Three days later, the Konoha City were shrouded in gray mist, resembling a faded old painting. The Shimura Clan's caravan set off first, over two hundred oxcarts laden with belongings, their wheels churning the stone road with a dull thud. The Shimura Clan elders sat on the cart shafts, their eyes gleaming coldly in the morning mist, like unsheathed blades. As the caravan passed the gate guarded by the Uchiha Clan, the drivers deliberately cracked their whips, the sharp sound startling the oxen so much that their front hooves reared up, white breath billowing from their nostrils. The Uchiha Clan ' eyes sharpened, their hands on their sword hilts, glaring angrily, instantly filling the air with a tense atmosphere.
Subsequently, over fifty clans, including the Sato Clan, Utatane Clan, and Mito Clan, gradually left Konoha. Their procession snaked like a snake, appearing and disappearing in the gray mist. The Hyuga Clan was on high alert. The Main Family members, dressed in snow-white hunting robes, activated their Byakugan within Konoha, their eyes blazing as they monitored every corner. Branch Family family members, clad in bluish-gray robes, set up watchtowers every thirty miles outside the village, with the Hyuga Clan following closely behind like Kageko. Some clans, driven by greed, attempted to loot the cities of the Land of Fire, but the Katsuyu Sage's clones on their shoulders immediately relayed the news back.
Tsubasa receiving the report, Tianyi moved with lightning speed, flying over in an instant. A flash of cold light, and the two unscrupulous families were instantly annihilated. The remaining families who had left witnessed this scene and were filled with fear. Even their Clan Head Level leaders were like chickens in front of this new Hokage. Their faces were full of regret, but they could only grit their teeth and continue forward, for there was no turning back once the arrow was released.
The most dramatic turn of events involved the Aburame Clan, Inuzuka Clan, and Hatake Clan, who chose to stay and defend Konoha. The Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, on the other hand, staged a "feigned retreat" act, pretending to leave but then secretly turning back shortly after leaving Konoha. Seeing the Gekko Clan -Ino-Shika-Cho Clans stay, more than twenty other clans, including the Gekko and Uzuki Clan, hesitated before finally returning to Konoha Konoha, like a flock of lost sheep finally finding their way back.
Large numbers of civilians also left at this time, believing the rumors that the war was about to resume. Women carried bundles on their backs, and the babies in their arms cried incessantly; an old man leaned on his cane, muttering, " The Senju Clan is always causing trouble! At least we won't starve if we follow Sarutobi, and we won't have to fight..." Before he could finish speaking, a young man behind him jabbed him hard in the back. The young man's eyes were panicked, and he whispered, "Looking for death? Didn't you see the Uchiha in the tree?" The old man shrank back and stopped talking, but his eyes were full of resentment and worry.
As the last group disappeared at the village entrance, the streets of Konoha were eerily silent, the sound of the wind rushing through the houses clearly audible. The once bustling village was now mostly empty, shop signs rattling in the wind as if mourning its lost glory. The Senju Clan used Earth Release to flatten the uninhabited houses, raising clouds of dust; the Uchiha Clan began a census, pens scratching on registers; and the Hyuga Clan guarded the borders of the Land of Fire, closely monitoring the movements of various countries and clans like a vigilant sentinel.
The remaining clan members gathered beneath the Hokage Rock, the atmosphere as somber as a funeral. The Inuzuka Clan stroked Akamaru's ear and sighed, "Following the Senju Clan... it seems we'll be facing war." Shibi Aburame toyed with her insect sac, her eyes filled with worry. " The Sarutobi Clan took away most of the civilian ninjas; now Konoha only has about 300,000 people left. Nine out of ten houses are empty! The Senju Clan razed all the empty houses."
Looking at the empty Konoha, the Hyuga Clan felt a deep sense of impending crisis. Upon returning to the clan, he immediately convened a meeting of the Main Family and Branch Family family leaders. He had just begun to announce the public release of some of the Gentle Fist techniques when he was interrupted by a young member of the Branch Family: "What kind of time is this to be guarding the Main Family's secret techniques! The current Hyuga Clan youths are all training the young lady's archery. With her far-sightedness and clairvoyance, Hyuga rune bows and arrows to kill enemies from a thousand meters away is the optimal choice for the Hyuga. Gentle Fist can only be a supplementary skill for the Hyuga!" The young man's words were full of urgency and a desire for innovation.
