How had the Senju Clan fallen into such decline in just over a decade?
"Which one of you has been secretly communicating with the Hidden Cloud? Step forward. Don't let your actions damage the Senju Clan's reputation."
"The Senju Clan has no scum! I hope you'll confess of your own accord!"
After composing herself, Tsunade faced her clansmen and questioned them sternly.
"Lady Tsunade, what are you saying?"
"No way, Lady Tsunade. Have you started suspecting us too?"
"Lady Tsunade, is what you said true?"
When they heard Tsunade's question, the Senju Clan Members present were all shaken.
The Konoha High Command could suspect there was a Hidden Cloud spy among them, but Tsunade suspected them too? They found that hard to accept.
Looking at their familiar faces, Tsunade realized she had been wrong this time.
Terribly wrong.
These were all people she had watched grow up or who had watched her grow up. Tsunade knew their character well.
There was no way any of them would betray Konoha!
She never should have suspected her clansmen in the first place!
The Senju Clan could die for Konoha, even be wiped out for Konoha, but they would never betray it! She should have trusted her clansmen!
But why did the Konoha High Command refuse to trust the Senju Clan?
"It was my mistake... I shouldn't have suspected you. It's all right now. Everyone, go get some rest."
Tsunade was furious. She had to demand an explanation from Danzo the next day.
How could he slander her clansmen as secretly communicating with the Hidden Cloud based on a load of bullshit, without a shred of evidence?
She would not tolerate such slander against the Senju Clan!
Early the next morning, Tsunade went to the meeting tent, determined to have a proper talk with Danzo.
"I have nothing to discuss with you. I've already spoken to Hiruzen about this."
"Since you can't find the ninja secretly communicating with the Hidden Cloud, the Senju Clan can no longer take part in the war. Every member of the clan is to return to Konoha. With a spy among us, we can't defeat the Hidden Cloud."
Danzo's words left Tsunade speechless.
"Does old man Sarutobi believe there's a spy in the Senju Clan too?"
Tsunade could hardly accept it.
She couldn't believe that her teacher, who had inherited the mantle of Hokage from her second grandfather himself, would also doubt the Senju Clan's loyalty to Konoha.
What was wrong with the Konoha High Command?
"This is the order he personally signed to send the Senju Clan back to the village. See for yourself."
Danzo then produced a scroll. It indeed bore Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal signature, ordering the Senju Clan back to the village.
Danzo had specifically sought Hiruzen Sarutobi's approval for it the night before.
After reading it, Hiruzen Sarutobi had agreed.
"Heh, fine, fine. Since you don't trust the Senju Clan, forget it."
Tsunade sneered, picked up the scroll, and prepared to tell her clansmen to return to the village.
Perhaps it was for the best. War was dangerous, and there were already so few Senju left. What if the rest died and the clan was wiped out?
Returning to the village like this had its drawbacks, but its benefits too.
That was the only way Tsunade could console herself.
As Danzo watched Tsunade leave, a meaningful smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
Once the Senju Clan Members returned to the village, they would face a barrage of public criticism orchestrated by him!
Heh, a spy who secretly communicated with another ninja village and harmed Konoha's interests had appeared in the Senju Clan, the most illustrious clan in Konoha's history!
Once word got out, what would the other great clans think? What would the villagers think?
Could the glory-laden Senju Clan really stand having such rumors attached to their name?
When the time came, would a few Senju Clan Members buckle under the pressure and take their own lives?
How interesting. He had dealt with the Senju Clan without losing a single soldier.
Danzo smiled wickedly. He could already see the day he obtained the bodies of Senju Clan Members and studied their talents.
"The Senju Clan has been ordered back to Konoha. Looks like the plan worked."
After receiving the news from the front, Ziyun smiled.
The Senju Clan was a clan of great renown. What kind of scorn and ostracism would they face when they returned to the village under rumors of secretly communicating with another ninja village?
Ziyun could imagine the Senju Clan being subjected to a furious barrage of public criticism from the villagers and the other great clans after returning. Whether the Konoha F4 would have a hand in it was another matter.
There was also a good chance that some Senju clansmen would buckle under the pressure and take their own lives, just as Hatake Sakumo had in the original story.
After all, the Senju Clan enjoyed enormous prestige in Konoha. With a spy among them, some Senju Clan Members might well choose to die to prove their innocence.
When it came to getting their own people killed, the Konoha F4 would not disappoint him.
"I wonder if Tsunade will come to hate the Konoha High Command because of this? How interesting."
