Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, furrowed his brows as he inquired about the recent peculiar movements within the Senju Clan.
"Hokage-sama, nothing significant has happened recently with the Senju Clan. However, many prominent clans have been visiting them…"
Hearing that the Senju Clan hadn't taken advantage of the current situation to expand their influence, Hiruzen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, his expression darkened with anger upon hearing about the actions of other clans.
"What have these clans been doing recently?"
"Hokage-sama, in recent days, the major clans, such as the Hyūga… and the Uchiha…"
Before Hiruzen could respond to the Anbu's report, Koharu Utatane, standing nearby, wore a displeased expression and let out a cold snort.
"Hiruzen, look at these clans with their ambitious schemes. Can't they see the current state of the ninja world? And yet, they choose this moment to stir up trouble with the Senju."
The Anbu, still kneeling, then reported something peculiar.
"However, Hokage-sama, recently, the Deputy Head of the Police Force, Uchiha Shirou, has been giving frequent speeches in taverns. Interestingly, his speeches have been calming tensions within the village."
With that, the Anbu respectfully handed over a report. After reading it, Hiruzen couldn't help but display a trace of astonishment. He hadn't expected the first person to step forward and assist him during this tense time to be a Uchiha.
While the other clans were eager to see the Senju push for a change in leadership, this young Uchiha—to whom Hiruzen hadn't paid much attention—demonstrated remarkable foresight and broad-mindedness.
"I understand."
At Hiruzen's signal, the Anbu disappeared instantly from the office. Noticing the curious gazes of Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, Hiruzen handed them the intelligence scroll.
"It seems not everyone in Konoha is narrow-minded. Furthermore, this reveals that even within these clans, there is internal division.
The Senju have their radicals and moderates, just as the Uchiha do. The Hyūga Clan also has its divide between the main family and the branch family."
With a serious expression, Hiruzen pointed out the inherent issues within each major clan. Given time, these clans were far from being unbreakable.
After going through the report, neither Koharu nor Homura praised the Uchiha. Instead, Homura furrowed his brows and nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, the major clans have never been a unified front. However, with tensions escalating within the village, Hiruzen, we must tread carefully. We absolutely cannot allow internal strife to erupt."
The prospect of conflict between the commoner ninjas and the prestigious clan ninjas was something they had hoped for, yet they also understood that outright civil unrest at this critical juncture would be disastrous.
From the very beginning, they had been aware of this delicate balance.
Hearing this, Hiruzen sighed and shook his head. "The Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans, as well as the more sensible members of the Senju, understand this balance. It won't be difficult to manage.
All we can hope for now is that the upcoming war doesn't resemble the First Shinobi World War."
When internal conflicts reached a boiling point, an external war could serve as a distraction—a tactic often used in the ninja world.
However, they also hoped that the looming war wouldn't lead to another alliance of the four great villages. Thus, they had already begun scheming to sow discord among the other major villages.
"Since the Senju aren't making any moves, it's likely that Lady Mito is waiting for us. Tonight, I'll bring Naoko with me to visit the Senju Clan."
Hiruzen couldn't afford to ignore the goodwill extended by the Senju. Everyone wanted a stable and peaceful village.
"But Hiruzen, Tsunade inheriting that title means…"
Koharu protested reluctantly, but Hiruzen responded with a faint smile.
"Isn't that for the Fourth Hokage? You and I are already at this age. While we still have some strength left, shouldn't we, as old friends, work together to lead Konoha through this crisis and then pass it on to the next generation?"
At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen was only 49 years old—not yet the stubborn old man he would later become. He still dreamed of leading Konoha through its challenges and achieving one last great victory during the prime of his life.
As the Third Hokage, he had led Konoha through the First, Second, and now Third Shinobi World Wars. Such a record and legacy would make him the strongest Hokage in history.
The mere thought of this filled Hiruzen with excitement. Immersed in fantasies of unparalleled glory, he envisioned himself as the greatest Hokage the ninja world had ever seen.
...
"In the current state of the ninja world, our village must remain stable. The rumors circulating are all attempts to destabilize Konoha and ignite conflict within us. These rumors are the work of enemy spies.
If the Third Hokage were truly a power-hungry man, he wouldn't need to go through all this trouble. All he'd have to do is initiate a war. During wartime, there's no way to replace the Hokage. So, these accusations are baseless…"
At a bustling tavern, Shirou passionately addressed the crowd, explaining the volatile state of the ninja world and the risks of another world war breaking out.
