To this day, the culprits behind the Uzumaki Clan's downfall had never been definitively identified.
When the Uzumaki Clan was attacked, the Konoha High Command discussed the matter in a meeting but sent no reinforcements. Only the Senju Clan's ninjas went to help, risking their lives. It was also the battle in which the Senju Clan suffered its heaviest losses.
Looking back now, the only forces capable of destroying the Uzumaki Clan were the Five Great Ninja Countries and their villages. One of them might have acted alone, or several might have joined forces.
"Don't worry. The tragedy that befell the Uzumaki Clan won't happen to our Senju Clan.
At its root, the problem was the Tailed Beasts. The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu was especially effective against them.
They foolishly trusted Konoha and shared their Sealing Jutsu only with the village, strengthening its power.
I secretly investigated the matter later. The culprits behind the Uzumaki Clan's destruction were Kirigakure and Kumogakure, but Konoha must also be counted among the true masterminds behind the scenes.
The Uzumaki Clan fell because of betrayal!"
Senju Tojian slapped the table and made this shocking declaration.
The others were so stunned they couldn't speak. They all furrowed their brows.
If what Senju Tojian said was true, then their decision had been absolutely correct. Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's rule, Konoha could sacrifice any ally.
Senju Nawaki stared at Senju Tojian as well. Seeing how serious he was, Nawaki found himself partly convinced.
Some information surfaced in his mind, corroborating what Senju Tojian had said.
Kumogakure had always been a bunch of reckless brutes. The Eight-Tails assigned to them was one of the Tailed Beasts most prone to rampaging, and every rampage caused the village heavy losses.
After the Uzumaki Clan was destroyed, Kumogakure not only gained access to stronger, more sophisticated Sealing Jutsu, but also found Turtle Island, where they could create Perfect Jinchuriki and improve the situation.
All of this had to be connected to the Uzumaki Clan.
The gigantic turtle that bore an island on its back was covered in giant turtle summoning beasts. Only the Uzumaki Clan, with its enormous chakra reserves, could summon creatures of that size.
The patterns on the turtle's shell also bore an uncanny resemblance to the Uzumaki Clan's crest. Senju Nawaki couldn't help drawing his own conclusions.
The other culprit was Kirigakure.
The most direct evidence was its location. The village lay close to the island where the Uzumaki Clan lived, so Kirigakure would notice any fighting that broke out there.
The Uzumaki Clan was like a dagger belonging to Konoha, thrust into Kirigakure's heartland. Kirigakure had to stay on guard at all times.
The last mastermind was Konohagakure.
As the Uzumaki Clan's ally, Konoha had not only failed to send ninjas to help, but most of the Uzumaki who had fled to the Land of Fire for refuge had also disappeared without a trace.
All the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu had fallen into Konoha's hands.
Or, more accurately, into Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands.
At its root, the problem was that the Uzumaki Clan had trusted its alliance with Konoha.
Only Konoha's current leadership could have carried out something so covertly, without being blamed or exposed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō had done plenty of such filthy things in the name of the Will of Fire.
The Uzumaki Clan hadn't understood that once a person was gone, people would soon forget them. Senju Tobirama's foolish decision had doomed the Uzumaki Clan, and the Senju Clan had paid a price for it too.
In Senju Nawaki's eyes, the Uzumaki Clan's Sage Body bloodline was one step in his own evolution, and the alliance between their clans was a power worth trusting.
Sincere people shouldn't be hurt.
"The Ninja Villages have all kept quiet about this. The Five Great Ninja Countries must have reached an unspoken understanding.
The Land of Whirlpools was more like an exclave of the Land of Fire. Through the Uzumaki Clan, it could threaten the other countries, which was probably why they came to that understanding.
If something like this happens once, it can happen again.
For now, we must completely sever our ties with Konoha, until we have enough strength to take it back.
Most importantly, don't trust Konoha, and don't become traitors. The Uzumaki Clan's fate is a warning to us."
