Thing in the Gutter

A few sparrows perched on the eaves in the early morning, their crisp chirps reaching the ear, making one feel the vitality of the rising sun. Senju Momoka, already past seventy, watched this scene with a gentle gaze.

"Yunhua."

"Sister, I just..."

Though barely different in age from his sister, Senju Yunhua still acted like a child caught in a mistake, hurriedly trying to explain, but the next moment his sister raised a hand to stop him.

"How are the clan members? Have the condolence payments been distributed? This is the first time Konoha has suffered such a heavy blow since its founding. Before the village makes a decision, let's do our best to help everyone."

Senju Yunhua withdrew his gaze, leaning back on the soft couch, asking in a listless tone. He hadn't expected that the Nine-Tails, which the clan head had treated like a pet, would cause such a situation today—what bitter irony.

"Sister, the clan suffered heavy losses this time. Since it happened at night, many in the village were eating together, so casualties are severe."

"Moreover, our Senju Clan is integrated into Konoha. If you look closely, half the village has Senju blood, but it's no longer recorded in the clan registry."

"So we've done our best to distribute clan supplies for relief, but it's still a drop in the bucket. I've already negotiated with families unaffected by the disaster to temporarily house the wounded in exchange for rent."

"The clan can only do this much. After so many years of division, we don't have many people or resources left."

"Besides that, many of our peers were already in poor health. After this scare, a lot of them are on their last legs."

Saying this, Senju Yunhua hesitated, then spoke slowly: "Sister, today I went to Miki's House. His life force is like a candle in the wind—probably just a few days left."

After speaking, Senju Yunhua looked up, but saw his sister still drowsy. After a moment, he sighed helplessly and turned to leave.

"Yunhua, don't trouble Tsunade, and don't think about other things. Let the name of Senju end with us. Let it finish as you, I, and Miki's generation pass away."

Senju Yunhua didn't respond to his sister's words. He stood quietly for a while, then pushed open the door and left.

The sparrows in the tree were still chirping noisily, but they couldn't drown out the sound of children playing beneath it.

"Sister Momoka, Brother Yunhua, when I grow up, I'm going to become a strong ninja and protect the name of the Senju of the Forest with you!"

"Mm-hmm, little Miki is so capable, you definitely can! Let's work hard together!"

"..."

The aged Senju Yunhua, amidst the crisp bird calls, suddenly recalled old memories from years ago. Was another old friend about to leave?

"Senju of the Forest? Old clan head, you must be very disappointed in us."

"Earth Release: Partial Hardening Technique."

Senba's hands were covered in a deep yellow layer as he punched again and again into the rubble ahead. With his movements, the originally tangled and impenetrable debris was forcibly smashed open.

"Refreshing! A real man has to go hard, fist to flesh!"

Senba looked at the slight scrapes on the back of his hand and showed a satisfied smile. This was the foundation of the Senju Clan.

The originally C-rank Hardening Technique had been further reduced in usage requirements, becoming a partial hardening of the body's hands and feet. Its chakra consumption was close to a D-rank technique, greatly improving endurance.

This was the kind of research and decomposition of techniques that only a large clan had the time and manpower to do. The best techniques were those that could be quickly spread on the battlefield.

Wood Release: Top of the Buddha was indeed powerful, but then it became a swan song. By the end, no one in the Senju Clan could use it again.

Thinking of this, Senba was about to turn and head to the next spot to continue clearing rubble when a green figure flashed before his eyes. The next moment—

"Konoha's Strongest Hurricane!"

Senba and Iruka behind him, covered in dust, watched the Konoha Rare Beast wreaking havoc everywhere. They exchanged glances, unsure what to do.

A moment later, Gai, who had completed all of Senba's tasks, leaped in front of them, giving a thumbs up with a smile.

"Youth also needs to replenish energy. Today's mission is done. You passionate young men go rest—remember to balance work and rest."

Looking at Senior Gai, who had deliberately helped them finish their tasks, Senba and the others gratefully thanked him. Of course, his blindingly white teeth also made them squint.

Just as Senba and the others left, Gai, who had been full of energy, looked at the destroyed Konoha, a trace of gloom flashing in his eyes.

"By order of Lord Hokage, Chunin Gai is to report to the Hokage Building immediately to receive a mission."

A concise, cold voice rang out as a silver-haired ninja in ANBU attire with a white animal mask appeared silently behind him.

"Yo, Kakashi, long time no see. Our match isn't over yet. How about we race to see who reaches the Hokage Building first?"

"Gai, you!"

Kakashi, still grieving the death of his teacher and his teacher's wife, had his identity called out by Gai. Behind his mask, his dead-fish eyes looked helplessly at the other, his heart feeling stifled.

But before Kakashi could react, Gai's back had already disappeared from his sight. In the end, he could only resign himself to following behind Gai.

The midday sun hung in the sky. The sound of meals being served drifted over with the breeze, making the people clearing rubble involuntarily stop their movements. They rubbed their growling stomachs and followed the scent of rice balls.

"Iruka, catch." Senba handed over three rice balls and some homemade sushi he'd brought. Then the two sat on a horizontal beam, looking at the ruined Konoha as they ate lunch.

The rice balls were tightly packed and round, mixed with savory soy sauce for salt. To accommodate everyone's tired bodies, they were also twice the size of normal rice balls. Paired with a few side dishes Iruka had brought, a refreshing taste spread across the tongue.

"Senba, is our team going to disband this time? Before I came, I went to the hospital to visit Teacher Sarutobi. He lost both legs, and his spirits are very low."

"Tsuki can't come out either. There are rumors that the Uchiha Clan was behind this Nine-Tails Disaster—only their eyes could... Now everyone... everyone..."

As he spoke, Iruka's mood sank, and the rice ball in his hand became wet. Faced with the choice between his parents' deaths and his comrades, it was clearly something he couldn't accept.

Seeing this, Senba didn't know how to comfort the other party either. After all, in a certain sense, Iruka wasn't wrong—the bootlicker who controlled the Nine-Tails was indeed a member of Tsuki's clan.

Senba finished his lunch, then took a leaf he carried with him and rubbed it between his fingertips. Watching Iruka, who was still in low spirits, he thought for a moment and asked:

"Iruka, do you hate the one who controlled the Nine-Tails, or do you hate Tsuki?"

"Of course I don't hate Tsuki. Tsuki is our comrade—how could I do that? I... I'm just... afraid the rumors are true."

Seeing Iruka hastily defend himself, Senba smiled and said: "If that's the case, then why don't we wait for news from Lord Hokage? I believe this matter will be thoroughly investigated, and justice will be done for Tsuki's clan. You trust Lord Hokage a lot, don't you, Iruka?"

Watching Iruka's expression gradually brighten, Senba smiled to himself, thinking that Iruka really did trust the Third Hokage deeply. The Will of Fire was terrifyingly powerful.

But was it really a good idea to release such news in these turbulent times of rebuilding? That rat hiding in the underground gutter could only resort to such despicable little tricks.