Hatake Sakumo opened his eyes. The hesitation in them slowly faded.
No matter how unbelievable it was, the truth was clear—the Konoha leadership had made a move to eliminate Shinma.
He had thought their conflict was only one of policy, a difference in vision for the village.
He now saw it for what it truly was: a struggle of life and death.
Pakkun pressed on, "There's a good chance Fox was the one who took out Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yuu. Are you going to confront him about it… or make a move of your own? Decide now."
Sakumo stood up.
"The Shinma incident... I sent Moonlight Kento to save him."
"I knew it was a suicide mission. And through Kento's appearance, they knew I knew."
"A silent understanding. No one said it out loud, but we all knew."
"But now, I can't afford to keep compromising."
"If I retreat, people like Kento, Yamashiro, Shirakumo, Shinma—even Kakashi, Minato—any one of them could be next."
"My strength, and the threat I pose to the leadership, means I have no other choice."
"One day, I will challenge the current system of Konoha."
"If I step back, they will die. If I move forward—there's still a sliver of hope."
"It doesn't matter who killed Tan or Yuu. Tomorrow, I'll report to the Hokage Tower."
"I'll take the most dangerous mission Konoha has. The kind no one else can survive."
"I'll advance… so that others may live. No explanations necessary."
In the underground training chamber of Tsurugetsu Tavern, Yako had waited all night.
But there was no signal—no contract chakra—from Pakkun.
Strange.
'What is Hatake Sakumo planning?'
Yako had already prepared a full speech in case Sakumo came to interrogate him—ready to misdirect, ready to play the part.
After all, who could possibly suspect it was him?
Even ANBU hadn't found a single clue. Could Sakumo?
Still nothing.
Finally, at dawn, Yako used a few well-timed Body Flicker Techniques to reach the Hokage Tower.
When he entered the office, he saw Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and Orochimaru already present.
'What's this about? They don't look hostile... surely they haven't figured it out?'
Hiruzen spoke first.
"Fox was the first to uncover intel on Kumo's Perfect Jinchūriki. Let's hear what he thinks."
Yako blinked.
'Wait, we're talking about Perfect Jinchūriki now? Not Tan and Yuu's deaths?'
Hiruzen continued.
"Hatake Sakumo just came by. He requested a mission to the Land of Lightning to investigate the Perfect Jinchūriki of Kumogakure."
"I didn't refuse him, just told him we'd review the current intel."
"Fox—you were the first to extract this information from Iwa-nin. What's your assessment? Between Sakumo and Ryuuren, who's stronger?"
Yako immediately understood.
Sakumo was making his move—taking the initiative, aiming to raise his prestige with a high-risk, high-reward mission.
And what could be more glorious than suppressing a Jinchūriki?
If Yako claimed Sakumo was vastly superior, they'd never let him go.
But if he said the Jinchūriki was stronger… the Third would ship Sakumo out within the hour.
After a short pause, Yako said carefully:
"Hokage-sama, Sakumo's kenjutsu is formidable."
"If the Jinchūriki remains in a standard state, he wouldn't be able to match Sakumo."
"But... if he enters a tailed-beast state—becomes a full-blown disaster-level giant—I believe Sakumo would be at a disadvantage."
Hiruzen nodded. "A fair assessment."
Then he turned.
"Orochimaru, your opinion?"
Yako blinked.
'Why is he involved in a mission briefing like this?'
Orochimaru's response was sharp:
"What's there to be afraid of? Kumo has two Jinchūriki."
"Let Sakumo take one, I'll take the other."
"Let's see who brings back better results."
Yako finally saw it clearly.
Orochimaru… was stepping up.
He was entering the race to become the Fourth Hokage.
Before Minato could rise, Orochimaru—the Sannin, Hiruzen's prized pupil, the battlefield commander—was the clear favorite.
And now, with Sakumo growing too popular, the higher-ups were pushing Orochimaru forward as a counter.
Yako glanced at Danzo. The man seemed... oddly agreeable.
Then it clicked.
Danzo was fine with Orochimaru, because the man was dirty enough for Danzo to control. If needed, he could drag Orochimaru down at any moment.
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe.
"Approved. Sakumo may go to the Land of Lightning to investigate Ryuuren."
"Fox, you'll accompany him. Officially, you'll be recording intel—to ensure accuracy."
"If Sakumo finds nothing, fine."
"If he finds something... Orochimaru, you'll use that intel to deal with Kumo's Eight-Tails Jinchūriki."
Orochimaru's face twitched. He clearly disliked being second.
He didn't believe for a second that Sakumo was stronger than him.
Yako, meanwhile, was reassured.
If they were assigning him to Sakumo's side, it meant the higher-ups hadn't suspected him at all.
His cover held.
But then Danzo asked:
"And what about Tan and Yuu? Are we just letting it go? Isn't this all just Sakumo's smokescreen?"
Yako felt a chill.
'Don't tell me they're going to keep digging... at me.'
Hiruzen replied:
"Sakumo and I disagree on many things—but I believe in his character. He wouldn't kill Tan and Yuu out of spite."
Danzo growled, "Yesterday, you said it couldn't be Tsunade. Now today it's not Sakumo. What's next, you'll blame the Uchiha?"
"Uchiha Kagen is a dove. He doesn't have the backbone to betray the village."
Even Yako had to admit—Kagen sounded embarrassingly weak just hearing it.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe again. Thick smoke filled the room.
Orochimaru waved it away.
"Cut back, Sensei. Tsunade says every time she visits, she goes home reeking of smoke. Has to change clothes."
Oddly enough, of the three Sannin, Orochimaru seemed to care the most about Hiruzen's health.
And Hiruzen had always remembered him fondly at the end.
"I can't quit. Can't even cut back. This pipe's the only thing keeping my stress in check."
He exhaled again.
"As for Tan and Yuu—we'll continue investigating."
"But I don't think we should waste time probing Tsunade or Sakumo."
"Tsunade loves the village her grandfather built. She'd never strike down fellow villagers."
"Sakumo also has a moral baseline. He wouldn't stoop to this."
"The one who did this... must be a truly vile opportunist. A worm in the dark, trying to plunge Konoha into civil war."
Yako, inwardly:
'...Hey now. That's going too far.'
'You're the Hokage, and that gives you the right to insult people?'
'And in front of my face?!'