Tobirama had been feeling a bit off these past few days. Since announcing the decision for the Senju clan to abandon their surname, Kana had been melancholic. Tobirama often found his brother's second daughter to be a source of headache, as she refused to settle into her expected role like her sister. Instead, Kana always wanted to become a ninja.
The first daughter, Misaki, had married the son of the Uzumaki Daimyo early on. Even without becoming a ninja, her future was secure. However, Kana was different. She hadn't been betrothed to any noble as a wife. In theory, she was more suited to becoming a ninja, but Hashirama had blocked her path.
When it came to his brother's children, Tobirama agreed with Hashirama's wishes. He hoped that both Misaki and Kana could live peaceful lives, free from the dangers and harshness of a ninja's duties. This way, he could honor his brother's memory and protect his legacy.
Tobirama had no heirs of his own, having dedicated his entire life to the Senju clan and to Konoha. Hashirama's children were like his own, which made him even more unwilling to agree to Kana's desire to become a ninja. Perhaps after his death, without a strong figure to enforce the decision, it could be overturned. But as long as Tobirama was alive, he wouldn't allow it.
Even though Kana wasn't happy with it, Tobirama had no choice but to maintain his stance. Yet, surprisingly, Kana had seemingly moved on in a short amount of time.
Soon, Tobirama noticed that Kana had found a new purpose. She no longer obsessed over becoming a ninja but instead began poring over the family's historical records, reading one document after another.
Curious, Tobirama asked what Kana was up to. She explained that she wanted to learn about the clan's history so she could eventually engage in literary pursuits.
Hearing this, Tobirama was somewhat relieved. It seemed that Kana had given up on her ninja ambitions and was instead turning toward literary creation, much like the nobles in the capital. This was a far safer and more suitable path for her.
However, he couldn't help but wonder what had caused such a stubborn child like Kana to change her mind so suddenly. He suspected there was more to the story, so he investigated what had happened before and after Kana's shift in attitude. As expected, he discovered the answer.
Kana had visited Fumori Masaki's house.
Tobirama shook his head, bemused. "Well, that's unexpected," he thought.
Curious to know how Masaki had managed to persuade Kana, Tobirama summoned him and asked about the conversation they had.
Masaki answered honestly. He explained that Kana had been troubled because she wanted to contribute but couldn't find an outlet for her abilities. All she needed was a way to prove her worth. Masaki pointed out that running a ninja village required more than just military force; it also needed cultural and educational systems, areas in which Kana could contribute.
Kana had been raised as a noble, with an education far beyond that of most villagers. Her literacy and knowledge surpassed that of the majority, and in some respects, she was more suited to certain tasks than even ninjas. Masaki suggested that instead of becoming a ninja, Kana could help with the village's cultural education, a role she was perfectly suited for.
"So that's it," Tobirama nodded. He understood that cultural education was already part of the curriculum that Masaki had helped develop for the ninja academy. The reasoning made sense, and it was even better that Kana could play a part in it.
What Tobirama didn't realize was that Masaki's plan extended beyond just the village's school. Kana's aristocratic background allowed her access to the capital's noble circles, which would provide a platform for spreading cultural influence far beyond the village.
As Hashirama's daughter, Kana had inherited her father's ideals and desire for peace in the ninja world. Masaki had told her that while military force was tangible hard power, cultural thought was intangible soft power—just as necessary for lasting peace.
"Wars begin in the minds of men, so we must build defenses for peace within the minds of men," Masaki had told her. "It's not enough for just a few people to believe in peace. The majority of the ninja world must agree that peace is the norm, and even if the occasional warmonger rises, they won't be able to sway the entire world."
"Then what should I do?" Kana had asked earnestly.
"Start by collecting the writings of the Sage of Six Paths," Masaki had suggested. "The teachings of the Sage contain many elements that have been forgotten, but they can still be revived."
While people might not believe the Sage of Six Paths had actually existed, his philosophies had deeply permeated the cultural traditions of the ninja world, even if people didn't always realize it. It was similar to Confucianism in another world, where even those who rejected its teachings were still influenced by its values.
Masaki's goal was to spark a movement of intellectual and cultural awakening in the ninja world, using the ancient Ninshū teachings as a foundation. Rather than imposing modern political systems directly, which would likely meet with resistance, utilizing Ninshū as a transitional ideology was a safer and more effective approach.
Of course, this would be a slow process. But in order to move the ninja world away from feudal dictatorship and toward a more modern society, an ideological movement was essential. It might take time, but at least the seeds were being planted now.
Kana's situation had been resolved, but there was another matter to address. Tobirama was preparing for the second Five Kage Summit, a gathering of the ninja village leaders. This time, the focus would be on responding to the daimyo's requests and ensuring the future peace of the world. They would re-sign agreements and establish a new order for the ninja world.
The just war doctrine that Masaki had introduced had already begun to influence the political landscape of the ninja world. The summit would further cement this impact, and Masaki was eager to see the results. From now on, countries would need to carefully consider the legitimacy of their reasons before going to war. Even if conspiracies were occasionally used to disguise true intentions, it would still be a step forward.
"The summit will be held in the Land of Iron. Each leader is allowed to bring two guards, and I've chosen you and Sarutobi," Tobirama said.