Yako swept his gaze over the stunned expressions of the jōnin, finding their reaction amusing.
Until today, the Senju clan had always been the ones who fought hardest on the battlefield.
Whether it was the First Shinobi World War or the Second, the Senju had always been the first to charge.
From the lowest genin to the highest jōnin, they had lived up to the village, lived up to the Will of Fire.
And the jōnin here weren't fools they knew what this actually meant.
The Senju's call to strengthen the village's medical system had an ulterior motive—removing themselves from the frontlines.
More importantly, it carried a message: in the eyes of the Senju, Sarutobi Hiruzen's political credit was bankrupt.
The clan would no longer throw its full weight behind him.
Senju Hanaki and Tsunade had laid everything bare, especially the numbers of their dwindling clan, proving just how much the once-greatest family of Konoha had sacrificed.
From now on, every large-scale casualty among the Senju would be recorded—every single one.
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately protested:
"More than a hundred and fifty Senju shinobi converted into medical-nin? That would cripple the village.
Tsunade, don't be willful. You're already an elite jōnin—you and Orochimaru and Jiraiya fought the Demigod Hanzō to a draw and earned the title of Sannin.
The Senju were the founding clan of Konoha. You can't leave behind a reputation for cowardice, can you?"
That was as good as an insult.
Tsunade's fist slammed the table in fury.
"Third Hokage! To call the Senju cowardly—aren't you going too far?
Over seven hundred of my clan fell in the First War.
My grandfather died young from fighting Uchiha Madara.
My father, my mother, my grandmother—all gave their lives for the village's tailed beasts, along with those seven hundred kin!
And not counting the Nine Tails transfer seal, over three hundred more Senju died in the Second War.
My brother gave his life for this village in the Land of Grass.
My great-uncle died protecting the very men sitting on that platform!
And you tell me the Senju are cowards?"
When it came to the Will of Fire, the two hundred Senju who remained burned so hot it was purple.
Her words struck like curses.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened visibly.
Especially at the mention of Senju Tobirama's sacrifice for the men on the dais—the jōnin below couldn't help but whisper.
The Senju's plight stirred a pang of shared dread—the rabbit dies, and the fox grieves.
Some eyes turned upward toward the leadership with open suspicion.
Yako recalled how it had gone in the original story: Tsunade's trust in Hiruzen collapsed here, and she never returned to the village until after his death.
Hiruzen's political credit also failed with the Hyūga clan. During Orochimaru's assault on Konoha, Yako refused to believe the Hyūga had been truly unaware.
One internal erosion after another—until his credibility collapsed entirely.
In the end, he faced Orochimaru, the student who slew his master, alone.
Might Guy, simple-minded and burning with loyalty, tried more than once to rush to the Hokage's aid, only to be stopped each time by Kakashi.
It was hard to say how much political credit Hiruzen still had left even with Kakashi.
For a politician, true death does not come with the body, but the day political credit is lost.
The hushed whispers of the jōnin made the faces of Hiruzen and the other elders sink deeper.
Even Danzo's eyelids twitched, though he usually wore the stillness of a pond.
But Tsunade hadn't finished her storm. She struck again:
"The Senju have sacrificed so much—has the village grown stronger?
At its founding, the clan had over three thousand shinobi, with another two thousand Uzumaki kin through marriage.
Now the Senju number only two hundred, and of the Uzumaki, only Princess Kushina remains.
Konoha stood upon our bones—yet has it kept its people safe?
My brother Nawaki died at twelve, on the frontlines.
How many of his classmates even survived past half?
Third Hokage, I do not acknowledge your way of protecting Konoha.
I admit, in wartime, perhaps nothing can be done.
But since I cannot change the order of things, I'll throw all my strength into the medical corps. We will protect Konoha our way!"
The jōnin heard it plainly—this wasn't negotiation. It was declaration.
The Senju still loved Konoha most of all, but relentless death had shattered their resolve.
Their blood still burned hot.
Entering the medical system was their last form of resistance—their final decision.
Yako couldn't help but ponder.
If the Senju gained control of Konoha Hospital and the frontline medical corps, their influence might only grow stronger.
On the night of the Nine Tails transfer seal, Yako had saved a few Senju shinobi—and now, the clan's counterattack had come.
With a storm of words, Tsunade tore apart the facade the leadership had plastered over.
And there was nothing they could do to her. By position, strength, and sheer will, Tsunade was beyond their grasp.
At this jōnin assembly, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the elders had been struck across the face, again and again.
And Tsunade's charge—that the shinobi were not truly protected—was one Hiruzen had no answer for.
The deaths were too many. So many that people already whispered about expanding the graveyards behind the Memorial Stone.
Hiruzen drew a long breath, then said, "Tsunade… you will not even call me 'teacher' anymore?"
Tsunade did not flinch.
"Third Hokage, this is a jōnin assembly, not a reunion.
You're here as a Hokage not as my teacher."
Yako hissed softly through his teeth. As expected of Tsunade—the true heroine of Konoha, second only to Sasuke in narrative weight.
Hiruzen swallowed another nail.
"As for the Senju proposal to expand Konoha Hospital and the frontline medical corps… it is weighty. We will discuss it later.
For now, we must move to more urgent matters—the war in the Land of Rivers.
Sunagakure has declared war. Konoha has only just endured the battles in the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Grass, the latter spilling over into the Rain Country.
We cannot afford to show weakness before the Sand.
Now, I announce the commander and deputy commanders for the River battlefield."
Seeing the Third Hokage shift the topic, Tsunade sat down, satisfied.
Her purpose was achieved. The Senju's purpose was achieved.
Nara Shikaku's father, Nara Shikakaku, produced the prepared roster and glanced at the Hokage.
The list included Tsunade herself as deputy commander.
When no further signal came from Hiruzen, he began to read:
"Commander of the River battlefield: Nara Shikakaku.
Deputy Commander, Princess Tsunade—also to serve as supervising jōnin of the frontline medical corps.
Deputy Commander, Hatake Sakumo—supervising jōnin of the elite strike division.
The remaining jōnin captains conscripted are…"