Tobirama left the Sarutobi compound without irritation. He didn't need to pressure them further.
Fear handled that for him.
A month without Raizen.
A village trembling on borrowed time.
A clan desperate not to fall behind.
The Sarutobi patriarch would bend — sooner or later.
But Tobirama also knew the truth he didn't dare say aloud:
If Amamiya Raizen returned alive, everything Tobirama was building in the shadows would be torn out by the roots.
Which meant one thing.
Whether Raizen is dead or not… he must be dead now.
A thin blade of killing intent flickered in Tobirama's eyes before he crushed it down.
There were still more clans to visit.
The Shimura Clan
The Shimura patriarch received Tobirama in the afternoon. The air felt thick, like two predators sharing a room.
"Tobirama-dono," the patriarch said slowly. "What brings you to the Shimura?"
Tobirama didn't circle around the subject this time.
"I'm here about Hokage-sama."
"The Hokage?" The patriarch blinked. "Has… has Amamiya-dono—"
"No." Tobirama cut him off. "He's been missing for over a month. If nothing unexpected occurred, he is dead."
The Shimura patriarch immediately stiffened.
"Tobirama-dono, mind your words."
"Hmph. Naruto-sama vanished during battle. Not a single trace remains. Do you truly believe he still lives?"
The patriarch hesitated.
Tobirama pressed on.
"Raizen is gone. Hashirama will inevitably become Second Hokage. I am here to secure the Shimura clan's support."
The patriarch tried to protest.
"This is too soon—"
"I've heard there is a talented youth in your clan," Tobirama said, voice flattening. "Shimura Danzō. Support Hashirama, and I will take the boy as my disciple."
And with that, Tobirama stood and left.
The patriarch watched him go, jaw tight.
"…Wolf's ambition indeed."
But ambition backed by reason.
And the Shimura clan had no foothold strong enough to refuse without consequence.
He closed his eyes, exhaling.
"The peace we fought so hard for… slipping through our fingers again."
The Hyūga Compound
Tobirama walked next to the Hyūga estate, already planning out his persuading words. Neutral families were the final pieces he needed. Once they fell in line, Root could step out of the shadows, and Hashirama would have no choice but to formalize it.
He had no idea Hyūga Tennin had his own secrets — and his own leash, courtesy of Raizen's genjutsu.
Tennin greeted Tobirama with polite formality.
"Tobirama-sama. What business brings you?"
Predictable. Controlled.
Tobirama eased into the discussion.
"We all want Konoha stable. Support my elder brother as the next Hokage, and—"
But Tennin's silence stretched unnaturally long.
Tobirama continued, assuming the man was thinking things over.
"As long as you support Hashirama-niisan, the Hyūga clan will receive—"
"Enough."
Tennin's voice cut through the air like a kunai.
"I once believed the Senju had no ambition for the Hokage seat. That you were unlike the Uchiha."
His Byakugan activated with a cold shimmer.
"But to think… there is someone like you hiding among the Senju. Someone who dares scheme for power the moment Hokage-sama is gone."
Killing intent rolled across the courtyard.
"Tobirama. If you intend to rebel, I will take you down here and now. Then I'll drag you to Hashirama-dono myself."
Before Tobirama could even process the threat, Tennin stepped forward, palm already chambered.
"Eight Trigrams—!"
"You dare!?" Tobirama snarled, jumping back and weaving signs.
He substituted with a flash, avoiding the full strike as the courtyard floor cracked under Tennin's blow.
But Hyūga Tennin wasn't done.
"Do you still think you can run from the Byakugan?"
Chakra exploded outward as Tennin struck again.
"Damn—!"
Tobirama barely slipped away, the second palm sending a shockwave through the courtyard. The blast echoed loud enough to pull every Hyūga within hearing distance.
Hundreds of white-eyed shinobi appeared almost immediately, surrounding Tobirama.
"Patriarch!"
Their eyes locked onto the scene — Tennin mid-stride, Tobirama braced, kunai drawn.
Not a spar.
Not a misunderstanding.
A real fight.
The courtyard fell silent except for the wind rustling the clan banners.
And Tobirama realized something with cold clarity:
He had severely miscalculated.