The Uchiha's Path to the Top, Starting from Konoha

Chapter 14 The Senju Clan's Resolution

In Konoha Village, where every house was lit up, an urgent secret letter from the front lines suddenly stirred up unrest and undercurrents in the village, which was still enjoying a peaceful atmosphere.

The core areas on both sides of the Hokage Building in the center of Konoha are occupied by the Senju and Uchiha clans.

The sheer size of the clan alone is enough to fit the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, along with the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, without feeling crowded.

Upon receiving the news, the Thousand Hands Clan urgently convened a meeting of its members. In the meeting hall at the heart of the clan's territory, a dignified, elegant, and imposing mature noblewoman slowly entered the hall.

The Thousand Hands Clan members, who had been whispering and gossiping, suddenly sat up straight with respectful expressions, as if they had found their leader, and their unease and fear gradually dissipated.

The mature noblewoman was none other than Mito Uzumaki, the wife of Hashirama Senju, the sister-in-law of Tobirama Senju, the terrifying Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and a princess of the Land of Whirlpools who was proficient in sealing techniques.

Mito Uzumaki, who possesses the [Yin Seal] technique, can maintain her youth and still retains the appearance of someone at the peak of her physical function.

She has the distinctive red hair of the Whirlpool Clan, her waist-length hair tied in two buns, and adorned with a crown-like ornament symbolizing her noble status as a princess of a nation.

There was a purple diamond-shaped mark on her forehead, representing the [Yin Seal]. Two hair buns were decorated with talisman-like ornaments that swayed slightly by her ears as she walked.

Mito Uzumaki, dressed in a white kimono, sat at the head of the conference hall, her hands resting on her waist and abdomen. The slightly taut clothing subtly outlined the shapely curves of this mature noblewoman's figure, and her authoritative and domineering gaze swept down.

This mature noblewoman, who possessed the Uzumaki clan's bloodline limit technique, "Kagura's Mind's Eye," and the ability to "Sense Malice" after becoming the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, easily sensed the chaotic and confused emotions of the crowd.

She looked at the spacious council hall that once held enough room for a hundred Jonin to sit on the ground and talk loudly. Now, in Konoha, only the old and the young remained, and there were only about ten clansmen with the strength of Jonin.

The lineage that inherited the clan leader's bloodline, which had the potential to awaken the divine power of Wood Release, had fallen into a predicament where the bloodline was on the verge of extinction. The Thousand Hands of the Forest, which had lasted for nearly a thousand years, was already visibly declining.

(Now, another young Mangekyou Sharingan has emerged from the Uchiha clan. Facing the increasingly aggressive Uchiha clan, the Senju clan's path ahead will be fraught with peril.)

Despite the myriad sorrows weighing on her heart, Mito Uzumaki's face, a blend of majesty and beauty, showed no sign of negativity as she spoke slowly.

"As everyone knows, Tobirama is dead. The Uchiha clan, emboldened by the killing of the Second Raikage, will certainly not let go of the position of Third Hokage. Everyone is welcome to speak frankly about their thoughts."

"Mother, this matter is full of suspicious points. Lord Tobirama has the Flying Thunder God Technique, how could he have died at the hands of the Hidden Cloud Village? What's even more coincidental is that Lord Tobirama's entire Shadow Guard was wiped out, with only Uchiha Takeo returning victorious. It's such a coincidence that it makes everyone else seem like idiots!"

The speaker was Senju Moriki, Tsunade's father. His hands were clenched tightly on his knees, his face filled with rage and murderous intent. "It must have been that evil Uchiha brat who killed Lord Tobirama!"

During Tobirama Senju's reign, distancing oneself from and being hostile to the Uchiha clan was politically correct. Since Senju Moriki, the eldest son of the direct line, said so, the remaining members of the collateral branches immediately became agitated.

"Alright, this is the clan council hall, not the Uchiha's parliament. What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket? Are you trying to make a fool of yourself in front of the Uchiha next door?"

"By the way, they are indeed laughing right now."

As soon as Mito Uzumaki uttered her words, which were tinged with dissatisfaction, the room fell silent, and everyone lowered their heads.

