High Stakes Gamble

Mito's plan was simple. She went against the conventional approach: not only did she refrain from recalling the Senju Clan Members living among the civilians, she instead scattered most of them throughout the village, leaving only Hashirama's sole bloodline—Tsunade—as the final hope.

On one hand, the Senju Clan Members spread throughout Konoha would form an all-encompassing net, preventing those filled with Ambition from accomplishing anything. (Think of the imperial secret police in ancient times.) On the other hand, it reduced the risk. Once all the Senju Clan Members had fully integrated with Konoha's civilians, even if her plan failed in the future and both she and Tsunade were killed by their enemies, the Senju Clan's bloodline would not be extinguished.

When that time came, the Senju of the Forest would completely become nourishment for Konoha, that towering tree, forever protecting Konoha in another form.

The reason this plan was called a gamble was that Tsunade was its only chance to turn things around.

If Tsunade failed—if she was assassinated while growing up, or died in a war or on a mission—then although the Senju bloodline would continue within Konoha, the name Senju would vanish forever into the river of history.

But if Tsunade could grow up and gain sufficient strength, then everything would be different.

She did not need to be as outrageously powerful as Hashirama or Tobirama. So long as she reached the level of an ordinary Kage-level Expert, the Senju Clan could make a comeback through Tsunade.

During Tsunade's growth, Mito would do everything she could to find reliable, trustworthy companions for her, ensuring Tsunade's safety. Before her death, she would also find a new Jinchuriki for Tsunade to use.

Beyond that, she had made an agreement with Hiruzen.

Until Hiruzen was capable of firmly securing his position, she would fully support him and help him clear away every obstacle.

But in exchange, after Tsunade graduated, Hiruzen had to become her teacher and protect her through the most dangerous period.

Once Hiruzen had trained Tsunade to a certain degree of independence, Mito would officially retire and allow the Third to become the true Hokage.

If all of this could be carried out according to plan, Tsunade—with several powerful ninjas as her supporters, command over the power of a Tailed Beast, and the strength of a Kage-level Expert herself—would be fully capable of succeeding Hiruzen as the Fourth Hokage.

By then, as both Hokage and Clan Head of the Senju Clan, Tsunade would only need to issue the call, and the former Senju Clan Members would naturally return. The Senju Clan would be revived as well.

This was a gamble staked on the fate of the entire Senju Clan, but Mito would not regret it. Because whether she won or lost this gamble, she had protected the Konoha that both she and Hashirama loved so deeply.

No matter what, she would not allow Konoha to die before her. Even if it meant sacrificing the Senju Clan and her own life, she would not hesitate.

Because this was Hashirama's lifelong dream—the warless ideal land that Hashirama had wanted to protect until the day he died.

To forever support and protect the ones she loved, along with their dreams—this was the Ninja Way of Uzumaki Mito!

After gently tucking in the blanket around the sleeping Tsunade, Mito came back to herself and casually picked up the pencil Tsunade had left nearby.

She lightly picked up the pencil and spun it in her hand. The gesture reminded Mito of that interesting boy from the afternoon.

Hayate Hoshi... Would this child become Tsunade's right-hand man in the future?...

More than a month had already passed since school began.

The students had gradually become accustomed to school life. They had made their own friends and learned all sorts of ninja knowledge. Even Jiraiya could now produce a crooked Clone Technique.

Jiraiya examined the lopsided clone beside him and could not help letting out a breath of relief. At least it had a human shape, didn't it? It was far better than the freakish things he had produced some time ago.

Teacher Mitsui continued writing on the attendance sheet as he spoke.

"Jiraiya, 50 points. Not bad. You've improved greatly compared to last week. Keep working hard. Teacher believes you can do even better."

Mitsui was not mocking Jiraiya with those words. He genuinely admired this civilian-born child.

Jiraiya's grades in the class were indeed not high, merely average. But one had to remember that, as a civilian, he had never received any pre-school education.

For a civilian child with no resources at all to not only keep up in Class A, which was packed with clan children, but even surpass quite a few of them, was already a very remarkable feat.

Jiraiya was delighted to hear the teacher's praise. After cheerfully thanking him, he returned to the seat he shared with Hoshi.

Seeing how happy Jiraiya was, Hoshi encouraged him as well. "That's great, Jiraiya. You can already surpass many of the clan children in class."

Jiraiya looked at Hoshi gratefully. "It's all thanks to the notes you lent me. If those notes hadn't helped me avoid so many detours, I'd probably still be struggling just to keep up."

Hoshi smiled at him. "We're good brothers. It's only natural."

At that moment, Tsunade suddenly slapped Jiraiya on the shoulder from behind and cut in. "What about me? I lent you my notes too. Why aren't you thanking me?"

Jiraiya turned around and looked at Tsunade, whose face was practically screaming, "Praise me," and the corner of his mouth twitched. Could the things Tsunade wrote even be called notes?

Back then, he had naively assumed that since Tsunade was so good at the Clone Technique, she must have recorded some special tricks. He had even specifically asked to borrow her notes.

But what she had written was all: Step one, form Hand Seals. Step two, circulate Chakra. Step three, "Boom," the Clone Technique appears.

Just thinking about it made Jiraiya's teeth ache. He turned back to Tsunade and forced out a smile.

"Hehe, thanks, you violent woman."

The moment Tsunade heard the words "violent woman," a vein bulged on her forehead. She clenched her fist, making her knuckles crackle, and smiled sweetly at Jiraiya.

"What did you just say?"

Seeing Tsunade like that, Jiraiya swallowed with some difficulty, yet still insisted on courting death.

"What? Was I wrong? Look at yourself right now. If you're not a violent woman, then what are you?"

The result was, naturally, a furious beating from Tsunade.

Hoshi helplessly shook his head as he glanced at the grimacing Jiraiya getting pummeled. Why did he insist on provoking Tsunade when things were going just fine?

But at that moment, Tsunade shifted her target to him. "Hoshi, do you think Jiraiya is right?"

Cold sweat instantly poured down Hoshi's back. He was not as tough as Jiraiya, but it did not seem right to speak against his conscience either.

Just as Hoshi was considering whether to sacrifice himself for justice, Teacher Mitsui suddenly spoke up and rescued him.

"Alright, students. Today's Clone Technique test is over. Before class ends, I need to remind you that next week is the bimonthly Combat Assessment.

"I hope everyone will prepare well these next few days, especially those of you ranked near the bottom of the class. Teacher still hopes to see your faces in the future."

Seeing Tsunade's attention drawn away by Teacher Mitsui's words, Hoshi secretly sighed in relief. At the same time, his thoughts drifted to the Combat Assessment.

Perhaps that person would come to this class next week.

I haven't seen any notifications for recommendation votes all day, and there hasn't even been a single book review. Please, bosses, give Ye Zhi the triple support—bookmark, recommend, comment. Don't make me keep playing solo.

Ye Zhi was way too miserable, opening the author assistant and finding not a single message inside.