Yako appeared in the restroom on the rooftop of Konoha Hospital with an ugly expression.
He had used the Mayfly Technique… to crawl up from the sewer system.
Damn it. Is there really no more dignified infiltration method?
The sewers were rich in organic matter — dumping waste directly into natural water sources caused eutrophication in lakes and rivers.
Disgusting, sure… but extremely useful.
Meeting Tsunade to exchange intelligence required absolute secrecy. His identity could not be exposed.
Late at night, Tsunade finished work, closed her office door, and headed toward the stairwell.
As she passed the restroom, she suddenly paused — then turned and entered.
She had caught a glimpse of a shadow.
Inside the outer wash area, Tsunade stood before the mirror and washed her hands.
Through the mirror's reflection, she saw the figure.
Fox.
The last time they met, Fox had asked whether she had given Danzo the Tongue Curse Seal. Since then, he had never contacted her.
"Princess Tsunade," Fox said quietly. "Have there been any disappearances among those connected to the Senju clan?"
Tsunade froze.
Senju Nan and Kazematsuri Yuzu had been investigating missing children — offspring of Senju women who had married outside the clan.
"Two children are missing," Tsunade said slowly. "We've been investigating but found nothing. Could it be…?"
"Two?" Yako recalled seeing ten in the laboratory.
Then realization struck.
"Not two. Ten.
The two you mentioned likely have living mothers — people who can speak up for them.
The other eight are war orphans. Their mothers or grandmothers were Senju kunoichi, but there's no one left to advocate for them."
Tsunade stiffened. Her heart clenched.
"Someone is collecting children with Senju blood? Who?! ANBU?"
She trusted Fox. He had repeatedly helped Kushina and the Senju in secret.
"Not ANBU," Yako said. "Root. They are researching Wood Release."
The tiles beneath Tsunade's feet shattered as she surged toward the exit.
Yako had expected this.
"Wait!"
He grabbed her elbow.
Tsunade felt immense force from his grip — enough to halt her momentum.
She stared at him in surprise. Why was Fox's strength so great?
As Yako's physique and chakra reserves grew, traces of Senju-like physical power naturally emerged. Though he hadn't mastered monstrous strength techniques, his raw strength was formidable.
Tsunade tested his grip — and felt his strength increase rather than weaken.
Her suspicion deepened.
Fox's body… it wasn't normal.
He possessed Uzumaki-like sealing chakra — yet also the robust vitality of the Senju.
These were traits only seen in descendants of multiple generations of Senju-Uzumaki intermarriage.
Words could lie. Bodies could not.
"Princess Tsunade, don't act rashly," Yako said calmly.
"You can approach Orochimaru as a teammate and question him. But charging directly into Root headquarters is reckless.
By the time you reach it, their most important laboratory will already be relocated.
Danzo is not a fool. You will find no evidence."
"What?! Orochimaru is experimenting on children with Senju blood?!"
"Yes. They aim to recreate Konoha's strongest bloodline — the Senju Wood Release."
"Recreate Wood Release? Shouldn't the Senju clan lead such research? Do you think we wouldn't want Wood Release restored?"
"If the Senju revive Wood Release, it belongs to the Senju. If Root succeeds… it belongs to Root."
Tsunade's anger intensified.
"Then what should I do?"
"First, confront Orochimaru directly. Second, gather proof that Root is abducting children with Senju blood.
Ten subjects are insufficient for Orochimaru's research. He needs at least fifty.
They will continue abducting.
Charging into Root now would be the most useless and foolish option."
Tsunade fell silent, thinking.
He was right.
If she rushed in, Root would erase all traces before she arrived.
"I'm going to see Orochimaru now!"
After she left, Yako disappeared again using the Mayfly Technique.
I really am Konoha's sewer ghost…
After careful reconnaissance, he reverse-summoned himself near the Uzumaki hideout.
Yuka happily led him into their secret treehouse.
Ten minutes later, she noticed something was different.
"Don't… that'll make it too fast…"
Yako applied every technique he had learned.
The angle. The rhythm.
Normally able to match him blow for blow, Yuka collapsed after only fifteen minutes.
A decisive victory — two to one.
Afterward, she weakly punched his chest.
"Where did you learn that?! Why are you suddenly so good?"
"Ahem." Yako improvised.
"My squad captured a female spy. They extracted… certain techniques during interrogation. I read the report scroll, so I came to test it with you."
Yuka rolled her eyes but chose to believe him.
"Yuka, it's time to continue our revenge. Danzo and Konoha's higher-ups have had it easy long enough. Let's raise the pressure again."
Her eyes lit up.
"Where do we start?"
"According to the Grasslands' seasonal migration, the capital of the Land of Grass will relocate soon. Head there with others.
During the migration, kill another Shimura clan jōnin. Keep shearing that sheep until it's completely bald."
After further exploration of techniques and angles, Yako returned to Konoha.
Meanwhile, Tsunade waited at Orochimaru's residence.
Orochimaru lived with almost ascetic discipline. He pursued no luxury. The house was the same old, worn structure left by his parents — remote and dilapidated.
For him, a bed was enough.
Seeing Tsunade surprised him.
"Did you come about Jiraiya sneaking off?
He's visited you several times lately — I hear you beat him badly. He's sulking about how quickly your strength has grown.
Hiruzen-sensei assigned him to become a jōnin instructor. He visited the academy and took interest in a student named Namikaze Minato.
Unfortunately, Sakumo has already claimed him.
So Jiraiya ran off again, claiming he hasn't found a suitable student. He's gone to Mount Myōboku — who knows why."
"I didn't come about that idiot Jiraiya," Tsunade said sharply.
"I came to ask you something else.
Are you experimenting on children with Senju blood?"
She stared at him intently.
She trusted Fox's intelligence. He would never lie about something this serious.
"Yes."
Orochimaru admitted it casually — and Tsunade froze.