Chapter 30 31 32 33 34 Hatake Tatsuya in Naruto (Patreon)

"Is he dead? Hokage-sama's eldest son..."

Hearing the conversation between the brothers, Akamichi Choza's plump face was dripping with cold sweat.

The person who died on the mission with Tatsuya was Sarutobi Shinnosuke who was also the "Son of Hokage-sama".

This was enough to indicate that he, along with the other prominent clans, formed an impression of Sarutobi Shinnosuke solely based on his Father's reputation, not his talent as a ninja.

Similar to Senju Tobirama, people would refer to him as "The Second Hokage," rather than "[The Younger Brother of the God of Ninja]."

The strength of Shinnosuke wasn't mediocre, but there were quite a few candidates who could replace him. So, it wasn't surprising that a Jonin of his level died during the war. But if the identity in question was that of the Hokage's son, the meaning changed completely.

"It's a cycle of causality."

Yamanaka spoke with emotion, "In the last mission to assassinate the Second Kazekage, Sakumo failed the mission in order to save Shinnosuke. He was then accused of being the reason the mission failed."

"And this time, my Tatsuya chose not to save him and successfully completed the task. I don't know what Hokage-sama will feel if he learns about this."

Perhaps Yamanaka Secret Ninjutsu was related to the mind, Yin attribute, and the spiritual side of Chakra, and Yamanaka Inoichi's character was also more delicate.

Sakumo was accused of saving his comrades. Tatsuya completed the mission after witnessing his comrades' deaths. Which of the brothers' actions was the right one? It wasn't easy to say.

But one thing was certain: Everyone was entitled to criticize Sakumo, but Sarutobi Shinnosuke was not to be offended.

What did it mean when someone saved you? Where is your pride and Honour?

This was why he disliked this person. Too self-centered.

"Was he really killed by the Second Kazekage?"

Nara Shikaku, the brains of the trio, suddenly spoke up.

"Hmm?"

"Hmm?"

Both Akamichi Choza and Yamanaka Inoichi turned their heads in confusion, looking at Nara Kaji with puzzled expressions.

Choza furrowed his brow and asked, "What are you talking about, Shika?"

Inoichi caught on a bit quicker, sensing Nara Shikaku's line of thought. He said with a hint of apprehension:

"Shikaku, you don't think..."

"Shh!"

Nara Shikaku raised his index finger to the side of his eye, signaling Yamanaka to stop.

Inoichi managed to regain his composure, but his voice still trembled slightly. His gaze shifted towards Jiraiya, who was still conversing with Tsunade and Orochimaru, and he said, "Since Jiraiya-Sama participated in the mission with Tatsuya... he might know some insider information..."

"No."

Shikaku coldly interrupted his friend's plan before he could finish speaking, his lips pressed tightly.

"Sometimes, knowing too much can shorten your life."

After uttering this sentence, Shikaku grabbed the two of them and left without looking back.

As for their earlier speculation, it would likely remain buried and forgotten.

...

...

During dinner that night

Orochimaru, the frontlines' commander-in-chief, issued an order.

Any ninja who was injured or had family casualties could return to Konoha early.

Only a small number of individuals were left behind to guard the border and engage in negotiations with the Kingdom of Wind.

In truth, Orochimaru's words were unnecessary; Tsunade had been eager to leave this eerie place for a while now.

Though she hadn't been on the battlefield since the previous year, she had made significant contributions to Konoha in the initial stages.

Furthermore, in the later stages, she had pulled countless Konoha shinobi back from the brink of death.

Tsunade was undoubtedly one of the most remarkable outcomes of this Second Ninja War.

To be honest, if Tsunade had been in Konoha during the time when the original series elected the Fourth Hokage, there would likely have been no Namikaze Minato.

"Huh? Kato Dan is dead!"

Orochimaru had barely finished announcing that the wounded and those with family changes could return to Konoha when Tatsuya's astonished exclamation drew everyone's attention.

Orochimaru's eyes twitched involuntarily as he looked at Tatsuya and Tsunade, who were sitting together.

When would these two ever finish their conversation?

"Lower your voice! Idiot!"

Noticing that everyone's attention was now directed at them, Tsunade roughly squeezed Tatsuya's shoulder and explained, "On the fourth day after you and Sarutobi Shinnosuke left, Konoha clashed with Sand shinobi once again. According to Orochimaru, Kato Dan died at the hands of a ninja who used strange black iron sand."

