Inside the command tent, Senju Senluo and Yoru sat facing each other.
"Yoru, I have to say—Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi sending you to the battlefield this time really caught me off guard," Senluo said with a smile. "But with you here, the pressure on my side will be a bit lighter."
As one of the people closest to Yoru within the Senju clan—aside from Tsunade—Senju Senluo understood Yoru's strength very clearly.
Although Yoru hadn't yet reached Kage-level, that terrifying magma ability…
On the battlefield, its destructive power was no less than that of a Kage.
"Senluo-nii," Yoru said with a smile, "I also brought a letter from Tsunade-neesan."
"Oh?"
Senju Senluo took the scroll and began reading it carefully.
"Ridiculous!"
After finishing, Senju Senluo slammed the table and roared.
"My Senju clan is the number one clan of Konoha! How can we not take the lead?!"
"If we hide behind like cowards while others die, how will we face the First Hokage and the Second Hokage?!"
He was clearly agitated.
Yoru waited for him to finish venting before calmly speaking.
"Senluo-nii, Tsunade-neesan isn't asking the Senju clan to act cowardly."
"If the Senju clan keeps reinforcing the battlefield endlessly, other clans will inevitably reduce their own contributions."
"This war won't end anytime soon. And both Iwagakure and Sunagakure are watching closely."
"They are not comparable to the Hidden Rain Village."
"If this turns into a four-nation war… and the Senju clan insists on carrying everything alone, the losses will be catastrophic."
Yoru's voice sharpened.
"And if the Senju clan suffers too much damage—even to its foundation…"
"Then you, Senju Senluo…"
"…will become the sinner of the Senju clan."
"At that time, how will you face the First Hokage and the Second Hokage?"
Each sentence struck like a blade.
Gradually, Senju Senluo's face turned pale.
On one side—his clan.
On the other—Konoha, the village he loved.
This kind of dilemma…
Was something ordinary people could never understand.
Yoru remained silent afterward.
He knew—
This wasn't something that could be forced.
Senju Senluo was someone he had to win over.
With his support, plus Tsunade and Nawaki—
Yoru could gain influence over most of the Senju clan.
And even begin affecting its decisions.
After a long silence—
"Yoru… even if you say all that, I still can't make a decision so quickly," Senju Senluo said slowly.
"But I will think about it seriously."
"You've had a long day. Go get some rest."
"Alright. You should rest early too, Senluo-nii."
Yoru didn't push further and left.
After Yoru Leaves
Senju Senluo lay back, staring at the ceiling of the tent, his gaze unfocused.
"Big brother, you called me?"
A jonin walked in.
"Ah, Mingluo… you're here," Senluo said.
"This is the letter Tsunade sent through Yoru. Take a look."
He handed over the scroll, then repeated everything Yoru had said.
After reading and thinking—
"I support Tsunade and Yoru," Senju Mingluo said firmly.
"We're not afraid of death… but you've seen the orders from the village."
"They're unreasonable."
"And most of the casualties so far… are from our Senju clan."
"Other clans are holding back."
"If this continues… we won't be able to endure it."
Senju Senluo narrowed his eyes.
"So your suggestion is?"
"Distribute missions fairly among all clans," Mingluo replied.
"Konoha is the home of everyone, not just the Senju."
Then he added:
"But what surprised me the most…"
"…is that Yoru managed to convince Tsunade to write this letter."
Senju Senluo gave a bitter smile.
"Tsunade admires the First Hokage more than anyone… her love for the village runs deeper than ours."
"If not for someone influencing her… she would never think like this."
"I fully support Yoru," Mingluo said seriously.
Senju Senluo's gaze sharpened.
"What do you mean by 'support'?"
"Support in every aspect," Mingluo said without hesitation.
"Yoru is Tsunade's disciple. Nawaki calls him big brother."
"He is, in every sense… one of us."
He continued:
"Nawaki used to talk about becoming Hokage every day."
"But now? Every sentence is about 'Big Brother Yoru.'"
"He probably threw that dream away long ago."
"And honestly… Nawaki doesn't have that level of talent."
"But Yoru is different."
"He is the most talented ninja I've ever seen."
"…Even I'm not confident I could defeat him now."
The tent fell silent.
Then Mingluo spoke again—
"Our Senju clan… is gradually losing its influence over the village's highest decisions."
"The Third Hokage—"
"Enough!"
Senju Senluo roared.
"I don't want to hear such words again!"
"…Understood."
Mingluo clenched his fists unwillingly but fell silent.
The Underlying Problem
The truth was—
Many within the Senju clan were already dissatisfied.
As Konoha's founding clan—
They were slowly losing control over the village's decisions.
Some even whispered that Hiruzen Sarutobi had become ungrateful—
After being chosen by Tobirama Senju, he had gradually taken power away from the Senju.
And now—
Yoru had entered their sight.
A genius.
Tsunade's disciple.
Nawaki's sworn brother.
Some had already begun proposing:
To support Yoru as the future Hokage—
Or at the very least—
To push him into Konoha's leadership…
…to restore the Senju clan's former glory.
"You may leave," Senju Senluo said slowly.
"I'll give further orders later."
"Yes."
Mingluo turned and left.
Senju Senluo's Decision (For Now)
"Yoru…"
Senju Senluo murmured.
Nawaki didn't have the talent to carry the clan.
But Yoru…
His eyes flickered with sharp light.
"…I need to observe him further."
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