The prime residential area of Konoha Village, the land of the Senju clan, boasts the emblem of the Senju clan printed on both sides of its walls. However, now it appears vast and empty.
Last year, the Konoha Intelligence Department's "mistakes" led to the near-annihilation of the Senju family's ninjas. As a result, many houses now lie vacant.
I believe it won't be long before the Konoha management approaches the Senju clan to cede their land and seize it, relocating the remaining Senju members to different areas of the village and cutting off their contact. This would effectively reduce the Senju clan to a mere name.
Nevertheless, for the time being, Tsunade, the Kage-level ninja, remains in Konoha, and Senju Nawaki, the grandson of Senju Hashirama, is still alive. Despite the rumors circulating under the Sarutobi Hiruzen's council, they dare not publicly criticize the Senju clan to maintain some level of dignity.
"Aniki, I heard some troubling rumors at school today," said Nawaki, filling Tatsuya's glass with sake in the Senju patriarch's residence.
At the moment, he wasn't in the mood to banter with Tatsuya. He proceeded to share the rumors he had heard from the teachers at school, which were closely related to what Tatsuya and Hatake Sakumo had overheard on the street earlier in the day.
These rumors revolved around the failure of the White Fang mission, blaming him for prolonging the war and deeming him a sinner of Konoha. Furthermore, it criticized him as a ninja who couldn't complete their missions as mere waste.
"It's outrageous! Don't they realize how much Master Sakumo has done for the village? Criticizing him just because of a failed mission is beyond unfair!" Nawaki exclaimed indignantly.
"Ah," Tatsuya responded, not hurrying to eat his food. After taking a sip of his drink, he smiled lightly and said, "Such is reality. People can Shamelessness criticize others without taking any of the responsibilities, especially when a group of people colludes and make such statements but the law doesn't hold them responsible."
"My sister used to tell me about the greatness of Grandpa Hashirama and Grandpa Tobirama when they were Hokage, but now I can't feel it at all," Nawaki said, pursing her dry lips and downing the liquor in her glass with a bitter smile.
"To be honest, I'm tempted to defect," he added.
"Defect?" Tatsuya reacted, suddenly, and smiled. "You would be the most idiot person to defect. If people knew you are the grandson of Hashirama. Capturing you alive might become the biggest treat for Bounty hunters. Plus using you they can lure in Tsunade."
"What?" Nawaki was taken aback.
"So forget about leaving the village you don't have enough strength anyway."
Tatsuya explained, "During the last two Ninja wars, have you ever wondered why other countries always initiated attacks on the country of fire, but the country of fire itself never started a war?"
Nawaki scratched his head and pondered for a while before finally uttering, "Because our Hokage advocates peace?"
Tatsuya tapped his chopsticks on Nawaki's head and replied with a stern expression, "Nonsense! The Fire Country already possesses the most fertile land in the world, and there's no need to invade other countries."
The territories of the five major powers are as follows:
- The Water Country is an island nation facing the Ninja Continent across the sea, known for its unchanging trade patterns.
- The altitude of Thunder Country is too high, making people with weaker physiques susceptible to diseases.
- While the Earth Country is rich in minerals, its mountainous terrain makes it difficult to develop farming.
- As for the Wind Country, it hasn't been actively attacked in any of the three Ninja battles, except for a few oasis and gold mines its unhabitable.
"In contrast, the Fire Country is like a perennial spring, abundant in resources and fertile for miles. Therefore, during each Ninja World War, it becomes the target of other countries. There's no other place in the Ninja World as prosperous as Konoha, and while others strive to infiltrate it, you still wish to defect. Are you out of your mind?" Tatsuya remarked with a smile.
Nawaki, holding the spot where he was hit, replied, "I understand it now, Aniki."
"But even so," he continued, "the rulers' vision is too low. No matter how strong Konoha's foundation is, it's not enough for them. Senju has already become the first victim. Who's next?"
"You wait and see. I'll bring you good news soon," Tatsuya reassured Nawaki as they raised their glasses and toasted each other.
...
...
Early the next morning, in front of the main gate of Konoha Village, Tatsuya, who had spent the night at Nawaki's house, arrived to find a small team led by his brother and Sarutobi Shinnosuke already assembled.
To his surprise, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sarutobi Biwako were there to see them off. Even Sarutobi Asuma, the second son, was present, though barely recognizable without his beard. Kakashi, who is usually a silent child, came to bid farewell to his father and uncle as well. The teachers of the future Konoha twelve were also present.
"Welcome, Tatsuya. I'm glad you joined this mission," Sarutobi Hiruzen greeted Tatsuya warmly, earning him the goodwill of Nohara Rin and Kurenai, the young ninja in training.
"I won't let you down, Hokage-sama. I, Hatake Tatsuya, will never repeat the mistakes of my elder brother. I'll prioritize completing the mission, even if it means not being able to save my companions and witnessing their deaths," Tatsuya declared with determination, pledging his loyalty to Konoha.
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