章節 64: 64 - The Senju's Shadow
The face of a person often reflects different images in the eyes of different people.
In Nonō's eyes, Shin had already become an unparalleled leader.
However, before long, in the eyes of Konoha's shinobi, he was destined to become a demon.
All of this stemmed from an explosive piece of news that began spreading across the shinobi world on this very day.
"Have you heard?" a merchant whispered to his companion. "Tsunade betrayed Konoha!"
"Impossible!" his friend hissed back. "She's a Senju!"
Tsunade had betrayed the village, resulting in the severe injury of Konoha's frontline commander Orochimaru and the defeat and capture of her former teammate Hiruko!
This news swept through the shinobi world overnight, shocking all five great ninja villages.
In back alleys and secret meeting spots, veterans shook their heads in disbelief.
"Tsunade? Betray Konoha?" an old ninja scoffed in a border town bar. "That's like saying the Hokage Mountain decided to walk away."
Initially, most people reacted with skepticism upon hearing this. After all, Tsunade had achieved significant merit in the last ninja war. Not to mention, her unique status ensured that as long as she didn't act too outrageously, she would forever remain one of Konoha's most esteemed shinobi.
What reason could she possibly have to betray Konoha?
But soon enough, with the news of Orochimaru returning to the frontlines gravely injured and Hiruko appearing in the Land of Rain, the entire shinobi world was shaken to its core.
Shin had been so busy spreading the news upon his return that he didn't even have time to settle Nonō.
Hiruko, who had defected, personally confirmed the story, fueling the frenzy to its peak.
"She stood there!" Hiruko roared, his fists clenched tight enough to draw blood. "She stood there, watching as I fell! How could she? HOW COULD SHE?!"
The most crucial aspect: Hiruko's performance was utterly genuine, completely devoid of pretense.
From his perspective, he truly believed deep in his heart that Tsunade had betrayed him.
Within a single day, countless spies and covert agents from various ninja villages swarmed into the Land of Rain. Yet no matter how they investigated in secret or tried to uncover the truth, all the evidence they gathered seemed entirely authentic.
Hiruko's outraged denunciations of Tsunade were overheard simultaneously by secret operatives from four different factions. Not a single one of them could detect the slightest trace of fabrication or deception in his words.
His every roar, every word, was heartfelt and sincere.
As a result, it didn't take long for all the great ninja villages to realize: Konoha was in big trouble.
When the news reached the eastern battlefront, the temporary commander of the Kiri warzone, Jiraiya, flew into a rage. His chakra flared so violently that nearby trees cracked under the pressure.
He nearly abandoned the entire battlefront to storm into the Land of Rain and settle the score with Hiruko.
"Jiraiya-sama, please!" A senior jonin grabbed his arm. "Think of the village!"
It took a group of jonin on the frontlines working together to hold back the furious Jiraiya.
"Let me go! I'm going to find Hiruko! There's no way Tsunade would do something like that! How could he say such things? What does he think of his comrades? What does he take the village for?!"
The jonin clung to him tightly, desperately trying to dissuade him.
"Jiraiya-sama, please calm down! If you leave everyone here to fend for themselves now, wouldn't you also be abandoning the entire village?"
It was only after hearing this that Jiraiya finally calmed dow. Around him, frontline ninjas exchanged worried glances.
If even Tsunade can betray us, who can we trust? the thought spread like poison through their ranks.
While Jiraiya prepared his report, he wasn't the only one keeping the Hokage informed - that very day, Hiruzen received over a dozen letters from various shinobi, all delivered by ANBU.
It wasn't just Jiraiya; countless Konoha shinobi on the frontlines were asking the Hokage for answers.
Everything was proceeding exactly as Shin had predicted: Tsunade's status was too unique. Even the slightest misunderstanding involving her could shake Konoha to its core.
During this time, Homura paced the council room floor, for once making a correct guess. "Hiruko is now captured in the Land of Rain. Could this be a scheme orchestrated by Akatsuki?"
But Hiruzen simply took a puff of his pipe, his brows still furrowed in worry. The smoke curled around his aged face like the problems wrapping around Konoha. "Even if that's true, what good does knowing it do?"
"What about reaching out to Tsunade directly?" Homura suggested hesitantly. "Perhaps if we—"
"And admit our weakness to the other villages?" Koharu cut in sharply.
At this moment, Hiruzen couldn't help but resent Danzō, who was still bedridden. Your meddling has finally come back to haunt us, he thought bitterly.
"The priority now is to contact Tsunade. No matter what has happened, tell her that we forgive her. She must come back first." Hiruzen announced to his gathered advisors.
"But Hiruzen, what if she doesn't want forgiveness?" Koharu asked.
At this point, Hiruzen still hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation, thinking Konoha could resolve the issue by forgiving Tsunade.
Like cracks in a dam, the situation was beyond simple repair.
