The True Culprit and Traitor Behind the Uzumaki Clan's Destruction

To this day, the culprits behind the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan have never been definitively identified.

When the Uzumaki Clan was first attacked, a high-level meeting in Konoha concluded that no reinforcements would be sent. Only the ninjas of the Senju Clan disregarded the danger to go and provide support, which also resulted in the heaviest losses the Senju Clan had ever suffered.

Thinking back on it now, the only powers capable of annihilating the Uzumaki Clan were the Five Great Shinobi Nations and their villages, whether acting alone or in a joint coalition.

"Do not worry, the suffering of the Uzumaki Clan will not befall our Senju Clan."

"The root cause lies with the Tailed Beasts; the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques were highly effective at restraining them."

"They were foolish enough to trust Konoha, sharing their sealing techniques only to bolster Konoha's power."

"I have secretly investigated the matter since then. The culprits behind the Uzumaki Clan's destruction were Kirigakure and Kumogakure, but the true mastermind hiding in the shadows must also include Konoha."

"The Uzumaki Clan perished due to betrayal!"

Senju Tojian slammed his hand against the table, delivering this shocking declaration.

The others were too stunned to speak, their brows furrowing in succession.

If what Senju Tojian said was true, then the decisions they had made were absolutely correct; the Konoha governed by Sarutobi Hiruzen was capable of sacrificing any ally.

Senju Nawaki stared at Senju Tojian as well, and upon seeing the serious expression on his face, he found himself somewhat in agreement.

Information surfaced in his mind, corroborating what Senju Tojian had said.

Kumogakure was originally a group of brutes, and the Eight-Tails assigned to them was one of the Tailed Beasts most prone to rampaging, causing massive losses to the village every time it broke loose.

After the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan, they not only mastered more powerful and precise sealing techniques but also discovered Turtle Island, which was perfect for controlling Tailed Beasts and creating flawless Jinchuriki to improve their situation.

All of this must have been related to the Uzumaki Clan.

That gargantuan turtle carrying a small island on its back was covered in giant turtle-type summoning beasts; only the vast chakra of the Uzumaki Clan could have summoned creatures of that size.

The patterns on the turtle's shell were also extremely similar to the Uzumaki Clan's crest, which forced Senju Nawaki to draw connections.

As for the other culprit, Kirigakure.

The most direct evidence was their geographical location, adjacent to the island of the Uzumaki Clan; any battle that occurred there would have been detected by them.

The Uzumaki Clan was like a sharp blade of Konoha, piercing into the heart of Kirigakure, and they had to remain vigilant at all times.

Finally, the mastermind behind the scenes: Konoha.

As an ally of the Uzumaki Clan, not only did they fail to send ninjas to support them, but even the members of the Uzumaki Clan who fled to the Land of Fire for refuge mostly vanished.

All of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques fell entirely under Konoha's control.

Or rather, they fell into the hands of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

At its core, the Uzumaki Clan had trusted their alliance with Konoha.

Only the current high-ranking officials of Konoha could have acted with such secrecy, avoiding accusation and discovery.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo had frequently committed such dirty deeds in the name of the Will of Fire.

The Uzumaki Clan did not realize that people change when circumstances change; Senju Tobirama's foolish policies harmed the Uzumaki Clan, and their own Senju Clan had paid the price for it as well.

In Senju Nawaki's heart, the Sage Body bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan was a link in his own evolution, and the alliance between the two clans was a power worthy of trust.

Sincere people should not be harmed.

"The fact that the shinobi villages remain silent about this proves that the Five Great Shinobi Nations have already reached a tacit understanding."

"The former Land of Whirlpools was more like an exclave of the Land of Fire; through the Uzumaki Clan, they could threaten other nations, which is why such an understanding existed."

"If such a thing happened once, it is entirely possible for it to happen a second time."

"We must temporarily sever all ties with Konoha until we have enough strength to take it back."

"Most importantly, do not trust Konoha, and do not become a traitor; the fate of the Uzumaki Clan is our cautionary tale."