Senju Nawaki swept his gaze around the room and spoke in a cold voice.
His eyes fixed on one of the jōnin.
The jōnin's name was Senju Sakuragi. He was an elder of the Senju Clan responsible for logistics.
When Senju Nawaki had been ambushed, the signal flare meant to call for help had failed to fire. But an intact flare had been found on an Anbu Ninja. Senju Sakuragi had been behind it.
Senju Tojian noticed Senju Nawaki's gaze and looked at Senju Sakuragi as well, a murderous glint in his eyes.
"There's a traitor among us."
Senju Nawaki fell silent for a moment.
Following his gaze, it was obvious who he meant.
Cold sweat dripped down Senju Sakuragi's face. Unable to bear the pressure, he tried to flee.
The stone tiles beneath his feet cracked under his step.
"Wood Release: Wood Prison Technique!"
Senju Tojian formed hand seals, moving faster than Senju Sakuragi could run.
Rumble...
A wooden cage trapped Senju Sakuragi. Several sharp wooden spikes pierced his limbs, leaving him unable to move.
"Ah! No, you can't do this to me! I'm a loyal member of the Senju Clan!"
Senju Sakuragi's eyes darted about as he tried to turn the other Senju jōnin against Senju Tojian.
The dozen or so other jōnin remained in their seats, their eyes clouded with suspicion.
Senju Tojian's standing and what had happened to the Uzumaki Clan made them hesitate to take sides.
"Senju Sakuragi, you once followed Senju Tobirama's orders and took on the name of the Sakuragi Clan. That was understandable.
"Your son, Sakuragi Aoyama, married a woman from the Sarutobi Clan.
"Your daughter, Sakuragi Ryoko, also married into the Sarutobi Clan.
"You've repeatedly sold off the Senju Clan's supplies for next to nothing, and even given them to the Sarutobi Clan for free, steadily weakening our clan.
"Worst of all, you took part in the attempt to assassinate me. You swapped out the flare that would have worked for the enemy's intact flare, leaving me unable to call for help.
"I just never thought you'd have the nerve to stay in the Senju Clan and spy for the Sarutobi Clan."
Senju Nawaki stood up, pulled out the signal flare he had once been unable to use, and threw it at Senju Sakuragi's face, leaving a red mark.
Beside him, Senju Zuoren's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. He suddenly stood up.
He kicked Senju Sakuragi between the legs.
"Sakuragi, if you can't control your children, you shouldn't have had any!"
Senju Zuoren had been deeply worried. Senju Sakuragi's children were among the few clan members who hadn't moved out of Konoha.
Now it seemed Konoha was their real home after all.
"You! What do you know?
"This wasn't my fault. It was all Senju Tobirama's doing! He talked about integrating into Konoha, but we ended up as nameless civilians. My son couldn't even get into the Ninja Academy's advanced class!
"It was only with the Sarutobi Clan's help that my children got a good education.
"You lost the protection of your clan too, and you're still no match for Tsunade!
"I only wanted them to have a better life. What's wrong with that?"
Struck where it hurt most, Senju Sakuragi's neck veins bulged. His face was full of shame.
In an instant, he became agitated.
When he gave up the Senju name, the business that had once been his was taken over by the village. His ninja rank was reduced to Genin, and he could no longer receive generous stipends.
He had relied on the resources left behind by the Senju Clan and turned them into money.
But money alone was useless. It only made him a target for others. Only power and the strength of a clan could secure scarce resources.
His son couldn't get into the advanced class at the Ninja Academy, or learn more jutsu.
Senju Tobirama had given all the Senju Clan's jutsu, including the ones he had created himself, to Konoha. But those of them who remained from the Senju Clan had no way to trade for them.
They could only fade into the other ninja clans, gradually becoming ordinary ninja with somewhat larger chakra reserves.
And now they called him a traitor to the Senju Clan?
The Senju Clan had betrayed them first, leaving them no way to survive.
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