Mito Uzumaki's funeral was kept simple. Hiruzen Sarutobi had his own selfish reasons for handling the death of Konoha's pillar of strength this way.
He had no idea how long he could keep it secret.
A month later, news of Mito Uzumaki's death spread anyway, and Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Tsunade a letter.
In it, he explained his reasons and expressed his deep remorse toward her.
He promised to hold a grand funeral for Mito later.
Tsunade wrote back: No need. Keep everything simple.
Late at night, on the outskirts of the Senju Clan Compound, there was a gap between Anbu patrol shifts.
Three Kumogakure Chunin used the Transformation Technique to fool the Anbu guarding the perimeter and slipped into the Camphor Tree Forest near Kushina's home.
Their disguises were remarkably convincing. The leader had taken Amamiya Maki's appearance-black hair and a short, dark gray jacket. He even perfectly copied Maki's habit of stepping forward with his right foot first.
Another had transformed into Minato Namikaze, complete with that gentle smile, looking just as harmless as the real thing.
It was precisely this disguise that had tricked Kushina.
"Maki, why hasn't Kushina come out today? She usually loves messing around at this hour."
"How would I know? Let's go check."
They arrived at the Senju Clan Compound.
Maki stopped in his tracks, his right hand already reaching for his ninja tool pouch.
Something was wrong. Not just a little wrong-very wrong!
There were only two reasons she wouldn't be by the pond at this hour: she was sharing private girl talk with Uchiha Mikoto, or something had happened.
Mikoto wasn't in the village, leaving only the latter.
He hurried to the small grove on the compound's outskirts.
Kushina had already bound one Kumogakure Chunin with her Adamantine Sealing Chains.
The