Chapter 363: Breakup! The disbanding of the Senju clan! Brothers, let's go for the book tickets!
"Hiruzen-sensei, where is Danzo?"
"I heard you just called him over. Where is he?"
Inside the room, the atmosphere immediately grew tense the moment Tsunade spoke.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also sensed Tsunade's attitude from the change in her address.
"Haa… Danzo just returned from the front lines, a long journey… I sent him back to rest."
"Tsunade, I've already asked about Nawaki's matter."
"Danzo dispatched a Root squad to lie in wait near Nawaki, solely to protect Nawaki's safety."
"And the facts prove that Root's people accomplished this…"
Between words, Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a heavy sigh. Regardless of Danzo's true purpose in sending Root, for now… this was the only explanation.
Given their past friendship, he had to protect Danzo and allow him to escape the whirlpool of this incident.
"Protection…"
"Boom~~~"
"Hiruzen-sensei, do you think I'd believe that?"
"You should know better than I what kind of person Danzo truly is."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation, Tsunade couldn't help but sneer, then stepped forward and slammed her hand on the table in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Tsunade, watch your words. Danzo is your elder after all, and he has rendered countless meritorious services to the Village."
"Furthermore, Root's people are already dead…"
"Meritorious services?"
"Hiruzen-sensei, could it be… that in your eyes, only Danzo's merits count as merits? Then what about the Senju Clan members who died on the front lines in this war?"
"I do not accept such a despicable excuse… and the Senju Clan will certainly not accept it."
Recalling those familiar and kind faces, Tsunade's anger burned even brighter.
If this logic held, what did she (they) count for?
What did those Shinobi Clans and civilian Ninja fighting on the front lines count for?
"Tsunade, this is my… and the Village's final explanation!"
"Don't forget, right now… I am the Hokage."
Facing those hostile gazes, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly erupted with a powerful aura… pressing down on the Senju people.
"Hokage? Sensei, is this the answer you're giving me?"
"I understand. This matter… I will resolve it my own way."
As she spoke, Tsunade's expression completely chilled, and in her gaze towards Hiruzen Sarutobi… there seemed to be an unexplainable rift.
"Tsunade, don't forget… you are still a Konoha Ninja, and the Senju Clan… is still a Konoha Shinobi Clan."
"As long as I am here, I will not allow you all to act recklessly."
"Hokage, huh? Tobirama truly taught a good disciple…"
"Tsunade, let's go…"
"Hokage-sama is right, the Senju Clan… is ultimately a Konoha Shinobi Clan."
Ultimately, several elders of the Senju Clan spoke up, but… they didn't put up much resistance, seemingly acquiescing to Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision.
After several sighs, they led Tsunade, looking dejected, out of the Hokage Office.
Watching Tsunade and the Senju people depart… Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sense of loss, a hollowness in his heart… "What! Disband the Senju Clan?"
Senju Compound.
After returning from the Hokage Building, several elders of the Senju Clan gathered all the clan members and, in front of Tsunade… announced the decision to disband the Senju Clan.
"I disagree… I absolutely disagree."
Faced with the sudden decision announced by the elders, Tsunade wasn't the only one who couldn't comprehend or accept it at first.
Even the numerous ordinary clan members fell into murmurs.
"Little Tsunade, it's been a long time… since I've called you that."
"I know this matter is very sudden, and it's certainly hard to accept at once."
"However, we few have already made up our minds."
"Furthermore, this matter is not a decision we made rashly on a whim."
Scanning the many clan members, the leading elder's tone grew increasingly solemn.
"Speaking of which, the proposal to disband the Senju Clan was first put forth when Hashirama-sama was still alive."
"Hashirama-sama worried that the existence of the Senju Clan would monopolize too much of the Village's interests, disrupt the balance among the Village's various clans, and plunge the Village… and the Land of Fire back into war."
"However, this proposal… was rejected by the Old fellow of the previous generation."
"After Tobirama took office, he also recognized the Senju Clan's influence on the Village and had convened clan elders multiple times to discuss this matter… However, just like the Old fellow of the previous generation, we also rejected this proposal."
Mentioning Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, a hint of remembrance flashed across the faces of several Senju elders.
Whether it was the First Hokage era founded by Senju Hashirama!
Or the Second Hokage era led by Senju Tobirama, the power of the Senju Clan was undeniable.
Even if Uchiha and Hyuga were combined, their influence in Konoha was far from the immense prestige of the Senju Clan.
But now… all the glory, all the past, had long since come to an end with the passing of Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, and Uzumaki Mito.
"Looking back now, if we had agreed to Tobirama's proposal then, disbanded the Senju Clan, or at least dispersed the Senju Clan…"
"The Senju Clan would not have fallen to its current state…"
"Tsunade!"
"We… are heartbroken by the Village, tired, exhausted…"
"The glory of the Senju Clan, from now on, will be borne by you… After today, we will all abandon the Senju Clan surname."
"From now on, only you will bear the title of Senju of the Forest…"
… "What? The Senju Clan is disbanding?"
"How is this possible?"
Yesterday, after handling the matter of Senju Nawaki and dismissing Tsunade and the Senju Clan.
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought the matter had, for the most part, reached a conclusion. As for the debt owed to Tsunade… and the Senju Clan, he could always find an opportunity to make amends later.
So, after cleaning the tobacco from his pipe, he finally left the Hokage Office and returned to the Sarutobi Clan, sleeping soundly in Biwa Lake's embrace.
However, in the early morning… the moment he stepped into the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned by this sudden news.
Looking at the notification in his hand… Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a dizzy spell, almost collapsing to the ground.
"Hokage-sama… Hokage-sama, are you alright?"
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's pale expression, the administrative staff member who came to deliver the news… had a hint of worry in her eyes.
Even a low-level person like her understood what the disbandment of the Senju Clan truly meant.
Not to mention a great figure of the Hokage's caliber.
"Go, go and invite Tsunade… and those Old fellows of the Senju Clan to me."
"No!"
"I'll go personally instead…"
"Today's official duties will be handled by Koharu!"
"I'm going to the Senju Clan now."