The Death of Senju Haku

A Hyūga from the Rat Squad detected the target three kilometers away—Senju Haku.

"Squad Leader! Target spotted!"

The Rat Squad Captain's eyes gleamed sharply beneath his mask. "We're just a few kilometers from the command post. We can't let Nawaki be alerted. We must intercept Senju Haku!"

Three ANBU units from the Rat Squad charged forward.

Pursuers ahead, a blockade behind.

Senju Haku took out a secret pill—an Akimichi clan chili pill, gifted by a fallen comrade.

Once consumed, it would burn flesh and blood to convert into a massive surge of chakra. But poorly controlled, it could kill the user by drawing too much.

No longer hesitating, Haku swallowed the pill.

Every cell in his body screamed. He squeezed every last ounce of potential from himself.

Chakra surged violently. Before the ANBU reached him, he activated his final jutsu.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

Water erupted around him like a geyser.

The Rat Squad Captain, having rushed in close, was startled—Haku's strength was well beyond the intel. He braced for impact.

That level of Suiton? He couldn't match it.

Still, he didn't back down. Even if it killed him, he couldn't let Haku reach the command post.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

A barrier rose before him.

In the distance behind Haku, Yellow Dog himself appeared in view.

But the Water Dragon wasn't aimed at the Rat Captain.

It soared skyward—near-vertical, its body rigid and trembling.

A brilliant column of water pierced the blue sky and clouds, gleaming unnaturally.

Though still 200 meters away, Yellow Dog's instincts screamed danger.

"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"

A massive fireball roared through the air, crossing the full 200 meters to intercept the water dragon.

Yako, watching from nearby, marveled at the sheer range. Ridiculous fire release power...

The fireball struck the lower portion of the Water Dragon mid-ascent.

And then the dragon exploded outward, splitting into smaller streams—forming a symbol in the sky.

The crest of the Senju Clan.

Even Yellow Dog froze, dread crashing over him.

Others kept charging forward.

Inside the main camp, Nawaki had been sparring with Orochimaru. He turned sharply at the sight.

He saw it—the Senju distress signal.

"We're under attack! Iwa-nin must've broken through the front!"

Before the words left his mouth, he'd vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

Orochimaru frowned. If this were an enemy attack, why use the ancient Senju distress signal instead of the standard Konoha flares?

The Senju signal hadn't been used in decades—not since the Warring States period.

Still, adhering to his training philosophy, Orochimaru kept a short distance behind, observing.

He wanted Nawaki to learn independence in decision-making from the start. To become stronger than him, Nawaki had to err and learn.

Not just Nawaki—every Senju near the camp bolted at the sight of the clan crest formed by Suiton in the sky.

Yellow Dog turned. "Fox! Take your team to find Nawaki—do not stop him. Just monitor!"

Yako nodded and left with his squad.

Senju Haku, having unleashed his final act, let the water fall. For dozens of meters around, it was a flood.

He allowed himself to be swallowed by it.

In the floodwaters, a blade plunged into his chest.

The Rat Captain was caught off-guard by how easy it had been.

When the water receded, he finally saw the body.

Veins had exploded across Haku's emaciated frame. His skin tore and clung to bone, making him look more corpse than man.

Minutes later, Konoha shinobi from the main camp arrived.

They found the ANBU gathered—and a body on the ground.

Nawaki approached and stared down at it.

The corpse wore a Mist Village forehead protector. Burned by Fire Release, it was nothing more than a charred, elliptical husk.

Seeing Nawaki's confused expression, Yellow Dog said:

"ANBU captured a Kirigakure spy. He specialized in Water Release. He tortured a Senju shinobi to extract the clan's distress code and tried to sabotage the Konoha front. We eliminated him."

Nawaki didn't respond. He wasn't entirely convinced.

The story fit, but something felt off.

After some hesitation, the Senju returned to camp.

Yako approached Yellow Dog. "Commander, Nawaki encountered no one en route—no issues."

Yellow Dog exhaled in relief. "Good. The mission is finally over."

Perfect, Yako thought.

If only you really believed it was over, Commander.

Ten minutes later, a middle-aged Senju shinobi was dispatched to strengthen patrols due to the recent chaos.

As he passed a tree, he froze.

There, etched into the bark, was a symbol—an old code used between the Senju and Uzumaki clans.

A cipher from the Warring States era, known only to the closest allies.

The symbol—used only when the Uzumaki contacted the Senju—led him to find a scroll buried beneath the tree.

Judging by the bent grass and soil, it had been there at least two days.

Who could've left this? The Uzumaki… weren't they wiped out?

The village said only one remained—Kushina Uzumaki.

He opened the scroll—and his pupils dilated in shock.

What?!

The scroll's contents said…

Konoha had known in advance about the Uzumaki massacre.

Worse—they had taken part.

The reason Uzushiogakure had been caught off guard, with no chance to flee, was because Konoha ANBU had leaked their coastal surveillance network to Kirigakure.

The rescue of the Uzumaki princess?

An act. A performance.

All to ensure Konoha's new jinchūriki host.

Breathing heavily, the veteran shinobi burned the scroll and stomped out the clan cipher on the tree.

He was over forty, seasoned. He didn't panic.

He calmly finished his patrol shift, returned to camp like nothing had happened.

If this truth spread now, the Senju would have no choice but to break with the village.

A civil war in Konoha—amid the Third Great War—would be catastrophic.

This village was built on the blood of the First and Second Hokage. Others might betray Konoha, but not the Senju.

He resolved to report to Princess Tsunade or Young Master Nawaki.

Tsunade was away on mission. He'd speak to Nawaki first.

—

Days later, Yellow Dog's division was en route back to the village.

A messenger hawk streaked across the sky.

Yellow Dog stood on a tree branch, his instincts prickling.

The hawk dove and delivered a scroll.

Yako, observing from afar, saw the moment it happened.

Sweat poured like rain beneath Yellow Dog's mask.