Yako approached Senju Linmu, glancing at the large hole in his abdomen before placing his fingers on Linmu's carotid artery, pretending to check if he was still alive.
A surge of chakra flowed from Yako's fingers into Linmu's body.
Yako's chakra possessed self-healing properties, clearing the haze from Linmu's eyes instantly.
Linmu tilted his head back to the dark sky, seeing the fierce, dark-red chakra of the Nine-Tails—a scene of apocalypse.
Suddenly, a childhood memory flashed.
He was playing in his father's study when Uncle Tobirama came looking for his father.
Tobirama spoke of uniting the many shinobi clans to strengthen their bonds.
Changing adult shinobi was difficult—many only recognized their clans, not Konoha.
Many clans joined Konoha because it was strong enough to sweep away all enemies within the Land of Fire.
Tobirama said he would establish a ninja academy for all children—clan or civilian—to grow together.
He said the first graduating class must become a model for the village and earn recognition from all clans.
The brightest from that class—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Torifu Akimichi, Mito Uzumaki—were personally taught by Tobirama.
In Yako's memory, every time Tobirama mentioned Hiruzen or Danzo, pride shone in his eyes.
That first class bore Tobirama's hopes for the village.
To protect them, Tobirama did not accept Senju descendants as disciples.
He even put aside his prejudice against the Uchiha to choose and train Uchiha Kagami.
After Tobirama's sacrifice, Kagami approached Senju Linmu, declaring that cooperation between the Senju and Uchiha would ensure Konoha's eternal prosperity.
The foundation of Konoha was the peace Tobirama brokered between the Senju and Uchiha clans.
Kagami firmly believed that their alliance guaranteed Konoha's dominance.
The Sharingan reflected the soul's essence.
Kagami's Mangekyo Sharingan was special—it enhanced the Nine-Tails' Susanoo.
In a ninja world war, the Senju would unleash the Nine-Tails while the Uchiha armored it with Susanoo.
No village could stand against them.
Kagami believed that the Nine-Tails plus Susanoo compensated for the loss of great Hokages, maintaining Konoha's dominance.
But Kagami died before the war began.
With his death, the situation deteriorated rapidly.
After Kagami's death, Uchiha clan head Uchiha Kane distanced himself from the Senju, as if proximity meant ruin.
At this moment, Linmu confirmed that the Mangekyo Sharingan was taken by Danzo, who struck a heavy blow to the Senju tonight.
Tobirama entrusted the village to the ninja academy's first generation.
Perhaps Danzo and others truly held the Will of Fire, sacrificing for Konoha.
But decades changed them.
Except Kagami, leaders like Hiruzen and Danzo became detestable—no longer dreamers but beasts corrupted by power.
They might kill their own, seeing Linmu as nothing but a second-generation ninja with a name.
But how could they kill their own shikon?
Linmu thought of his father—Konoha was his father's life work, Tobirama's hope, and his mother's decades of spiritual support.
He could not give up.
The Nine-Tails sealing must not fail!
The chakra on his carotid artery perfectly merged with his own, revitalizing him.
Linmu had long accepted his mediocrity; he would never reach his father's or uncle's heights.
Yet his death could rival theirs—dying for Konoha!
His sister Hanaki, daughter Tsunade, and Kushina—he could only entrust everything to them.
Linmu clapped his hands—he had always admired his father's effortless ninjutsu.
Now, like his father, he performed ninjutsu.
"Ah! Ahhh!"
A massive, powerful water dragon shot into the sky.
Yako stepped back, wanting Linmu to live—why was he still fighting so desperately?
The thick water dragon descended, smashing the Nine-Tails hard!
"Seal it!"
Before dying, Linmu had to seal the Nine-Tails—otherwise all Senju would perish here!
Either by the Nine-Tails' claws or Danzo's hand!
Though wounded deeply, Linmu's Water Release showed incredible vitality.
The Nine-Tails was immobilized by the water dragon's strike.
Water cascaded from the broken dragon, crashing down fiercely.
ANBU guarding Kushina faced the torrent.
The earth trembled under the roar of water.
Captain Koton shouted, "Protect Princess Uzumaki!"
The higher-ups aimed to weaken the Senju but could not allow the Nine-Tails to run rampant.
Yako gathered his last chakra.
Dodging the shattering waterfall, he feigned colliding with Kushina's adamant chains.
Kushina felt the familiar chakra—the unique Uzumaki sealing chakra.
Who was that?
She raised her head weakly—only ANBU surrounded her.
Could the spy be among the ANBU?
Could the Uzumaki have a spy inside Konoha?
That spy transferred a large amount of chakra at a critical moment.
Among that chakra, the sealing power was strong.
With massive chakra support, Kushina boosted the seal's strength.
Above, Linmu's last flash of strength; below, Kushina's sudden surge of adamant chains.
The Nine-Tails roared in frustration, then vanished—sealed by Kushina.
Silence fell.
Everyone heard their heavy breaths.
Hiruzen's face flickered with regret.
More than two hundred Senju ninjas had died—far more than planned.
Linmu's sister Hanaki first checked on Kushina.
Seeing her unconscious but the seal stable, Hanaki sighed and carried Kushina.
She then ordered two senior Senju to carry the clan and Uzumaki sealing scrolls.
The Senju gathered, dragging weary steps.
Mito Uzumaki, Senju Linmu, and over six hundred Senju ninjas had fallen on the battlefield.
Yako crawled slowly from the muddy waters created by Water Release, heart still racing.
Twice, he had poured most of his chakra into Kushina to seal the Nine-Tails.
Two hundred Senju survived—Konoha surely would not wipe out so many by accident.
The Senju clan had survived, and the sealing scrolls remained with them.
As long as Danzo did not obtain the scrolls, Yako had more leverage within the ANBU.
While the Senju cleaned the dead, Yako sought his squad.
He stared at Yakoho, surprised. "You're still alive?"
Yakoho, of the Yamanaka clan, and Shirou, a Hyuga, survived by staying away from the front lines.
Yako wasn't surprised.
But Yakoho's survival stunned him.
Yakoho looked down—he wasn't a traitor or spy; his conscience was clear.
Yako said, "Four of your squad died in six months wearing that mask. You're lucky—the best kind of strength."
The Fox Squad lost four members—a tolerable loss.
After cleaning the battlefield, Hiruzen and Danzo appeared at the center.
Bodies of Senju and Konoha ANBU lay scattered.
More than seventy ANBU had died.
Hiruzen looked at Hanaki.
Her facial muscles twitched before she bowed her head.
"Thanks to the village sending ANBU to help seal at the critical moment,
and to the Hokage and Danzo for holding the rear against the Mangekyo Uchiha."
Hiruzen nodded, his expression softening.
"Tonight was perilous.
The Uchiha's Sharingan nearly controlled the Nine-Tails.
I've long watched for the hidden enemy in the shadows. Thankfully, he only showed briefly and was driven back.
We must bury the fallen quickly, and the village will investigate who sabotaged the Nine-Tails seal—
causing such devastating losses to the Senju and ANBU."
Hanaki lowered her head, eyes bloodshot.
"No matter what, the Nine-Tails transfer seal is finally complete."