Black iron sand?

The Third Kazekage?

Tatsuya mused, stroking his chin.

In the original storyline, Kato Dan seemed to have been killed. Most likely, it had been by Rock shinobi using explosive-style techniques.

Though, it could also have been a detonation tag. Such things were commonplace in the ninja world.

However, Tatsuya felt a twinge of discomfort at Kato Dan's death in such a manner. It didn't quite fit the pattern.

The role of such a rival figure...

Wasn't he supposed to be defeated by Tatsuya himself?

How could he die so unceremoniously?

Suddenly, Tatsuya had the thought, "You fell before I could even take action."

"What are you doing? That expression is so strange." Observing Tatsuya's perplexed expression, Tsunade nudged him with her elbow.

"It's fine; he would've died sooner or later anyway. His strength wouldn't have made a difference."

Tatsuya's callous words sent shivers down the spines of those around them.

While from Tatsuya's perspective, he might truly wish for Kato Dan's early demise, there was no need to vocalize it so openly, right?

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"Welcome! Welcome back, heroes!"

"Tsunade-Sama! Thank you for saving my husband!"

"Tsunade-Sama!Jiraiya-Sama! You worked so hard!"

"That's the rumored Konoha Black Knife! I heard he killed the Second Kazekage and ended this war once and for all."

"Really? Fantastic! Konoha has given birth to a strong individual, and our future safety is more assured."

At the main entrance of Konoha Village

Colored ribbons adorned the sky, strewn across the avenue.

The villagers from the entire village had gathered on both sides of the street, eagerly welcoming back the returning ninjas.

As Tatsuya, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the others emerged into view, a wave of cheers erupted into the air.

Among these, the villagers' shouts were the loudest.

Among all the Konoha shinobi who were on the battlefield, nine out of ten had been treated by Tsunade.

In the regular world, Tatsuya inhabited in his previous life, many influential figures did their best to avoid offending doctors and Policemen. And this was even more true in the ninja world.

After all, who could guarantee they wouldn't fall ill in the future?

Secondly, there was Jiraiya's name. Though it wasn't free from Orochimaru's yelling either. And if you listened closely, you could hear Tatsuya's name too.

The act of killing the Second Kazekage made the name "[Konoha Black Knife]" resonate throughout the Ninja World.

However, Sakumo, who had performed no less admirably than Orochimaru and Jiraiya in this ninja battle,

As they made their way from the main entrance to the administrative building's entrance, hardly anyone's cheers seemed to include his name.

Was it solely because of that failed mission?

"Poor guy," Tatsuya teased.

"Konoha's White Fang! Konoha's White Fang!"

"Dad's the best!"

But then, in the midst of this national celebration,

An angered voice cut through the atmosphere, capturing everyone's attention. Observing from Kakashi's side, Asuma burst through the crowd, running toward Tatsuya, Jiraiya, and the others with tears in his eyes.

"Where's my older brother? And Sister Rie, where's the rest of the family?"

Asuma's behavior immediately piqued the interest of countless Konoha villagers, who began to murmur among themselves,

"Who's that kid? So rude..."

"Shhh, keep it down; that's the Hokage's youngest son."

"They say the Hokage's eldest son died in the war."

"Really? How tragic."

...

...

Jiraiya was left dumbfounded by Asuma's inquiry.

What?

Elder brother?

Was he referring to Sarutobi's eldest son?

Sakumo let out a sigh, patting Asuma on the shoulder in a comforting gesture as he explained,

"Shinnosuke-kun died at the hands of the Kazekage during a mission with Tatsuya. Unfortunately, he's one of our Konoha heroes now."

"But don't worry, because I avenged him by killing the Second Kazekage Shamon."

Tatsuya chimed in with a smile.

Jiraiya was left utterly bewildered by what the two brothers said.

What?

Sarutobi Shinnosuke died during a mission to assassinate the Kazekage. To the Kingdom of Wind, where he and Tatsuya had gone together.

They jointly slew the Kazekage. And yet, Sarutobi Shinnosuke hadn't been seen at all by him.

So how did this person end up dead at the Kazekage's hands?

At this moment, Jiraiya was thoroughly perplexed.

"No, that can't be! It's absolutely impossible!"

Asuma angrily exclaimed, "My older brother is so strong, he can't possibly have died!"