He also pointed out the absurdity of the rumors circulating within the village, many of which were spread by enemy ninjas to sow discord. Shirou urged everyone to remain vigilant and not be deceived.
In a bold move, he concluded with a shocking statement: if these rumors were true, the simplest solution would be to start another ninja world war.
This straightforward rhetoric created a whirlwind within Konoha. In particular, the Third Hokage's administration, which had garnered significant support among commoner ninjas, found renewed enthusiasm among its supporters.
"The true Will of Fire is to protect the younger generation—the future of our village. I trust that if Konoha faces a crisis, the Third Hokage will undoubtedly crush our enemies with overwhelming might…"
Within the tavern, countless clan ninjas and commoner ninjas alike were enthralled, faces flushed as they listened to Shirou's impassioned speech.
Having delivered several such speeches by now, Shirou found himself growing more adept and confident. His determined expression belied the cold smirk hidden in his heart.
Old man the higher I elevate your reputation now, the harder your fall will be when the time comes.
Shirou was fully aware of the key events leading to the Third Shinobi World War. The disappearance of the Third Kazekage would prompt Sunagakure to deflect its internal strife outward by waging war on Konoha, blaming them for the Kazekage's disappearance.
When the storm hit, the truth wouldn't matter anymore. The disappearance of a village's Kage was a major blow. The higher Shirou praised Hiruzen now, the more devastating the fall would be later.
There's no need for me to make a move. Every ninja village coveting the Land of Fire's resources will act. The Third Hokage, clinging to his power, will inevitably ignite the Third Shinobi World War.
Shirou's face was filled with a confident grin. Under the weight of such an attack on his reputation, Hiruzen would be desperate to prove himself.
And what better way to do that than leading Konoha to victory in a major war?
Unfortunately, Konoha's countless ninjas had been blinded by the swift victories of the Second Shinobi World War, believing that the four great villages were no match for them. Only Shirou knew how brutal the Third War would be.
"Kakashi, look! That's Shirou-sensei!"
In a corner of the tavern, Shisui exclaimed excitedly. Beside him, Hatake Kakashi nodded weakly, his dead-fish eyes betraying a complicated expression.
Though still young, Kakashi's recent experiences had forced him to mature quickly. He could see through the true intentions behind Shirou's relentless speeches.
"For the peace and stability of the village… Shirou-sensei truly embodies the Will of Fire."
Gazing at the figure in the tavern, Kakashi began to idolize Shirou as the true representation of Konoha's Will of Fire.
Kakashi's loyalty to the village, inherited from his father, was unshakable. Even in the face of betrayal and tragedy, Kakashi's steadfast devotion to Konoha was unwavering.
Knowing this, Shirou had never planned to rely on the power of the prestigious clans to oppose Hiruzen. Instead, he aimed to systematically dismantle the Third Hokage's administration, ensuring that Hiruzen and his allies experienced the same betrayal and isolation the Uchiha had suffered in the original timeline.
The more passionately Shirou spoke now, the more frenzied the people would become when the tide turned.
"Shirou-sensei!"
The silhouette of Uchiha Shirou left an indelible mark on young Shisui's heart. He gazed at him with even greater admiration and fervor.
Shirou's vision had already surpassed the confines of the Uchiha clan. What he saw was not just their family, but the village—indeed, the entire shinobi world.
Under Shirou's consecutive speeches, even though there were conflicts between civilian shinobi and the great clans, everyone shared a common baseline—the village!
As a result, both sides tacitly accepted Shirou's rhetoric and even spread his words widely. The previously chaotic atmosphere in Konoha began to show signs of stabilizing.
However, only Shirou himself understood that the better the current results, the more disastrous the consequences of the backlash would be in the future.
...
The Senju Clan.
"Tsunade, is this the Mokuton(Wood Release) child you mentioned?"
In a secret training ground, Uzumaki Mito, leaning on her cane, was moved when she saw the wooden stake emerging from the ground—created by a child who had just learned to control chakra.
"Grandmother, this child's name is Yamato. Senju Yamato!"
As Kushina helped Mito, Tsunade looked at the child who had just performed a Mokuton and displayed a determined expression.
