In the world of Naruto, Konoha in the Land of Fire was like a radiant jewel. Not only was it the military heart of the most powerful nation in the Shinobi World, it was also the pioneer of the one-nation, one-village system. When Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha joined hands to build their great undertaking, every ninja clan in the Land of Fire answered the call and gathered in Konoha. Daimyo and nobles subsequently established family residences there, and even wealthy merchants and wandering ninja came, drawn by its reputation. Konoha rose rapidly, bringing military, political, and commercial power together. It became far more prosperous than the Land of Fire's capital, a symbol of safety and prosperity.
Early in the morning, the sun rose slowly, its gentle light dispelling the last of the morning chill in Konoha. The village was bustling. Ninja and residents hurried about, and even children as young as three or four had risen early to train, working toward becoming outstanding ninja in the future.
At the easternmost edge of Konoha, beyond a grove of towering trees, lay the Senju Clan's compound. Warm sunlight filtered through the dense branches and leaves, scattering golden spots across the open ground. Five or six thousand people had gathered in the compound's square. They stood in groups of three or five, some clustered in groups of a dozen or more, others gathered in crowds of hundreds.
Suddenly, seven or eight people appeared on the raised platform at the front of the square. At once, the crowd arranged itself into thirty-six formations of varying sizes. The largest contained hundreds of people, while the smallest had only a dozen or so. Everyone stood quietly in their ranks, faces solemn and eyes fixed on the people on the platform, waiting for an important speech.
The seven people on the platform came from the Senju Clan's Main Family. Having endured the brutal wars of the chaotic Warring States period, the Main Family had suffered devastating losses. These seven were now its last surviving males.
Hashirama Senju walked steadily to the front of the platform and bowed deeply to the thirty-six formations below. A moment later, he straightened and announced in a ringing voice, "The war is over. We have won!"
The crowd below erupted into prolonged cheers, their voices seemingly ready to pierce the clouds, expressing their long-held oppression and the joy of victory.
Hashirama Senju pressed both hands downward, signaling everyone to quiet down. The cheers gradually subsided, and silence returned to the square.
"Konoha was only established yesterday, and the major ninja clans and noble families have already moved in. I have gathered everyone here today to announce three decisions, all of which were approved unanimously by the Senju Clan's Jonin." Hashirama Senju swept a resolute gaze over the crowd as he read the announcement aloud.
"The first decision: the Senju Clan will give up its surname and integrate into every walk of life in the Land of Fire and Konoha as civilians. From now on, you must no longer identify yourselves as members of the Senju Clan. The elders of the thirty-six branches will lead their respective clansmen to their new homes, where they will begin new lives and jobs."
"The second decision concerns the distribution of resources. As for finances, each branch may dispose of its own funds as it sees fit. The Main Family will provide three hundred billion ryo to subsidize the branches, divided by population. Each of the clan's 6,176 branch family members will receive more than 48.57 million ryo. With this money, I hope everyone can live in comfort and strengthen their respective branch families. As for Ninjutsu, the elders of each branch will receive a copy of every Ninjutsu below S-rank, and each branch may apply for one S-rank forbidden technique. If you wish to learn other forbidden techniques in the future, you may apply to the Hokage based on the merits you have earned for Konoha."
"The third decision: from now on, the Senju clansmen are all residents of Konoha in the Land of Fire. You may choose to enter politics, the military, or business, or join a ninja mission squad, according to your own talents and interests. But no matter what position you hold, you must support the Land of Fire's daimyo and Konoha's Hokage unconditionally, just as you support me."
"Finally, I hope everyone will remember: where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire burns endlessly. Its light will continue to illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout." With that, Hashirama Senju bowed deeply once more.
A thunderous response rose from below. "Long live the clan leader! We swear loyalty unto death to the Hokage and the daimyo! Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire burns endlessly. Its light will continue to illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout!"
After Hashirama Senju stepped back, Tobirama Senju stepped forward and said, "After this meeting, the heads of each branch will report their numbers to me and collect their funds, then lead their clansmen to their assigned new homes. Konoha has only just begun to rebuild, and construction is underway everywhere. Once you enter Konoha, help and understand one another. Do not create discord, and do not get into conflicts with other groups. According to estimates, Konoha will have a population of around three million. It will become a city larger than the Land of Fire's capital, with a complex mix of people: nobles, merchants, wandering ninja, and even former mortal enemies. I hope everyone will put aside past grievances, unite, and help one another. The Senju Clan is disbanding to better unite the major ninja clans. Our clansmen will be scattered throughout Konoha and even the Land of Fire. But we bear the great responsibility of maintaining peace in the Shinobi World, and we must never appear on a list of troublemakers. If any clansman is found to have deliberately caused trouble or started a dispute, they will be dealt with severely and strictly. Is that clear? Can you do it?"