Tatsuya was rendered speechless.

Your brother was an ordinary Jonin. Though he wasn't weak, the term "strong" doesn't quite fit.

"He was hit by a sand attack from Shamon and died gloriously defending the village. There's nothing we can do if you don't believe it."

Tatsuya said in a nonchalant tone.

"You—you're spouting nonsense!"

Asuma pointed angrily at Tatsuya, his voice raised, "Since you were on a mission with my older brother, why didn't you save him!? Did you watch him die?"

"Tsk tsk, young man, your words are quite harsh."

Tatsuya's smile grew wider and brighter as he continued, "Before, my elder brother saved young Shinnosuke-sama, and for that, he received a lot of criticism from many ninjas, including your older brother. This time, I chose not to save him. Instead, I've granted him his wish."

"Otherwise, if I had saved him and he survived, what would he have done? Probably scolded me as trash in the future. Don't you think so?"

He looked around at the other Konoha shinobi present, seeking their opinions.

The scene was met with collective speechlessness.

Asuma, the 16-year-old boy, was flushed with anger and found himself at a loss for a retort.

"That's right!!!!!"

Seeing no one was responding, Tatsuya suddenly raised his voice again and asked.

Numerous weak ninjas and ordinary villagers onlookers quivered at the outburst.

"Yes, yes, Tatsuya-sama is absolutely right!"

"This is all for the sake of Konoha's victory!"

"Tatsuya-sama is dedicated to the village's welfare and hasn't done anything wrong."

"Shinnosuke-sama must understand this and have great hope for it!"

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Hearing the continuous flattery from those around him, Tatsuya couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. While he knew that the words of praise from these individuals were heartfelt, it still felt quite refreshing.

Tatsuya had finally come to understand why a certain man in his previous life liked to hero so much. There was an undeniable allure to being surrounded by admirers showering him with compliments.

"Master Tatsuya, I must respectfully disagree with your viewpoint."

Just as the flattery continued to pour in from every side, a dissenting voice rang out, capturing the attention of everyone present.

It was a young boy of around 15, with dazzling blond hair and a warm masculine demeanor. Even Tatsuya had to admit that the nickname "Little Sun" was fitting for him.

Namikaze Minato!

He could be considered the epitome of excellence among the ninja in the Hokage world.

Of course, what left Tatsuya dumbfounded the most was that Namikaze Minato would later die and gain the opportunity to practice the other half of the Nine-Tails' power in the afterlife.

That was a ridiculous moment in manga with no explanation. Did he end up in a place called the Soul Society?

Seeing Tatsuya's quizzical expression, Namikaze Minato, who had donned his Konoha forehead protector, extended a hand and introduced himself:

"I'm Namikaze Minato, Master Tatsuya."

"And then?"

Tatsuya inquired, his expression unchanged.

"No one can deny your contribution to Konoha's victory, but when you said that you would sacrifice your comrades' lives for the mission, I cannot agree with that."

Namikaze Minato spoke in a tone that was neither overly respectful nor impudent, "Nothing is more precious than life itself. If we start weighing the success or failure of each mission against the lives of our companions, and if everyone constantly chooses the mission, we risk losing sight of the essence of the Will of Fire."

Perhaps one's looks determine success or failure.

Unlike Asuma, who faced mockery after his statement, Namikaze Minato's words didn't elicit the same reaction. Many individuals lowered their heads in contemplation, and some even nodded in agreement.

It seemed that the young man's words held some undeniable truth.

Jiraiya, positioned to Tatsuya's right, listened to Namikaze Minato with a gleam in his eyes. He looked as though he had stumbled upon a treasure trove of knowledge.

"Did you know that my idiotic older brother was nearly labeled as a rebel?"

Tatsuya suddenly asked Namikaze Minato.

"Uh, yes, I've heard about that."

During the Second Ninja War, Namikaze Minato was merely a Chūnin assigned to stay back in the village. The storm generated by the failure of the White Fang's mission had nearly engulfed the entire Konoha Shinobi community. Rumors had circulated that anyone not criticizing the White Fang was unworthy of being a Konoha shinobi.

Even at his young age, Namikaze Minato had picked up on the abnormal atmosphere.

Unlike the fools in the original storyline who didn't even deserve to be named, he had enough wits to refrain from joining in when baseless rumors were spread.

