In the Fox Squad's changing area within the Anbu base, only Yōkō remained.
The empty surroundings made him wish for a Purple Cat.
Yōkō created a shadow clone and opened his Sharingan beneath his mask.
He kept changing poses as if for a staged photo.
The shadow clone occasionally changed hand gestures, reminding Yōkō when the Sharingan would be visible and when it would be blocked by the mask.
Through experimentation, when enemies appeared outside a 30-degree angle from his line of sight, they couldn't see Yōkō's Sharingan.
Using the Sharingan required extreme caution. Unless it was a life-or-death struggle, once exposed, things would get very lively.
The Uzumaki clan, the Senju clan, and now even the Uchiha clan had spies in the Anbu, and these three spies were the same person.
His current Sharingan was a Single Tomoe Sharingan, primarily enhancing insight, which meant an improvement in taijutsu.
He wondered if abilities like copying and genjutsu would appear after it evolved into Two Tomoe and Three Tomoe.
A few mornings later, Yōkō lazed in bed for a while at Kyōi's place.
Since Yōkō's return, the izakaya had been closing early and opening late; Kyōi was somewhat sapping her spirit through pleasures.
Yōkō advised Kyōi to train even if she wasn't a ninja anymore; otherwise, she couldn't meet her match in bed. Every time Kyōi had to trade two for one, no woman could withstand that.
Speaking of meeting one's match, Yōkō thought of Uzumaki Yuka. In that aspect, Uzumaki Yuka performed the best.
After kissing Kyōi goodbye, Yōkō went out.
He bought a few bunches of white flowers and headed to the Memorial Stone.
Behind the Memorial Stone, there were many new graves.
Yōkō stood among the graves, looking around. This small place probably wouldn't be enough after this war.
The forest in the distance would likely be cut down.
Following the squad list, Yōkō found the graves of Antelope, Leaf Monkey, and others, and placed the white flowers.
Antelope had wronged him by reporting to Battalion Commander Yellow Dog, but he was dead now, so the score was settled.
Leaf Monkey...
Which Leaf Monkey was this who had died? He couldn't quite remember; it seemed like the fourth one.
The attrition rate for this mask was too high.
Anbu ninja died silently.
They were already marginalized figures in the village, either marginalized within their clans or civilians with few friends.
If Yōkō died, probably only Purple Cat would come to offer flowers.
And that was only if Purple Cat lived long enough and, after being promoted to squad leader, checked the previous squad's records to learn his real name.
Turning around, Yōkō saw two women in black clothes at the front of the cemetery.
Senju Hanaki and Princess Tsunade.
Tsunade wore the First Hokage's necklace around her neck.
In front of them was Kato Dan's tombstone.
The tombstone had Kato Dan's photo and name.
As Yōkō passed by the two, he couldn't help but take an extra look at Tsunade.
A strong woman weeping is a pitiful sight.
The first half of Tsunade's life was full of ups and (mostly) downs.
Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, the granddaughter was doted on by the First Hokage.
A junior clansmember highly regarded by the Second Hokage, who appointed Hiruzen Sarutobi as Tsunade's teacher for her sake.
With the Second Hokage's sacrifice, Tsunade's fate took a sharp turn for the worse.
The Senju clan, upholding the wills of the two Hokages, charged at the front and retreated last in two Shinobi World Wars, suffering countless casualties, and the clan grew weaker and weaker.
Her younger brother Nawaki's death by explosion nearly broke Tsunade.
Such a strong woman cried for days beside Nawaki's corpse.
On the night of the Nine-Tails transfer seal, Tsunade was fighting on the front lines and couldn't even return.
The team of Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya was an important deployment by Hiruzen Sarutobi on the front line.
That night, Tsunade's grandmother Uzumaki Mito, her father Senju Rinoki, and her mother all died at the hands of the Nine-Tails.
Next was Kato Dan's death.
Tsunade buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with sobs.
Senju Hanaki glanced at the young man passing by, hoping he would leave quickly.
But he was also here to mourn loved ones, so it wasn't appropriate to hurry him.
Yōkō glanced at Kato Dan's tombstone and left the Memorial Stone cemetery.
After Tsunade cried herself out and her emotions stabilized, Senju Hanaki said:
"Tsunade, I've been keeping things from you before. In my original plan, you were the bridge between the clan and the village leadership.
Even in the most extreme circumstances, as long as you were here, the village leadership wouldn't completely break with the clan.
I only told Dan about many of the clan's dark secrets.
Now Dan is gone too. The Senju clan is at its most critical moment. Many things can no longer be kept from you."
Green medical chakra appeared on Tsunade's hands, healing her swollen eyes and bloodshot redness, restoring her resolute appearance. She said, "Aunt, tell me. I have some guesses too."
Senju Hanaki connected the annihilation of the Uzumaki clan and the Nine-Tails transfer seal, speculating that a faction within the leadership was systematically targeting the Senju clan.
Tsunade listened silently, then turned with Senju Hanaki to look at the Hokage Rock.
The stone faces of the First and Second Hokages gazed down upon the village.
"It's truly despicable. They can attack comrades within the village, but our Senju clan can't cross that psychological barrier." After thinking, Tsunade said:
"Aunt, slowly recall the clan ninja fighting on the front lines and train them in medical ninjutsu.
Before we uncover the truth, we can't take any more risks.
Konoha has changed. A Konoha like this isn't worth our blood.
However, we cannot abandon our love for the village. The village is the life's work of the Senju clan.
Train clan members to utilize their physical advantages, transition them into medical ninjas, and continue serving the village.
I will find a way to uncover the truth. Don't worry, Aunt, I won't take risks. I know the severity of the situation.
I won't die. I will carry their wills and persevere."
If following the original story's development, Tsunade would already have developed hemophobia and been utterly disillusioned with Konoha.
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi's death, Tsunade never set foot in Konoha again.
But now, the Senju clan still had hope. No matter how much Tsunade suffered, she would rally her spirits and continue fighting for her clan.
--
The full moon was like a silver plate, its light resembling white frost.
Yōkō finally waited for the full moon and completely relaxed.
It was terrifying. This lunar cycle had Uchiha Madara, Kato Dan, and Danzo... it really wasn't easy.
In the Anbu base, Yellow Dog summoned Yōkō.
"Fox, there's a new mission here.
We will follow Lord Danzo into Amegakure.
Lord Danzo was supposed to conduct important negotiations with Hanzo last month, but the negotiation mission was delayed for a month due to Uchiha Madara's appearance.
From the available intelligence, Hanzo and Amegakure's will to fight isn't firm.
Orochimaru and others are leading operations in the Land of Rain, but the Rain ninja haven't organized any large-scale decisive battles.
Lord Danzo has studied Hanzo. Hanzo can be persuaded to retreat through an exchange of interests.
Hanzo declared war on Konoha because Ōnoki promised him many benefits.
Konoha is prepared to cede a portion of the mission share in the Land of Rivers.
In a few days, we will go to the Land of Rain to try contacting Hanzo and sound out his stance."
Yōkō nodded, thinking to himself that he had to go to the front lines again.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was becoming more and more like a politician, increasingly fond of using compromise to achieve his goals.
In the ninja world, weakness is the original sin.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other leaders' strength was inferior to the First and Second Hokages. They constantly compromised, repeatedly using Konoha's interests to exchange for stable situations, maintaining Konoha's false glory.
A few days later, Yōkō entered the Land of Grass camp with Danzo and finally saw his squad again.
***
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(End of Chapter)