"We can! We can! We can! We'll never bring trouble to the clan!" The response from below was deafening.
Once the voices below had died down, Tobirama Senju said, "The elders of each branch will come with me to the Main Family to collect supplies. All other clansmen are dismissed."
After the Main Family members and branch elders left, the clansmen in the square began talking animatedly.
"Brother Tenpuku, I heard your wife gave birth to a son yesterday. Congratulations!" Shinichi, a young man with a head of white hair, offered Tenpuku his congratulations.
Tenpuku beamed and hurriedly thanked him. "Brother Shinichi, thank you, thank you! You must come have a drink at the one-month celebration a month from now! By the way, where was your branch assigned?"
Shinichi smiled. "Our branch was assigned to six towns around Kikyo Castle. We're mainly responsible for protecting the people of the Land of Fire in that area and preventing ninja from other nations from raiding them. Of course, we have houses in Konoha too, but they're rather out of the way."
"That's not bad either," Tenpuku said with feeling. "You'll be in charge of military affairs in that area. Now that the world is at peace, I doubt anyone would dare provoke Konoha lightly. Our branch has few people, so we were assigned to the street behind the Hokage Building. You must come to my house for my son Ten'i's one-month celebration in a month!"
Shinichi let out a long sigh. "Of course I'll be there! There are only a few months between us, and you already have a child, while I don't even have a wife. I heard that kid Orochi has a girlfriend too. You really make us bachelors green with envy!"
Just then, a black-haired youth suddenly darted out and slapped Shinichi on the shoulder. "Brother Shinichi, what are you saying about me this time? I heard everything!"
Shinichi said helplessly, "So you heard. I wasn't making anything up about you. Tell me, do you really have a girlfriend? At yesterday's Konoha assembly, I saw you holding a black-haired girl's hand. You're only fourteen, aren't you? Those of us who are nineteen aren't even in a hurry yet, but look at you, making your move so early!"
Orochi burst out laughing. "That's called getting the upper hand by acting first. You can't let a good girl slip away when you meet one. To tell you the truth, we've known each other for less than a month, but we've already thought of a name for our future child: Orochimaru. What do you think? Sounds good, right?"
Shinichi clutched his chest, pretending to be heartbroken, making several young men nearby burst out laughing.
Seeing that his usual friends were all there, Tenpuku hurriedly said, "Brothers, my wife gave birth to a son yesterday. We're holding his one-month celebration at our new home on the street behind the Hokage Building in a month. You must all come!"
Everyone agreed. A burly man with a bowl cut, Might, said, "Brother Tenpuku, your family was actually assigned to Konoha's central area! I remember that area was given to the other major families, like the Uchiha, Sarutobi, and Hyuga, as well as the daimyo and nobles."
Orochi jumped in with the answer. "Brother Might, I know about that. The second elder is powerful and highly respected. With him living there, he can keep the major families around him in check and make them think twice before causing trouble."
Tenpuku explained with a wry smile, "That's only one reason. There aren't many people in our branch, so we won't stand out in the central area. Besides, our branch has contributed a great deal to the clan. We were once a branch of more than a hundred people, but now only three males remain. Also, our branch will go into business from now on and leave the ninja profession starting with my son's generation. Lord Hashirama saw how few of us were left, so he's letting us recuperate for fifty years."
Might's eyes sparkled as he declared loudly, "Youth never admits defeat! Brother Tenpuku, I believe your branch will surely flourish again and let its youth shine even brighter!"
Shiranui, dressed in a black Jonin vest, teased, "With Brother Might around, you can feel that fiery spirit of youth anytime, anywhere!"
Everyone eagerly discussed the future development of the clan and Konoha, telling one another where their respective branches were going and exchanging addresses. Most of the clansmen were dispersed among the more remote streets of Konoha, while a smaller number were sent to major towns throughout the Land of Fire, responsible for protecting the nobles and securing the borders.
Finally, everyone agreed to attend Tsubasa's one-month celebration in a month, then went off to busy themselves with moving into their new homes.