The Secret Behind the Senju Clan's Destruction

"Aren't you coming with me to visit the Land of Water this time?"

Upon hearing this, Tsunade's Tsunade widened, and she slammed her hands on the table, shouting loudly. She knew that ever since Tsunade awakened Wood Release, she had been experiencing an indescribable emotion.

Putting aside other issues, the Uchiha have awakened Wood Release, so what is she? It doesn't matter if others laugh at her, she can't let the Uchiha laugh at her.

So recently she has been putting in a lot of effort to study the other person's body. Since the Uchiha can awaken Wood Release, there's no reason why she can't.

Seeing Tsunade's angry expression, as if she were possessing him, Uchiha Yoruro a wry smile, slowly took out a scroll from his Tool Pouch, and shook it to indicate that he was on a mission.

"The village has sent an urgent mission. Ume Sarutobi's body has been displayed on the Black Market, and someone is using it to exchange for a large bounty. This matter has blown up, and the village wants us to investigate."

As he said this, Uchiha Yoru looked at the other person with a strange expression, which made Tsunade glare at him.

"Kid, what kind of look is that! Are you doubting me?"

It's obvious that they had just been in contact with Ume Sarutobi not long ago, and judging from the time of her disappearance in the intelligence, it perfectly matches the time after they separated.

"If I wanted to kill a lowly servant girl, would I need such despicable means?"

As if she were being looked down upon, Tsunade sneered, "Kid, do you even know Ume Sarutobi's surname before she married into the Sarutobi Clan!"

"Senju! Ume Sarutobi should be called Senju Umeko. I don't need to resort to underhanded tactics to deal with her."

At this point, Tsunade disdainfully tossed the scroll over, saying, "If I needed to resort to such underhanded tactics, I wouldn't leave any evidence."

She disdained resorting to underhanded tactics, not because she was incapable of them, but because someone destined to become the Fifth Hokage would surely know such methods.

Upon hearing Ume Sarutobi's information, Uchiha Yoru was immediately surprised, but after thinking about it carefully, he suddenly realized what was going on.

The original work doesn't mention much about the Third Hokage's eldest son and daughter-in-law; he only had one child, Konohamaru.

Konohamaru, at a young age, learned Naruto's Sexy Jutsu, demonstrating his talent in Ninjutsu. Later, he also learned the Rasengan A-Rank Ninjutsu, and even defeated Pain's Naraka Path Pain during Pain's invasion of Konoha. He definitely belongs to the category of Genius Ninja!

At such a young age, the Sarutobi Clan has no shortage of Ninjutsu, but Chakra?

Konohamaru's age, his status as Jinchuriki and his Kekkei Genkai families, all suggest that he has an unusually large amount of Chakra. So that's where the problem lies.

The Senju Clan, inheriting the Sage Body, are known as the Forest of Senju and were a top Great Clans comparable to the Uchiha Clan during the Warring States Period.

It's important to know that apart from Hashirama Senju, no one else possesses Wood Release. Therefore, the Senju Clan's ability to contend with the Sharingan naturally relies on their own physical abilities.

The Senju Clan is born with a vast amount of Chakra and a resilient physique, and their control over Chakra far surpasses that of others.

Otherwise, how could the Senju Clan have fought the Uchiha clan for so many years?

"You mean Ume Sarutobi is from the Senju Clan! Then!"

Seemingly realizing something, Uchiha Yoru didn't press the matter further, while Tsunade, as if to pour herself a glass of sake.

However, just as her delicate hand touched the sake bottle, Uchiha Yoru's hand grabbed it faster.

"Drinking alcohol is allowed, but in limited quantities each day."

Ever since their identities were fully revealed, there always seemed to be a barrier between the two of them. This barrier was based on their identities, including Senju and Uchiha, as well as their age difference.

But Uchiha Yoru was the kind of person who was determined. Once he had made up his mind, he wouldn't let go. Without any hesitation, he held the small sake bottle and slowly poured a cup of sake for Tsunade.

"Annoying." Tsunade didn't utter the word "brat." Tsunade was well aware of Uchiha Yoru's actions, but her impatient demeanor made her want to refuse, yet she also felt conflicted.

They are all adults. From a purely self-interested perspective, Tsunade's status alone is enough to make her a significant political force for the other side.

After all, Uchiha Yoru had revealed his will to reform.

Uchiha Yoru didn't bother to hide it; he was not only after Yoru's looks but also after her political power.

Tsunade was also extremely troubled, as this brat would likely cause quite a stir in Konoha in the future.

