Shifting Blame to the Rain Shinobi

The biting wind outside whipped fine snow off the ground, creating a white curtain that swept through Konohagakure. It drove countless people to abandon their struggles, curling up in warm beds to enjoy this rare moment of leisure.

Inside the Senju Ancestral Home, gathered around a warm stove, Senju Momoka's withered hands busily shelled sunflower seeds as she recounted the events that followed the dissolution of the Senju Clan.

Senba, sitting beside her, occasionally let a handful of seeds cascade into his mouth, the crunching sounds echoing with each bite.

Savoring the crispness and salty aroma of the seeds, Senba unconsciously narrowed his eyes, a pleased smile curving his lips. Delicious, he thought, before tossing another handful into his mouth.

Besides death, no difficulty couldn't be solved with a meal. If there was, then a second meal would do the trick.

Seeing Senba's expression, Senju Momoka, who was in the midst of telling her story, also wore a kind smile. This elder, who had remained unmarried her entire life for the sake of the clan, now saw Senba as her own direct descendant after the events in Kusagakure.

When Senba had devoured all the seeds, he lowered his head in thought, reaching out to grab more. Nothing? He reached again. Still nothing?

Only then did Senba react, looking up quickly. He saw Grandma Momoka smiling at him, holding a plate of pastries, which made him sheepishly scratch the back of his head and laugh.

"Eat up. You're at an age where you can eat anything. Don't end up like us, old and unable to taste anything you want."

"Senba, you can keep what I told you just now to yourself. I'm not telling you this to pressure you, I just hope the Senju Clan won't be forgotten."

Relaxing back onto the soft couch, Senju Momoka tilted her head and admonished Senba.

"Don't worry, Grandma. I'll keep your words in mind. However, I believe that while Clan Leader Hashirama and Clan Leader Tobirama did what they thought was right, the Senju Clan shouldn't have vanished. One day, I will make the name Senju return to the Shinobi World."

"But Grandma, I can't guarantee I can bring it back to Clan Leader Hashirama's level. After all, I'm more focused on enjoying myself."

A flicker of relief flashed in Grandma Momoka's eyes at Senba's promise. This was enough. She didn't want the Senju Clan to disband, but she also knew that if the Senju truly returned to the state they were in during Lord Hashirama's time, it would be a true disaster. She was all too aware of how Hiruzen and Danzo had pushed the Uchiha Clan.

"Senba, what kind of person do you think the Third Hokage is?"

Senba, who was wiping his hands with a damp cloth after eating the pastries, paused at the question. This topic seems a bit off, he thought. But since Grandma Momoka had brought it up, he decided to share some of his thoughts.

"I haven't interacted much with the Third Generation. But judging by his actions, regardless of whether he's overly power-hungry or simply weak-willed, one thing is certain."

"His intentions for Konoha are good. It's just the execution…"

He didn't have much affection for the Third Generation, but he wouldn't deny his contributions to Konoha.

Hearing this, Senju Momoka didn't immediately respond. She fell into a quiet contemplation. Senba beside her didn't disturb her, closing his eyes as if dozing. His Chakra had increased slightly recently, and he needed to get used to it.

An absolute silence seemed to envelop the room, broken only by the rustling sound of the wind and snow hitting the windowpane outside.

After an unknown amount of time, Senju Momoka slowly stood up. With Senba's support, she walked to the window and gazed at the snowy landscape.

"Little Senba, you're very different from little Tsunade. You don't limit your perspective to just one family. If anything happens to her in the future, you must help her."

This was something Senba should do anyway. Although their blood relation was distant, they shared the same surname, Senju. Moreover, she was his teacher.

Seeing Senba's assurance, Senju Momoka smiled with satisfaction and, taking his hand, led him towards the front hall. A Sukiyaki hot pot, already prepared, was bubbling away.

Sukiyaki was perfect for a snowy day. As Senba was heartily enjoying his meal, someone else on the other side found the food before them difficult to swallow, with no appetite at all.

"Hiruzen, this attack on Kusagakure by unknown ninjas might be a sign of war starting again. Danzo is right; we need to be vigilant."

Mitokado Homura pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with worry. Hiruzen was fiddling with his pipe, his expression hidden by the shadow of his Hokage hat.

A moment later, Hiruzen Sarutobi placed the pipe stem in his mouth, his fingers gently coaxing a faint flame into existence. With his breath, the pipe bowl began to glow with a dim red light.

He exhaled, a long plume of white smoke dissipating into the air. "What do you all think? The attacker specialized in Water Style ninjutsu, likely from Kirigakure, and has nothing to do with our Konoha."

"If we easily deploy troops to the border, it will make Iwagakure wary. Conversely, Iwagakure will focus its attention on Kirigakure."

"Why waste the village's strength?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze, obscured by the smoke, swept over the three people before him: Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and the undisguisedly ambitious Shimura Danzo.

We're all getting old, Hiruzen thought with a sigh. This sigh held more than just the weight of their aged faces.

"Hiruzen, there's something strange about this matter! Don't forget Kirigakure's current situation. It's possible someone is impersonating Kirigakure, for example…"

"Rain ninjas, right? Danzo, you mean Rain ninjas, don't you?"

Hiruzen's words cut off what Shimura Danzo was about to say, causing a flash of anger in his single eye. Hiruzen was clearly toying with him.

Seeing Danzo's flushed face, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu lowered their heads, trying to suppress their laughter.

Ever since they had formed their team, Danzo had always been completely suppressed by Hiruzen.

Even when Hiruzen hadn't specifically targeted Danzo, it just so happened that whatever Danzo desired always ended up in Hiruzen's hands.

However, remembering Danzo's promises to them, they straightened their expressions and continued to advise Hiruzen.

The meeting finally concluded with Hiruzen making a small concession. Hiruzen dispatched elite ninjas from the Hokage faction, led by the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, to the border of the Land of Fire.

Hiruzen had expected Danzo to be angry at not being given command of the ninjas, but to his surprise, Danzo agreed with a blank expression.

Unable to fathom Danzo's thoughts, Hiruzen quickly put it out of his mind, as he had more important matters to attend to. With the village now stable, he needed to meet the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire.

Every time a Hokage changed, the new Hokage had to meet the Feudal Lord; otherwise, their position wouldn't be legitimate.

At the same time, he wanted to meet Senju Yunhua, as Danzo's suspicions were also his concern.