"Cough, cough... Sarutobi Shinnosuke used the Shadow Clone Technique to assassinate me.
That explosion that cost me my legs was also his doing.
He wanted to wipe out my Senju Clan.
He wanted the Senju Clan to disappear and become nourishment for the Sarutobi Clan.
What will you choose, older sister?"
Senju Nawaki raised his head. His expression was terrifyingly calm as he looked at Tsunade.
Under the tutelage of Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, and the Third, my older sister had been led astray.
"Impossible! The village already investigated that explosion. It was the Explosion Corps of Iwagakure."
Hatake Sakumo's brows drew together as he growled in rebuttal.
If things had happened as Senju Nawaki claimed, Konoha would fall into chaos.
The Senju Clan's strength might have been weakened and divided, but in terms of influence, they were still the strongest in Konoha.
This had to be a plot by another ninja village to divide Konoha. They couldn't let Senju Nawaki be fooled—especially now that Senju Tojian had awakened the Senju Clan.
"Twice, he tried to kill me. And he even had his own son do it. You all saw that for yourselves.
The Hokage's guards needing the Hokage to protect them—that's the greatest irony of all."
Senju Nawaki sneered and pulled a Forehead Protector from his clothes, tossing it to Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo examined the number on it and fell into thought.
It belonged to the Anbu Ninja Yamanaka Shuichi.
Some time ago, the Hokage had sent him on a mission.
The mission had taken place at exactly the time Senju Nawaki was attacked. And now, the Forehead Protector was in Senju Nawaki's hands.
He was full of doubts. Was this really a plot by another village?
Hanging from a tree, Jiraiya's eyes were bloodshot. Though there wasn't a trace of chakra left in his body, he still struggled wildly.
Orochimaru leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, as if none of this had anything to do with him.
"Impossible! The teacher wouldn't do this!"
Tsunade waved her hands as she defended Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Her eyes were full of conflict as she looked at Senju Nawaki's pitiful state.
She couldn't bear it, but in the end, she still chose to believe Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Senju Tojian quietly watched everyone's reactions and couldn't help but sigh.
"In terms of political skill, Sarutobi Hiruzen is a hundred, a thousand times better than Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama."
The Senju Clan hadn't been wrong to lose.
Fortunately, Senju Nawaki was just as outstanding now. In this dark world, he could hold up the sky for the Senju Clan.
"Heh..."
Senju Nawaki gave a scoff. He'd expected this reaction.
"I'll go to my fief. If Konoha is sincere, all it has to do is make Sarutobi Shinnosuke admit his guilt, and the Senju Clan can return to Konoha.
"For now, I announce that the Senju Clan is leaving Konoha."
With that, he nodded to Senju Tojian, then looked at Hatake Sakumo.
Rumble...
Senju Tojian received the signal, joined his hands, and withdrew Deep Forest Emergence.
The dense trees in Konoha's camp vanished.
"This..." Hatake Sakumo thought.
Only then did it dawn on him: judging by what had happened, Senju Nawaki was the victim.
"Nawaki, do you know what you're doing? The Senju Clan founded Konoha!" Tsunade asked.
"You fool! You know the Senju Clan founded Konoha, yet you still ask that?
"Look at the state our clansmen are in! They've been driven to this point. They fight on the most dangerous front, yet all they get in return is endless abuse and blame. Is this the so-called Will of Fire that little Sarutobi Hiruzen talks about?
"What has he twisted the Will of Fire into?"
Senju Tojian could hold back no longer. A violent aura surged from him as he glared at Tsunade.
"Older sister, open your eyes and look at what's become of the Senju Clan!
"Forget comparing us to the Uchiha Clan—even the Sarutobi Family and the Shimura Clan are far stronger than we are.
"These clans grew powerful by leeching off the Senju Clan and sucking us dry."
Senju Nawaki was utterly disappointed.
Chakra was a means of communication, but also of assimilation.
Those with powerful chakra could use their own chakra to influence the will of the weak.
The Third had tutored them from childhood and kept them by his side, brainwashing them and robbing them of part of themselves.
They would have to grow stronger than the Third before they could slowly free themselves from his influence.
This influence was almost like a slow-acting genjutsu. Sarutobi Hiruzen, that old fox, must have noticed it long ago. That was why he kept visiting the Ninja Academy to give speeches later on: he could use the chakra radiating from him to cement his position in Konoha.
Hatake Sakumo, Tsunade, and Orochimaru fell silent.
They recalled everything that had happened on the battlefield.
The dirty, exhausting work always drained the Senju Clan's strength, while the credit went to several rising clans—especially those belonging to the elders.
At times, they too had felt deeply uneasy.
They'd thought the village was being too harsh on the Senju Clan.
Especially when it came to sending support to the Uzumaki Clan: only the Senju Clan had given everything they had.
But it was Konoha that had signed a pact of mutual support with the Uzumaki Clan!
Konoha were shameless oathbreakers, and the Senju Clan was their fig leaf.
Once they understood that, the three of them had no grounds to talk Senju Nawaki out of his decision.
"Pfft...
"What nonsense are you spouting? No matter what, the Senju Clan is part of Konoha. Shouldn't they contribute to the village?"
After Wood Release was withdrawn, Jiraiya fell to the ground.
He spat out the leaves in his mouth, got to his feet, and accused Senju Nawaki.
What he was doing now was splitting Konoha apart.
He could already imagine the pressure Konoha would face and the brutal wars that lay ahead. What kind of losses would Konoha suffer?
He thought sacrificing the Senju Clan was only right.
"As expected of Sarutobi Hiruzen's prized student. You've inherited his shamelessness to the letter.
"Konoha? It's become a tool of Sarutobi Hiruzen's. I don't acknowledge it.
"If he proves himself through his actions and sends Sarutobi Shinnosuke to face me and explain this assassination, I'll still be part of Konoha.
"The Senju Clan can still die for Konoha."
Senju Nawaki narrowed his eyes. He hadn't thought anyone in this world could be more shameless than the amoral mentor from his previous life.
To twist right and wrong like this was truly an eye-opener.
He just wondered if Jiraiya could bring the dead back to life.
Before you continue