Mito's question left Tatsuma completely unsure of how to answer. After all, he was not even a member of the Senju Clan, so how could he represent the Senju Clan?
Some people might mistake him for a Senju and even associate him with the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, purely misled by appearances.
Tatsuma's enhanced strength and vast chakra were not from innate talent but accumulated bit by bit by himself—secrets known to him alone.
As for his appearance and demeanor resembling Senju Tobirama in his youth? Appearance-wise, handsome people often share similarities due to shared aesthetic standards. Tatsuma, who sees himself as handsome, having some resemblance to Senju Tobirama is quite normal.
His temperament is partly because he is also a rational person, and partly due to the talents of "Divine Mind" and "Strategist," which make him inclined towards contemplation.
When he thinks deeply, he unconsciously furrowed his brows and tightly pursed his lips. Many people have such habits, but the combination of various similarities has convinced others that he is inseparable from the Senju and Senju Tobirama.
Moreover, after moving into Senju Tobirama's house, his life has been managed with the help of Mito. Various clothes and accessories bearing the Senju emblem, as well as the etiquette intentionally or unintentionally instilled by Mito, have deepened this misunderstanding.
Six years ago, no one would have said he had any connection to Senju Tobirama, as there were not many similarities between them at the time. However, six years of development and influence from others have left traces of Senju on him, becoming increasingly distinct.
Tatsuma has never actively deepened others' misunderstandings. The only time he did not directly deny it was because of Orochimaru's arrangement, done to ensure the smooth progress of a mission.
Even for Tatsuma, he felt somewhat fortunate that he had crossed over as an orphan, sparing himself from the pressure of having more relatives.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Tatsuma smiled and shook his head, saying, "Grandma Mito, you jest. I am not a member of the Senju clan of the Forest, so how can I represent the Senju?"
Upon hearing this, the hopeful expression on Mito's face dissipated, replaced by a hint of regret, yet she remained somewhat unwilling to let go. She pursed her lips and spoke, "Tatsuma, I've asked Hiruzen before and learned about your background. Your parents were from a small village nearby. When the village found you, both of your parents had already been killed. You were too young to remember anything, and perhaps your parents had many things left unsaid, such as the origins of your family."
As Mito spoke, she seemed somewhat out of character; normally she was straightforward and dignified, but now she appeared cautious. Seeing that Tatsuma did not show any resentment or resistance, she continued speaking.
"Konoha has been established for nearly forty years, yet we still cannot trace the household registrations and ancestral origins of all villagers, let alone those in the more primitive villages nearby. Perhaps the true story of your lineage, your parents' history, will only be passed down to you verbally after you have grown up.
Unlike the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, the Senju Clan has not placed strict restrictions on the departure or stay of its members. Therefore, the Senju of the Forest may have spread throughout the entire Land of Fire, and even to distant countries. Tatsuma, it is not impossible that you have Senju blood in you."
At this point, seeing Tatsuma about to speak, Mito raised her hand to stop him and continued, "Moreover, even if you do not have Senju blood, so what? Tatsuma, do you know why the Senju Clan is called the 'Senju of the Forest'?"
Upon hearing Mito's question, Tatsuma's attention was indeed diverted. After all, feeling dizzy and overwhelmed didn't support his ability to engage in multitasking. Moreover, Mito's question was quite intriguing: why is the Senju Clan referred to as the 'Senju of the Forest'?
However, Mito did not leave any time for Tatsuma to ponder. Instead, she continued on her own:
"The birth of the 'Senju of the Forest' and the Senju Clan are inseparable. However, those histories are too ancient for even me to ascertain the true reasons. Even before I met Hashirama, I asked my father about it.
My father's response was that the ancestors of the Senju lived generation after generation in the forest because each individual among them possessed extraordinary strength, making it difficult for them to integrate into the common folk gathered around villages. The villagers feared their power.
Later, some people began to admire their strength and ventured into the forest to approach them, even proposing to join and become part of them. However, due to their unfamiliarity, the ancestors of the Senju did not accept these people.
Some of these people left disappointed, while others stayed nearby. They began a difficult survival in the forest, but the dangers of the forest made it hard for them to live, so inevitably they banded together again.
'Two hands alone cannot resist the dangers of the forest, but ten hands, a hundred hands, a thousand hands together can.' This was their philosophy. This phenomenon of individuals being weak individually but strong together through unity touched the ancestors of the Senju."
They, in turn, joined these weak but united people, which gave rise to the original Senju Clan. Clearly two vastly different groups of people gradually became one family.
Later, due to the disturbances of wars in various places, more and more villages were destroyed, and more and more refugees fled into the forest. By then, the developed Senju Clan did not refuse their joining.
