Yoru stood atop the Hokage Rock, telescope in hand, surveying the Senju clan territory. Peace reigned below.
He memorized the layout carefully. The sprawling estate had three main paths: left, center, and right.
Center Path: Seven compounds. The first four contained public buildings, shrines, meeting halls, archives, and offices. Some were accessible to outsiders, so Yoru could easily gather intel.
Last three compounds: Uncertain which belonged to clan head Senju Rinmu or to Uzumaki Mito. On the 14th, Yoru needed to know Rinmu's exact location. If he was outside, a stealth attack might work; if inside, he had to identify the target building first.
Left and right paths: Also seven compounds each, more densely packed with houses, fewer grand halls. Long single-row buildings stretched over 200 meters along both sides.
Thousands of Senju clan members lived within this enormous estate. Behind the seven compounds were vast training grounds, roughly one-third the size of the compounds.
Yoru silently sighed. Does this mean I'll have to pierce through the entire Senju Clan?
He quickly discovered more: patrols traveled in threes, alleyways between compounds were monitored, and some towers served as hidden sentries.
With over twenty days left before the 14th, there would be ample opportunity to find an opening.
Descending from the Hokage Rock, Yoru noticed a group emerging from the Hokage Tower, Senju Rinmu and his bodyguards.
He relaxed. There was no need to fear; he hadn't planned to assassinate Rinmu yet. Yoru was now a trusted Anbu operative.
Rinmu had six bodyguards, all elite Senju warriors.
Back at the Crane Moon Tavern, Yoru ordered three bottles of sake, drinking quietly. Shokyo noticed his mood and tried to tease him under the table, hoping to cheer him up.
"Stop that, Shokyo. Later tonight. There are too many guests here."
She rolled her eyes and walked away, her large, round, perky hips swaying.
An older man with a cane entered, square-faced, muscular neck, but missing a leg. He must have been formidable in his youth.
Yoru's attention was drawn to the emblem on his clothing, the Senju clan symbol. It was a regular at the tavern: retired ninja Senju Bai.
Bai greeted his friend Yachi at the bar and hobbled over.
Yoru drank two more bottles in one go, then approached the bar.
"Shokyo, don't be mad, I was wrong."
Bai and Yachi laughed at the couple's playful banter.
"Young man, take care of this girl well. You'll be living in comfort," Bai said.
"What could be better than marrying a Senju woman?" Yachi added.
Bai's expression darkened briefly.
"Still lamenting not marrying my sister? She died fourteen years ago, otherwise you'd have married her."
His face carried deep nostalgia; his sister had fallen in the First Ninja War.
"And your younger sister died twelve years ago, otherwise, she'd be eligible too. I'm easygoing."
"You, !"
Bai swung his broken leg, kicking Yachi off the high chair. Yachi laughed, unfazed.
"What brought you here? Let's talk business; I don't have time for nostalgia."
Bai's expression changed.
"You are my son Senju Hai's supervising Jonin, his teacher. Go gauge the situation. Hai returned last night from a mission in the Land of Grass and has locked himself in his room. I can't get him to speak. His mood seems off."
"Impossible," Yachi said firmly. "I know your son. He is strong-willed. No mission would make him isolate himself."
Bai sighed.
"His mission record is excellent, multiple A-rank missions. I petitioned for him to become a Special Jonin and clan leader's guard. His mental state seems off; I fear psychological issues."
"No way," Yachi said. "I trained Hai on his first off-village mission; he killed two Sand ninjas without issue. He never reacts emotionally to blood. At nineteen he has Special Jonin abilities; by twenty-five he'll be a full Jonin. Fear-induced mental problems only happen to the weak."
"Go talk to him. Enough chatter," Bai ordered.
"Alright, alright. I'll meet him tomorrow. Tonight, you wealthy Senju must buy drinks. I'll drink freely."
Yoru listened intently, intrigued by the older man wanting his son to become the clan's personal guard.
The next day, Yoru waited early at the tavern. Yachi arrived, sitting at the bar drinking.
Late in the night, a tall young man entered, unkempt, with drooping eyelids and heavy dark circles, Hai.
"Hai, come here!" Yachi called.
Hai slowly approached, silent, staring at his glass.
"Hai, you must stay strong. Your mother sacrificed herself early from the Uzumaki Clan. For your father, you cannot falter. Tell me your thoughts, and I'll help."
Hai suddenly raised his eyes, fierce and confused, then leaned toward Yachi and whispered something.
Yoru noticed Yachi's pupils constrict; he looked incredulous.
"No! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
After initial shock, Yachi asked:
"Did you tell your father?"
"No, I didn't dare."
"Good. Don't say anything yet. This isn't for you to handle. I'll verify it first, then tell your father. Go home, don't be despondent, don't act strange."
"Understood."
They left.
Yoru replayed the scene. Hai's sudden change came after hearing his mother had come from Uzumaki and married into Konoha.
Secrets are always revealed. No matter how carefully Danzō hid things, cracks emerge.
Yoru suspected Hai might have encountered remnants of the Uzumaki clan in the Land of Grass.
He pondered: Could he use this information to create an opportunity to approach Senju Rinmu?