Ziyun smiled. Dodai then found him and told him that the Third Raikage was calling another meeting.
"Sunagakure has finally made a move. The Third Kazekage just sent someone to seek an alliance with us against Konoha."
As soon as Ziyun entered the meeting room, he saw a bundle of scrolls bearing the large character for "wind" in front of the Third Raikage.
Although Kumogakure had always wanted Sunagakure to join the war, the Third Raikage's expression was far from pleasant.
That was because the agreement stated that Sunagakure would only enter the war if the Hidden Cloud provided supplies and money.
Since when could the likes of Sunagakure demand supplies from the Hidden Cloud?
"What right does that Third Kazekage have to bargain with the Hidden Cloud Village? Uncle Raikage, we don't have to put up with this. Just turn him down."
Ziyun was angry after reading the agreement as well.
The Hidden Sand Village wasn't even as strong as the Hidden Cloud Village, yet it had the nerve to set terms with the Hidden Cloud?
Besides, as far as Ziyun knew, the Third Kazekage was surely already itching to declare war on Konoha.
He had come to negotiate now simply to try his luck. What if the Hidden Cloud agreed? Wouldn't Sunagakure get a huge amount of supplies for nothing?
This was blatant humiliation. Seeing the Hidden Cloud locked in a bitter struggle with Konoha, the Hidden Sand Village wanted a piece of the pie too.
The question was, did he deserve it?
"So this is the Hidden Cloud Village's greatest genius, Yeyue Ziyun? You've got a big mouth for someone so young. Our Lord Kazekage is known as the 'Strongest Kazekage.' Under his leadership, an alliance between the Hidden Sand Village and the Hidden Cloud Village is sure to defeat Konoha."
At that moment, the Sunagakure ninja standing to the side spoke up arrogantly.
As he saw it, even the Third Raikage hadn't said anything like that. Who did Ziyun think he was, daring to insult the Third Kazekage?
"Where did this idiot come from? Aren't you afraid to die? Get out."
Ziyun's aura surged. Arcs of electricity flashed around him, and his presence was as formidable as a beast made of lightning.
This was the first time anyone had dared speak to him like that. Even when he went to Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been courteous to him.
Was the Hidden Sand Village full of idiots?
"Th-th-this..."
The Sunagakure envoy was so frightened by the aura erupting from Ziyun that he could barely speak. He stumbled back several steps.
To possess the aura of a Kage-level powerhouse at such a young age, this genius was as terrifying as the rumors said.
He hurriedly turned to the Third Raikage.
"Lord Third Raikage, you really should discipline this genius of the Hidden Cloud Village. Otherwise, if he offends the Hidden Sand Village, it won't be good for either of our villages."
"Looks like you really are an idiot. Get out!"
At those words, the Third Raikage's aura erupted as well. He instantly activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, making the ground crack beneath him.
A mere Sunagakure envoy dared tell him what to do and arrogantly insult Ziyun.
If not for the Shinobi World's unwritten rule against killing envoys, the Sunagakure envoy's head would probably have already hit the ground.
The Third Raikage's powerful aura, comparable to that of a Tailed Beast, made the Sunagakure envoy tremble on the spot. He nearly lost his footing.
"Lord Third Raikage, do you mean what you say? I came to the Hidden Cloud Village to propose an alliance on behalf of the Hidden Sand Village."
The Sunagakure envoy had not expected the Third Raikage to suddenly become angry and did not understand why. His face went pale with shock.
"Don't you understand what I'm saying? Guards, throw this idiot out! If he dares set foot in the Hidden Cloud camp again, kill him without mercy!"
At the Third Raikage's command, Dodai and another member of Kumogakure's upper ranks immediately threw the Sunagakure ninja out of the camp.
Meanwhile, in the Kazekage building in the Hidden Sand Village.
"Third Kazekage, have you gone mad? It's one thing to seek an alliance with the Hidden Cloud Village behind our backs, but you actually asked them for supplies too??"
After learning that the Third Kazekage had sought an alliance with the Hidden Cloud Village behind her back, Chiyo came to question him.
The Hidden Cloud Village would surely resent the Third Kazekage for kicking them while they were down.
The knowledgeable and experienced Chiyo naturally knew the Third Raikage's temperament and strength.
He was exceptionally hot-tempered and ready to fight at the slightest disagreement. The Third Kazekage had offended the Hidden Cloud Village this time.
"Don't worry, Elder Chiyo. Nothing will happen. Surely the Hidden Cloud Village wouldn't dare go to war with the Hidden Sand Village?"
The young Third Kazekage was utterly confident.