The 14th had finally arrived.
All day, the Senju estate was bustling, but nothing seemed unusual.
At night, Yoru stood atop the Hokage Rock, telescope in hand, watching the Senju estate from afar. Behind him, Senju Bai and Yachi waited patiently.
Bai asked, looking at the lowered telescope:
"Was the Uzumaki clan's extinction really carried out by the Anbu?"
Yoru nodded:
"Of course. Konoha's slowness is abnormal. The Cloud and Mist ninjas already hit Uzumaki Village, yet Konoha's intelligence system knew nothing, it's suspicious."
Bai understood: his son hadn't died at the hands of a spy, but because he came into contact with Uzumaki remnants and was killed by Konoha's Anbu.
"My son couldn't have died quietly in a Konoha alley. It had to be someone familiar impersonating him."
Yoru continued:
"The Uzumaki survivors believed Konoha cut off contact with Mito Uzumaki under the pretext of transferring the Nine-Tails' seal. She knew nothing of her clan's destruction.
Konoha not only stood by but sealed the information. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, went to Uzumaki Village with over 2,000 ninjas, but it was a show, maintaining an appearance of alliance only."
Yachi, present during that rescue, nodded in agreement.
It all added up. Poor Yachi's student, Hai, had encountered the truth, had his worldview collapse, and ultimately was killed by the Anbu.
Yoru said:
"During the day, Senju estate defenses are tight. At night, past midnight, we sneak in while the estate is lax. Uncle Bai, you must take me to Lady Mito Uzumaki's residence. I have critical intel from Uzumaki Yuka. Delivering it will prove the truth of the clan's extinction."
Bai nodded, eyes resolute.
"You said there are traitors in the Senju clan, right?"
To prevent Bai from acting prematurely, Yoru lied:
"Yes. Some Senju have sided with the village and know the truth. Acting rashly, they could kill you. Your son was murdered in such a suspicious way, a familiar hand, likely one of these traitors. We must first secure Lady Mito."
Bai nodded repeatedly. This youth, the Uzumaki insider, was precise in analysis.
Yoru turned, overlooking Konoha: Tonight, my death will surpass anyone's imagination!
At midnight, Bai stumbled drunkenly through the central estate, supported by two companions. Guards saw Bai, knowing his son had recently died , the man was in mourning. Seeing him drunk, they allowed them entry without question.
The two companions: one was Yachi, Hai's former teacher; the other, unknown, likely a friend of Yachi's.
Yoru glanced at the trees around the estate, he knew the Anbu monitoring points and positioned himself back-to-back with them.
The trio entered, moving slowly through the alley between the central and right routes.
Counting in his mind:
First courtyard…
Second courtyard…
Third courtyard…
Past the fourth public courtyard… approaching the target estate.
Bai had told him: the fifth courtyard belonged to Senju Rinmu, the sixth to Mito Uzumaki.
As they neared the sixth courtyard's outer wall, they broke into a run. Bai, despite his prosthetic, moved quickly.
Yoru produced a kunai, tied with wire, hundreds of explosive tags attached.
"You, !" Bai started, realizing Yoru's intent.
In the next instant, Yoru hurled the kunai, the tags hitting Rinmu's estate rear wall. Bai exhaled in relief: it was aimed at the clan head, not Mito.
No matter Rinmu's loyalty, he had to answer for failing to protect the Uzumaki clan.
Bai's wife came from the Uzumaki clan, a gentle, resilient woman who had left memories in his early life. After Tobirama's death, it was clear Rinmu's strength alone couldn't restore the clan.
Explosions rocked the rear wall. Smoke and debris shattered the night.
Yoru shouted:
"You two go find Lady Mito! I'll hold off Rinmu!"
Bai was moved; this Uzumaki insider was trustworthy. Tonight, this boy would die decisively.
After breaching the rear wall, Yoru looked at Rinmu's study. The clan head held a scroll, absorbed in reading.
Rinmu's eyes filled with fury at Yoru:
"What thief dares, !"
Rinmu used a body flicker, charging toward Yoru.
Yoru had no intention of being beaten and interrogated, so he shouted:
"Rinmu! You've disgraced the Senju clan! You incompetent second-generation fool! You're trash!
Even a chained ninja dog would perform better!
You can't protect the Uzumaki, nor your mother! You, "
Rinmu, enraged, lunged a full-powered punch. The impact shattered Yoru's chest, ribs piercing inward. Pain receptors overloaded , yet Yoru barely felt it.
What pierced his arm? His rib.
Bai froze in shock.
Wait, weren't they here to deliver the truth to Mito Uzumaki?
This young man hated Rinmu so fiercely…
Rinmu, seeing the small thief hurled back, noticed Bai and Yachi heading toward Mito's residence.
"What are you doing!"
Rinmu assumed Bai was a traitor trying to harm Mito.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Three seals, a dragon of water surged toward Bai and Yachi.
Yachi blocked with a wall of earth.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"
It held briefly before shattering. Rinmu, though not as strong as Hashirama or Tobirama, was an elite long-time shinobi.
Bai's voice rang high in the night:
"Lady Mito! Konoha's Anbu were involved in the Uzumaki, "
Rinmu's water dragon split into three smaller streams, bypassing the broken earth wall, striking Bai's back. Bai, retired for years, fell, chest shattered, unable to finish his words.
A kunai pierced Bai's head , Captain Yellow Dog had appeared.
Until Bai died, the residence door never opened.
Yoru exhaled his last breath. Rinmu's punch shattered his ribs and drove into his heart.
Ninjas poured over the walls of the Senju estate, rushing toward Mito Uzumaki's residence.
[Host death detected. Arc of Full Moon activated…]
It was time , wondering what rare loot would appear next.