One of the bathhouses in the inn had been reserved by four Konoha shinobi.
Sarutobi Yuu lay soaking in the hot spring while a full Ino-Shika-Chō trio stood watch on the shore.
All three wore standard flak jackets. The Akimichi held a massive iron staff, standing guard over the bathing Sarutobi.
The Nara spoke:
"Yuu, tomorrow we should push straight through to the Land of Fire. Once we reach the border stronghold, we'll be safe."
"Mm," Sarutobi Yuu replied.
"Shimura Tan died in the Land of Grass, and they still haven't figured out who did it.
To dare assassinate a Shimura clan Tokubetsu jōnin right before his promotion—Uncle Danzo said once they find the killer, he'll hand him over for experiments."
Yuu was the nephew of Sarutobi Hiruzen—a rising star within the Sarutobi clan.
And he lived up to expectations: only nineteen and already on the verge of becoming a jōnin.
Another ten years, and he might reach Elite Jōnin.
He placed a folded towel on his forehead and slowly sank into the hot water.
Then—
A shadow flickered across his side.
A figure emerged silently from the water and rushed toward the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.
Yako hadn't used Self-Binding Curse Mark this time. It left strange chakra footprints when the target resisted.
He wanted no traces.
Using Water Flicker, he surged out of the bath and hurled six kunai at close range.
All three were wounded.
Before they could react, he finished each one—swift, surgical strikes.
Behind him—hand seals.
Sarutobi Yuu had leapt from the water and fired a jutsu.
Yako raised a brow.
Three hand seals—Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet?
He needed seven for that jutsu.
'So the Sarutobi clan did hide things...'
Yako remembered the intel—Yuu was known for his exceptional Fire Release.
He stopped moving.
And allowed the Fire Dragon to engulf him.
Sarutobi Yuu stood there, stunned.
Why had the assassin slaughtered three of his guards so efficiently—then just stood still and burned?
Wasn't he the target?
Yako's vision went dark.
Then he found himself back in Kyoi's bedroom, behind the Tsurugetsu Tavern.
Kyoi twitched slightly in her sleep.
Miqū was gently kissing her ears.
She smiled, rolled over, and nestled into Miqū's chest.
Since the war ended, Miqū rarely left the village, and Kyoi's sense of happiness had grown daily.
[Arc of the Waning Moon: Activated!]
Host gains one revival per month, returning to the previous full moon.
Reward: One lottery draw:
Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning (Beginner)
Jōnin-Level Chakra Reserves (Stackable)
Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet (Mastered)
Yako instantly ruled out the first two.
The third reward made his eyes light up.
'Knew it. That jutsu can be mastered.'
He chose the third option.
Mastered Fire Dragon Flame Bullet—acquired.
In his underground training room, Yako immediately began testing it.
As he formed the technique, he felt his chakra path shift.
Certain blocked tenketsu opened.
Now, he could cast the jutsu with just one hand seal.
This drastically elevated his second identity—the "White Demon."
Three nights later, he received another contract signal.
He returned to the Land of Hot Water's border.
He easily located the bathhouse again, Water Flickered into the tower, and dropped into the hot spring.
Sarutobi Yuu was still soaking, towel on forehead.
Yako surged up from beneath.
A kunai stabbed directly into Yuu's throat.
This time, he chose to kill the target first.
Blood exploded into the hot water, dyeing it crimson.
He leapt out.
One seal.
Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
The roaring flame surged forward, enveloping the three onshore shinobi.
The Nara reacted fastest, leaping into the air.
'How the hell—one seal?!'
Even Yuu, the so-called fire genius, needed three.
But Fire Dragon Flame Bullet was sustained fire.
Yako simply turned his head slightly, targeting him.
The rising Nara was swallowed mid-air.
Once he confirmed the three were burned to ash, he shattered their skulls.
Then Water Flickered away.
Outside the town, Yako held up the white demon mask.
"Yuka, I'm keeping this."
"Alright."
She stared at the flaming bathhouse, eyes glittering with reflection after reflection.
This was the feeling of vengeance.
Yako gripped her shoulder.
"For now, let's pause here. I'll return to Konoha to observe reactions.
If things go well, I'll prepare our next move.
Take care. Go back to the Uzumaki hideout for now."
He nodded to Kaichō and Genchō, then vanished in reverse summoning smoke.
Yuka watched the flames burn until townsfolk extinguished them.
She turned to the others.
"Uncle Kaichō, Uncle Genchō—we need to improve our tracking and infiltration skills. And we need a proper intel network.
Fox gave us broad profiles, but it still took days to lock onto targets.
That kind of delay could cost us the next kill."
Genchō nodded.
"Agreed. We'll study reconnaissance and tracking techniques when we return.
But building a full intel network—we should ask Fox.
That's risky. Spies, networks... it's a lot. Could expose us.
Not that we fear sacrifice—but Fox explicitly warned against rushing.
We should follow his pace."
Yuka nodded.
She hadn't expected these two to trust Fox even more than she did.
Later, she sent Fox a scroll via Stone Panda, suggesting a basic intel system.
Fox rejected it.
He said the Uzumaki couldn't risk exposure.
He'd handle intel for now. They should focus on refining tracking skills.
Yuka accepted the answer.
It took five days to travel from the Land of Hot Water to Konoha.
From town report, to noble investigation, to daimyo samurai notifying the village—
Confirmation of Sarutobi Yuu's death came three days later.
Ten days after his death—
Sarutobi Hiruzen received the news.
He stared at the scroll.
His nephew.
A prodigy in Fire Release—dead in a bathhouse.
He looked to his assistant.
"Go find…"
The aide froze.
Hiruzen's eyes shifted from shock to fury—then back to calm.
But he still didn't say who to find.
"...Go summon Danzo—and Orochimaru."