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**Chapter 22: The Secret of the Senju**
Jiraiya spoke to Rubik in a measured tone.
"After the battle at the Valley of the End, where the Ninja World's Asura, Madara Uchiha, was confirmed dead, the First Hokage—still in his prime—passed away shortly thereafter. The position of Hokage fell to his younger brother, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju."
"The Second Hokage was exceptionally capable and the natural successor in the eyes of most in Konoha. Yet a vocal minority opposed him fiercely. Leading the charge were the Uchiha hardliners, headed by Setsuna Uchiha. They even launched a coup during a time of external threats to the village, heedless of Konoha's safety."
"The coup was swiftly crushed by the Second Hokage. The ringleaders, including Setsuna Uchiha, were sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, their information sealed away, and they were forbidden from ever leaving their clan lands."
"As the Second Hokage prepared to handle diplomatic matters, the Kages of the other four great nations learned of Konoha's internal strife. Seeing their chance, they all declared war on Konoha—the First Great Ninja War had begun."
"Stop, stop!" Rubik interrupted, unable to hold back. "Weren't you supposed to talk about Senju Momoki? How did this turn into a history lesson on the First Great Ninja War?"
"Brat, let me finish!" Jiraiya shot him a glare. "This *is* about Senju Momoki! Think about what I just said. How did the Kages of the four great nations learn about the rebellion in Konoha?"
"You mean... there was a traitor?" Rubik caught on.
"Exactly. Someone deliberately leaked news of Konoha's internal chaos to the four great nations, sparking the war."
"That person... could it be Momoki's..."
"Precisely!" Jiraiya's voice grew heavy. "Momoki's grandmother, Senju Momoha, was the true culprit behind the First Great Ninja War!"
Rubik's eyes widened in shock at this bombshell.
"Why?" Rubik couldn't fathom it. "Wasn't she one of Konoha's founders? And a high-ranking member of the Senju clan! Wouldn't the Second Hokage's ascension align with her interests?"
Jiraiya shook his head with a sigh.
"You're a sharp kid, so you can't grasp the mindset of those shackled by the old era. Momoha's generation were relics from the Warring States period—their stances and perspectives were worlds apart from today."
"When the First Hokage was alive, to prevent ninja clans from dominating Konoha, he voluntarily disbanded the Senju clan, integrating its members into the general populace. This policy drew fierce opposition from many Senju elders and leaders. Even the Second Hokage, who always supported his brother, raised objections."
"Under pressure, the First Hokage retained the Senju surname for a portion of the clan. But it only temporarily quelled the discontent. In the eyes of those elders, Konoha could only exist as a 'Senju Konoha.' If a peaceful ninja village couldn't accommodate the Senju's glory, they would rather return to the bloody Warring States era! Awed by the First Hokage's overwhelming power, they lay dormant, biding their time."
"And their moment came with the First Hokage's death and the Second's ascension. Seizing the Uchiha clan's rebellion, they leaked news of the First Hokage's passing and Konoha's chaos to the other four great nations, igniting the first large-scale war of the ninja village era."
Rubik thought to himself:
"So that's why, in the original story, besides the two Senju brothers, there are no other Senju-named clansmen. Even Konoha's princess, Tsunade, doesn't use the 'Senju' surname. It all traces back to this..."
Jiraiya continued:
"Their plot was quickly uncovered by the Second Hokage. They had hoped the war would rally the Senju already integrated into the village, winning their support. But the truth was, those clansmen had fully embraced Konoha from the heart and had no desire to return to that bloody age. They never imagined they'd fail here—defeated by their own arrogance."
"The Second Hokage acted decisively before they could spark a public coup like the Uchiha's. And the one leading this group of 'Senju rebels' was none other than Momoki's grandmother—Senju Momoha!"
"Whoa! A family baggage like that? No wonder she couldn't get on Konoha's official payroll," Rubik blurted out.
