Yōkō appeared in the restroom on the top floor of Konoha Hospital with a grimace.
He had used the Ephemeral Technique, traveling from... from the sewer all the way up here.
Damn it, how did I become the Sewer God of War? Isn't there a more dignified infiltration method?
Sewers are rich in organic matter, and indiscriminate discharge into natural water bodies causes eutrophication of lakes and rivers.
Although disgusting, the sewer was truly useful.
Communicating intelligence with Tsunade required absolute secrecy; he couldn't expose himself.
Late at night, Tsunade finished her work, closed her office door, and headed towards the staircase.
As she passed the restroom, she suddenly paused, then turned and entered.
Her peripheral vision had caught a figure.
Entering the restroom's outer area, Tsunade washed her hands in front of the mirror.
Through the mirror's reflection, she saw a figure.
It was Fox.
Last time, Fox had asked her if she had given Danzo the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. Fox hadn't contacted her since.
Fox said, "Princess Tsunade, have there been any disappearances around the Senju clan?"
Tsunade was taken aback.
Senju Minami, Fūmatsuri Yuzu, and others had been investigating one thing: the disappearance of children born to Senju women who married out.
Tsunade said, "A total of 2 children are missing. We've been investigating but have no leads. Do you mean..."
"2 children?" Yōkō had seen a full 10 children in the laboratory.
Thinking again, Yōkō realized something:
"Not 2, but 10.
Princess Tsunade, the 2 you mentioned probably have mothers, 2 who have someone to speak for them.
There are another 8 whose mothers or grandmothers are Senju kunoichi. They are war orphans; no one speaks for them."
Tsunade froze, her heart tightening.
"Someone is collecting children with Senju bloodline? Who! Is it the ANBU?"
Tsunade believed Fox was trustworthy; he had repeatedly helped Kushina and the Senju clan in secret.
Yōkō said, "Not the ANBU, it's Root. Princess Tsunade, Root is researching Wood Release."
The floor tiles under Tsunade's feet suddenly cracked as she charged towards the door.
Yōkō knew Tsunade would impulsively charge into Root without a second thought.
"Wait!"
Yōkō, quick of hand and eye, grabbed Tsunade's elbow.
Tsunade only felt a tremendous force transmitted from her elbow; her momentum was actually halted.
She looked at Fox in confusion. Why was Fox's strength so great?
Yōkō's physique was growing stronger, his chakra reserves higher, naturally granting him some of the Senju clan's monstrous strength.
Although he hadn't learned the Monstrous Strength Secret Technique, his strength wasn't bad.
Tsunade tested with more force and found the force Fox returned didn't decrease but increased.
She confirmed again that Fox's physique was extremely special, possessing not only the Uzumaki clan's chakra sealing characteristics but also the Senju clan's robust physique.
These were traits only found in descendants after generations of intermarriage between the Senju and Uzumaki clans.
Sweet talk could be faked, but physique couldn't lie.
"Princess Tsunade, don't be impulsive." Yōkō said:
"You can go ask Orochimaru as a teammate, but you can't recklessly charge into the Root base.
By the time you enter the vicinity of the Root base, their most important laboratory would have long been relocated.
Danzo is no fool; you won't get any evidence."
"What? Orochimaru is experimenting on children with Senju bloodline?"
Yōkō said, "Yes, they want to recreate the strongest bloodline of Konoha, the Senju of the Forest's Wood Release Secret Technique."
"Recreate Wood Release? Shouldn't the Senju clan lead the effort to recreate Wood Release? Don't we, the Senju clan, want to recreate Wood Release?"
Yōkō said, "The Wood Release recreated by the Senju clan belongs to the Senju clan. The Wood Release recreated by Root... then it belongs to Root, doesn't it?"
Tsunade grew even angrier, saying, "Then what do you suggest we do?"
Yōkō said, "First, you, Princess Tsunade, approach Orochimaru. Second, obtain evidence of Root secretly abducting children with Senju bloodline.
10 aren't enough for Orochimaru's experiments. To complete his experiments, Orochimaru needs at least 50 children.
Their captures won't stop.
In short, charging directly into Root now is the most useless, the dumbest method."
Tsunade pondered Fox's words and realized he was right.
If she charged into the Root base now, Root would detect her in advance, and all the crucial evidence would be long gone.
Tsunade said, "I'll go find Orochimaru now!"
After Tsunade left, Yōkō also disappeared using the Ephemeral Technique.
I am Konoha's Sewer Ghost...
After careful reconnaissance and vigilance, Yōkō used Reverse Summoning to arrive outside the Uzumaki hideout.
Yuka happily led Fox to the secret tree house.
Ten minutes later, Yuka noticed something unusual.
"Don't... that will make it quick..."
Yōkō applied all the techniques he had mastered in his life onto Yuka.
This angle, this frequency.
Yuka, who originally could match Yōkō blow for blow, was completely overwhelmed this time in just 15 minutes.
Yōkō achieved a casualty ratio of one to two.
After becoming dazed, Yuka pounded Yōkō's chest with her small fists.
"Where did you learn that! Why are you suddenly so skilled?"
"Ahem." Yōkō fabricated an excuse:
"My squad caught a female spy. They extracted special techniques from her during interrogation. I read the report scroll and came straight to you to try them out, didn't I?"
Yuka rolled her eyes at Fox, choosing to believe the explanation for now.
"Yuka, it's time to continue the revenge. Danzo and the Konoha higher-ups have been comfortable for too long; let's turn up the pressure on them again."
Yuka's eyes lit up, saying, "Where do we start the retaliation?"
Yōkō said, "According to the grassland seasons, the Kusagakure Capital is about to migrate. You and Kaichō go to the Kusagakure Capital.
Take advantage of the capital's migration to kill another Shimura clan Jōnin. Keep targeting this Shimura clan sheep until it's completely fleeced."
Mounting up again, and after further exploring techniques and angles with Yuka, Yōkō returned to Konoha Village.
Meanwhile, Tsunade had waited for Orochimaru at his residence.
Orochimaru possessed an almost self-abusing level of discipline, never chasing enjoyment.
The house he lived in was still the small one his parents left him years ago.
The house was remote and shabby; for Orochimaru, a bed was enough.
Orochimaru was surprised to see Tsunade:
"Are you here about Jiraiya sneaking off?
The last few times Jiraiya went to find you, I heard you beat him up pretty badly. He's depressed why your strength increased so quickly.
Hiruzen-sensei assigned Jiraiya to be a Team Leader. Jiraiya went to the Ninja School, looked around, and took a liking to someone named Namikaze Minato.
But, Namikaze Minato was already claimed by Hatake Sakumo.
Using the lack of a suitable student as an excuse, Jiraiya ran off. He went to Mount Myōboku, not sure what for."
Tsunade said, "Of course I'm not here about that idiot Jiraiya. I came to ask you, are you experimenting on children with Senju bloodline?"
Tsunade stared at Orochimaru. She trusted Fox's intelligence; Fox wouldn't lie to her about something so important.
"Yes."
Orochimaru admitted it so naturally that Tsunade was stunned.
***
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(End of Chapter)