Immediately after the clan leader's inauguration ceremony, Senju Mori returned to the Hokage's office and summoned Senju Tao privately.
"Tao, I have a very special task for you to do."
Senju Mori planned to dispatch a Ninja squad in the name of the Hokage to Village Hidden in the Whirlpools to invite a delegation from the Uzumaki Clan to visit Konoha, celebrating the "20th Anniversary of the Alliance Between Konoha and Uzushiogakure."
After Senju Tao left to carry out his orders, Senju Mori leaned back in the Hokage chair, his gaze drifting towards the window, taking in the prosperity and liveliness of the entire Village.
While several Ninja Clans in the Village had certainly contributed significantly to him becoming the Third Hokage, Senju Mori had not forgotten who was the first person to help him.
Simply receiving the verbal message he had sent, Uzumaki Chizawa immediately infiltrated the area around Konoha without a word, then followed him directly to the Land of Lightning to fight for his life.
Although the entire plan was executed smoothly, Senju Mori would never forget this precious friendship.
Now that he had firmly established himself in the position of Hokage, it was time to fulfill the various promises he had made to the Uzumaki Clan and to Chizawa... Political credibility was a very important thing.
Even in this Ninja World, which possesses extraordinary power, before you have the strength to stand against the entire world alone, you must firmly uphold it.
Because no matter who it is, once political credibility is lost, an immeasurable price will ultimately have to be paid.
Even "God of Shinobi" Senju Hashirama was no exception.
Things obtained through false promises will inevitably be lost again one day in the future.
Madara's departure was certainly due to Black Zetsu altering the Uchiha Clan's stone tablet, but Hashirama's egregious political breach of trust also bore an undeniable and significant responsibility.
Do not promise what you cannot do; this is the simplest truth.
He personally promised to make Madara the First Hokage, then directly reneged on his word after believing there was a better option, and even after becoming Hokage himself, he shamelessly hoped Madara would continue to assist him.
Perhaps all of this stemmed from some more noble ideal, but viewed objectively, it was clearly a naked deception and betrayal.
Madara could choose to trust Hashirama once — for the shared dream they had aspired to since childhood, even enduring the bitter hatred of his brother's death was not too much to ask.
But if, after experiencing such a devastating deception and betrayal, he still chose to trust Hashirama a second time, then he would no longer deserve the name "Uchiha Madara," and "Uchiha Naive Sweetheart" would be a more fitting name.
It was foreseeable that since Tobirama could persuade Hashirama to change his mind once, there would inevitably be a second, a third time... After the Jonin trust vote system was established, Hashirama's new promise, "You will succeed as the Second Hokage," was likewise an impulsive boast, empty words, and a lie.
It could never be realized.
Madara naturally realized this point and finally left in anger.
For those who are willing to trust you, once you have personally promised something, you must deliver.
This is not out of integrity or morality, but because it is the lowest-cost and wisest way... In addition to fulfilling his promise, Senju Mori also secretly gave a confidential letter to Senju Tao, who would then use this opportunity to deliver it to Uzumaki Chizawa.
How to put it... At that time, he was not entirely confident of winning the Hokage competition, so he deliberately kept a trump card, entrusting three six paths sage tools, excluding the basho fan, to Uzumaki Chizawa for safekeeping.
Behind this, of course, was the thought that if he failed in the election, he wouldn't be forced to hand them over to the Village under Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders, and he would also have an unexpected source of power if he launched a coup... Now, he no longer needed to worry so much; he wanted to publicly display these three six paths sage tools that he wouldn't use and convert them into the prestige and political value he needed.
These thoughts were, of course, inconvenient to make public, so it was better to have Uzumaki Chizawa secretly bring the items over under the guise of the Land of Whirlpools delegation's visit.
Beyond that, even more important were the marriage alliance with the Uzumaki Clan and considering how to support Uzumaki Chizawa to smoothly become the next clan leader of the Uzumaki Clan... Uzushiogakure is not far from Konoha, located on a small coastal island directly east of the Land of Fire.
This was not Senju Tao's first time in Uzushiogakure, let alone the fact that he was accompanied by three other Ninja in his squad this time, making the journey quite familiar.
Departing from Konoha, located in the heart of the Land of Fire, it would take a day to reach the eastern border, and from there, a special sea vessel would quickly transport them to the Land of Whirlpools, where the Uzumaki Clan resided.
Although the Land of Whirlpools' territory is not large, its strategic location is crucial—looking at it on a map, it resembles a wedge stuck between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire.
As long as the Uzumaki Clan remains firmly entrenched there, Hidden Mist Village cannot silently land on the Land of Fire's territory, nor can it directly launch a surprise attack on Konoha.
For Konoha, Uzushiogakure is the first line of defense against Hidden Mist.
Uzushiogakure does not have a so-called "Whirlpool Kage," but because this Ninja Village is primarily composed of Ninja from the Uzumaki Clan, the Uzumaki Clan leader essentially functions as the Kage of Uzushiogakure.
In response to the invitation from Senju Mori, the new Hokage, the current clan leader of the Uzumaki Clan—who is Uzumaki Chizawa's father, Uzumaki Chihaya—showed full sincerity and importance.
He personally led people to welcome Senju Tao and his group, and held a grand welcoming ceremony in the Village.
It was only then that Uzumaki Chihaya's heart finally settled, as the words Senju Mori had previously entrusted Uzumaki Chizawa to bring back were truly too alarming.
These young people nowadays... they speak of "Senju's destruction" or "a coup might be launched," and finally even bring up dangerous topics like "it's advisable to find a way out early, seek refuge with Kumogakure or Iwagakure."
It made his aged heart truly unable to bear it, and every time he thought of it, he would be startled and his heart would pound.
Fortunately, the ultimate victor was still their Uzumaki Clan's ally, the Senju Clan, and the new Third Hokage was his son Uzumaki Chizawa's best friend.
Everything was perfect—
Later that day, Senju Tao, seizing the opportunity to be alone with Uzumaki Chizawa, took out Senju Mori's "confidential letter" from his embrace and solemnly handed it to him.
"Is this what Mori wanted you to give me?" Uzumaki Chizawa smiled as he took the scroll, appearing very relaxed.
He was not a competitive person by nature and had no great ambitions himself; upon hearing that Senju Mori had successfully ascended to the Hokage position, he felt as if a great weight that had been hanging over his heart for a long time had finally lifted.
"That's right, Big Brother Mori said that he has now initially secured the Hokage position and it's time to assist Big Brother Chizawa in solidifying your position within the clan, and Big Brother Mori also asked me to remind you..."
Senju Tao said, nodding.
Uzumaki Chizawa read the confidential letter in his hand while listening to Senju Tao's relayed words.
Soon, the expression on his face couldn't help but turn serious, and after finishing the entire confidential letter, he couldn't help but stand up directly, saying with a solemn expression:
"I understand all of Mori's intentions. The six paths sage tools have already been sealed within a scroll by me and can be taken at any time. Tomorrow morning, I will depart with you all for Konoha."
"As for what Mori reminded me about... it's of great importance, and I must discuss countermeasures with my father immediately."