"Do you know him?" Senju Tojian turned and asked.
"Someone's getting impatient, but we're not enemies for now." Senju Nawaki nodded without saying more.
Even if Uchiha Madara wasn't nearing the end of his life, his current state wouldn't affect Senju Nawaki's plans.
Uchiha Madara was pursuing his own Eye of the Moon plan. All his attention was currently focused on the Land of Rain, where war had broken out. The most important thing was that his pair of godlike eyes were in the hands of Uzumaki Nagato.
He had an idea. Wood Release was probably what had drawn Uchiha Madara's attention.
Uchiha Madara even had Senju Hashirama's face engraved on his chest. His love ran deep.
Could it be that seeing it had stirred up old feelings?
He also realized that one or two people awakening Wood Release might be a coincidence, but if too many people gained control over it, it would cause an uproar in the Ninja World and rouse some old foxes. He still needed to keep a low profile.
Senju Nawaki's plan to have the entire Senju Clan awaken Wood Release would have to be postponed. Otherwise, Uchiha Madara would notice.
But even without awakening Wood Release, they could still improve the Senju Clan's strength by developing other chakra natures.
It would also be a chance to test his idea of using gold and refined bloodline essence as currency.
As he thought, he stored the two White Zetsu corpses in his Soul Space. They would make excellent experimental materials, too.
Senju Tojian didn't ask any questions. Given Senju Nawaki's growth, all he needed to do was serve as a steadfast support.
Their top priority now was to win a battle that would establish their reputation: the fighting in the Land of Fields.
The Land of Fields' unique location and resources would draw in plenty of ninja.
They needed to plan carefully.
A day later.
The Senju Clan's ninja assembled.
The gift Senju Nawaki had sent Sarutobi Hiruzen spread throughout the Ninja World.
Kumogakure and Kirigakure were particularly helpful in spreading the truth about the Uzumaki Clan's destruction.
The reputation Sarutobi Hiruzen had spent seventeen years building as Hokage was reduced to nothing by a single indictment.
[In Konoha Year 17, Senju Tobirama died, and twenty-five-year-old Sarutobi Hiruzen became the Third.]
He became synonymous with the most sinister and vicious fire in the Ninja World.
He became a cautionary example that ninja and Kage in other countries used to teach their children.
Konoha.
An eerie calm settled over the village. Every ninja clan had learned of Sarutobi Hiruzen's seven deadly sins and the truth behind the Uzumaki Clan's destruction.
The ninja clans didn't need to investigate much. All they had to do was look at the changes in Konoha over the past decade or so to see that everything in the indictment was true.
For seventeen years.
With Sarutobi Hiruzen's influence behind them, the Sarutobi Family had become the most powerful ninja clan operating in Konoha's shadows.
The Uchiha Clan had once served as a convenient smokescreen, but now the whole Ninja World knew the Sarutobi Clan's true face.
The clans close to Sarutobi Hiruzen had also prospered rapidly, squeezing not only the Senju Clan but also the smaller ninja clans out of their living space.
The revelation opened their eyes. They suddenly realized that Konoha was on the verge of becoming Sarutobi Hiruzen's Konoha.
From shops selling basic supplies to ninja hospitals and the Ninja Academy, everything was under the Sarutobi Clan's control.
They began to miss the Senju Clan, who had been selfless and had truly upheld the Will of Fire.
The ninja clans began to resist in silence, refusing to cooperate and lodging all sorts of protests in an attempt to fight this injustice.
In ordinary times, Sarutobi Hiruzen could have used the Hokage's authority to suppress any dissent. But with war looming, he didn't dare.
After venting his anger at the Hokage Building, he finally made concessions, handing over part of the profits to the other ninja clans to keep them placated for the time being.
None of it could change how the ninja clans of Konoha saw the Sarutobi Clan. They would have to stay on guard against such a treacherous family.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was filled with frustration. He could only wait until the war was over to settle the score.
As long as they won this war, he could turn the unfavorable rumors around.
After learning the truth behind the Uzumaki Clan's destruction, Uzumaki Kushina wanted to confront Sarutobi Hiruzen, but Namikaze Minato stopped her.
Already caught in the trap of love, Uzumaki Kushina had forgotten her hatred over the Uzumaki Clan's destruction.
None of this had affected the Sarutobi Clan's actual strength.
Seventeen years had been enough to raise the next generation of the clan. They were Sarutobi Hiruzen's real source of confidence.
In the ninja world, strength was what mattered.
Land of Fire, Daimyo Mansion.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, that two-faced little villain who smiles to your face while plotting behind your back—at last, the whole world has seen him for what he is."
Dressed in finery, the plump Daimyo was already very old.
After hearing the news, he ate a few extra bowls of meat for once.
He summoned his two sons.
He needed to reconsider who would inherit the title of Daimyo.
The Eldest Prince was the rightful heir. His mother was Senju Nawaki's aunt, and she had close ties to the Senju Clan.
The Second Prince's mother was the daughter of the Minister of Finance of the Land of Fire, and she had close ties to the Sarutobi Family behind the scenes.
With the Senju Clan fallen from grace and the Sarutobi Clan in actual control of Konoha, he had already prepared to have the Second Prince inherit the Land of Fire and become its Daimyo.
That was because the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and Konoha's Hokage influenced each other.
Only then could the Land of Fire remain prosperous.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen's reputation and his deeds made the Daimyo uneasy. He had never been able to make up his mind.
Now that the Senju Clan had risen again, the Eldest Prince had hope once more.
This was one of the reasons Senju Nawaki's aunt had helped him take up residence in the City of Wood.
When comparing Sarutobi Hiruzen's deviousness with the Senju Clan's inherited virtues, the choice was obvious: he would choose the Senju Clan.
The lesson of the Land of Whirlpools had made the Daimyo deeply wary of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The Senju Clan had sacrificed more than half its strength for the Land of Whirlpools, while Konoha, under Sarutobi Hiruzen's command, had secretly destroyed it.
The stark contrast gave him an idea: he would help Senju Nawaki return to Konoha.
Kumogakure.
The Third Raikage's muscles bulged. He slammed his palm down, smashing the table in front of him, then burst into laughter.
He was thoroughly enjoying their misfortune.
They, too, had helped push this farce along.
To these rough men, the Senju Clan, Konoha, and the Sarutobi Clan were all clowns putting on a show for them. They were all despicable.
They were the ones watching the spectacle.
"Senju Tobirama was a capable leader, but he fell to his own student.
"Our Kumogakure can finally take back what belongs to us."
Powerful chakra erupted from his body, and blue lightning danced across his skin.
A, standing beside him, was grinning, too.
People said the people of Kumogakure had no brains and thought with their muscles.
But this deal had been a real bargain.
With a worthless piece of information, they had not only regained the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu but also gotten to watch such a spectacle.
They had weakened Konoha and thrown it into chaos.
He was a genius.
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