N... nine?
Wasn't it supposed to be two more, not six more?
Two more from each branch? You're pretty fair, I'll give you that!
I know how precious the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai is, but what are you treating Uka as?
The more Senju Toka thought about it, the worse her expression became.
She waved her hand, cutting them off. "Either we stick to what we agreed on before, or we call the whole thing off!"
"He's my nephew, not a breeding tool!"
Seeing Toka's expression, the Second Elder knew they had gone too far in trying to keep Uka at home to pass on his bloodline.
They needed to stop this stubborn woman from turning on them outright and making things ugly for everyone.
The Second Elder hurriedly interrupted before the First Elder could speak. "Right, we'll stick to what we agreed on before! Put this matter aside for now. Let's discuss something else, something else."
After the two of them interrupted him one after another, the First Elder looked at the Second Elder and understood that there was no way forward. Reluctantly, he closed his mouth.
As he sat back down on his cushion, he still thought it was a very good idea.
It could ensure the Senju bloodline's continuation and keep Senju Uka safe.
And all those children would be Senju clan members, wouldn't they? They'd also be your grandnephews and grandnieces, Senju Toka.
This was about growing the family, not robbing or killing anyone!
Nearby, seeing the plan fail, Mito Uzumaki remained composed. Maintaining her usual smile, she set down her teacup.
She took three invitations from her sleeve and handed them to everyone, changing the subject. "Hiruzen Sarutobi sent three groups of people to deliver these invitations. Take a look!"
At that, the three of them took the invitations and opened them, only to discover they were full of empty pleasantries between the Shinobi Clans. There wasn't a single useful word!
The Second Elder tossed the invitations aside and said mildly, "Since Toka is acting as clan head, you decide."
Senju Toka nodded and looked at the invitations in her hands, considering the situation outside the clan.
Sarutobi was in such a hurry, which meant the information had already leaked.
It seemed the action against the Senju really had been decided on jointly by them!
If they chose to fight, the Senju wouldn't just be facing the Shimura Shinobi Clan.
The Senju now had only two squads of registered ninja left.
They had justice and reason on their side, along with their allied clans... they could fight!
But even after winning, the Senju would suffer heavy losses.
Within Konoha, there were the Uchiha, Hyūga, and Ino-Shika-Cho. Outside, there were the Cloud Shinobi, their longtime enemy, as well as the other three hidden villages!
Before Wood Release emerged, the Hyūga, Ino-Shika-Cho, and other neutral Shinobi Clans, including their mortal enemy, the Uchiha, would all support the Senju.
But now that they had Wood Release, she had to consider how those clans would react.
After pondering for a long time and weighing the pros and cons, Senju Toka set down the invitation in her hand and looked at the three of them, speaking solemnly. "Uka is my nephew, and personally, I really want to wipe out the Shimura!"
"But given the current situation, now that they've banded together, resolving this by force isn't appropriate!"
"But we can't go too easy on them, either! If we do, outsiders will think the Senju are extremely weak, with not even the courage to fight!"
"So we need to think together about how far to take this!"
The three exchanged glances and nodded in agreement!
If they fought, the cost would definitely be high.
But they also had to consider the hungry wolves watching the Senju from within and without.
The Senju still had hope.
If someone else took advantage of them, it would be a terrible loss!
"So what do you have in mind?" the Second Elder asked first.
"When Uka was captured, he said he wanted the lives of their entire families. So let Danzo bring the heads of those people's entire families himself. Then we can talk about what comes next," Senju Toka said mildly.
This was the basis she had set for negotiations with the Hokage. If they couldn't even do that, there was no point in talking!
After this was over, she also wanted to see how many loyal dogs Shimura Danzo still had under him.
"Psychological warfare. I agree," Mito Uzumaki said.
Since everyone had decided against an all-out fight, they could start with this and plant a thorn in their side.
It might come in handy at a crucial moment in the future.
The Second Elder agreed as well. He nodded with satisfaction and looked at the acting clan head across from him. "What are you planning to ask for next?"
What did she want?
