You Made Several Fatal Mistakes

Faced with the village higher-ups' near-ultimatum, Senju Rin thought for a long time.

The higher-ups all watched Senju Rin, waiting for him to yield and compromise.

After thinking it over and over, Senju Rin said, "I will summon Tsunade back from the front lines and have her take part in Kushina's upbringing and train her."

Tsunade was the greatest common ground between both sides. She was both the Third Hokage's prized disciple and the Senju Clan's princess.

"Tsunade..." Sarutobi Hiruzen understood Tsunade best. Her love for the village was far purer than Senju Rin's.

For the village, Tsunade was willing to do anything.

The village was Tsunade's grandfather's life's work. She would never allow a Jinchuriki to threaten it.

Seeing Hiruzen's attitude visibly soften, Danzo and Mitokado Homura said nothing further.

Joy appeared on Dan Katō's face. At last, he could see Tsunade again.

The Third Hokage dismissed both groups.

Before they left, he said, "Yellow Dog, get me a detailed report on tonight as soon as possible."

"I will deliver the report to you in ten minutes."

Late that night, the Third Hokage carefully read the report.

There was no embellishment whatsoever in it. It meticulously recorded every detail of what the Yellow Dog Squad had seen and done.

The turning point had come when squad leader Fox discovered the Cloud Ninja spy.

Fox reported it to Kurozaru, and Kurozaru led a team in pursuit of the Cloud Ninja spy, only to run into him kidnapping the Uzumaki Princess.

So that was it, Sarutobi Hiruzen thought.

After the Uzumaki Clan's extermination, several outstanding newcomers had emerged in ANBU, and Fox was one of them.

During battle, Fox had copied the Cloud Ninja's swordsmanship, and his blade skills had become increasingly refined.

The growth of his swordsmanship was traceable and gradual. There was no way he could be a Cloud Ninja spy.

As he continued reading, Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his brows in great interest.

Uzumaki Kushina's classmate, Minato Namikaze, had killed a Cloud Ninja spy?

Kurozaru's evaluation of Minato Namikaze was extremely high.

Even Fox, who excelled at swordsmanship and had reactions faster than most, was slightly inferior before Minato Namikaze.

A ten-year-old child was stronger than an ANBU squad leader?

Minato Namikaze entered Sarutobi Hiruzen's notice for the first time.

He was a promising prospect.

Hiruzen immediately issued an order for the Ninja Academy teachers to pay special attention to Minato Namikaze and nurture him.

Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina would likely become friends because of this incident. Through Minato Namikaze, they could also influence Uzumaki Kushina.

Whether in strength or interpersonal connections, Minato Namikaze was worth investing in.

Time passed amid day after day of surveillance missions.

Many days later.

The full moon hung like a silver plate, and its light lay like white frost.

It was another full-moon night.

At midnight, after the shift change, Yagami hid in the canopy of a tree outside the Senju Clan Compound, observing it through binoculars.

The Senju Clan Compound covered an enormous area. One-tenth of central Konoha belonged to the Senju Clan Compound.

This massive ninja clan was at the end of its glory. It had twelve Elite Jonin within the clan, along with more than thirty Jonin.

Both Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Kushina were very safe within the Senju Clan Compound.

Yagami looked toward the outskirts of the Senju Clan Compound and spotted a couple in a nearby alley.

Of the couple, the female ninja was from the Senju Clan, while the male ninja was a civilian ninja from the village.

Thanks to Senju Tobirama's policies, the Senju Clan had always been very willing to support civilians. After the Uzumaki Clan's extermination, many Senju women had begun considering civilian ninjas from the village.

Purple Cat was beside Yagami, also watching the couple through binoculars. After watching for a while, she lowered them.

That male ninja's hands were restless, constantly roaming up and down.

Senju female ninjas were famous for their curvaceous figures. Exploring them was like climbing mountains and crossing ridges—a bumpy journey indeed.

Purple Cat was a woman, and she felt somewhat embarrassed.

She turned her head from side to side and found that the eyeholes of all three of her teammates' masks were pressed tightly against their binoculars.

"Ahem!"

Purple Cat gave a soft cough, reminding the men on the team not to go too far.

Staring at a young couple being affectionate like this did not fit the Will of Fire.

Antelope and Black Bull both lowered their binoculars in shame.

They were both Konoha comrades. How could they pry into someone else's privacy?

Yagami, however, remained unmoved. Instead, he sternly lectured Purple Cat.

"Purple Cat, you made several fatal mistakes. If we were not in the village, your actions could very well have gotten our entire squad killed.

First, you must not make a sound.

As ANBU, how could you make noise while conducting surveillance?

This is outside the Senju Clan Compound. The Senju Clan Compound knows we are gathering intelligence on the Uzumaki Princess's surroundings, so being exposed would not put our lives in much danger.

But if we were conducting surveillance in another town and were exposed, would you be willing to be the first to stay behind and cover our retreat?

Second, you must not make assumptions.

You gave up surveillance because of some inappropriate images. What if that civilian ninja was a spy?

What if, in the instant you lowered your binoculars, that ninja suddenly attacked and killed the Senju female ninja?

Any stranger appearing near the Senju Clan Compound could pose a threat to the Uzumaki Princess.

Third, you have no right to order antelope and Black Bull around.

Before I give an order, the three of you must strictly carry out my commands.

Now, the three of you, pick up your binoculars and watch. Watch carefully. Do not miss a single detail!"

Beneath her mask, Purple Cat's face turned scarlet—redder than when she had seen the bashful scene between the man and woman earlier.

"I'm sorry, Captain Fox! I was wrong!"

Antelope, Black Bull, and Purple Cat hurriedly raised their binoculars and continued scouting those intimate scenes.

Antelope and Black Bull both felt their captain was so understanding. It looked good, they loved watching it, and they could stare without blinking under the guise of a mission.

The pair's movements grew more intense, evolving into unconscious trembling.

The poor two had no idea how tightly the Senju Clan was being monitored at this moment.

Within several nearby trees, at least three squads were watching them.

After being affectionate for over ten minutes, the Senju female ninja, her face flushed red and her legs weak, entered the clan compound.

This was the stench of love.

The male ninja remained where he was for a long time without leaving.

From a gap in the leaves of the neighboring tree canopy, the Black Gorilla Squad Commander made several hand signs.

After Yagami responded with several hand signs, he waved for the squad to leave.

Purple Cat felt even more guilty. Communication between squads and divisions was carried out in silence, without any unnecessary noise. That was the normal state of ANBU.

Captain Fox was truly strict, but that was exactly the kind of captain who was more trustworthy.

Only after they had gone some distance did Yagami say to his three subordinates, "Follow that male ninja and rule out the possibility that he is a spy."

The squad followed the male ninja from afar until he returned home.

The target went upstairs, turned off the lights, and drew the curtains.

Seeing that Captain Fox made no move, Purple Cat silently waited.

That wait lasted from midnight until dawn.

Only after the male ninja left did Yagami lead the squad into the detached house.

Yagami carefully examined everything inside the house.

The more he looked, the more something felt wrong.

"Purple Cat, check the bed.

Black Bull, check the bathroom.

Antelope, check the desk."