---
The first day, the shinobi world's attention was primarily on Tsunade's perceived indifference, which led to Orochimaru's severe injuries and Hiruko's defeat.
But by the second day, as Shin's plan began to unfold further, the situation spiraled out of control, leaving Hiruzen scrambling for solutions.
By the next day, details about Tsunade's identity and background, and even the story of her grandfather founding Konoha, began spreading widely.
In every tea house and gathering place, voices carried the tale.
"Let me tell you about the founding of our great village," a storyteller began in a crowded tavern. "About the noble Senju clan who built all this..."
"The Senju clan built all this?" a young listener asked.
Overnight, starting from the regions around the Land of Rain, towns and cities in the Land of Fire, Kusa, and even the Land of Rivers were suddenly filled with eloquent storytellers. These good 'samaritans' started casually educating the unsuspecting public about the founding of Konoha and the glory of the Senju clan.
On the surface, this seemed like simple praise for Konoha, so Konoha shinobi on the border cities and frontlines didn't immediately react.
That is, until—at the end of one of these storytelling sessions, an audience member suddenly asked, "Since Konoha was built by the Senju clan, why is it said now that Tsunade has betrayed Konoha? Shouldn't it be that Konoha has failed her?"
Around the room, people began to murmur.
"Come to think of it," one civilian muttered to another, "what has Konoha done for the Senju lately?"
"They gave everything to build this village..." his companion replied thoughtfully.
The identity of this audience member remains untraceable. Perhaps it was an innocent comment, or maybe it was part of a scheme.
But the end result no longer mattered. Because just one day later, these whispers would spread through Konoha like wildfire.
The exact same event, when interpreted from a different angle, could lead to a completely different impact. Words were like poison—once they entered the bloodstream, there was no stopping their spread
The day before, people asked: Why did Tsunade betray Konoha? What was she thinking?
The day after, they still asked: Why did Tsunade betray Konoha? But immediately followed with: What did Konoha do to her?
This subtle shift in perspective amplified the issue's destructiveness by several magnitudes.
For the past few days, Konoha ninjas had barely managed to contain their emotions, but now they completely lost control!.
Recent months of unfavorable battle outcomes had already made Konoha a volatile powder keg, full of pent-up negative energy.
This single question acted like a fuse, causing the powder keg to explode overnight, leaving Hiruzen feeling as though his heart might stop multiple times.
After all, this was Tsunade—the princess of the Senju clan.
Many of the original Senju clan members, in response to Hashirama's call, voluntarily gave up their family name to integrate into Konoha.
These descendants had spread throughout Konoha, becoming an integral part of the village's foundation. But the oldest members of the Senju clan weren't dead yet.
When they heard the news, how could they possibly remain silent?
That night, in the Hokage's office, the silence was heavy as death. An ANBU captain knelt before Hiruzen's desk.
"Hokage-sama, the situation is deteriorating rapidly," the ANBU reported. "The Senju descendants are gathering in secret. There's talk of..."
"How many more reports tonight?" Hiruzen cut him off.
"The scrolls cover your entire desk, Hokage-sama..."
After hearing the ANBU's report, Hiruzen lowered his head and removed his pipe. The tobacco that usually brought him comfort now tasted like ash.
The action resembled Stalin in his dacha, removing his pipe from his lips as he first heard of the German invasion
No matter how angry Hiruzen was, the events that had transpired were irreparable.
The rift between him and Tsunade had existed for a long time, not something formed overnight. He turned as an ANBU materialized in the room, kneeling before his desk.
"Report," Hiruzen commanded.
"Lady Tsunade remains absent from the village, Hokage-sama," the ANBU stated carefully. "We've checked all her known locations."
"And her condition?"
"According to Orochimaru's report, her... combat readiness is questionable."
Hiruzen's jaw tightened. Based on previous reports, even if she were to return, it was unlikely she could still fight on the battlefield.
This left only one path forward.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair.
"I will take full responsibility for all recent failures and announce my resignation, stepping down as Hokage. This will be my response to all the criticisms."
His advisors, who had been silent until now, stirred uncomfortably.
Homura adjusted his glasses and said, "Hiruzen, perhaps there's another way—"
"Afterward, let the jonin council propose candidates for the next Hokage," Hiruzen continued, cutting off any debate.
"Since Danzō isn't here, Koharu, I'll need you to make a trip to the daimyō and personally deliver the notice."
Even in defeat, I must protect Konoha's future. The transition must be handled delicately.
Having made his final instructions, Hiruzen seemed to age a decade in an instant. Though the ultimate outcome was still abdication, this time it came not from choice, but necessity.
At least in the original, he had managed to hold his position until Minato won the battle at Kannabi Bridge. That victory allowed him to claim some credit for nurturing and promoting the younger generation, granting him a relatively dignified retirement.
It was also one of the key reasons he could reassume the Hokage position after Minato's death.
