Chapter 10: Revelations – The Fall of Clans
Uchiha Madara: "What!!! My Uchiha clan was actually wiped out?!"
Senju Hashirama: "Madara, calm down!"
Uchiha Madara: "Calm down my ass! It's not like it's your Senju clan that got exterminated!"
Senju Hashirama: "Now that you mention it… what happened to our Senju clan? @Hiruzen Sarutobi"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
Senju Hashirama: "Hiruzen, what's with the silence? Don't tell me…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Ahem!"
Senju Tsunade: "Let me say it. The Senju clan all died in the later wars."
Senju Hashirama: "All died in wars?"
Senju Tsunade: "As far as I know, yes. But I don't know the exact reasons."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Lord First, just as Tsunade said—after the Second Hokage's death, Konoha was constantly under siege."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "In those critical moments, the Senju clan served as the pillar holding everything together. Without their sacrifices, there would be no Konoha today!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "They fully inherited Konoha's Will of Fire!"
Senju Hashirama: "I see… sigh, who would've thought even the Senju clan would be eliminated by the times!"
Senju Tobirama: "That doesn't add up, Hiruzen. Wars are brutal, sure—but how come every other Konoha clan survived just fine, and only the Senju vanished?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "I truly don't know. The one who deployed the Senju forces was Danzō—the founder of Root. He was also your disciple!"
Senju Tobirama: "Danzō, step forward and speak!"
Shimura Danzō: "Ahem…"
Shimura Danzō: "Tobirama-sensei, you know me. If I wanted to harm the Senju, I absolutely wouldn't do it covertly during Konoha's crisis!"
Tobirama fell silent. When it came to Danzō— that kid did have a scheming side. Tobirama, as his teacher and a fellow master manipulator, saw it clearly. He himself had targeted the Uchiha for the village and Senju interests. But if Danzō targeted the Senju… Konoha itself would be in danger! Danzō was genuinely loyal to the village. So perhaps the Senju clan's downfall really was just coincidence?
Seeing even his sharp younger brother Tobirama drop the matter, Hashirama let it go too. In Hashirama's heart, Senju, Uchiha, Sarutobi, Hyūga, Yamanaka— everyone was part of Konoha's big family. They should work together, without division! Though his brother Tobirama had called this idea "naive" more than once! But he believed— one day, a shinobi world of true mutual understanding would exist!
Uchiha Madara: "Don't change the subject! Hashirama's an idiot—I'm not!"
Senju Hashirama: "(#‵′)!!!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "This matter goes way back—it's a long story."
Fourth Raikage: "No rush. I've got sunflower seeds and snacks—take your time."
Ōnoki: "This old man wants to hear it too!"
Terumi Mei: "So it's not just our Mist Village that had problems—Konoha's just as chaotic!"
Fourth Kazekage Rasa: "See? I always said Sunagakure has good security! For everyone's safety, I never even let Gaara sleep once!"
Fourth Kazekage Rasa: "When I revive, vote me back as Kazekage! I'll build a new ninja village!"
Gaara: "..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "The Uchiha clan's destruction wasn't intentional by Konoha. The Fourth Hokage knew this too—he always worked toward balance between Konoha and the Uchiha during his term."
Namikaze Minato: "That's true. I hoped the Uchiha and Konoha could understand each other and become one!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "For that, I specially promoted two Uchiha talents: Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui. One under me, one under Danzō."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "So how could I harm the Uchiha? It was truly an accident. Everyone knows the one who killed the clan was Uchiha Itachi—he just happened to be under me, but I knew nothing about the massacre!"
Shimura Danzō: "Hiruzen is right—I agree completely. Why Itachi suddenly wiped out the clan, and why Shisui died too—I had no idea!"
Uchiha Shisui: "..."
Shimura Danzō: "Hm? Shisui, you're in the chat too? You should've said something!"
Shimura Danzō: "Your good friend—Itachi's little brother Sasuke—misses you a lot!"
Uchiha Shisui: "Sasuke…"
Orochimaru: "Oh my… why do I detect a hint of threat in that?"
Shimura Danzō: "Nonsense! Would I be that kind of person? I, Shimura Danzō, always persuade with reason!"
At Danzō's words, everyone fell silent. Who didn't know Danzō's true nature? Pretending to be innocent? "Persuade with reason"? Even the Second Hokage couldn't stand it.
Senju Tobirama: "Enough, Danzō, Hiruzen. Drop it. Don't let the other villages laugh at us."
Hearing Tobirama speak, Hiruzen and Danzō both breathed a sigh of relief. If this continued… everything might come out! But truthfully, the Uchiha's fall wasn't Hiruzen's decision— nor Danzō's. It was "the village" that demanded their extinction. So they had no choice. Back then, Itachi understood the root cause— that's why he chose to become the sinner himself. His only wish: spare his brother Sasuke. Hiruzen naturally agreed. If the Uchiha vanished completely without giving others leverage, having an internal Uchiha do it was best! As Hiruzen's personal Anbu, Itachi knew— if the Fourth Hokage hadn't died in the wars, with Minato's strength plus the Sarutobi clan's three thousand members, balance with the Uchiha could have been maintained. But Minato's unexpected death broke that equilibrium! Asuma lacked the ability to inherit the Fourth's mantle and become the new balancing point— he needed more growth! Before the Fourth, there was another man who balanced the Uchiha and village: Konoha's White Fang! Personally nurtured by Hiruzen. But unfortunately, he committed an unforgivable mistake— tainting the Will of Fire! So under public pressure, White Fang chose suicide! Hiruzen regretted it, of course. But for the village— it was worth it!