before them.
White Ram had betrayed him, reporting to Captain Yellow Dog. But he was dead now — debts erased.
As for Leaf Monkey…
'How many Leaf Monkeys have died already? The fourth, I think.'
The attrition rate for that mask was brutal.
ANBU shinobi died silently.
In the village, they had always been outsiders — either outcasts of great clans, or civilians with few friends.
If Yako died, perhaps only Purple Cat would come to lay flowers.
And even that depended on her surviving long enough to become a squad captain, then reviewing the old rosters to finally learn his true name.
Turning, he noticed two women dressed in black at the front of the cemetery.
Senju Hanaki and Princess Tsunade.
Around Tsunade's neck hung the First Hokage's necklace.
They stood before the grave of Kato Dan. His name and picture were etched into the stone.
As Yako passed by, he couldn't help but glance at Tsunade.
A strong woman weeping — even a stranger would feel pity.
Tsunade's early life was a tale of heights… followed only by fall after fall.
Born with a golden spoon, the granddaughter adored by the First Hokage.
Entrusted with great expectations by the Second Hokage, who assigned Sarutobi Hiruzen to mentor her.
But with the Second's sacrifice, her fate plunged.
The Senju clan carried the will of the two Hokage, throwing themselves into the first two Great Ninja Wars — charging first, retreating last. The clan bled until it withered.
Her younger brother Nawaki was blown to pieces. It nearly shattered her completely.
This iron-willed woman wept for days beside his body.
On the night of the Nine Tails' transfer, Tsunade was stationed at the frontlines. She never made it back in time.
She, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya were Hiruzen's key pillars in the field.
That night, her grandmother Uzumaki Mito, her father Senju Rinju, and her mother all died to the Nine Tails.
Then came Kato Dan's death.
Tsunade buried her face in her hands, shoulders trembling as sobs racked her frame.
Senju Hanaki glanced at the young man passing by, silently wishing he would leave.
But he too had come to honor the dead — she could not tell him to go.
Yako cast one last look at Dan's gravestone, then left the cemetery.
When Tsunade's sobs finally quieted, Hanaki spoke softly.
"Tsunade, I've kept this from you for too long. My original plan was for you to be the bridge between the clan and the village leadership.
Even in the worst of times, as long as you were there, the leadership would never turn completely against us.
There were many secrets of the clan's darkness I told only to Dan.
Now that he's gone, the Senju are at their most critical hour. I can't keep hiding things from you."
Green medical chakra flared over Tsunade's hands. She healed her swollen eyes and bloodshot veins, regaining her steely composure.
"Aunt, tell me. I already have my suspicions."
Hanaki connected the annihilation of the Uzumaki and the sealing of the Nine Tails, speculating that a faction within Konoha's leadership had deliberately struck against the Senju.
Tsunade listened in silence. Together, they turned toward the Hokage Rock.
The stone faces of the First and Second Hokage gazed eternally upon the village.
"Damn it," Tsunade muttered. "They could strike at comrades within the village, yet we Senju… we can't even cross that line in our hearts."
After a long pause, she continued:
"Aunt, begin recalling the clan shinobi stationed at the front. Train them in medical ninjutsu.
Until we uncover the truth, we can't risk more lives.
Konoha has changed. This Konoha isn't worth our blood.
But we cannot abandon our love for the village. It was built on Senju sacrifice.
Let our people use their natural strengths to become medics, continuing to support the village in another way.
I'll find the truth. Don't worry — I won't be reckless. I know how dire things are.
I won't die. I'll carry their will and endure."
If events had followed canon, Tsunade would already be drowning in hemophobia, her faith in Konoha shattered. She would never set foot in the village again until Hiruzen's death.
But here, the Senju still had hope. And no matter the pain, Tsunade forced herself to rise — for the clan.
The full moon gleamed like a silver disk, casting frost-white light.
Yako finally welcomed its arrival, exhaling in relief.
What a cursed cycle this had been — Uchiha Madara, Kato Dan, and now Danzo.
Back at the ANBU base, Yellow Dog summoned him.
"Fox, there's a new mission.
We're accompanying Lord Danzo into Amegakure.
He was meant to meet Hanzo last month for crucial negotiations, but Uchiha Madara's appearance delayed it.
From our intel, Hanzo's will to fight isn't firm.
Orochimaru and others have been operating in the Land of Rain, but the Ame-nin haven't rallied for a decisive battle.
Lord Danzo has studied Hanzo. He believes Hanzo can be persuaded with the right exchange of interests.
Hanzo declared war on Konoha because Ōnoki promised him too many benefits.
Now Konoha is prepared to cede a portion of mission contracts in the Land of Rivers.
In a few days, we'll head for the Land of Rain and sound him out."
Yako nodded. Another frontline, then.
Hiruzen was becoming more of a politician — relying on compromise to achieve his goals.
But in the shinobi world, weakness was the original sin.
Lacking the strength of the First and Second Hokage, Hiruzen and the others bartered away Konoha's interests for temporary calm, preserving only a hollow glory.
Days later, Yako followed Danzo into the Land of Grass' encampment — and at last reunited with his squad.