The Senju Clan Isn't Dead Yet!

Some of those present finally understood.

This was the Daimyo of the Land of Fire testing which candidate they supported.

Based on past experience, they would never involve themselves in such matters.

At most, they would offer some protection when nobles of the Land of Fire close to them came seeking it.

However, the Third Hokage had secretly interfered with the candidates for Daimyo, which had aroused the Daimyo's vigilance.

His secret interference was carried out directly in the name of the longest-serving Hokage. While it seemed unrelated to the various clans, those nobles of the Land of Fire who worked closely with ninja clans would show at least some respect.

"Kazuma, we will not express our stance in public, nor will we interfere in the competition between candidates."

The Third Hokage wanted to cut off Kazuma's persistent questioning and ensure the ninja clans present did not get involved.

He still wanted to appear as that Third Hokage who did not participate in power struggles.

But his words fell harshly upon the ears of some.

You, a Hokage who resigned in disgrace, used our names to conduct business, and now you tell us not to participate?

What is the meaning of this?

We ninja clans are not some subsidiary of your Sarutobi Clan.

Those clans that had once branched off from the Senju Clan were even more filled with rage.

They were already nearing extinction, and now the Third Hokage wanted to commit such an act of treason against the natural order.

To let the Daimyo of the Land of Fire return to the hands of the Genji Lineage?

Then the Fujiwara Family, formed by the union of the Senju Clan and the Genji Lineage, would face a purge.

The visible support for the Senju Clan would truly vanish into history.

"So, the Third Hokage's opinion is that you will not participate in the competition between candidates, is that correct? Please answer my question directly!"

Bang!

Kazuma pressed on, his eyes like sharp blades piercing toward the Third Hokage. With his final question, he slammed his monk's staff heavily against the ground.

As long as there was no interference from the Third Hokage, the Fujiwara Family's original dominance would remain.

Furthermore, not all ninjas agreed with the Third Hokage's words.

Every ninja looked toward the Third Hokage, hoping for a definitive answer.

Kazuma's step-by-step pressure was driving him into a corner.

"The Sarutobi Clan and the ninjas of Konoha will not participate in the struggle for the Daimyo candidates!"

The Third Hokage's complexion turned ghastly, gradually taking on the color of a liver. Watched by the gazes of everyone, it took a long time before he could force out the words.

His entire spirit seemed to dissipate along with that statement.

Once these words were spoken, the second son of the Genji Lineage lost his backing.

Becoming the new Daimyo would now depend solely on his own efforts; all the Hokage could do was ensure these clans did not participate.

However, among the ninjas present, there were not only those from the ninja clans.

There were also some Jonin—Jonin whose identities were those who had lost their Senju Clan surnames.

The Sarutobi Clan's decade-long scheme had come to nothing.

The women married off for alliances had also lost their purpose.

"Third Hokage, I will convey your words to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the nobles! Then, what about the other ninjas?"

Kazuma was filled with wild joy. Without the Third Hokage's secret interference, the probability of the eldest son of the Fujiwara Family becoming the new Daimyo reached sixty percent; the other forty percent depended on the attitude of the other ninjas.

The Third Hokage should not have participated due to his status as a former Hokage.

These ninja clans represented not only their own families but also a portion of the Land of Fire's nobility.

They all should have been strong supporters of the Fujiwara Family.

The Third Hokage's face turned even more ashen. He scanned the people behind him, hoping they would maintain the same stance as him—as he had said, not to interfere in the struggle between the Daimyo candidates.

"Lord Kazuma, as the Third Hokage said, ninjas will not participate in the competition for the successor to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, let alone support anyone!"

Minato Namikaze stepped forward. He wanted to grant the Third Hokage a final shred of dignity and preserve the original purity of the Hokage position.

What he said aligned with his own thoughts: ninjas were merely a military institution that should take orders from the Daimyo, not participate in their rivalries.

Minato has forgotten his former surname, and the help the Senju Clan gave him, Kazuma thought to himself with disdain.

Minato Namikaze, a commoner ninja, becoming Hokage—there were too many coincidences.

His wife, Kushina Uzumaki, inherited a portion of the Senju Clan's legacy—not just material, but political.

She had transformed into his supporter.

Was he truly selfless?

Or was he selfish to the extreme?

He did not know, but not everyone was like Minato Namikaze.

Some people still remembered the contributions the Senju clan had made to Konoha and the Land of Fire.

"Hokage, your opinion is very important, and I will convey it to the Daimyo. However, not everyone is required to share your opinion."

Tears welled up in Kazuma's eyes. Behind Minato Namikaze, over a dozen jonin stood together and raised their hands.

These dozen or so ninja had participated in this audit as civilian ninja, but their true identities were those of the former Senju clan.

"We support the Fujiwara lineage in continuing to serve as the Daimyo of the Land of Fire!"

The jonin at the lead was Seimei Kuchiki. He belonged to the Kuchiki Clan, the branch family that had split off from the Senju clan to serve as their gravekeepers.

Minato Namikaze frowned, an expression of apparent innocence still lingering on his face. He did not understand why these people would publicly contradict him, the Hokage.

He turned his head and swept his gaze over them, his confusion deepening.

Weren't these dozen people the very same civilian jonin who had strongly supported his bid to become the Fourth Hokage?

The Third Hokage merely glanced at them and sighed inwardly; the influence of the Senju clan remained immense.

The representatives of the other major clans wore expressions of indifference, yet they understood the choice these people had made and secretly supported them in their hearts.

"Sato... Suzuki... Sakuragi... Takagi..."

The names of these individuals surfaced in the mind of the Fourth Hokage, and finally, his lips curled into a bitter smile.

These people were all members of the Senju clan who had integrated into Konoha.