"Senju, huh..."
Uzumaki Mito's gaze wavered slightly. The child's name no longer mattered; what mattered was the surname—Senju.
Tsunade solemnly nodded and explained in a low voice:
"In the secret laboratory of the Root division, only this child was able to adapt to the Mokuton cells. However, his previous memories have almost all been erased, leaving only basic instincts."
After the initial shock, Uzumaki Mito frowned slightly and revealed a trace of doubt as she looked at the limp wooden stake.
This Mokuton technique seemed vastly inferior—even weak—compared to her memories.
Tsunade, noticing her grandmother's expression, sighed helplessly and shook her head:
"Grandmother, we've placed too much hope in Mokuton. We thought that as long as someone in the Senju clan inherited Mokuton, the clan could rise again. But it was Grandfather who pacified the chaotic era.
The true strength of a shinobi lies in their abilities, not in Mokuton making Grandfather strong."
Seeing how weak this Mokuton was, Uzumaki Mito couldn't help but feel disappointed. However, Tsunade, having previously witnessed Shirou's state after absorbing Mokuton cells, had already prepared herself mentally. She comforted her grandmother:
"Grandmother, there's only been one God of Shinobi in the entire history of the ninja world. In truth, Yamato's talent isn't low at all. He's no less capable than Konoha's current number one prodigy, Kakashi Hatake."
Tsunade wasn't just making this up to comfort her grandmother—it was a fact.
Yamato's brilliance had always been overshadowed by the legacy of the First Hokage's Mokuton. But it was important to note that Yamato, despite being younger than Kakashi, had strength that closely followed behind him during his early years.
"Tsunade-sama, Mito-sama!"
Young Yamato, though still unclear about much, showed a timid expression in his innocent eyes as if he understood that his power was too weak.
"It's alright, Yamato. It's just that the reappearance of Mokuton has brought back some memories."
Tsunade smiled to reassure Yamato. The revival of Mokuton this time had indeed been a disappointment.
However, Uzumaki Mito, having lived for so many years, quickly adjusted her mindset. In just a brief moment, she wore a kind smile, gently patted Yamato's head, and said:
"So, your name is Yamato? From now on, you're part of the Senju clan. Perhaps your Mokuton isn't as strong as Hashirama's, but I believe in your future."
There was no denying the wisdom of age. With just a few words and the demeanor of a compassionate grandmother, Uzumaki Mito made Yamato feel a sense of familial warmth.
"Tsunade, Sarutobi and the others will be visiting tonight. I suspect it won't just be about the Nine-Tails."
Having adjusted her mindset, Uzumaki Mito spoke in a lighthearted tone, smiling. However, upon hearing this, Kushina's expression immediately changed. She looked at her grandmother with reluctance.
"Grandmother, are you sure...?"
Although she had long been prepared for this day, when it truly arrived, Uzumaki Kushina still showed the unwillingness of a young girl.
Tsunade's eyes briefly flashed with sadness, and she sighed:
"Don't worry, Grandmother. I won't start a conflict. After all, he is my teacher."
Hearing Tsunade's response, Uzumaki Mito smiled in satisfaction.
"Tsunade, you've truly grown. You're no longer the willful little girl you once were. I can rest easy after I'm gone."
Mito paused for a moment as she stroked Yamato's head, then nodded with a smile:
"I believe in this child's future. Send him to the daimyo's residence for now. He can learn under Nawaki's guidance. I believe he will become a strong ally for you in the future."
Tsunade immediately understood Mito's deeper intentions. Regardless of how weak Yamato's Mokuton might seem, the combination of the Senju surname and Mokuton's symbolic power would undoubtedly serve as a significant asset to her in the future.
"I understand, Grandmother. Rest assured."
Tsunade smiled faintly and nodded. Keeping Yamato in Konoha would risk exposure and hinder his development. However, with the shinobi world in turmoil, sending him to the daimyo's residence—where another branch of the clan could protect him—would allow him to grow safely.
"Nawaki?!"
Kushina, standing nearby, was stunned as she looked at Grandma Mito and Tsunade. Her mind began racing.
It seemed that Nawaki hadn't died after all, and there were many hidden truths surrounding the matter.
By mentioning these things in front of Kushina and Yamato, Mito was also expressing full trust in them.
Especially Yamato—this trust would slowly take root and grow over time.