A few sparrows perched on the eaves in the early morning, their crisp chirps filling the air and stirring a feeling of vitality like the rising sun. Senju Momoka, now well past seventy, gazed at the scene with a gentle expression.
"Yunhua."
"Sister, I was just..."
Though she and her sister were only a few years apart in age, Senju Yunhua still acted like a child caught doing something wrong, hurriedly trying to explain. But the next moment, her sister raised a hand to stop her.
"How are the clan members? Have the relief payments been distributed? Since Konoha Village was founded, it has never suffered such a devastating blow. Before the village makes a decision, let's do what we can to help everyone."
Senju Yunhua looked away and leaned back against the chaise, asking listlessly, "Who would have thought that the Nine-Tails, which had been like a pet in the clan leader's hands, would bring things to this? What bitter irony."
"Sister, the clan suffered heavy losses this time. It happened at night, when many people in the village were eating together, so the casualties were severe."
"Besides, after the Senju Clan assimilated into Konoha Village, if you count everyone with Senju blood, they make up more than half the village. It's just that they're no longer listed in the clan records."
"So we've done our best to provide relief with the clan's supplies, but it's still nowhere near enough. I've already spoken with families whose homes weren't affected by the disaster, and arranged for them to temporarily take in the injured in exchange for rent."
"This is all the clan can manage. After so many years of division, we don't have many people or much money left."
"On top of that, many of our peers were already in poor health. After this fright, a lot of them are now on the verge of death."
At this, Senju Yunhua thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Sister, I went to Miki's House today. His life is like a candle in the wind. I'm afraid he only has a few days left."
Senju Yunhua looked up after she spoke, but her sister still seemed half-asleep. After a moment, she sighed helplessly and turned to leave.
"Yunhua, don't trouble Tsunade, and don't dwell on anything else. Let the Senju name end with us—with you, me, and Miki's generation."
Senju Yunhua didn't respond to her sister's words. She stood quietly for a moment, then opened the door and left.
The sparrows kept chirping in the trees, but their calls couldn't drown out the sound of children playing below.
"Sister Momoka, Brother Yunhua, when I grow up, I'm going to become a powerful Ninja and protect the name of the Senju of the Forest with you!"
"Mm-hmm! Little Miki is so talented—of course you can. We'll work hard together when the time comes!"
"..."
Amid the crisp birdsong, the aging Senju Yunhua suddenly found herself recalling the distant past. Was another old friend about to leave them?
"Senju of the Forest? Old clan leader, you must be so disappointed in us."
"Earth Release: Partial Hardening Technique!"
Senba's hands were coated in a layer of ochre-yellow chakra as he punched the rubble in front of him again and again. With every strike, he smashed open the tangled wreckage that had seemed impossible to clear.
"That hits the spot! A real man should meet force with force—every punch should land!"
Senba looked at the faint scrape on the back of his hand and grinned with satisfaction. That was the depth of the Senju Clan's resources.
The C-rank Hardening Technique had been refined to lower its requirements further, allowing the user to harden only parts of the body, such as the hands and feet. Its chakra cost was now close to that of a D-rank technique, and it could be sustained for longer.
This was the kind of research that only a great clan had the time and manpower to conduct: breaking down and refining techniques. The best techniques were the ones that could be quickly deployed on the battlefield.
Wood Release: Top of the Buddha was incredibly powerful, but it had become a lost art. By the end of the story of the Senju Clan, no one had used it again.
Just as Senba was about to turn and clear rubble at the next site, a green figure flashed past him. The next second—
"Konoha's Strongest Hurricane!"
Senba and Iruka, along with the others behind him, watched the Konoha's Rare Beast wreak havoc all around them, their faces covered in dust. They exchanged bewildered looks, unsure what to do.
A moment later, Guy finished all of Senba's group's tasks, then leaped over to them and gave a cheerful thumbs-up.
"Youth needs fuel too! Today's work is done, so you passionate young men should go get some rest. Remember to balance hard work with relaxation."
Grateful to their senior, Guy, for helping them finish their tasks, Senba and the others thanked him. But the dazzling whiteness of his teeth was so bright that they could barely keep their eyes open.
After Senba and the others had left, Guy, who had been full of energy until then, looked at the devastation in Konoha Village, and a trace of sadness flashed through his eyes.
"By order of Lord Hokage, Chunin Guy is to report to the Hokage's office at once to receive a mission."
As the concise, cold voice rang out, a silver-haired Ninja in Anbu uniform and a white animal mask appeared silently behind him.
"Yo, Kakashi! Long time no see. Our match is still unfinished. How about we see who gets to the Hokage's office first?"
"Guy, you!"
Kakashi, grieving over the deaths of his teacher and his teacher's wife, had his identity called out by Guy. Behind his mask, his dead-fish eyes fixed helplessly on him, and he felt utterly choked up.
But before Kakashi could react, Guy had already disappeared from sight. In the end, he could only resign himself to following after him.
The midday sun hung overhead. The sound of people starting lunch drifted over on the breeze, and the workers clearing rubble stopped what they were doing. They rubbed their growling stomachs and followed the fragrant smell of rice balls.
"Iruka, catch." Senba handed him the three rice balls he'd been given and the sushi he'd brought from home. Then the two of them sat on a crossbeam, looking out at the ruined Konoha as they ate lunch.
The rice balls were firm and round, with fragrant soy sauce mixed in to replenish their salt. To help everyone recover from their hard work, they were twice the size of regular rice balls. Along with a few side dishes Iruka had brought, their refreshing flavors lingered on their tongues.
"Senba, do you think our squad is going to disband? Before I came here, I went to the hospital to visit Teacher Sarutobi. His legs are gone, and he's been in low spirits."
"Tsuki can't get out right now, either. There's a rumor that the Uchiha Clan was behind the Nine-Tails Disaster. They're the only ones with those eyes that can... Now everyone's... everyone's..."
Iruka's voice sank as he spoke, and tears dampened the rice ball in his hand. Clearly, he couldn't bear having to choose between his parents' deaths and his comrades.
Seeing this, Senba wasn't sure how to comfort him. After all, in a sense, Iruka wasn't wrong: the one who'd controlled the Nine-Tails really was one of Tsuki's clanmates.
After finishing his lunch, Senba rubbed the leaf he'd brought between his fingertips. Looking at Iruka, who was still downcast, he thought for a moment, then asked:
"Iruka, do you hate the person who controlled the Nine-Tails, or do you hate Tsuki?"
"Of course I don't hate Tsuki. He's our friend. How could I do that? I... I'm just... afraid the rumor is true."
Looking at Iruka as he hurried to explain himself, Senba smiled. "If that's the case, then why don't we wait for word from Lord Hokage? I'm sure this will be investigated, and Tsuki's clan will get justice. You trust Lord Hokage, don't you, Iruka?"
Watching Iruka's expression gradually brighten, Senba smiled to himself. Iruka really did trust the Third Hokage. The Will of Fire was terrifying indeed.
But was it really wise to spread a rumor like this during such a turbulent time, when the village was still rebuilding? That rat hiding in the underground gutter was, in the end, only capable of these despicable little tricks.
Before you continue