Personally speaking, the other party awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan and risked their lives for her. At that time, she was just an ordinary girl, without any feelings or interests involved. As for Mei Terumi? Forget it, right now only she is there; the other party has returned to Kirigakure.

That's why she was in a dilemma. She was already forty years old, while this kid seemed to be only seventeen, not even eighteen yet. It was like they were two different ages.

"Kid, can't you find a girl your own age?"

Tsunade picked up her wine glass with a rather troubled expression and tentatively asked, not being stupid, she could naturally see the other person's concern and tolerance towards her.

You said our identities have both been exposed, there's the age gap, and the relationship between the Senju and Uchiha, so why don't you just take a step back a little, and I'll pretend nothing happened?

Let's just treat it as a beautiful memory, a stop on life's journey.

Sitting next to Tsunade, her fair, red-nailed hands held a wine glass and sipped lightly. Uchiha Yoru casually chuckled and said, "I looked, but it's still my sister who smells the best."

Under the obvious teasing, Tsunade with a headache and said, "I'm forty years old, and you're not even eighteen yet. I'm old enough to be your aunt, and you call me 'older sister'?"

Tsunade, who usually hates being called "Auntie," actually said it for the first time.

"No younger sister can compare to her older sister; she's a treasure from head to toe." Uchiha Yoru bluntly uttered these words, then smiled as he looked at Tsunade to toe, shaking his head. "Besides, she's forever eighteen."

Good grief, just as Tsunade was about to get angry, Uchiha Yoru took out another scroll from his Tool Pouch.

Tsunade looked like she was about to get angry, but a smile played on her lips. It was clear she was pleased with what had just been said. After all, she could make a seventeen-year-old boy infatuated with her—wasn't that a sign of confidence?

But when she saw the scroll the other party handed her, her eyes widened in shock, and her face turned red and then pale.

Looking at the scroll, Tsunade gritted her teeth and sneered, "Fine, everyone says the Uchiha Clan is arrogant, but I never expected them to be so despicable. That old bastard Uchiha Setsuna, he's practically buried in the ground and still meddling in other people's business."

This scroll contains a letter passed down from the family, and it's a personally written, encrypted letter from Uchiha Setsuna!

The document clearly records Tsunade's personality and preferences, and solemnly tells Uchiha Yoru for the sake of the clan, all sacrifices are worthwhile.

He also taught her a series of witty remarks, including finding Tsunade, one of the Sannin Tsunade, in the Land of Whirlpools, and then using all his skills to defeat Tsunade.

It's quite obvious that Elder Uchiha Setsuna was eyeing the political power behind Tsunade.

Uchiha Yoru betrayed the clan elders just like that, and Tsunade was so angry that her face turned green. She then turned around and looked at him with a threatening gaze.

"So, kid, are you carrying out a family mission?"

Faced with Tsunade's threatening gaze and questioning, Uchiha Yoru revealed a gentle smile, slowly took the wine cup from her hand, refilled it, and nodded with a smile, saying, "Of course, I'm willing. It can help the clan and also help me fulfill my ideals."

"This isn't just a win-win situation; I can hardly see any drawbacks." Uchiha Yoru made no attempt to hide his self-interested motives.

In response to this answer, her slender, white fingers slowly raised the wine glass to her pink lips, taking a small sip of the wine as if savoring its sweetness. However, a slight smile slowly crept onto her lips.

No woman dislikes hearing sweet words.

Moreover, Uchiha Yoru's answer satisfied her greatly. He was completely open and honest. "I just like it. I like the body, I like being forever eighteen, and I also like the political power behind it, which can help me achieve my ideals."

She bluntly stated that she wanted to live off a woman.

But surprisingly, Tsunade couldn't get angry at all; in fact, she felt a sense of joy.

As she slowly sipped her drink, Tsunade fell, a look of reminiscence on her lips. She sighed softly, "The Senju Clan... after what happened back then, they can never go back..."

As Tsunade recounted her story, the truth behind the Senju Clan's disappearance was finally revealed.

As one of the two founding clans of Konoha, the Senju Clan is in no way inferior to the Uchiha Clan. They have even produced two Hokage, making them almost the undisputed number one clan in the Shinobi World.

Unfortunately, after the Second Hokage died in the Land of Lightning during the First Shinobi World War, the Senju Clan suffered considerable casualties in their frenzied retaliation. However, the real culprit that led to the Senju Clan's disappearance from Konoha was the First Hokage.

Or rather, the initial Wood Release Project.