Seven-year-old Hatake Sakumo squatted in the corner, sharpening his Kunai. The blade reflected his furrowed brow in the moonlight. The little girl from the Inuzuka Clan approached, her eyes full of doubt and expectation. "Big brother Sakumo, do you think Lord Tsubasa can really bring peace?" Sakumo looked up at the stone statue of Tsubasa atop the rock, the Kunai gleaming coldly in his palm. "When the Lord First said he wanted to build a village, some people laughed at him, calling him crazy. We just need to focus on our training." The young boy's words revealed a firm resolve and precocious maturity.
The night wind swept across the group of tombstones, causing the wild chrysanthemums in front of the "Ancestral Tomb of the Senju Clan " to sway and tilt, as if telling the story of the vicissitudes of time. In the shadows, a figure flashed by, the cloud pattern on the cuffs strikingly similar to the Forehead Protector the Senju Clan, mysterious and unpredictable.
Outside the cemetery, the Konoha River flowed gently, like a sigh from nature. Hashirama Senju's brows furrowed as he gazed towards the ancestral graves, his voice filled with guilt and hesitation: "We've desecrated the remains of our Senju Clan ancestors, disturbed their souls. Is this really right?" "After rebirth, it's a completely new soul." Tsubasa's fingertips traced the soul tree diagram on the scroll, his eyes filled with determination. "We've collected and sealed the souls of the Above Clan Head Level chiefs who need resurrection in advance. Once I reach adulthood, I can perform the Soul Transfer Jutsu."
Tobirama suddenly slammed his hand Tobirama the table, his voice carrying an undeniable decisiveness. "Brother, don't forget, when you handed over the Hokage Position to me, you also said 'the village's interests come above all else'!" He turned to Tsubasa, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, "How long will the jutsu take?"
"I need to come of age, using bloodline as a guide." Tsubasa gazed at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, his expression serious. "That's why I need to take control of Konoha before then— Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others remain in the Hokage Konoha, all the clans will only recognize those four clans. Then Konoha will truly be finished. Look how long it's been, and they've already taken over a million people with them."
Hashirama suddenly laughed, a laugh that etched with memories of the founding of Konoha over a decade ago, "Back when Madara and I founded Konoha, we were also called 'rule-breaking lunatics.'" He stood up, Wood Release Chakra sprouting from his feet like blooming life itself. " Little Tsubasa, you're more of a gambler than I am."
Chakra snorted coldly, Water Release chakra condensing into a trident at his Tobirama, its cold light gleaming. "If the Reincarnation Technique requires a sacrifice... they are the perfect choice. We really misjudged them; they dared to betray Konoha. From now on, if they dare to invade the Land of Fire, we'll capture them all."
Recalling the various powerful techniques he possessed— Sealing Jutsu, medicine-making techniques, forging techniques, Puppet Technique —and his knowledge from his previous life, Tsubasa was brimming with confidence. "Once the migration of all the races is complete, then..." He looked up at the two former Hokage, his eyes burning with an inextinguishable wildfire, " Konoha will usher in a true rebirth."
Hashirama Senju raised his hand and pressed it against Tsubasa's shoulder, the unique vitality and warmth of Wood Release emanating from his palm. "Remember, a true strongman doesn't make others fear you, but rather earn their trust." He turned to look out the window; the rising sun was leaping over the Valley of the End, its light dazzling. "Just like when I trusted Madara back then..."
Before he could finish speaking, a muffled tremor like thunder suddenly resounded in the distance— the Senju Clan was constructing a new barrier tower, dust billowing as if laying the foundation for Konoha's rebirth. Tobirama the direction of the tremor, his trident shattering into droplets at his fingertips, his voice tinged with worry and expectation. "I hope your confidence... isn't arrogance."