"Do you know how to maintain a proper mindset in such situations?"

Tatsuya inquired again.

Namikaze Minato didn't quite understand why Tatsuya was directing this question at him, but he honestly nodded.

"Never argue with fools."

Namikaze Minato,  "I'm not sure if I agree with that."

Tatsuya: "Well, you're right."

"Puff~"

From the back and to the left, Tsunade couldn't help but chuckle. She was determined not to let her regal image crumble due to laughter.

Namikaze Minato: "..."

Though annoyed, he was compelled to maintain his smile.

"It's impressive how that completely silenced the opposition."

Obito, who was among the crowd behind them, was utterly flabbergasted.

Rin Nohara lowered her head in contemplation and thought inwardly, "Which should come first, the welfare of companions or the success of the mission? If it were me..."

Kurenai, "He's so charismatic!"

Shizune turned her gaze between Tatsuya and Namikaze Minato and asked curiously, "Kurenai, which one are you referring to?"

After hearing Namikaze Minato speak about "The Will of Fire," Tatsuya had already classified him as an "idiot." He wasn't annoyed, just mildly amused.

Once this minor storm subsided, the main group of ninjas, led by Tatsuya, began to enter the administrative building one after the other.

They were there to report the battle's details to Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage. Ultimately, they were awaiting Orochimaru, who was stationed at the front lines, to receive a truce from the Sand shinobi.

With that, the Second Ninja World War would be officially declared over.

In contrast to Asuma, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed much calmer about the death of his eldest son. He didn't display any skepticism about the circumstances of his son's passing. Tatsuya even recounted the process of assassinating the Second Kazekage to him.

Hiruzen didn't show any trace of doubt regarding his son's demise.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya remained bewildered from start to finish.

Based on Tatsuya's account, he and Sarutobi Shinnosuke had set out from the Land of Rivers, traveled to the Land of Rain, and then encountered their future selves. The three of them had infiltrated the Land of Wind and assassinated the Second Kazekage in Sunagakure.

However, Jiraiya hadn't crossed paths with Sarutobi Shinnosuke at any point during the mission!

What was happening?

"When you departed from Konoha, you mentioned that even if you witnessed your comrade's death, you would prioritize completing the mission. And you actually followed through with it."

After listening to Tatsuya's report, Sarutobi Hiruzen remarked in a tone devoid of emotional fluctuations.

"Of course."

Tatsuya responded with pride:

"After all, my older brother faced the same situation before and chose to save his comrades. He was criticized relentlessly, but now he's Konoha's hero. This proves that my decision was the right one."

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"Even in Pure land, Shinnosuke probably hoped I would do the same; after all, he also criticized my foolish older brother in the past and  my brother nearly committed suicide because of it, didn't he?"

Tatsuya said this with a smile on his face.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, holding a cigarette between his index and middle fingers, squeezed them together. It was a subtle gesture that might go unnoticed by an ordinary ninja, but several Kage-level ninjas in the room were sharp enough to catch it.

"He hit himself in the foot with a stone, didn't he?" Tsunade thought to herself, stifling a chuckle.

Initially, she hadn't paid much attention to Sarutobi Hiruzen's aging face. She was mostly curious about how he would react upon hearing the news of his eldest son's death.

"Well, I suppose you're right."

After a silence that lasted for over ten seconds, Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his head once more, a smile on his lips. He nodded and said, "Now, let's wait for Orochimaru to send the cooperation agreement from the country of wind."

"Then there's really nothing more to say, Master Hokage..."

Nara Shikaku, while not Kage-level capable, also picked up on the unusual atmosphere in the room through his keen perception. He understood, however, that Sarutobi Hiruzen had no grounds to blame Tatsuya in this situation.

After all, in a similar scenario previously, Sakumo had saved Sarutobi Shinnosuke, only to be ridiculed as a fool. In this case, Tatsuya had chosen not to save him, thus letting him die this time. Precedent had been set, leaving no room for dispute.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile returned.

"You've all worked hard since returning from the battlefield. Let's head back and reunite with your families first."

"Oh, I'm nearly dead."

With those words, Tsunade promptly left without turning back.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened once again.

"This girl can never hold back her words," Tatsuya remarked with a strange grin before walking out of the office.

