The Senju Clan's Predicament

The sky gradually darkened.

Tsunade, tired from a long day, returned to her small courtyard within the Uchiha Clan compound.

As soon as she opened the gate, she saw Bai Ye sitting in the center of the courtyard, drinking tea.

"Huh... Bai Ye, what are you doing here..."

"What are you drinking? Get me a cup too..."

"I'm so exhausted!..."

"I really regret agreeing to train medical ninjas for you..."

Tsunade said with a hint of complaint, walking directly up to Bai Ye and grabbing his cup to drink.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey... Why is this tea..."

"I thought it was sake..."

Tsunade spat it out after one sip, saying with some disdain.

"It's not good for old people to drink alcohol!..."

Bai Ye said, looking at Tsunade.

"Old people? There are no old people here!..."

"Are you talking about me, you jerk!..."

Tsunade clenched her fists in anger, about to throw a punch at Bai Ye.

"Ahem... Tsunade, he's talking about me..."

Just then, Goketsu Senju appeared not far away, at some unknown time.

"Grandpa Goketsu, what are you doing here..."

"Did this bastard capture you..."

"I'll teach him a lesson right now..."

Tsunade, who had just lowered her fist, raised it again.

"Little Tsunade, you're a ninja now, you should be more composed!..."

"I came here on my own..."

"I have something to discuss with Bai Ye..."

Goketsu Senju said with a smile, looking at Tsunade.

"Uh... Haha! I see!..."

"In that case, you guys chat!..."

"I'm going to rest first..."

Tsunade yawned and walked towards her room.

"I've made a fool of myself. Tsunade lost her parents when she was young and had no one to discipline her, which is why she developed this personality..."

Goketsu Senju walked up to Bai Ye and sat down, picking up a teacup and taking a sip.

"I don't think you came to see me this late at night just to tell me these things!..."

Bai Ye also took a sip of tea and said, looking at Goketsu Senju.

"Mmm... How do you feel about Konohagakure now!..."

Goketsu Senju asked, looking at Bai Ye.

"It's very good. Peaceful and prosperous, strong, all Konoha ninjas are immersed in the Will of Fire..."

Bai Ye said indifferently.

"Yes! Konohagakure is indeed very good right now!..."

"However, beneath the prosperity, our Senju Clan has declined..."

Goketsu Senju said with a self-mocking expression.

"That's just wonderful!..."

"If your Senju Clan declines, our Uchiha Clan will be the strongest clan in all of Konohagakure..."

Bai Ye said gleefully.

"You... Has anyone told you that what you say is incredibly infuriating..."

Goketsu Senju said, somewhat annoyed, upon hearing Bai Ye's words.

"Heh, just say what you want to say directly!..."

"No need to beat around the bush. I'm not like that scheming old man Hiruzen Sarutobi, I don't have time for your mind games..."

Bai Ye continued.

"Our Senju Clan has come to seek cooperation with you..."

Goketsu Senju continued.

"Cooperation!?"

Bai Ye looked at Goketsu Senju with some surprise.

"That's right, cooperation..."

"Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's scheme, our Senju Clan has declined..."

Goketsu Senju said with a hint of melancholy in his voice.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, once a young boy of the Sarutobi Clan, as agile as a monkey.

He was eventually taken notice of by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and taken as a disciple.

Goketsu Senju had also met this boy, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

In fact, Goketsu Senju had even guided his training.

However, what Goketsu Senju hadn't expected was that after Tobirama Senju's death, and after Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, he would actually start targeting the Senju Clan.

"I never thought there would be someone sensible left in the Senju Clan..."

"I thought you all were just guys brainwashed by the Will of Fire..."

Bai Ye said to Goketsu Senju with some surprise.

"Heh... Unfortunately, I realized it too late..."

Goketsu Senju, having been of the same era as Hashirama Senju, was not foolish.

With the outbreak of the Second Great Ninja War, many of their Senju Clan's ninjas were dispatched to the battlefield, resulting in massive casualties.

Goketsu Senju noticed something was wrong.

He wanted to stop it, but unfortunately, it was already too late.

The powerful ninjas of their Senju Clan had all died.

All that remained were the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled.

If their Senju Clan didn't make a change, in a few decades, the entire Senju Clan might disappear.

It was at this moment that Bai Ye suddenly appeared with great force, constantly striking at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

This gave Goketsu Senju an idea.

He could ally with the Uchiha Clan to oppose Hiruzen Sarutobi and preserve the Senju Clan.

As for Tsunade Senju, forget it.

Tsunade Senju had long been brainwashed by the so-called Will of Fire.

"This is all your own doing, Senju Clan..."

"The successor chosen by Tobirama Senju is now dealing with your Senju Clan, how ironic!..."

"I wonder if Tobirama Senju would crawl out of his grave if he knew..."

Bai Ye continued to say mockingly.

"You! Can't you speak properly!?..."

"Is it that amusing to you to mock our Senju Clan!?"

Goketsu Senju said, somewhat annoyed.

He had come seeking cooperation, but why was Bai Ye being sarcastic and provoking him at every turn?

Was it really that amusing to mock the Senju Clan!?

"Heh... Don't worry about the details..."

"Continue... How do you want to cooperate with our Uchiha Clan..."

Bai Ye said with a smile, looking at the annoyed Goketsu Senju.

"Hoo... Our Senju Clan needs protection..."

Taking a deep breath and suppressing the anger in his heart, Goketsu Senju continued.

"As long as your Uchiha Clan protects our Senju Clan, our Senju Clan will support your Uchiha Clan..."

"Our Senju Clan has countless properties, shops, and strongholds... all of which can be given to your Uchiha Clan..."

Goketsu Senju said to Bai Ye.

Although the Senju Clan had declined, as a former prominent clan, their foundation was not to be underestimated.

They owned many assets in Konohagakure.

Goketsu Senju was well aware that families like the Sarutobi Clan and the Shimura Clan had long coveted the Senju Clan's assets.

Goketsu Senju had no doubt that once the Senju Clan truly declined, these assets would eventually be annexed by the families of the Konoha leadership.

Rather than be annexed by these families, it was better to give them to the Uchiha Clan.

Therefore, Goketsu Senju planned to use these assets to seek protection from the Uchiha Clan.