They were not of the Senju Clan, and their veins did not flow with Senju blood, yet they became part of the group that resisted the forest together, part of the resistance against the dangers of the world. A thousand hands in the forest came together to form the Senju Clan even adopting it as their surname. (Senju means Thousand Hands)
Even without blood ties, one could become a member of the Senju, growing up among the Senju, marrying, having children. Gradually, the true and original ancestors of the Senju no longer existed. Their powerful individual strengths, which once shone brightly, diminished over generations of reproduction. However, their unity, far stronger than their individual might in the beginning, remains awe-inspiring.
As time went on, I also became a member of the Senju. After the village was established, Hashirama believed that the Senju Clan originated from various places, and thus should return to those places. The Senju are a united and protective clan, and should not forget their original intentions.
Therefore, Tobirama carried out Hashirama's wishes, dispersing the Senju Clan, reclaiming their surname, and fully integrating the Senju into the village, becoming the hands that protect the village.
Therefore, Tatsuma, whether you are of the Senju Clan or not, whether Senju blood flows through you or not, as long as you are willing to become a part of this united protection, then you can be a member of the Forest Senju.
After listening to Mito's "story," Tatsuma fell silent. He didn't know whether this story was true or false. There are certainly more versions of the story of the founding of the Senju and the origins of the Forest Senju. If faced with another person, Mito might present a different narrative, but right now, Tatsuma found it difficult to refuse—not because Mito's version of the Senju in the story was particularly enticing.
However, Tatsuma couldn't bear the gaze of an elderly person looking at him with hesitation and earnestness. It was like being unable to refuse when grandma tearfully said with a trembling voice, "Remember to come back and visit when you have time," as she sent you off in your parents' car.
Tatsuma's breathing unconsciously became more forceful, suppressing the emotions stirred by Mito's gaze. He tried several times to resist but failed.
Looking up, Tatsuma met Mito's slightly narrowed eyes due to aging eyelids, and said, "Grandma Mito, if you don't mind, then you are indeed my elder."
Upon hearing this, Mito's eyes brightened like those of a newborn baby, and the corners of her aged and relaxed mouth lifted. She took Tatsuma's hand, holding his palm with one hand and gently stroking the back of his hand with the other, whispering, "Good!"
Then, Mito spoke with great solemnity, "Tatsuma, the Senju will not let your decision down, and I won't let you suffer any loss either."
"Grandma Mito, the help you and sensei have given me is already more than enough."
Tatsuma shook his head, but Mito remained incredibly serious, saying, "No, Tsunade is your sensei, and I am your relative. What I'm saying is for the Senju to become your support. Now, Senju may not have much strength left, but in crucial moments, they can still rise up. Also, after I'm gone, you must wait for the Senju to assist you before you help them. Understand?"
Upon hearing Mito's words, Tatsuma nodded. He understood that Mito wanted him to be a representative of Senju, not just in name like Tsunade, but in reality.
Currently, Tatsuma didn't need Senju's support, and the Senju couldn't assist him either. He would have to wait until the future, at least until the new generation of Senju grew up, and that would be Tatsuma's true time to exert himself.
Seeing Tatsuma not refusing again, Mito understood that he must have grasped her meaning. She released Tatsuma's hand and said, "For the time being, do whatever you need to do in the future. The rest, I'll help you handle. You just need to wait."
"Yes, Grandma Mito."
After that, Mito talked a lot with Tatsuma about Senju's history, the generations-long feud between Senju and Uchiha, as well as the origins between Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan.
Mito even rummaged through her collection to find a half-forehead protector that Senju Tobirama had worn many years ago, insisting that Tatsuma try it on.
If it hadn't been too loose, Mito even considered "cosmetic application" on Tatsuma's face, with makeup like the red markings on Tobirama's face. In the end, she was left with a face full of regret.
Eventually, Mito "let go" of Tatsuma, only to be interrupted in their bonding time by Tsunade returning home at midnight, disheveled with a strong smell of alcohol, carrying her own sandals, sneaking back home.
However, Mito wasn't angry. She even offered that if it was too late, Tsunade could choose to stay outside overnight.
The next day, after finishing morning training early with Nawaki and having breakfast, Tatsuma headed to the Hokage Building. Since he had quit his job at Konoha Hospital yesterday and didn't know where Orochimaru was, going to the Hokage Building was the best option.
Even if he couldn't meet Orochimaru, he could gain more experience in handling administrative tasks in the Hokage's office.
In the study of Mito's home, sensing Tatsuma's departure, she took out a large scroll. Unfolding it, she resumed writing from where she had left off last time.
She had promised not to let Tatsuma lose out.
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