"Senju Momoha was the Senju clan's third-in-command, holding immense power both in the clan and Konoha. Their actions were more covert than the Uchiha's and didn't become public knowledge, but at their core, they were the same: placing clan interests above the village and peace! This made Second Hokage realize the deadly threat of clan supremacism to Konoha."
"Thereafter, the Second Hokage moved to curb the ninja clans' power in Konoha. He aggressively trained commoner ninja, founded the Ninja Academy, and required all the clan heirs to attend, instilling the Will of Fire from childhood to eradicate clan supremacist thinking in the next generation."
"Didn't the clans resist?" Rubik pressed. "From their view, they helped found Konoha—wouldn't they see the Second Hokage's moves as kicking them to the curb after using them?"
Jiraiya nodded.
"You're right. Many clans saw through his intentions and objected. But some smaller and mid-tier clans saw an opportunity in the power shuffle. Led by the Ino-Shika-Cho, Sarutobi, and Shimura supporters, they clashed with the opposition—headed by the Uchiha and the Senju old guard unwilling to integrate—in various disputes."
"With Momoha's faction exposed and the Uchiha coup crushed, the opposition was crippled in both public opinion and strength. Ultimately, as the neutral Hyuga clan sided with the supporters, Konoha's first—and greatest—power struggle since its founding came to an end."
"To placate the Uchiha and prevent further unrest, the Second Hokage granted them significant autonomy and retained their role leading the Konoha Police Force, as a gesture of trust. This temporarily soothed their resentment, though they still yearned to reclaim the power center."
"Yet with his own clansmen, the Second Hokage showed no mercy. Rebels were stripped of rank, the 'Senju' surname, and even their status as Konoha ninja. Key plotters among the elders were executed, and the ringleader, Senju Momoha, was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment. Her descendants were explicitly banned from becoming official Konoha ninja."
"That's the official Konoha story," Jiraiya shifted tone, growing somber.
Rubik, caught up in the tale, picked up on the nuance: "There's a twist?"
"Yeah, I only heard this recently from the old man," Jiraiya said slowly.
"In truth, Senju Momoha wasn't the mastermind. She was just a scapegoat. The real culprits were her father, Senju Noka, and her younger brother, Senju Morika."
"During the operation, when no integrated clansmen responded to Noka, his beliefs shattered. He died of depression before the Second Hokage could deal with him. Morika, knowing his deep sins, committed seppuku before trial. Momoha was merely a pawn deceived by her own kin."
"Then why pin the war's blame on her? Was she framed?" Rubik asked, puzzled.
Jiraiya paused before replying:
"Because it was she who informed her father and brother of the First Hokage's death."
"Ah..." Rubik was speechless.
"She was consumed by guilt. At her trial, she took full responsibility for her father and brother's crimes and begged to be sent to the front lines to atone with her death."
"How could the Second Hokage let her go? He kept her back, citing Konoha's need for her strength, but forbade her from using the name 'Senju Momoha' in the world. She agreed and helped convince some of the rebel Senju to stand down."
"They operated under the Anbu banner but independently, without names or records in Konoha's ninja registry..."
The more Rubik heard, the more familiar it sounded. A chill ran down his spine as an organization's name surfaced in his mind.
"After the Second Hokage's death, the old man became Third Hokage and took them over. But with internal and external threats, he couldn't spare the attention—and didn't want to waste such valuable forces—so he handed them to Danzo, another of the Second's students."
"In hindsight, the old man's call was right for the time. That Anbu squad under Danzo's command did contribute heroically to Konoha's victories. But looking back... it might have been a mistake."
"After the First Great Ninja War ended, the old man wanted to pardon them as war heroes. To his surprise, they refused. They chose to lurk in the shadows, protecting Konoha as the 'roots' silently nourishing the great tree."
"The old man respected their resolve and approved, leaving Danzo in charge. Those nameless former Senju ninja—that Anbu squad—became the precursor to today's 'Root' organization..."
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