In the Anbu changing room, Yako awaited the first batch of newly graduated Anbu from Root.
Three new members.
Each of them chose a mask Yako was familiar with—Antelope, Purple Cat, and Ironstag.
Yako adjusted his own Fox mask. Perhaps after he died, the Fox mask would return to the locker, to be worn by the next Anbu.
"Good morning, Captain Fox!"
Yako nodded and said:
"The most important task of Team Fox is to follow Captain Black Ape's command and protect Princess Kushina.
The Princess can die behind us—but never in front of us."
The three members immediately responded, "Yes!"
At dawn, Captain Black Ape's unit left the Forest of Death and arrived outside the Senju Clan compound to switch shifts with another squad.
Anbu weren't allowed inside the Senju compound. While Princess Kushina was within, her safety was the Senju Clan's responsibility.
Once she left the grounds, the Anbu took over.
Early in the morning, more than a dozen children exited the Senju compound.
They laughed, chased each other, and ran off with backpacks slung over their shoulders, heading toward the Ninja Academy.
Among them was Princess Kushina.
Her bright red hair stood out vividly in the morning light. Having just experienced the destruction of her clan, her face lacked any of the youthful innocence one might expect. Instead, it bore traces of sorrow and gloom.
Three little Senju girls walked beside her, treating her with kindness.
Kushina entered the Academy.
Yako hid behind the classroom building, using binoculars to observe the room inside.
The teacher was explaining the parabolic trajectory of a thrown kunai.
Yako didn't look at Kushina in the front row. His gaze was focused on a blond-haired boy in the back.
Namikaze Minato—the most dazzling genius Konoha would see over the next fifteen years.
Minato occasionally glanced toward the red-haired transfer student in the front row.
After watching the class for a while, Yako left the tree canopy and patrolled the academy grounds, inspecting every possible hiding spot.
On the way, he passed some teachers. None of them were surprised—they knew the Anbu were protecting Princess Kushina.
Following the recent graduation of Senju Nawaki, the Academy had now welcomed its second high-profile student—Princess Kushina.
That afternoon, it was time for sparring class.
During the session, Yako was dumbfounded.
Namikaze Minato's reaction speed was astonishing.
Ever since his own reaction speed had improved once, Yako could now see more clearly.
When an opponent's shoulder had just twitched, Minato had already raised his arm to block.
He moved so fast it was as if he could predict others' actions.
His taijutsu defense was flawless. The moment an opponent left an opening, a simple jab took them down.
The whole exchange looked effortless—calm and composed.
During a break in the sparring, Kushina was surrounded by a few kids, who pointed and gossiped about her.
Picking on the new transfer student—classic. The teacher quickly came over and shooed them away.
At 4:00 PM, the Anbu changed shifts, and Captain Black Ape clocked out.
Yako headed to Tsurugetsu Tavern.
He ordered a flask of sake and some braised pork, passing time alone.
A diet heavy in meat had quickly strengthened Yako's body.
But meat in Konoha was expensive.
A single night of meat feasting could cost over 10,000 ryō.
Even a jōnin like Sarutobi Asuma couldn't keep up with such an appetite.
Still, the benefits were obvious.
Since returning to the village a little over a month ago, his chakra had naturally increased.
Swallowing a large chunk of beef, Yako mulled over how to earn extra income. At this rate, he couldn't afford to keep eating like this.
The tavern's owner, Kyoi, came over now and then to ask if he needed anything else.
She really liked Yako. He stayed here often, always ordered the best drinks, ate tons of meat, and spent a lot of money.
If she weren't a spy and was just a tavern owner, she'd probably like Yako even more.
All the money Yako earned went into food and drink.
He joked with Kyoi, telling her to stop dieting—her chest looked like it was starving away.
Kyoi retorted that it was just because her bra was too tight today—she hadn't slimmed down.
When she turned to get back to work, Yako's eyes darkened slightly.
The tavern was full of all sorts of people.
A man who had just entered pulled out a chair—and something about the way he did it made Yako freeze inside.
The coordination of shoulder, elbow, and wrist was unnaturally smooth. As he dragged the chair, its legs never touched the ground—hovering exactly one centimeter above it.
Cloud-Style Kenjutsu…
Yako wasn't mistaken. That distinct whip-like motion of the joints was unmistakably the Cloud-Style Swordsmanship of Kumogakure.
Someone who had trained swordsmanship for ten years would carry that signature movement—even without a blade.
Yako, well-versed in Cloud-Style himself, recognized it instantly.
Using his sake cup to cover half his face, Yako thought hard. In the original storyline, a Cloud-nin spy once kidnapped Kushina… Could it be that Kumogakure already has their eyes on her?
This should have happened before she became a Jinchūriki. The defense for a Jinchūriki is far stronger than that for a princess.
The suspected Kumogakure spy chatted for about an hour before leaving the tavern.
Yako hastily stuffed all the meat in his mouth and got up to leave.
If he could contribute to protecting Princess Kushina, he might earn an A-rank mission reward—enough for next month's meat budget.
No meat, no strength.
Kyoi quickly chased after him. "Hey! Aren't we studying Yin Release together tonight?"
"Taking the night off. Studying Yin Release every night? Even the Hokage's back can't take it."
Kyoi watched him leave, visibly disappointed.
Yako didn't pursue the suspected spy. Instead, he pulled out his Fox mask from his ninja pouch and went straight to find Princess Kushina.
He located her in a small park near the Senju Clan compound.
Not only did he find Kushina—he also spotted another squad of Anbu guards.
Three shifts a day, eight hours each. Captain Black Ape's squad had handed off at 4 PM. The next shift wouldn't rotate in until midnight.
Yako didn't approach the guard unit. He kept his distance.
The Anbu didn't try to make Kushina return to the Senju compound either. This was still her adjustment period in Konoha—better to give her freedom.
In the park were children from the Senju clan and classmates of Princess Kushina.
Using binoculars from afar, Yako saw that Namikaze Minato was there too.
It was getting late. Most of the kids had already left the park—even Minato had headed home, walking westward.
The park grew quiet.
Yako yawned. How do these kids have so much energy? Why don't they ever go home?
Suddenly, Yako's expression turned serious.
They're here!
At the park's edge, five figures appeared!
One of them was the same man Yako had seen earlier at the tavern.
Any spy who could infiltrate Konoha wouldn't be too powerful.
Every named jōnin from Kumogakure was a priority target in intelligence reports. A chūnin—at most an elite chūnin—would be far more likely to slip in.
For Kushina, Kumogakure was willing to bet its entire spy network.
Yako rushed into the park.
Seconds later, he glanced at the sky in confusion.
Why hasn't anyone fired a signal flare?
An attack on Princess Kushina was a major incident. According to Anbu protocol, a flare must be fired.
Could there be Kumogakure spies among this batch of new Anbu?