Senju Sakuragi's words struck a chord with many people.
Their experiences over the years had made them realize that a powerful clan was their strongest support.
Even though the Ninja World had entered the era of hidden villages, members of ninja clans still banded together to gain a greater say.
Ninja clans were a more secretive interest group, more worthy of trust than the villages themselves. That would never change, no matter the era.
Everything Senju Tobirama had done had left the Senju Clan in an extremely awkward position.
All the resources the Senju Clan had once controlled would be swallowed up by other ninja clans, and the Senju Clan would slowly fade away.
"Sakuragi, no matter how many excuses you make, you've already betrayed the Senju Clan.
We spoke to you with affection, but you spoke to us in terms of self-interest. Now that it suits you to talk about self-interest, you're appealing to affection instead.
From the moment you were found out until now, all you've done is talk about how hard things were for you and how the Senju Clan wronged you. Yet everything you have came from the Senju Clan, and you haven't shown even the slightest gratitude.
That Sarutobi brat values you so much because he wants to use you to seize the resources that belong to the Senju Clan.
You deserve to die."
Senju Tojian came before him and glared at him.
He no longer concealed the fury in his heart.
Even now, Senju Sakuragi still didn't understand what he had done wrong. He kept making excuses and blaming others, convinced that he had done nothing wrong.
You didn't have to love the Senju Clan for the glory it had once brought you. But using the strength it gave you to turn around and hurt it—that was an unforgivable betrayal.
Traitors didn't deserve to live.
"Kill him."
Senju Nawaki shook his head. A man like this was beyond saving. It wasn't a question of right or wrong; they were simply acting in their own interests.
The other side had been brainwashed by Sarutobi Hiruzen, and was destined to become an enemy of the Senju Clan.
Senju Sakuragi's actions had brought disaster upon the newly independent Senju Clan.
Making an example of him was the best way to keep the group in line.
Splurt...
"The Senju Clan never wronged you. You were just too greedy. If you meet Senju Tobirama in the Pure Land, you can ask him whether this is the outcome he wanted to see."
Senju Tojian stepped up to Senju Sakuragi and pressed his hand against the wooden cage, muttering under his breath.
Wood Release activated.
Several wooden spikes sprouted inside the trapped Senju Sakuragi's body, bursting through him from within.
Blood stained the meeting room floor, and a foul stench filled everyone's nostrils.
No one looked regretful. Instead, they felt a sense of satisfaction.
They looked at Senju Nawaki with respect.
After enduring humiliation in Konoha, they needed someone with an iron will to lead them down a new path.
It was as if they had returned to the Warring States period, when the Senju Clan had been decisive and ruthless, before being influenced by Senju Hashirama, the reincarnation of Asura.
The Senju Clan had once been a warlike clan, standing alongside the fanatical Uchiha Clan and Kaguya Clan as one of the Ninja World's great warrior clans.
They could already envision the Senju Clan rising again.
"This is your last chance. You can leave now, and we'll part on good terms. But you must never betray the clan.
The thing I hate most is betrayal."
Senju Nawaki's gaze swept across every face as he issued his warning.
Any powerful force that was completely destroyed had first been torn apart by internal conflict.
That was true even of powerful clans like the Uchiha Clan and the Uzumaki Clan.
He didn't want the Senju Clan to meet the same fate.
After a few breaths,
the others grew even more respectful. They sat back down, their faith in Senju Nawaki renewed.
"Good."
Senju Nawaki nodded to himself. These actions had made him the true master of the Senju Clan.
They no longer accepted him merely because of Senju Tojian's influence and his rightful status as clan head.
He saw the worry for the Senju Clan's future on their faces and spoke to reassure them.
"There's another important reason I chose to leave Konoha now: the Second Shinobi World War is about to erupt in full.
If the Senju Clan doesn't escape the quagmire that is Konoha, it will be wiped out and reduced to a disposable resource for the village."
Senju Nawaki rose to his feet and pointed to the enormous map of the Ninja World behind him, revealing something astonishing.
Those below drew in a sharp breath as they absorbed the bombshell.
Every Shinobi World War was an opportunity to reshape the balance of power.
During the First Shinobi World War, even with Senju Hashirama's legacy and Senju Tobirama as the Second, the Senju Clan had suffered more than fifty percent casualties. Wars of that scale were utterly brutal.
[Senju Tobirama had completely screwed over his own clan!]
The small-scale clashes in the Land of Rain had been like child's play.
Senju Tojian snapped out of his thoughts and asked, "How will this affect our Senju Clan?"
That was what mattered. He cared only about the Senju Clan.
"For us, the Senju Clan, this is actually good news.
According to the intelligence we have, Konoha has already seized and confiscated the Senju Clan's businesses in the village. They've completely abandoned even the last shred of decency.
The food and medicinal herbs we control will fetch a terrifyingly high price during the war, enough to make up for what we lose by leaving Konoha."
Senju Nawaki pointed to the intelligence on the table.
Just as Senju Tojian had reported, Konoha still acted as if it were above everyone else, convinced that the Senju Clan couldn't survive outside the village.
They had never realized how important the Senju Clan was.
The former owner's past incompetence had also played a major role in their misjudgment.
"Clan head, will the Second Shinobi World War really break out?"
Senju Zuoren asked, doubt in his voice. He wanted confirmation and was skeptical of Senju Nawaki's view.
The Ninja World had been peaceful lately, creating an illusion of calm.
Senju Tojian glared at him, and his voice fell to a barely audible murmur.
Senju Nawaki stood up and pointed to the map behind him, taking a marker and starting to draw.
"The Second Shinobi World War has already begun.
The fighting in the Land of Rain was its prelude. The current calm is only because Hanzo of the Salamander has temporarily suppressed the conflict.
The chaotic battlefield is really Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure all ganging up on Konohagakure.
The root of the problem is that Konoha occupies the prosperous, fertile heart of the continent and has abundant resources.
Konoha doesn't have the strength to protect this rich land anymore."
The marker traced lines across the map of the Ninja World, with the routes converging on the Land of Rain.
The other countries' attacks were like arrows aimed at Konoha and the Land of Fire in the continent's center.
Konoha sat at the heart of the Ninja World, controlling twice as many resources and twice as much land as the other hidden villages, if not more.
It had once had the Land of Whirlpools as an ally, supporting it from afar, but its own people had joined other forces to wipe it out.
Konoha was now weaker than it had ever been.
"This..."
The group fell silent, their attention fixed on the map.
Thinking back to what they had experienced on the battlefield in the Land of Rain, they realized Senju Nawaki was right.
Sunagakure and the Land of Wind in particular had an almost pathological need for water and food. Using the Puppet Technique, they had repeatedly infiltrated the heart of the Land of Fire to plunder its resources.
The distribution of resources was a problem in itself. They needed strength to protect them.
"That Sarutobi brat doesn't have the strength to protect Konoha and the Land of Fire.
With Mito dead and the new Jinchūriki not yet grown, Konoha has no one who can shoulder the burden.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Shimura Danzō, and Kagami Uchiha are already renowned throughout the Ninja World as powerful fighters.
But in the eyes of Kumogakure, they'll always be the Hokage's guards who abandoned the Second and didn't dare fight back.
The powers other hidden villages truly fear are the great clans of the Ninja World: the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan, and the Hyuga Clan."
Senju Tojian stood up and explained.
All the resentment he had been carrying poured out.
Before you continue