The impact was immense. Years later, even Tsunade, who suffers from hemophobia and had been away from the village for an extended period, ascended to the position of Fifth Hokage without any obstacles. Therefore, to a certain extent, all the Konoha clans inherited a deep sense of gratitude towards the First Hokage.
This was also the reason for the collective outrage of the various clans over Senju Nawaki's death!
Moreover, during the reigns of the First and Second Hokage, the status of civilian-born shinobi was significantly elevated, earning them immense respect among the civilian populace. As for the illustrious reputation of the First and Second Hokage in the ninja world, their achievements and contributions to Konoha and its villagers were innumerable.
It could be said that to this day, not a single Konoha shinobi or villager hasn't been touched by the legacy and blessings of the First and Second Hokage.
Even Aizen was no exception.
Although indifferent, he had to acknowledge this fact. Of course, acknowledgment was one thing, but Aizen didn't care much about it. Aizen was willing to commit any unconscionable act to achieve his goals. But to get back to the point. In summary, Senju Nawaki held immense influence due to his lineage and connection to the First and Second Hokage!
In Konoha, almost everyone had to show him some respect. Not to mention his status as a leader of the younger generation and his influence among both the youth and elders of Konoha. In fact, upon learning of the Konoha First Division's disastrous defeat, the Konoha high command initially wanted to remove Zashi from his position and replace him with Orochimaru as the supreme commander of the Rain Country battlefield.
However, after news of Senju Nawaki's death reached them, the Konoha executives were enraged and immediately demanded a thorough investigation into the incident from Mitarashi Zashi.
If he could successfully resolve the matter, Zashi would retain his position as commander-in-chief.
The Konoha leadership was essentially left with no other choice.
Many of them sought to exploit the opportunity to undermine Mitarashi Zashi. However, Senju Nawaki's death had truly made a profound impact. This matter had to be addressed swiftly, severely, and decisively, without any delay. Temporarily removing the current commander-in-chief would inevitably cause disarray within the Konoha forces, hindering their chain of command. This would likely result in missing the optimal window for investigation.
After all, judging from Senju Nawaki's demise, it was evident that the perpetrator was targeting the Senju clan's bloodline. The enemy must have meticulously planned their actions, leaving behind minimal evidence. If they couldn't quickly uncover the truth, the trail would only grow colder with time. "Everyone, after reviewing the battlefield and gathering intelligence from our spies over the past few days, we have determined that the mastermind behind this war and its ultimate target was Senju Nawaki," Mitarashi Zashi revealed with a sigh.
What? What does this mean?"
"Commander Zashi, please elaborate on the mastermind's ultimate goal!"
"Yes, what exactly is happening here?" The shinobi present were momentarily stunned, then erupted in a flurry of questions. This time, Zashi didn't bother to silence them. He knew that his next words would cause far greater commotion. "This matter traces back to the air raid on our ninja troops by the Sky Ninja Village," Mitarashi Zashi said, his voice grim as he recounted the events step by step. The Konoha forces had their share of capable individuals. After a thorough investigation of the war, they had pieced together the cause and effect of the entire incident. They even understood that the information about the Sky Ninja Village that Orochimaru had initially obtained was intentionally leaked to them.
As Zashicontinued his narration, the shinobi present grew increasingly grim, their faces darkening. The actions of the Sky Ninja Village weren't simply a matter of crossing Konoha's boundaries. Instead, they had trampled all over Konoha's boundaries, danced on their dignity, and then given them a metaphorical slap in the face. By the time Mitarashi Zashi finished speaking, the faces of all the shinobi present had turned ashen.
Boom!
"Damn it! That damned Sky Ninja! They should be captured and torn to shreds!" The notoriously hot-headed Uchiha elder slammed his fist on the table, his voice dripping with murderous intent.
"Indeed! The Sky Ninja cannot be let off easily! They are not only accomplices in Nawaki's death but also directly responsible for our defeat. We must obliterate their entire village to appease the rage within Konoha's heart!"
The usually composed Hyuga elder's eyes flashed with a chilling light.
"Yes, Shinno must be eliminated, his Sky Ninja Village must be destroyed. We must also annihilate the entire Land of Sky. Let those minor nations understand the consequences of provoking Konoha's wrath!"
"Exactly! If we don't display our might, they'll mistake us for weaklings!"
With the Uchiha and Hyuga clans leading the charge, the rest of the shinobi joined in, venting their frustrations.
"Silence!"
Witnessing the escalating chaos, Mitarashi Zashi raised his voice in a commanding tone. His words temporarily quelled the atmosphere, but anger still lingered in the eyes of the shinobi. Seeing this, Mitarashi Zashi sighed inwardly. His hatred for the Sky Ninja was no less than that of the shinobi present.
Not only had they ruined the outcome of this war, but he also harbored a personal grudge due to the Second Hokage's past assistance.. Senju Nawaki's death at the hands of his subordinates filled his with shame and fury.
"The Sky Ninja must be defeated, not only to avenge the fallen Konoha shinobi but also to secure victory in this war," Mitarashi Zashi began in a deep voice. As he transitioned into analyzing the future of the war, the shinobi finally settled down and listened intently to his words.
"We face a significant threat from the Sky Ninja's aerial capabilities, especially when engaging other villages. Their ability to attack our rear poses a serious risk, and it's nearly impossible for us to defeat the Sand and Rain villages without neutralizing this threat."
His words resonated with everyone present. "Therefore, taking action against the Sky Ninja Village is imperative and must be done immediately. I propose that Orochimaru, as the commander of this operation, lead a force of three thousand shinobi to invade the Land of Sky. What are your thoughts?"
Mitarashi Zashi inquired, scanning the faces of those assembled. The shinobi had no objections to this proposal. Orochimaru, in terms of both strength and ability, was well-suited to lead this mission. Furthermore, Orochimaru had also been Senju Nawaki's mentor. Entrusting him with this operation could be seen as a way to honor Nawaki's memory.
"I disagree! I believe I am the most qualified to lead this invasion of the Land of Sky!"
However, just as the shinobi were about to voice their agreement with Mitarashi Zashi's plan, a voice suddenly rang out.