Seated at the head of the room, Senju Toka thought for a moment before replying, "We'll definitely have to get involved with the academy. I haven't decided on anything else yet!"
In her view, after Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan failed, he hadn't chosen to fight to the death or sent over the heads of the Shimura Clan. Instead, he wanted to negotiate!
His biggest source of leverage, apart from the Senju's enemies, was the academy, which used Konoha's funds to train ninja.
In six years, it had trained more than three thousand cannon fodder and three thousand reserve ninja. Did they really think no one had noticed?
Dragging things out with the Shinobi Clans alone would bring the Senju nothing but harm.
The Shinobi Clans couldn't produce children as quickly as the academy could train them.
But Sarutobi seemed to have forgotten that the Senju could get involved in the academy too.
With the reputations of two Hokage and enough benefits, the academy could train ninja loyal to the Senju as well.
"That'll work. Ninja trained at the academy can serve as cannon fodder, and we can still ensure their loyalty to some extent," the Second Elder said with a smile.
He was very pleased with Senju Toka's choices.
Those two decisions alone were enough to show that she would make an excellent clan head.
For the Senju at present, being tough wasn't enough. The best approach was to be both tough and yielding!
Although he had little regard for Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had to admit that the methods Sarutobi had used over the past six years were ones a clan head needed.
Of course, if you were as powerful as Hashirama, you could do whatever you wanted!
Late at night, just before dawn.
Seeing the living room still lit, Senju Toka opened the door.
"Whoosh-!"
The sliding door moved, and Chiharu, who had been waiting in the living room, turned to look at the person who had entered.
Seeing the girl on the sofa in beige loungewear, Senju Toka asked curiously, "Were you waiting for me? It's so late. Why aren't you asleep?"
"Too much changed today. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to wait for you, my lady," Chiharu replied with a smile.
"Good timing. I have something to discuss with you!"
"Oh?"
As she spoke, Senju Toka changed her shoes, motioned for Chiharu to follow, and led her into the study!
After the two sat cross-legged on the tatami,
Senju Toka slowly recounted the major events that had taken place within the clan that day, as well as the decisions made at the clan meeting, to the girl sitting opposite her, with her gentle, clever eyes and black hair.
After hearing about the changes in the clan, Senju Chiharu let out a long breath of relief.
Their "Relief Home" was one of the groups least willing to see the Senju disband, and now their wish had finally come true!
She was happy, but then noticed Lady Toka's brows were furrowed. Puzzled, she asked, "My lady, is... is something else changing?"
At that, Senju Toka looked at the girl she liked very much.
She was very reluctant, but Uka no longer needed the kind of protection he had needed before.
So Chiharu should be given the right to choose again!
Under Chiharu's questioning gaze, Senju Toka nodded, confirming it.
After considering her words for a moment, she began, "Back then, Uka's talent was average. At most, he could have become a Jonin. For his sake, my selfishness as his aunt got the better of me. I brought you home as my student, intending for you to marry him and protect him."
"You know how selfish I was. But after spending so much time together, we've grown attached to each other."
"Now that things have changed for Uka, I can give you the right to choose again!"
"Do you want to leave?"
"I..." Chiharu's lips moved, and she was about to answer.
But Senju Toka waved her hand, interrupting her with a reminder. "Uka's marriage now involves more than one person. On the surface, it's the price I paid for taking over as clan head."
"In truth, the other two branches won't allow Soratate to be the only one with Wood Release, so I can't refuse."
"If you agree, you can only have a third at most. This is a major decision that will affect the rest of your life!"
"Don't rush. Think it through before deciding."
Seeing the serious expression on her lady's face, Chiharu nodded, understanding what she meant.
Her lady was giving her the right to choose again!
Just as she had when she was first brought into this home.
But why had she chosen to marry a boy nine years younger than herself back then?
It seemed... she'd had no home, so she hadn't cared?
She had accepted the price of becoming her lady's student with complete composure back then.
So now...!
As her thoughts swirled, Chiharu remembered all the years of unreserved instruction from her lady.
And the... young husband she had watched grow up?
After a long silence, she said, "Please support my new book and leave a recommendation~!"