After losing the First and Second Hokage Hokage, Konoha almost no longer possessed the strength to dominate the Shinobi World during the Shinobi World War. This huge gap led the Third Hokage and a series of high-ranking officials to have a terrible idea.

Researching Wood Release! This is the so-called Wood Release Project.

According to official records, the Third Hokage stated that the Wood Release Project caused devastating losses, forcing the village to close the research and prohibiting others from continuing it.

What kind of loss could the strongest ninja village describe as 'tragic'? That was the real reason for the Senju's disappearance.

The research on the Wood Release Project finally made a breakthrough, and Human Experimentation began. The Senju Clan was naturally the most suitable candidate.

Besides, how could the Senju, as the largest Great Clans in Konoha, possibly allow outsiders to test their Wood Release Senju Clan? What if an outsider awakened it? Wouldn't that be a slap in the face?

First, volunteers from the Senju Clan participated. Although they failed repeatedly over time, they made breakthroughs again and again. Although they haven't directly awakened Wood Release yet, the current research and development progress shows that the Wood Release Project can strengthen the physique of the Senju Clan members and double their Chakra.

After observing for a period of time and finding no adverse effects, although they had not successfully researched Wood Release, they had found a powerful direction. The Senju Clan was so excited that they went crazy and injected everyone with the Wood Style Cells they had developed.

In the period that followed, the Senju Clan's power increased dramatically, and they almost firmly established themselves as the number one Noble Houses in the Shinobi World.

But no one expected that the development of the Wood Release Project was inherently unstable. The powerful energy of the serum at that time was merely dormant, lying dormant within the human body. After continuously absorbing nutrients and growing stronger, it suddenly erupted.

One by one, the members of the Senju Clan roared as all their nutrients were absorbed and they transformed into large trees.

"Can you imagine? I watched as my loved ones and clansmen turned into towering trees amidst their agonizing cries, leaving only tattered clothes scattered everywhere. They left nothing behind."

At this moment, Tsunade couldn't help but chuckle self-deprecatingly, "The Senju Clan, hailed as the strongest in the Shinobi World, wasn't wiped out by their enemies, but rather destroyed by their own ambition."

"There were too many. None of the clansmen had imagined it at the time. By the time it happened, it was too late. During that period, the Senju Clan was in seclusion. Every day, cries of agony were heard, and at the same time, a great tree appeared."

"Children turned into saplings, while those with great strength Chakra transformed into towering trees. During that period, the Senju Clan produced too many trees, and in the end, all the trees were cut down."

As Tsunade recounted the Senju clan's past, Uchiha Yoru couldn't help but sigh. Who could have imagined that the Senju Clan was so perfect back then? It was practically a Resident Evil scenario.

Indeed, the path of science is full of unknowns; it may be a new beginning or a nightmare.

"As direct descendants, my brother Nawaki and I were expected to achieve great things. The clan believed that we were still young and that our bloodline was the most noble, so we should wait until the research was successful before using it. Unexpectedly, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise."

The Senju Clan perished along this path, which is why such research is considered taboo.

"Heh, the once mighty Senju Clan, in less than a year, went from a bustling and prosperous clan territory to a desolate forbidden area. Only some weak women or those without ninja talent are still alive. The Senju Clan was almost completely wiped out."

"A group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people, no more than a dozen in number, mostly women, what could they possibly do? The Senju Clan would cease to exist the moment all the men died, so my brother and I dropped the Senju surname."

Uchiha Yoru suddenly realized why Tsunade didn't have the Senju surname in the official data. Some people say that Kishimoto didn't plan out this clan in the early stages, and that's certainly part of the reason.

And what about Nawaki? He also doesn't have the surname 'Senju'. (This is self-justification, all Old Thief Kishimoto's fault.)

"Hehe, it's even less likely that there will be Senju after that. Ume Sarutobi was just a little girl at that time."

It's clear that Tsunade was thinking of her younger brother; after losing Nawaki, the Senju completely lost any hope of rising again.

How can we rise up without men?

At this moment, a deep sadness lingered in Tsunade's eyes, and she sighed, "That's why I've dedicated myself to studying Medical Ninjutsu."

"So now, do you still have that thought?" Suddenly, Tsunade smiled, throwing her unpleasant memories to the back of her mind. She looked at Uchiha Yoru provocatively, teasingly lifting his chin with her fingers.

As the princess of the Senju Clan, Tsunade couldn't marry down like others, so only a son-in-law could inherit the mission of reviving the Senju Clan.