In the deathly silent council chamber, Mito Uzumaki looked at her son, Moriki, who was ambitious yet impulsive and reckless, deemed by Hashirama and Tobirama to lack the abilities of a Hokage, and refused to be taken to the battlefield by Tobirama, leaving him only to shoulder the responsibility of raising children. She asked him, without anger or resentment, "Moriki, do you have any evidence?"

"The evidence is in that Uchiha brat's head!"

Senju Moriki said with an air of confidence, "As long as we let the Yamanaka clan search Uchiha brat's memories, everything will come to light."

A well-reasoned argument left Mito Uzumaki speechless, realizing that the child had virtually no sense of the big picture, and that all the years of training had been in vain.

Senju Moriki inherited his father Senju Hashirama's naive and "taken-for-granted" personality, but did not inherit Senju Hashirama's Wood Release bloodline limit as the "God of Shinobi".

Therefore, there are some things that Hashirama Senju can do, but Moriki Senju cannot.

(Why are you looking at me like that again? I'm doing this all for the Senju clan!)

Meeting Mito's disappointed gaze, Senju Moriki gritted his teeth, feeling empty inside. He began to realize that many things had changed since his father's death, and with his uncle Tobirama Senju's mysterious death, a string in his heart was already teetering on the brink of breaking.

"The matter of searching for Uchiha Taken's memories should not be mentioned outside. Also, his status as a rogue ninja will be announced as canceled tomorrow at the Hokage Building."

Mito Uzumaki's calm words carried an undeniable weight: "You must remember now, he was the hero who killed the Second Raikage, one of the strongest shinobi in Konoha, and indeed in the entire shinobi world."

"When you meet him, you must respectfully address him as His Excellency Wu'an!"

Senju Moriki kept his head down and remained silent. He understood that in this family, even Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama would sometimes give in on things that Uzumaki Mito had decided. All his suggestions would only be rejected by Uzumaki Mito.

After Tobirama Senju's death, Moriki Senju became the head of the Senju clan, and he wanted to seek justice for his uncle's death in his own way.

"Lord Mito, we understand."

"We won't make any statements that could affect the unity of Konoha without evidence."

"The Senju clan is indeed not suited for a direct confrontation with the Uchiha clan in the present day."

An elder of the Senju clan, a remnant from the Warring States period, spoke up, "However, the position of Third Hokage is being coveted by the Uchiha clan. This position cannot be handed over to the Uchiha. Who do you think is suitable to inherit the position of Third Hokage from within the village?"

"It wouldn't be suitable to give this position to anyone."

To everyone's surprise, Mito Uzumaki revealed her well-thought-out plan.

"No matter who takes the position now, the Uchiha clan will be dissatisfied. If someone is designated as the Hokage, it is very likely that a large-scale armed conflict will break out. You are all aware of the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan."

Having witnessed the world-destroying divine power of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha during their final battle at the Valley of the End, the group nodded in fear.

"Moreover, the Uchiha clan is a ninja clan that has grown strong through blood and fire. If we cannot wipe them out in one fell swoop, no one can guarantee that the Uchiha clan will produce even a few pairs of Mangekyou Sharingan amidst love and hatred."

"It's quite possible that in the end, the Uchiha will suffer a pyrrhic victory, and Konoha will be destroyed."

"Who among you can accept this outcome?"

Seeing everyone remain silent, Mito Uzumaki said calmly, "Only when a result is achieved that truly convinces the Uchiha clan can the conflict disappear from the very beginning."

Understanding the implication, the Senju elder's eyes lit up. "Lord Mito, do you mean to hold a Jonin meeting?"

"That's right, let all the Jonin vote on who is the most suitable candidate for the Third Hokage."

Mito Uzumaki said calmly, "With a fair and square approach, we'll leave the Uchiha clan speechless."

When she said that, everyone had already guessed the outcome, and their gazes toward Mito Uzumaki were now filled with a mixture of awe and delight.

The position of Third Hokage was still held by the Senju clan!

(End of this chapter)