Back at the ANBU base, Yako stepped into Yellow Dog's office.
"Commander, the plan to eliminate Tokubetsu Jōnin Shinma… failed."
Yellow Dog looked up in surprise. Fox rarely failed. "Why?"
"Shinma's skills were solid. He held his own against the Suna-nin. Originally, I was ready to step in and finish the job myself—but a Jōnin using Transparent Release appeared: Moonlight Kento." Yako's tone carried genuine regret.
"After reassessing the situation, I called off the assassination.
Moonlight Kento—known as the 'Invisible Assassin'—has a unique Kekkei Genkai that grants him Transparent Release.
My guess is, after finishing his previous mission, he slipped into Kikyo Mountain from Kikyo Port in secret.
With so many Tokubetsu Jōnin already under pressure, some of the smarter ones are clearly taking precautions.
Killing Shinma wasn't the hard part. The real problem was the aftermath—fighting Moonlight Kento.
If he realized something was wrong and escaped, the cost would've been far too high.
So I returned to the village to prepare a second attempt."
Yellow Dog nodded in realization.
"So it was Moonlight Kento who saved him… I've kept my eyes on Hatake Sakumo—but not his men.
That was my mistake."
He rubbed his temple and continued,
"Sakumo has that kind of charisma—loyal subordinates. Among the Jōnin: Moonlight Kento, Yamashiro, Kawatora.
Among the Tokubetsu Jōnin: Shinma, Hayama Shirakumo… all of them follow his lead.
Forget Shinma for now. The Jōnin Council convenes tomorrow."
Yako blinked.
"Tomorrow? That soon?"
As far as he knew, the other squads hadn't even completed their operations yet.
Fox Squad was ahead of everyone else.
And most of those Tokubetsu Jōnin weren't easy to take down.
Shinma, for instance, could hold out for twenty minutes against a squad of Sand-nin. Anything could've happened in that time.
Yellow Dog explained,
"Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo—they're sharp. I suspect they've sensed something.
We have to pull back before they escalate this to the Hokage."
'Because you got greedy,' Yako thought to himself.
If they had targeted a few Tokubetsu Jōnin from the Sarutobi or the Ino-Shika-Chō clans as well, maybe no one would've made a fuss.
But now?
After yanking Tsunade's, Sakumo's, and the Uchiha's candidates one after another?
Even a fool could see something was wrong.
And expecting the noble clans to sacrifice their own wasn't going to happen.
"Tomorrow's Jōnin Council," Yellow Dog added, "your squad will handle security."
"Understood."
—
At the Hatake residence—
Kakashi was playing wildly on the stairs, having discovered they were the best thing ever.
Yamashiro watched him bounce up and down with surprising agility.
"Little Kakashi's gonna be a prodigy. He's only three, and he's already got amazing coordination. Look at that—five steps in a stride."
Hatake Sakumo carefully avoided the chaos as he came downstairs.
"He's starting at the Academy next year."
Yamashiro said,
"Sakumo, Shinma's been poisoned. You should head to Konoha Hospital."
Sakumo's expression shifted.
He'd sent Moonlight Kento ahead just in case—but still, something had gone wrong.
He walked quickly as he asked,
"Kento? Did he make it?"
"He did. Kento guarded Shinma the whole way back and got him to the hospital."
At Konoha Hospital, Sakumo found Shinma unconscious.
After a moment of thought, he turned and made his way to the top floor—to Tsunade's office.
Inside, Tsunade was comforting Senju Miraki.
The scandal at the hospital had spiraled.
A patient had died on the operating table.
His father committed suicide inside the hospital, detonating explosive tags that shattered two windows and injured a nurse.
Senju Miraki's reputation had taken a huge hit.
The full story wasn't known—rumors claimed she'd killed a wounded shinobi through negligence.
When someone entered the office, Miraki wiped her tears and stood to leave.
Sakumo stepped aside, waited for her to pass, then asked:
"Princess Tsunade, my friend Shinma is here receiving treatment. Will he make it?"
Tsunade had already guessed his reason for coming.
She stood.
"I'll go take a look."
In the hospital room, she found Yamashiro, Moonlight Kento, and a few others.
'Tsk. Sakumo's team really is strong.'
She approached the unconscious Shinma and carefully examined him.
"...He'll live. No fatal injuries. A few detox rounds and he should recover."
Sakumo let out a long breath of relief.
He left the room with Tsunade.
From the top floor, they could see the Hokage Tower across the street—only two blocks away.
Sakumo said,
"I heard some of your Tokubetsu Jōnin encountered trouble too?"
Tsunade nodded.
"I recommended three for Jōnin.
One got caught up in the hospital incident—you just saw her: Senju Miraki. She's shaken.
Another had a mission-related issue from the war. Now he's under house arrest, waiting for ANBU interrogation.
And one… had an old injury resurface and died."
Sakumo added,
"I recommended two: Hayama Shirakumo and Shinma.
During the River Country war, I awarded Hayama the Vacuum Blade—Wind Release.
The Shimura clan now suspects he stole their family's secret technique.
They refuse to believe it was his own refinement and are interrogating him.
And Shinma… you saw what happened.
He was ambushed by a Sand squad. If I hadn't been tipped off and sent Kento ahead… he'd be dead by now."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
"You were tipped off? So this was premeditated?"
"I'm certain of it," Sakumo said.
"But to protect my source, I can't say more.
But I'll tell you this:
A friend once told me—
'If people suspect you of having a faction… you'd better actually have one.'
Tsunade, I want to form an alliance with the Senju at tomorrow's council.
Just like the rumors say—us Five Noble Clans standing together.
If we fight alone, we'll always be picked off one by one."
Tsunade's expression twisted.
"'Five Noble Clans'... Hah. I despise their slimy tricks."
"You're right," she said firmly.
"I've had enough of their backroom politics.
Let's go. You and me aren't enough—we need more."
—
Twenty minutes later, ANBU base received word:
Tsunade and White Fang were walking together—headed straight for the Uchiha compound.
The base went into uproar.
Yako knew instantly: 'That kind of bold move? That's all Tsunade.'
Thirty minutes later, Uchiha Kagen heard that Princess Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo were standing—openly—at the gates of the Uchiha district.
He was so shocked, his wooden sandals flew off as he ran outside.
Behind him, Uchiha Fugaku scrambled after him, clutching the sandals.
It took several tries to get them back on his father's feet.
Thankfully… they hadn't embarrassed themselves in front of those two big names.