There had once been a piece of news that shocked all of Konoha.
It was that the "God of Shinobi," the "current head of the Senju Clan," Senju Hashirama's daughter, had not chosen to marry within the clan. Instead, she wed into the family of the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, in what was essentially a political marriage.
She had married an ordinary man — not a shinobi at all.
And the little princess of the Senju Clan born a few years later bore only the name Tsunade. She did not inherit the "Senju" surname.
Because of her blood ties to the Land of Fire's daimyō family, she was granted the title "Princess Tsunade", meaning "Princess of the Land of Fire."
Afterward, Senju Tobirama hoped that once the Senju Clan set an example, other founding clans — the Hyūga, Uchiha, and the Ino–Shika–Chō families — would follow suit.
In doing so, the divisions between clans would disappear, and all shinobi of Konoha would become one family — a grand ideal he longed to achieve.
If that could truly happen, it would fulfill the lifelong wish of his elder brother, Senju Hashirama.
However, the moment Tobirama hinted at such intentions, the major clans — led by the Uchiha — reacted with intense hostility.
After the arrest of Uchiha Setsuna, the suppressed radical faction within the Uchiha began to resurface. Within just three days, Konoha's prison was infiltrated several times…
Ultimately, the outbreak of the First Great Ninja War forced Tobirama to abandon his half-compulsory plan. He simply no longer had the time or energy to pursue it.
Frustrated but pragmatic, Tobirama contented himself with a more limited measure — the establishment of the Uchiha Police Force — and then devoted himself entirely to the war effort.
At this point, it's not hard to understand why such deep divisions arose between the younger and older generations of the Senju Clan.
For the younger generation — in their teens or twenties, brimming with passion — this was the time in life to seek honor and power through their own accomplishments.
To them, only by keeping the Senju Clan intact could they secure protection, prestige, and greater benefits.
Otherwise, if the name "Senju" disappeared, wouldn't the once-glorious thousand-year noble clan be reduced to mere commoner shinobi?
Their countless comrades — who once stood united on the battlefield and in the village — would scatter like sand in the wind.
And after a few generations of intermarriage, would their diluted descendants even be Senju anymore? Wouldn't their proud lineage fade away into mediocrity?
At that point, they wouldn't just be unable to compare with their old rivals, the Uchiha — they might not even measure up to the Sarutobi, Shimura, Inuzuka, or Aburame clans, who in the Warring States Era could only survive under the Senju's shadow.
For the older generation, however, things were different.
Because of their seniority and contributions, many already held important positions within Konoha. Even if the Senju Clan dissolved, they could still live comfortably on their own.
Besides, the brutal wars of the Warring States Era had cost many of them their families — two of the clan elders no longer even had direct descendants. With no one left to worry about, their hearts were lighter.
And above all, for those who had lived through that chaotic age, their reverence for Senju Hashirama, who had brought peace to the world, bordered on blind worship — a devotion that naturally extended to Senju Tobirama as well.
Thus, they supported nearly every decision the Senju brothers made, almost instinctively.
Outside the Kōga Shrine, where the Senju clan meeting had been held, the departing clan members split cleanly into two groups.
Surrounded by more than a dozen young clansmen, Senju Mori said nothing. His deep gaze turned toward the north of Konoha.
"Wait for the clan head to return…?"
"I'm afraid you'll be waiting in vain."
Senju Mori thought quietly to himself.
In his view, the success or failure of any endeavor often hinged on timing. Choosing the right moment could determine everything.
And the reason he had chosen to speak up during this clan meeting — to openly challenge several highly respected elders, to gather allies, and even to question the decisions of Clan Head Senju Tobirama before everyone —
was because the moment he had long been waiting for had finally arrived.
Senju Tobirama had departed for the Land of Lightning, bringing with him his "Kage Guard" to sign a peace treaty.
This so-called "Kage Guard" was, in truth, composed of Tobirama's six disciples — the six he had personally trained as the next generation of leaders, potential successors to the Hokage.
They were: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Akimichi Torifu, and Uchiha Kagami.
On the surface, all were talented and formidable ninja.
But regrettably, this "Kage Guard" would ultimately fail to protect their Kage.
The invitation from the Land of Lightning had seemed perfectly normal at first — yet within Kumogakure itself, there existed a powerful faction that opposed the peace talks.
Unlike the First Raikage and his successors, the Second Raikage was not from the same ninja clan as they were — and, more importantly, he was a man who loved peace.
Ignoring the objections of the war faction, he used his authority as Raikage to push forward with the signing of the treaty.
In the end, the Gold and Silver Brothers, renowned warriors of the First Great Ninja War, rallied the pro-war faction and staged a coup d'état
After successfully assassinating the Second Raikage, the brothers led an elite force to hunt down Tobirama and his party across the Land of Lightning.
To protect the "young inheritors of the Will of Fire," Senju Tobirama, as Hokage, chose to stay behind and cover their retreat — and was ultimately killed by the Kinkaku and Ginkaku Brothers.
Senju Mori knew all too well how these events would unfold, yet he could not pinpoint exactly when they would occur.
If it were him orchestrating such a coup, he thought, he would wait until the exact moment the treaty was signed — or immediately afterward — to strike.
That would undoubtedly be the moment when both the Second Raikage and Senju Tobirama were at their most off guard.
"A fleeting opportunity, never to come again."
One way or another, he had to act — and act soon.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared beside him, leaning close to whisper a few words in his ear.
Such a sudden, silent arrival could only mean one thing — the Body Flicker Technique.
The newcomer was Senju Tao, an eighteen-year-old who had only recently been promoted to jōnin the previous year.
Including him, there were twelve in total gathered around Senju Mori — all young elites of the Senju Clan, and all of them jōnin-ranked ninja.
Some were childhood friends who had grown up alongside him, others comrades he had met later in life, and several were warriors he had once saved — or impressed — during the First Great Ninja War.
Mori had already revealed part of his plan to them and assigned each a specific role.
Once the rest of the clan had dispersed, he turned around, his expression grave, and gave his final instructions:
"The affairs within the village are in your hands now. Until I return, you must keep everything under control — no matter what."
"This concerns not just you and me, but the life and death of the entire Senju Clan. You must not let your guard down."
"While I'm gone, everything is to follow Ha's command. No one is to act without orders."
"Yes, sir!" the twelve answered in unison.