Senju Nawaki swept his gaze around the room, his voice cold as he spoke.

His eyes locked onto one of the Jonin.

This Jonin, named Senju Sakuragi, was an elder responsible for logistics within the Senju Clan.

When Senju Nawaki had been in danger, his distress signal flare could not be launched; discovering that the flare found on an Anbu ninja was perfectly intact had been his doing.

Senju Tojian noticed Senju Nawaki's gaze and looked toward Senju Sakuragi as well, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"There is a traitor among us."

Senju Nawaki muttered.

Following his gaze, the traitor he was pointing at was already obvious.

Cold sweat beaded on Senju Sakuragi's face; unable to withstand the pressure, he attempted to flee.

The stone tiles beneath his feet cracked as he lunged.

"Wood Release: Wood Prison Technique!"

Senju Tojian formed hand seals, moving a step faster than the fleeing Senju Sakuragi.

Rumble...

A wooden cage trapped Senju Sakuragi inside, and several sharp wooden spikes pierced his limbs, rendering him unable to move.

"Ah! No, you can't do this to me! I am a loyal subject of the Senju Clan!"

Senju Sakuragi's eyes flickered as he tried to incite the other Senju jonin around him.

The dozen or so other jonin remained seated, their eyes flashing with suspicion.

Senju Tojian's prestige and the fate of the Uzumaki Clan made them reserve their judgment for the moment.

"Senju Sakuragi, it was understandable that you once followed Senju Tobirama's orders to disguise yourselves as the Sakuragi Clan. Your son, Sakuragi Aoyama, married a woman from the Sarutobi Clan. Your daughter, Sakuragi Ryoko, likewise married a member of the Sarutobi Clan. You have repeatedly sold off assets belonging to the Senju Clan at a pittance, or even gifted them to the Sarutobi Clan for free, constantly eroding the strength of the Senju Clan. What is most unforgivable is that you participated in the assassination attempt against me, preparing the signal flare for the enemy and giving me a signal flare that couldn't call for help. I just didn't expect that you would have the audacity to remain in the Senju Clan and act as a spy for the Sarutobi Clan?"

Senju Nawaki stood up, pulled out the signal flare that had failed to work, and slammed it into Senju Sakuragi's face, leaving a red mark.

Senju Zuoren, who was sitting beside him, widened his eyes, his mouth agape, and suddenly stood up. He kicked him hard in the crotch.

"Sakuragi, if you can't control your own children, you shouldn't have had them!"

Senju Zuoren had originally been very worried, as Senju Sakuragi's children were among the few clansmen who had not moved out of Konoha. Now it seemed that Konoha was their true home.

"What do you people know! This isn't my fault; it's all Senju Tobirama's fault! He talked about integrating into Konoha, but we just ended up as commoners with no status. My son couldn't even get into the elite class at the Ninja Academy! It was only with the help of the Sarutobi Clan that my children were able to receive a good education. Without the protection of the clan, aren't you just as inferior to Tsunade? I just wanted them to have a better life; what is wrong with that?"

Struck suddenly at his weak point, the veins on Senju Sakuragi's neck bulged, and his face was filled with shame. In an instant, he became incredibly agitated.

Back then, after abandoning the Senju surname, the businesses that originally belonged to him were confiscated by the village, and his ninja rating was downgraded to genin, making him unable to receive generous subsidies. He had relied on the resources left behind by the Senju family, converting them into money. But money alone was useless; it only made one a target for others. Only power and the influence of a clan could secure scarce resources.

His son could not enter the elite class of the Ninja Academy, nor could he learn more ninjutsu. Senju Tobirama had contributed all of the Senju family's ninjutsu—including the ones he had created himself—to Konoha, yet they, the remnants of the Senju, had no way to exchange for them. They could only fade away among the major ninja clans, gradually becoming nothing more than commoner ninjas with slightly larger chakra reserves.

And now, they were accusing him of betraying the Senju Clan? It was the Senju Clan that had betrayed them first, leaving them no path to survive.