Yako removed his mask in front of Tsunade, revealing the lower half of his face beneath the cloth covering.
It was a gesture of trust — or at least, something close to it.
"Tsunade-hime," he began quietly, "I believe you've already suspected that my identity is… somewhat special.
Now that I hold greater authority, I can better control the intelligence around me. I'm no longer walking on thin ice like before."
He paused — then began weaving the lie.
"To be honest… my mother was from the Senju clan.
My birth was kept secret. It involved resentment she held toward my father. Very few people knew.
Clan Head Senju Rinju — your father — found me. He arranged for me to enter ANBU as a hidden agent for the Senju within the shadows.
Only he knew."
Rinjuhad long since turned to bones in the earth.
There would be no witness to contradict him.
Tsunade nodded slowly.
That matched her suspicions.
She had long believed Fox to be some hidden Senju operative.
"On the night the Nine-Tails' seal was transferred, I acted in secret to assist the clan and Princess Kushina. Unfortunately, my abilities were limited at the time."
Tsunade's gaze softened.
"Kushina told me. Without the chakra you provided — twice — she would not have survived.
You did more than you think."
For a brief moment, she missed her father deeply.
His hidden arrangements were still bearing fruit.
Yako let out a soft breath.
"And now I've risen all the way to ANBU Vice Commander… but Clan Head Rinju will never see it."
Then he lowered his voice.
"In Root's laboratory, ten individuals with Senju blood were captured for experimentation.
Nine died.
One survived — like me — and gained Wood Release.
His codename is Tenzo.
I will look after him.
One day… I hope he and I can return to the clan openly."
Tsunade's expression dimmed.
The Senju had been weakened again and again.
Yet they endured.
Without another word, she pulled a scroll from her sleeve and tossed it to him.
"Fox. These are my grandfather's Wood Release techniques.
Study them well."
He caught it.
"I won't disgrace Lord Hashirama's name."
He replaced his mask and vanished.
Behind the Hokage Monument, Yako opened the scroll immediately.
It worked. She didn't doubt me.
His eyes locked onto the first technique.
Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique.
His pulse quickened.
The Wood Dragon could absorb chakra and grow stronger mid-battle.
Unless its absorption limit was exceeded, it would only grow more formidable.
He began practicing at once — but within the village, such a massive technique would draw attention.
Using Body Flicker, he slipped beyond Konoha's barrier — now unconcerned with surveillance. As Vice Commander, he practically was the surveillance authority.
Two hours later, he could finally sustain a single Wood Dragon.
Roughly two meters thick.
Over thirty meters long.
Four clawed limbs.
Its rear claws anchored to the ground, coiling like a serpent before launching forward.
The more chakra poured into it, the denser and harder its body became.
Absorption…
That was the true value.
He suddenly wondered —
Could it be miniaturized?
He let ironwood vines unfurl from his sleeve.
Unlike Wood Dragon, the vines required no hand seals — only chakra.
Flexible as serpents.
Multiple strands braided together like steel cable.
He experimented with altering the chakra circulation pattern to replicate the Wood Dragon's absorption function within the vines.
If successful, it would become a compact Wood Dragon.
After an hour, progress was promising — but incomplete.
Still, vine training could be done anytime.
Wood Dragon required open space.
He continued scanning the scroll.
Wood Clone.
Wood Barrier.
Wooden Human Technique.
Then a final annotation — written by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
"Brother Hashirama visited the Fire Temple and returned having grasped Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands and Top Transformed Buddha.
Unfortunately, the fool cannot properly explain them — he only knows how to use them.
Some shinobi grow purely on instinct. It is infuriating.
The Fire Temple holds the key."
Yako closed the scroll slowly.
So that was it.
He would need to visit the Fire Temple eventually.
When he returned to the tavern, Kyoi was gone.
Hospital.
Maternity ward.
He hurried there.
She lay on the bed, hands resting on her swollen belly, gazing into the dark night.
When she sensed someone beside her and turned —
Relief washed over her face.
"I'm sorry," Yako said softly. "I've been on missions. I won't leave the village again for a while. I'll stay with you."
She smiled.
"That's good."
For the next days, he balanced ANBU administration with waiting for the child's birth.
***
Deep within Root headquarters…
Orochimaru wiped cold sweat from his brow.
On the table lay four corpses — Shimura clan shinobi.
All had possessed Water and Earth chakra affinities.
One even had three natures.
"Strange… I used the same dosage as with Fox…"
Across from him, Danzō's face was ashen.
He had expected mature, refined results.
Instead, rapid deaths.
He removed his bandages, exposing a Sharingan.
"I can't wait any longer, Orochimaru. Reduce the dosage. Inject me."
"The risk is considerable."
"I don't need Wood Release. Fox already has that.
I want Hashirama's vitality.
I'm past forty.
I must maintain my peak."
What he didn't say —
Uchiha Kagami had once told him about a stone tablet.
When Uchiha and Senju powers combined…
Something extraordinary occurred.
He already wielded the Sharingan.
But it drained him.
If he gained Senju vitality—
Balance.
Orochimaru smirked faintly.
"Very well.
But the Scroll of Seals?"
Danzō formed hand signs.
A massive scroll appeared.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed as he scanned it.
Impure World Reincarnation.
Yamata no Orochi.
Ancient forbidden techniques.
Ah…
The Warring States era had been far more convenient.
He closed the scroll.
"Let's begin."
***
Days later, the child was born.
A boy.
Slightly darker skin.
Yako named him Yoru — Night Wind.
He held the infant carefully.
Then, gently, he probed the boy's chakra signature.
His expression froze.
His first child had inherited Uzumaki blood.
This one—
Uchiha.
The ocular chakra pattern was unmistakable.
Damn.
The Uchiha bloodline had passed on.
How would he explain this?
Kyoi had no Uchiha lineage.
She was from Iwagakure.
And him?
He was positioning himself as Senju.
If the Uchiha investigated—
If the village questioned—
Could he protect this child?
Uchiha Kagen.
Uchiha Tōka.
Uchiha Gogo—
Especially Gogo, now awakened to Mangekyō under Madara's provocation.
That man needed to die sooner rather than later.
Yako's gaze shifted toward the Hokage Tower.
At this hour, Yellow Dog was likely in the underground office.
Promotion or removal, Yako thought coldly.
Vice Commander was not enough.
The Commander seat must be his.
And the Uchiha clan…
always a target.
He lowered his head and kissed Yoru gently.
Ten years.
He would need ten years before the boy awakened his eyes.
Within that time—
He would clear the board.
Konoha's rulers changed often.
But one thing remained constant:
When politics turned ugly—
The Uchiha paid.
On the way home, they passed the Ninja Academy.
New student enrollment day.
Yako immediately spotted Sakumo Hatake and his son.
Kakashi.
Behind Sakumo stood Minato Namikaze, smiling brightly while speaking to the boy.
Some destinies remained intact.
The only one missing—
Jiraiya.
"Will our son study there one day?" Kyoi asked quietly.
"Of course," Yako replied.
"Our child will attend the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Kyoi… you are my woman.
And you belong to Konoha."