Faced with the village higher-ups' near-laying-their-cards-on-the-table pressure, Senju Rinoki thought for a long time.
The higher-ups all stared at Senju Rinoki, waiting for his submission and concession.
Senju Rinoki thought and thought, then said: "I will recall Tsunade, have her return from the frontlines to participate in Kushina's growth and nurture Kushina."
Tsunade was the greatest common divisor between both sides; she was both the Third Hokage's prized student and the Senju clan's princess.
"Tsunade, huh..." Sarutobi Hiruzen knew Tsunade best. Tsunade's love for the village was far purer than Senju Rinoki's.
For the village, Tsunade was willing to do anything.
The village was her grandfather's life's work; Tsunade would never let a Jinchūriki threaten the village.
Seeing Hiruzen's attitude clearly soften, Danzo and Mitokado Homura didn't say anything more.
Kato Dan's face showed joy; he could finally see Tsunade.
The Third Hokage dismissed the two groups.
He finally said: "Yellow Dog, get me a detailed report of tonight's events as soon as possible."
"I will deliver the report to you in ten minutes."
Late at night, the Third Hokage carefully read the report.
This report contained no embellishments, detailing every detail that Battalion Commander Yellow Dog had seen and done.
The turning point of the incident was when Squad Leader Fox discovered the Kumo-nin spy.
Fox reported to Black Gorilla, who led the team to pursue the Kumo-nin spy and happened to encounter the Kumo-nin spies kidnapping the Uzumaki Princess.
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought, So that's how it was.
After the Uzumaki clan's destruction, a few outstanding newcomers had emerged in the Anbu, and Fox was one of them.
Fox imitated Kumo-nin sword techniques in battle, his sword skills becoming increasingly refined.
His growth in sword technique had a clear trajectory, progressing step by step; he couldn't possibly be a Kumo-nin spy.
Reading further, Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his eyebrows with great interest.
Uzumaki Kushina's classmate, Namikaze Minato, killed a Kumo-nin spy?
Black Gorilla's evaluation of Namikaze Minato was extremely high.
Fox, who was skilled in sword techniques and had reactions a cut above others, was slightly inferior compared to Namikaze Minato.
A 10-year-old child, stronger than an Anbu squad leader?
Namikaze Minato entered Sarutobi Hiruzen's field of vision for the first time.
This is a promising seedling.
He immediately issued an order for the Ninja Academy teachers to focus on and cultivate Namikaze Minato.
Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina were likely to become friends because of this incident. Through Namikaze Minato, they could also influence Uzumaki Kushina.
Whether in terms of strength or interpersonal relationships, Namikaze Minato had investment value.
—
Time passed in the daily monitoring tasks.
Many days later.
The full moon was like a silver plate, moonlight like white frost.
It was the night of the full moon again.
At midnight, after the shift change, Yōkō hid in the tree canopy outside the Senju Clan District, observing the district with binoculars.
The Senju Clan District covered a large area; about one-tenth of the central area of Konoha Village was the Senju Clan District.
This massive shinobi clan was currently at the end of its glory. Within the clan, there were 12 Elite Jōnin alone, and over 30 Jōnin.
Both Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Kushina were very safe within the Senju Clan District.
Yōkō looked towards the outskirts of the Senju Clan District and saw a couple in an alley not far away.
Among the couple, the female ninja was a Senju ninja, and the male ninja was a civilian ninja from the village.
Thanks to Senju Tobirama's policies, the Senju clan was very willing to support civilians. After the Uzumaki clan's destruction, many Senju clan women began considering civilian ninjas from the village.
Purple Cat was beside Yōkō. She also watched the couple through binoculars for a while before putting them down.
The male ninja's hands were restless, constantly exploring up and down.
Senju female ninjas were famously curvaceous; exploring them involved scaling mountains and fording rivers, quite a journey.
Purple Cat, being a woman, felt somewhat embarrassed.
She turned her head left and right, only to find her three teammates, the eyeholes of their masks firmly pressed against their binoculars.
"Ahem!"
Purple Cat cleared her throat lightly, hinting to the men in the squad not to go too far.
Staring so intently at an intimate couple didn't align with the Will of Fire.
Antelope and Black Ox both put down their binoculars in shame.
That couple were both Konoha comrades; how could they spy on others' privacy?
But Yōkō remained unmoved and instead sternly lectured Purple Cat:
"Purple Cat, you made several fatal mistakes. If we weren't in the village, your actions could very well get our squad killed."
"First, you cannot make noise."
"As Anbu, how can you make sounds during surveillance?"
"This is outside the Senju Clan District. The Senju Clan knows we are gathering intelligence around the Uzumaki Princess. Exposure carries no life-threatening danger here."
"But if we were surveilling in another town, would you be willing to cover the rear alone if exposed?"
"Second, you cannot take things for granted."
"Because of some adult content, you abandon surveillance? What if that civilian ninja is a spy?"
"What if, the moment you put down your binoculars, that ninja suddenly attacks and kills the Senju female ninja?"
"Any stranger appearing near the Senju Clan District could threaten the Uzumaki Princess."
"Third, you have no right to command Antelope and Black Ox."
"Until I give the order, you three must strictly execute my commands."
"Now, all three of you, pick up your binoculars, watch for me, watch carefully, and don't miss a single detail!"
Under her mask, Purple Cat's face flushed red, even redder than when she saw the intimate scene earlier.
"I'm sorry! Fox Squad Leader! I was wrong!"
Antelope, Black Ox, and Purple Cat quickly picked up their binoculars and continued observing the intimate scene.
Antelope and Black Ox both thought their squad leader was so understanding. It's nice to watch, we love watching, and we can stare unblinkingly under the guise of the mission.
The couple's actions grew more intense, evolving into involuntary trembling.
The poor couple didn't know how closely the Senju clan was being monitored at this moment.
In several nearby large trees, at least three squads were watching them.
After being intimate for over ten minutes, the Senju female ninja, her face flushed red and her legs weak, entered the clan district.
Such is the sour smell of love.
The male ninja stood in place for a long time without leaving.
From between the leaves of the tree canopy next door, Squadron Leader Black Gorilla made a few hand signals.
After Yōkō responded with a few hand signals, he waved for the squad to leave.
Purple Cat felt even more guilty. The communication between the squad and the squadron was conducted in complete silence, without any extra noise; this was the norm for the Anbu.
Squad Leader Fox was really strict, but such a squad leader was more trustworthy.
After moving farther away, Yōkō finally said to his three subordinates, "Follow that male ninja. Rule out the possibility of him being a spy."
The squad followed the male ninja from a distance until he returned home.
The target went upstairs, turned off the light, and drew the curtains.
Seeing Squad Leader Fox take no action, Purple Cat waited silently.
This wait lasted from midnight until dawn.
Only after the male ninja left did Yōkō lead the squad in infiltrating the single-family detached house.
Yōkō carefully observed everything inside the house.
The more he looked, the more something felt wrong.
"Purple Cat, check the bedding."
"Black Ox, check the bathroom."
"Antelope, check the desktop."
...
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(End of Chapter)