Honestly, someone like Tsunade, who couldn't keep her thoughts to herself, wasn't well-suited for a position of authority. She shared a trait with her grandfather, Senju Hashirama, who also had a tendency to speak their mind freely. However, unlike Hashirama, she lacked the overwhelming strength to back it up.

While she had managed to secure the position of the Fifth Hokage in the original story, she seemed to have struggled to fully assert her authority over the elders. She couldn't completely eliminate their influence, despite being in power.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, the two senior members of the Konoha council, were currently trailing Tsunade, their beam-jumping antics quite the spectacle. Interestingly, these two had survived various dangerous situations, which Tatsuya found somewhat miraculous.

...

...

One by one, Jiraiya, Sakumo, and the members of the Nara-Shika-Ino trio left the scene.

Subsequently, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned his three elder companions: Konoha's F4, to convene in the highest conference room.

"Do you believe that Shinnosuke died at the hands of Kazekage, Hiruzen?"

Utatane Koharu was the first to express skepticism after Sarutobi Hiruzen recounted Tatsuya's words.

The future promotion of Sarutobi Hiruzen's son to the position of Hokage or at least anbu captain had been unanimously agreed upon by the four of them, including Danzo. While their relationship with Danzo was not as strained as it became after the Third Great Ninja War, they were all aware that as long as Sarutobi Hiruzen's descendants remained in the Hokage position, the true power in Konoha would remain with them.

Their good days would be over if power shifted to the Senju, Uchiha, or other non-elder factions.

As such, Shinnosuke's death wasn't just bad news for Sarutobi Hiruzen; it also spelled trouble for the entire elder council.

Of course, the others were just as aware of this.

The fact that Sarutobi's Shinnosuke aspired to become Hokage would change only if the Hokage system transitioned into a dictatorship.

"What are you suspecting, Koharu?"

Mitokado Homura frowned. "Do you believe that Tatsuya could have killed Shinnosuke... Though he has a unique approach, he can't be that daring, can he?"

Mitokado Homura had quickly caught onto the thoughts of a friend he'd known for nearly fifty years. He guessed that she was entertaining the idea.

But he deemed it highly unlikely.

Tatsuya had a distinctly different modus operandi from the naive Sakumo.

He was sharp, ruthless, and cunning, embodying all the traits that described their generation of elders. Although they wouldn't admit it to themselves, they saw a reflection of their own values in him. Perhaps he could be compared to those shinobi from the Sengoku era.

"Why doubt it without any evidence? How did Shinnosuke die? Are you relying solely on that kid's testimony?" Utatane Koharu coldly stated.

She held a deep resentment for Tatsuya. Her animosity stemmed not from any particular reason other than the fact that he couldn't be manipulated to serve the elders' agenda. In their eyes, any prodigy who didn't serve their interests had no value.

"Danzo, what are your thoughts?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to Danzo, who was best known among them for his manipulation and scheming.

Danzo showed little concern for the circumstances of Sarutobi Shinnosuke's death. In his estimation, Shinnosuke's qualifications were mediocre, rendering him unfit for Hokage.

Whether he lived or died was of little consequence to Danzo.

If not for the fact that he was Sarutobi Hiruzen's son, would he have even merited a second thought?

Danzo pondered for a few seconds before speaking:

"Jiraiya also participated in the assassination of Kazekage. We should inquire with him."

...

...

Having left the administrative building, Jiraiya made his way to the outskirts of Konoha. He arrived at the farm hut where Tatsuya resided, knocking on the door. Receiving no response, Jiraiya furrowed his brows in confusion and muttered to himself.

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Not finding Tatsuya in the farm hut, Jiraiya decided to return to Konoha and inquire about his whereabouts from Shumo.

"Tatsuya? Just a moment ago, he was about to head back, but Nawaki dragged him for a drink. He should be at the Senju clan now."

Sakumo, who was holding his son's hand and preparing to leave, replied after thinking for a moment.

"Really? Thank you, Mr. Sakumo."

Even though Jiraiya was one of the Sannin, he couldn't help but address Sakumo respectfully.

"You also helped to assassinate Kazekage right? Thank you for helping Tatsuya."

Sakumo waved his hand and chuckled.

The Kazekage.

Upon hearing these two words, Jiraiya's expression changed slightly. After a brief pause, he couldn't resist asking, "Mr. Sakumo, do you find anything unusual about the Kazekage mission?"