In the original timeline, Hiruzen's evaluation in Konoha could be considered balanced between merits and faults, and his eventual death in battle posthumously earned him the status of a village hero. But at this moment, he could clearly foresee that his reputation after stepping down would likely be far less favorable.
Danzō's disastrous defeat in Ame and Tsunade's role in the intense public uproar left no one else to bear the blame. Everything fell on his shoulders.
For this reason, he even relinquished his right to nominate the next Hokage. The two advisors quickly noticed this detail.
"Shouldn't you decide on the Fourth Hokage candidate? What if the daimyō asks when I inform him?"
"The daimyō will want answers," Homura added. "We need to present a united front."
Hiruzen sighed. "When the time comes for the Fourth Hokage to assume office, he'll be informed. You don't need to answer the daimyō about it now."
In his current tarnished state, directly naming Minato as the next Hokage might not be in the young man's best interest.
Whether out of genuine care or a desire to clean up after himself, his concern for Minato was heartfelt at this moment. He truly hoped that Minato could take over Konoha with a clean slate.
Thus, he planned to step down first and allow the jonin to nominate the next Hokage independently. He believed that even with a democratic vote among the jonin, Minato would still be the best candidate for the Fourth Hokage—assuming no external interference.
This assumption seemed reasonable, barring unforeseen disruptions. Minato's strength, character, and popularity were impeccable. Additionally, under Hiruzen's instruction, Shikaku had already begun discreetly consolidating Minato's reputation.
The stars seemed to align perfectly for him. But this all hinged on one crucial factor: there could be no external interference.
Would that really be the case?
---
The next morning, Hiruzen stood atop the Hokage Office's roof. He had donned his formal robes one final time. "From today onward, I will step down as the Third Hokage!"
The announcement sent shockwaves through Konoha, bringing the raging rumors to a dramatic conclusion.
Though Hiruzen had made many mistakes, once he resigned, there was little more to say. With this, the village's public turmoil was effectively brought to an early resolution.
Simultaneously, Koharu set off to meet with the daimyō, and the ANBU captain was dispatched to deliver a message to Minato.
"Dispatch teams to maintain order," Hiruzen instructed his ANBU quietly as he descended from the roof. "The transition must be peaceful."
By evening, messages returned, bringing mixed news for him. The good news was that the daimyō expressed no dissatisfaction over Hiruzen's self-proclaimed failures. Instead, he wrote a letter of consolation, assuring that Konoha would continue to enjoy his trust and support.
This was a significant relief for him.
At least the foundations remain strong, even if the pillar must be replaced.
The bad news came from Minato's reply. The ANBU commander delivered the scroll personally.
"He declines to return at this time, Hokage-sama," he reported, kneeling before Hiruzen's desk.
"Read me his exact words."
"He..." the messenger unfolded the letter and began to read.
The messenger unfolded the letter and began: "Rather than accepting the Hokage title hastily and under questionable circumstances, I wish to earn it honorably through a decisive victory."
He continued reading. Minato had identified a logistical weakness in Iwa's offensive strategy and planned to launch a raid on their supply lines within months. Victory would allow him to return and claim the Hokage title without dispute.
His letter was full of confidence and optimism, even offering words of encouragement to Hiruzen, reassuring him that hardships were temporary and urging him to persevere. The letter exuded Minato's characteristic warmth.
"Your service to Konoha has built the foundation for our future. Let me earn the right to build upon it," the ANBU finished.
Hiruzen sat back in his chair, absorbing the message. Minato refused to tread a shortcut paved by compromises, preferring instead to rely on his own abilities.
This filled Hiruzen with both pride and unease—pride in Konoha's rising generation of exceptional ninja and unease over the potential for unforeseen events in the months ahead.
After all, the frontlines where Minato was stationed were perilously close to the volatile Land of Rain. For reasons he could not explain, Hiruzen felt a sense of foreboding.
Unable to dwell on it further, he turned his attention to other battlefronts in an attempt to distract himself.
The map before him showed troop movements like pieces on a giant board, each mark representing lives under his command—at least for the time being.
"How is Orochimaru's situation? Have the Suna forces made any moves after his injury?" he asked the ANBU while studying the map.
The ANBU, unwilling to comment, reported honestly.
"Orochimaru-sama's injuries have healed, and there have been no major issues in the past few days." The ANBU paused, shifting slightly. "Interestingly, there are reports of internal unrest within Suna itself."
Perhaps fortune hasn't completely abandoned us.
"Oh? What's going on?" Hiruzen, starved for good news, asked with genuine interest. He had anticipated considerable pressure on Konoha's western front after Orochimaru's injury.
Internal strife in Suna could provide the breathing room they desperately needed. Time for Minato to achieve his victory, time for Konoha to stabilize.
"Our sources indicate that Pakura has returned to Suna and caused significant upheaval."
Interesting timing, Hiruzen thought, pulling out his pipe once more.
"Continue monitoring the situation," he ordered, dismissing the ANBU with a wave.
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