Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Sarutobi Clan's Steep Decline

"Do you recognize them?" Senju Tojian turned his head to ask.

"Someone is losing their patience, though we aren't enemies for the time being." Senju Nawaki nodded without elaborating.

Given Uchiha Madara's current state, even if he wasn't nearing the end of his rope, he couldn't affect Senju Nawaki's plans.

Uchiha Madara was preoccupied with his Eye of the Moon plan, and his attention was entirely focused on the Land of Rain. A war had broken out there, and the fact that his pair of god-like eyes were in the possession of Nagato was the most important thing.

Nawaki had his own suspicions; it was likely the Wood Release that had caught Uchiha Madara's attention.

On Uchiha Madara's chest was carved the likeness of Senju Hashirama—he loved him far too deeply.

Could it be that seeing the scene stirred up old memories?

Nawaki also realized that while one or two people awakening Wood Release could be a coincidence, the appearance of too many people controlling it would inevitably cause a sensation in the Ninja World and wake up some old schemers. He still needed to keep a low profile.

Senju Nawaki's plan to have the entire Senju Clan awaken Wood Release needed to be postponed, otherwise, he would be noticed by Uchiha Madara.

However, even without awakening Wood Release, he could start from other chakra attributes to enhance the strength of the Senju Clan.

He could also take this opportunity to verify his idea of using gold and bloodline essence as currency.

While deep in thought, he stored the two White Zetsu corpses into his Soul Space; they would serve as excellent experimental materials.

Senju Tojian did not ask further. With Senju Nawaki's growth, he only needed to act as a solid backing.

What was most important for them now was a battle to establish their prestige: the fight in the Land of Fields.

The special geographical location and resources of the Land of Fields would draw in quite a few ninjas.

They needed to plan carefully.

One day later.

The ninjas of the Senju Clan assembled.

The gift Senju Nawaki had sent to Sarutobi Hiruzen was also spreading throughout the entire Ninja World.

Kumogakure Village and Kirigakure were particularly cooperative, and the truth about the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan was spreading across the Ninja World.

The reputation Sarutobi Hiruzen had built over his seventeen years as Hokage was reduced to ashes by a single manifesto.

[In the seventeenth year of Konoha, Senju Tobirama died, and twenty-five-year-old Sarutobi Hiruzen became the Third Hokage.]

He had become synonymous with the most sinister and vicious Hokage in the Ninja World.

He had become the cautionary tale used by ninjas and Kage of other nations to educate their descendants.

Konoha Village.

The village fell into an eerie silence. Every ninja clan had also learned of Sarutobi Hiruzen's seven deadly sins and the truth behind the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan.

The various ninja clans didn't need much investigation; simply by intuitively feeling the changes in Konoha over the last decade or so, they could confirm that everything recorded was fact.

Over the past seventeen years.

Leveraging Sarutobi Hiruzen's influence, the Sarutobi Family had become the most powerful hidden force among the ninja clans in Konoha.

They had previously used the Uchiha Clan as a fig leaf, but now, the true face of the Sarutobi Family was known to everyone in the Ninja World.

Clans close to Sarutobi Hiruzen had also experienced rapid development, and the living space they squeezed out belonged not only to the Senju Clan but also to other smaller ninja clans.

Once awakened to the truth, they suddenly realized that Konoha was on the verge of becoming Sarutobi Hiruzen's Konoha.

From shops selling basic supplies to the ninja hospital and the Ninja Academy, everything was controlled by the Sarutobi Family.

They began to miss the Senju Clan, who had been selfless and truly practiced the Will of Fire.

The various ninja clans began a silent resistance, engaging in various forms of non-cooperation and protest, attempting to resist this injustice.

In normal times, Sarutobi Hiruzen could have used the prestige of the Hokage to suppress any dissent, but now, during the pre-war period, he dared not do so.

After venting his rage in the Hokage Building, he finally made concessions, giving up a portion of his interests to distribute among the other ninja clans to briefly stabilize them.

None of this could change the image of the Sarutobi Family in the hearts of the Konoha clans; such a sinister person required constant vigilance.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was filled with helplessness, waiting only for the war to end to settle scores.

As long as they won this war, he could reverse the unfavorable public opinion against him.

Upon learning the truth about the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan, Uzumaki Kushina wanted to confront Sarutobi Hiruzen, but she was stopped by Namikaze Minato.

Trapped in the snares of love, Uzumaki Kushina had already forgotten the hatred for the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan.

None of this affected the hard power of the Sarutobi Family.

Seventeen years was enough to cultivate the younger generation of the family; that was his true reliance.

In the ninja world, power was king after all.

Land of Fire, Daimyo Mansion.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, this two-faced, treacherous villain, has finally let the whole world see his true colors."

Dressed in magnificent robes, the plump Daimyo was already old and frail.

Upon learning this news, he ate a few extra bowls of meat, a rare occurrence.

He summoned his two sons before him.

He needed to reconsider the heir to the Daimyo.

The Eldest Prince was the legitimate successor; his mother was the aunt of Senju Nawaki and maintained close ties with the Senju Clan.

The Second Prince's mother was the daughter of the Land of Fire's Minister of Finance, and she was secretly close with the Sarutobi Family.

With the Senju Clan originally in decline and the Sarutobi Family becoming the de facto controllers of Konoha Village, he had already prepared to let the Second Prince inherit the Land of Fire and become the Daimyo.

This was because the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Hokage of Konoha Village influenced one another.

Only in this way could the Land of Fire maintain its prosperity and strength.

However, the reputation of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the things he had done left the Daimyo of the Land of Fire feeling uneasy, and he had never been able to make up his mind.

Now that the Senju Clan had suddenly risen to prominence again, the Eldest Prince had hope once more.

This was also one of the reasons why the aunt of Senju Nawaki helped Senju Nawaki take control of the City of Wood.

Between the insidious cunning of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the excellent, time-honored virtues of the Senju Clan, there was no need to think twice; he would choose the Senju Clan.

The lesson of the Land of Whirlpools had caused the Daimyo to harbor deep apprehension toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The Senju Clan had exhausted more than half of their strength for the Land of Whirlpools, yet Konoha, led by Sarutobi Hiruzen, had secretly destroyed the Land of Whirlpools.

With such a stark contrast, he had made up his mind to help Senju Nawaki return to Konoha.

Kumogakure Village.

The muscles on the Third Raikage's body bulged as he slammed his palm onto the table in front of him, shattering it, and could not help but burst into laughter.

It was filled with schadenfreude.

They were also the ones who had pushed this farce forward.

In the eyes of these rough men, the Senju Clan, Konoha, and the Sarutobi Family were all clowns performing for them, all filthy people.

They were the ones watching the show.

"Senju Tobirama was considered a wise leader, yet he fell because of his own disciple. We in Kumogakure Village can finally take back the land that belongs to us."

A powerful chakra erupted from his body, and blue lightning danced across his flesh.

Beside him, A's face was also full of smiles.

Everyone said that the people of Kumogakure Village had no brains and thought with their muscles.

This time, the deal had been incredibly profitable.

Using a piece of useless information, they had not only traded for the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan but also witnessed such a grand spectacle.

Weakening Konoha and causing chaos within it—he was nothing short of a genius.