Given the occasional glances of passersby in their direction, Jiraiya chose not to use the term "assassination."

"Huh? What do you mean? Is there something wrong?" Sakumo furrowed his brow and asked.

At that moment, another middle-aged man, who looked to be around the same age as Sakumo, walked up with a young girl named Kurenai.

From the unmistakable red pupils that resembled Uchiha Sharigan, it was clear who this man was.

"What's going on here?" Shinku Yuhi asked as he lifted his daughter up.

"Oh, it's Shinku-san."

Sakumo responded with a smile and then explained, "Jiraiya has some doubts about the mission Tatsuya carried out with Shinnosuke in Sunagakure."

There was nothing surprising about Sakumo's expression.

Jiraiya inwardly concluded that Sakumo likely had no knowledge of the deeper details.

While inwardly sighing, Jiraiya shook his head with a wry smile. He had heard about the White Fang from both Orochimaru and Tsunade. A figure as renowned as the White Fang was nearly undone by mere rumors.

He had initially been skeptical, but upon meeting Sakumo again after many years, he realized how innocent, even naïve, the man was.

How could he not have noticed his brother's unusual behavior?

Sakumo truly hadn't, while Shinku Yuhi was feigning ignorance with a purpose.

"I also heard about this. You've both gone through a lot, performing such a high-ranking mission. You should rest now," Sakumo replied.

Before Sakumo, whose mission had failed, had faced criticism from the entire village, Shinku had already felt something was amiss. How had the details of the Super S-grade mission, meant to be top-secret, become so widely known? While mission failures weren't uncommon, why had the backlash against Sakumo been so severe this time?

Shinku had pieced together various clues after speaking with Shikau and other jonins on the Suna Battlefield. Tatsuya had actively joined forces with Sarutobi Shinnosuke and gone to the Sand Shinobi to assassinate the Second Kazekage.

Connecting the dots, he had started to piece together the puzzle.

Though he was still trying to understand, he feigned ignorance to avoid implicating himself. Given his status and power, he was hardly qualified to meddle in such matters.

Upon hearing Shinku's words, Jiraiya understood that further inquiries were futile. After nodding to the two of them, he turned and left.

"Jiraiya seems a bit off. What do you think is going on?"

Sakumo looked puzzled.

"Sakumo, you should eat more walnuts to nourish your brain." Shinku patted Shumo on the shoulder, feigning lament.

"What do you mean by that?" Sakumo replied, seeming displeased.

"Let's go; both our families can have a barbecue together," Shinku suggested with a smile.

"Dad, can you invite Mr. Tatsuya too?"

Kurenai's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Why's that?"

"He's so handsome!"

Kurenai's eyes were practically shining like stars. Shinku's face darkened.

...

...

In the Senju clan grounds,

"Hello, Lord Jiraiya."

"Is Lord Jiraiya here to see Princess Tsunade? Head to the right."

"Would you like to try the freshly steamed buns, Master Jiraiya?"

As Jiraiya entered the Senju clan area, many Senju members greeted him. He nodded in response, all the while thinking, "The once-powerful clan on par with the Uchiha has ended up like this."

While there were still many Senju living on the clan's land, Jiraiya, an outsider, knew better. These individuals who lacked ninja abilities and were essentially ordinary people couldn't truly uphold the name "Senju." Only Tsunade, along with Senju Nawaki and a handful of remaining Senju ninjas, represented the clan.

The position of the Senju clan in Konoha was now not even on par with Sarutobi, Uchiha, or Hyuga. It was even below Ino-Shika-Cho, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans.

If it weren't for Tsunade's Kage-level status, it seemed that even the likes of Moegi or Shiranui might take advantage of the Senju name to wield some influence.

The clan patriarch's residence, where Tsunade and Nawaki resided, was located at the corner of the clan's land. It was said that Senju Hashirama had moved to the outskirts of the clan due to the need for a quiet environment following his intense battles with Uchiha Madara.

However, after suffering heavy losses a year ago, the Senju clan had been reduced to its lowest point and had become quiet no matter where they were.

As Jiraiya approached the entrance of the mansion, the scent of sukiyaki wafted out, accompanied by Senju Nawaki's jubilant voice.

"Aniki is amazing. Not only did he kill Sarutobi Shinnosuke, but he also made sure there was no evidence. I bet Sarutobi Hiruzen is furious and banging his head against the wall. Haha~"