Chapter 364: Aftermath! The link to the Daimyo is broken! Second update, please give me a ticket.
"What?"
"Those Old fellows of the Senju Clan disbanded the Senju Clan? Even Tsunade agreed to it?"
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was rushing to the Senju Clan Grounds.
All the large and small Shinobi Clans of Konoha also successively received notifications from the Senju Clan.
Among these people, the first to receive the news was undoubtedly Danzo, who still controlled Root's authority.
At the Shimura Clan Grounds, Danzo listened to the Root member's report, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.
At first, he subconsciously thought that this was a tactic of feigned retreat by the Old fellows of the Senju Clan, to force Hiruzen Sarutobi to deal with him.
But... only after Danzo learned that, within the Senju Clan, all members except Tsunade had abandoned the Senju name, packed their bags, and moved out of the Senju Clan Grounds.
Danzo finally confirmed that the disbandment of the Senju Clan... was real.
After a brief silence, in the dim light, a fervent glow suddenly erupted in Danzo's eyes.
The disbandment of the Senju Clan meant that Tsunade had lost... her biggest support.
To some extent, this unintentional move allowed him to eliminate a potential competitor for the position of Fourth Hokage in advance.
"I understand. Pass on the order... tell Root to be more discreet recently, and not to appear too much in the Village or within Anbu's sight."
According to his understanding of his old friend, once the matter of the Senju Clan's disbandment was settled.
Then, he would definitely turn around and trouble him, burdened by guilt towards Tsunade and the Senju Clan.
Therefore, right now... keeping a low profile was the most correct choice for him.
Just get through this period, this period is enough... Uchiha Clan Grounds.
When the news of the Senju Clan's disbandment spread, the entire Uchiha Clan fell into an unprecedented frenzy.
As clans bound by fate, the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had a hatred that spanned countless years in the distant Sengoku period.
Even after Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama joined forces to establish Konoha, ushering in an era of one country, one Village, and putting an end to the conflicts between the major Shinobi Clans within the Land of Fire, this hatred had never truly dissipated.
Especially after Uchiha Madara's defection and "death," due to the presence of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, everything... could only be buried deep in their hearts.
Now, this Da Shi, finally collapsed completely under the schemes and mutual protection of Konoha Higher-Ups.
From today onwards, the title of Konoha's foremost Shinobi Clan will thoroughly change from Senju... to the Uchiha Clan.
"Hey~ I'm telling you, don't celebrate too early!"
"Even the Senju Clan, which produced the First Hokage and Second Hokage, could fall to such... a desolate state."
"Do you think that Konoha Higher-Ups, who have always been wary of our Uchiha Clan, will turn their attention to where after the Senju Clan disappears?"
"The Hyuga? Or my Uchiha Clan?"
Among the Uchiha Clan's Higher-Ups, there were many wise individuals who, through the disbandment of the Senju Clan, saw an even more distant future.
The Hatake Clan, the Hyuga Clan, the Yuhi Clan... regardless of whether their relationship with the Senju Clan was adversarial or friendly.
In short, at this moment... the Higher-Ups of various Shinobi Clans tacitly gathered together.
Some were discussing how to deal with the fallout from the Senju Clan's disbandment.
Others... were eyeing the power and interests that would open up after the Senju Clan's disbandment. "Tsunade... Tsunade!"
As soon as he stepped into the Senju Clan Grounds, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw a bustling scene.
Countless Senju Clan members, with their families, were moving their belongings.
Looking at those indifferent figures, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a pang in his heart and quickly headed deeper into the Senju Clan Grounds.
"Oh, Hokage-sama, are you looking for Tsunade?"
"However, you're too late. A short while ago... Tsunade just left here and has already departed for the Land of Rain front line."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's call, several elders of the Senju Clan, no... it should be said, several Old fellows who had already abandoned the Senju name, slowly walked out.
"Elder Hizashi..."
"Hokage-sama, I am no longer an elder. The Senju Clan... now, only Tsunade bears the name of Senju of the Forest."
"My name is now Kujo Hizashi, Hokage-sama can just call me Kujo."
Watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's changing expression, Senju Hizashi... no, Kujo Hizashi, and the several Old fellows beside him, felt a surge of satisfaction in their hearts.
Yesterday, they were disgusted by Hiruzen Sarutobi; today... they finally got their revenge.
"Alright, then I'll call you Kujo for now!"
"Was disbanding the Senju Clan a bit too impulsive?"
"The prosperity of the Village cannot be separated from the Senju Clan..."
"If it's because of that matter, I can make amends. Whatever demands you have, you can make them."
"Moreover, I can guarantee you in the name of the Hokage that similar incidents will never happen again in the future."
As he murmured, Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried a hint of pleading.
The disbandment of the Senju Clan was by no means a simple matter that could be dismissed with a few words.
Not to mention that the power vacuum created by the Senju Clan's disbandment would lead to a struggle among numerous Shinobi Clans, Jonin, and Elite Jonin within Konoha.
Just the fallout from this matter becoming public would absolutely exceed everyone's imagination.
Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Hidden Cloud Village, Hidden Mist Village... large and small Ninja Villages would secretly play various tricks, brewing more crises.
Moreover... the disbandment of the Senju Clan also meant that Konoha would soon lose the political ties of trust with the Daimyo and officials of the Land of Fire.
At that time, he would inevitably face pressure from the Land of Fire's officials, and even doubts about his governing ability.
Of course, for him, what was more important was... after this incident, how would Konoha's Ninja, and even civilians, view him?
No matter how he explained it, he could not avoid... he, the Third Hokage of Konoha, would be nailed to Konoha's Ninja history because of this incident.
"Hehe~~~"
"Hokage-sama, it's too late to say anything now."
"We still have matters to attend to, so we'll take our leave for now..."
Facing Hiruzen Sarutobi's solemn assurances, Kujo Hizashi and the others didn't even bat an eye.
Clearly, their trust in Hiruzen Sarutobi had completely vanished.
"Elder Hizashi..."
Watching Kujo Hizashi and the others walk away, Hiruzen Sarutobi softly called out... feeling an immense tightness in his heart.
Too late... it was indeed too late~
..."Did he... leave?"
Deep within the compound, under the gaze of Kujo Hizashi and the others, Tsunade slowly emerged, her expression somewhat indifferent.
Although she had accepted the fact of the Senju Clan's disbandment after a night of struggle.
However... with one blow after another, it would probably take a very long time... even several years of recuperation to restore her former mindset.
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