When Killing, There Is No Reason!

The lingering rays of the setting sun bathed the entire Konohagakure in a golden glow. Senba and his three companions parted ways at the Konoha gates. Due to his identity, Uchiha Shisui did not return with them.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Senba stretched and headed towards the Senju clan's ancestral home. He had been living rough for the past few days and really needed a good bath.

As he passed through the streets destroyed by the Nine-Tails, Senba couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the commercial district being rebuilt, with scaffolding erected on either side of the buildings in a well-arranged manner.

After destruction came a new order. Konoha's initial plans had not anticipated its current level of development, resulting in a layout that looked quite unreasonable from high above.

Following this disaster, the village began to reorganize its layout, making Konohagakure more standardized. Of course, this was also partly due to some families within the heart of Konoha being relocated.

Thinking of this, Senba's mind inevitably turned to the Uchiha clan, the most unfortunate of all the shinobi clans. Danzo had openly made a move when redistributing territories.

Even so, Uchiha Fugaku chose to take a step back and let bygones be bygones. Interesting. Could his summoning beast be a "Shinobi Turtle"?

By now, the sun had set behind the Hokage Rock, and Senba's footsteps entered the bustling night market, the hub of various rumors in Konoha, where all sorts of absurd gossip emerged daily.

However, a different sound reached Senba's ears today, causing the relaxed and carefree expression on his face to gradually disappear. His pace quickened. He hadn't expected someone to have already released the news.

Sensing that Konoha might have recently undergone a major upheaval, Senba walked directly into the Senju ancestral home and hurried towards the backyard.

"The news that Orochimaru is using people from the village for experiments, if it's true, what do you think, Senba?"

Grandma Momoka was as usual, lying on a soft couch, holding a hand warmer. A black-haired maid was preparing tea beside her. The maid seemed curious about Senba, secretly glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

Although he didn't understand why Grandma Momoka didn't dismiss the maid, Senba still trusted the confidentiality measures here. "He should be killed! Whether he's one of the Sannin or the Hokage, anyone who harms their own villagers should be killed!"

"Oh?" Seemingly surprised by Senba's decisive tone, Grandma Momoka sat up slightly and looked at him. "But Orochimaru's experiments might be beneficial to the village? What if his experiments allow our Senju clan's Wood Release to see the light of day again?"

"Kill him!" Senba's tone remained the same. He had always been disgusted by such experiments. Moreover, how much benefit would ordinary people truly receive even if they succeeded?

He would absolutely not agree with this method of cloaking extreme evil in a beautiful guise. He hadn't had the qualifications to know the inside story before, but now that he needed to state his position, he wouldn't lie with his eyes open.

Seeing the resolute look in Senba's eyes, a flicker of relief flashed in Grandma Momoka's eyes. Someone with principles would surely treat their own clan members well.

If Senba had said something like "it's a necessary sacrifice for Konoha," Grandma Momoka's attitude towards him in the future would have changed.

Having lived for over seventy years, Senju Momoka had seen all sorts of bizarre things in this Shinobi World where the average lifespan was only forty. She had even participated in some of them.

But in the end, the results only benefited one or two people, while the rest were merely the bones beneath their feet.

She recalled this morning, the scene of Hiruzen Sarutobi bringing that lifeless young ninja to request Lord Hashirama's notes. The young ninja named Yamato seemed like a puppet.

"The news is true," Grandma Momoka leaned back on the couch, looking somewhat tired. The maid beside her quickly went to gently massage her temples. "No matter the process, the outcome is already set. It just depends on what Hiruzen does."

"Then Third Hokage-sama will likely disappoint everyone," Senba said with a smile, walking to Grandma Momoka's side and picking up a cup of clear tea to drink. It tasted quite good.

Savoring the lingering taste in his mouth and feeling the immense vitality beside him, Senba couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. This was interesting.

"Third Hokage-sama is already old. It's not that he's nostalgic because he's old, but his strength has declined too much," Senba said, recalling Hiruzen Sarutobi's current situation in his mind. He was truly a lonely old man.

"And Orochimaru is in his prime, and his strength is undeniable. His legend is still told on the battlefield. Grandma Momoka, what do you think the final outcome will be?"

Grandma Momoka naturally understood Senba's words. If Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want Konohagakure to experience another major upheaval, he had to suppress this matter to the smallest extent possible.

"Yes," Grandma Momoka sighed softly. "Although Orochimaru has lived in seclusion in recent years, there are still quite a few of his former subordinates in the village."

If Orochimaru were to summon his summoning beast within the village and then incite them a little, the ninjas in the village might end up killing each other.

Few people questioned Orochimaru's leadership and brainwashing abilities.

"Alright, let Hiruzen handle these matters. What can we, a semi-retired clan, do?" Grandma Momoka gently touched Senba's forehead and smiled warmly. "Kana."

As Grandma Momoka finished speaking, the black-haired maid beside her stood up and walked in front of Senba, immediately kneeling before him in a standard dogeza.

"Orphan of the Uzumaki clan, Kana Uzumaki, greets the young master. Thank you, young master, for saving me and my daughter from dire straits."

Although taken aback by the sudden action, Senba quickly stepped forward to help her up. "Please get up. I merely passed on a message. You should thank Grandma Momoka and Grandpa Yunhua more."

Seeing that Kana Uzumaki refused to get up no matter what, Senba helplessly turned his gaze to Grandma Momoka.

"This child's identity is too sensitive. She needs to stay by my side to manage our daily lives. You'll also have a helper for many things."

"Her public identity is that of a maid in the Senju clan. This is also her request."

Grandma Momoka said, pulling Kana Uzumaki closer and gently stroking her dark black hair. "Senba, you are their hope for recovering their original names in the future, so you are worthy of this bow."

Stop joking. There's still a terrifying guy from the Uzumaki clan in the Land of Rain, Senba thought to himself, but he also knew it was just a joke. Nagato Uzumaki had no feelings for the Uzumaki clan.

So, under Kana Uzumaki's expectant gaze, Senba nodded. The more debts you have, the less you worry. Compared to the Uzumaki clan, reviving the Senju clan was the more difficult task.

After meeting Kana Uzumaki, who was only four years old, Senba finally soaked in the hot spring he had been longing for. Ah, this felt great!