Chapter 616: Senju Tobirama Decides to Target the Sarutobi Clan

Takuya had no interest in dealing with this mess, so naturally, Tsunade decided to step back as well.

It wasn't until Senju Tobirama took over that he realized he had walked straight into a disaster.

He didn't necessarily oppose Tsunade's initiative to scrutinize each clan's shinobi.

After all, he had been one of the key figures in promoting equality for civilian-born shinobi. For too long, clan shinobi had hoarded high-ranking positions, privileges, and resources.

Transparency would only strengthen Konoha.

The problem was, some clans had dug themselves into such deep pits that even he hadn't expected the extent of it.

Take the Sarutobi clan, for example.

When Konoha was first established, they had barely been a second-rate clan.

But now?

They had more active ninja than even the Uchiha.

Just where had they pulled so many shinobi from?

And more importantly—where had the resources come from?

Raising shinobi wasn't cheap. The costs of training, equipment, and mission funding were astronomical.

Yet, the Sarutobi clan had multiplied several times over.

It wasn't just them either—other clans that had closely followed the Third Hokage had also experienced similar unnatural growth.

For now, the situation had settled.

But many of the village's civilian shinobi had started watching the Sarutobi clan closely.

Once, the Uchiha had been the ones everyone resented.

Now, that resentment had shifted.

Hiruzen had long promoted the image of the Sarutobi clan as a "civilian" family.

But the reality?

They had grown even more powerful than the Uchiha.

That was something the civilian shinobi couldn't ignore.

Most clans had been decimated by war, their numbers dwindling, lineages nearly wiped out.

Yet the Sarutobi clan had exploded in numbers like they had been injected with steroids.

Tobirama tapped his fingers against his desk, deep in thought.

Was it time to break apart the Sarutobi clan?

The easiest solution would be to dismantle the clan entirely, forcing its members to integrate as civilians.

They could be scattered throughout the village, just like what had been done with the Senju clan.

But would Hiruzen allow it?

Tobirama doubted it.

Still, this needed to be addressed.

It was time for a meeting.

"Summon my brother, Hiruzen, and Tsunade to the Hokage's office," he instructed. "Tell them there's an urgent matter regarding the Cloud Village."

The Anbu operative bowed and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Tobirama gritted his teeth.

"…Also summon Yagami Takuya."

He didn't like it, but leaving Takuya out of this discussion wouldn't be appropriate.

No matter how much he disapproved of the man, he held an important position.

Even if he sided with Tsunade and the Uchiha, even if his own bloodline contained Uchiha heritage—Tobirama had to tolerate him.

With a sigh, he put down his paperwork and picked up the urgent report from the Cloud Village.

His eyes narrowed as he skimmed through it.

Seconds later, he shot to his feet, his pupils constricting.

"So they finally made their move."

As the summons spread across the village, even Hashirama, who had been casually playing mahjong with Nawaki, immediately abandoned his game and leaped out the window.

Takuya, on the other hand, was less than enthusiastic.

"Do I really have to go?" he muttered. "Your great-uncle and I don't get along. He doesn't like me, and I don't like him. I should just skip it."

Tsunade wasn't having it.

She yanked his hand away from where it had been casually resting inside her robe and shot him a glare.

"Hands off. And stop messing around. I used to think you were actually reliable, but lately, all you do is slack off."

She didn't wait for him to protest—just grabbed his wrist and dragged him along.

Takuya sighed.

No escape, then.

If he really refused, she might just kick him off the balcony.

For the sake of his personal well-being, he reluctantly followed her toward the Hokage's office.

By the time they arrived, most of the key figures were already there.

Closing the door behind them, Takuya slumped into a chair near the exit, clearly not intending to participate more than necessary.

Tobirama scanned the room.

Good. Everyone was here.

The Second Hokage remained seated in the Hokage's chair, and Tsunade didn't ask him to move.

"Let's get to the point."

He gestured to Nara Shikaku, who stepped forward with a set of documents.

Takuya exchanged a glance with Shikaku, silently questioning the contents.

Without a word, Shikaku subtly tilted his gaze toward Hiruzen.

Oh?

Now this was getting interesting.

Tobirama wasn't wasting time.

Even the matters Tsunade had been hesitant to handle—he was pushing through without hesitation.

Takuya leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

He was very interested in seeing how Hiruzen would react.

"Can't we just skip the files and get straight to the explanation?" Hashirama complained.

His words barely left his mouth before Tobirama's icy stare cut him off.

Immediately, Hashirama straightened up and cleared his throat, pretending to focus on reading.

After a single glance at the files, Takuya lost interest.

He already knew what they contained.

This wasn't new information to him.

Hiruzen, however, visibly tensed.

"Lord Second," he started, rising to his feet.

He hadn't expected this.

He had assumed that as time passed, people would forget.

That the resentment toward his clan would fade.

He had underestimated Tobirama.

The old man never let anything go.

Before he could speak further, Tobirama cut him off.

"Sit down."

The room went silent.

Hiruzen froze, then slowly lowered himself back into his chair.

Takuya barely suppressed a laugh.

Some people just couldn't win against Tobirama.

If anyone could put the former Hokage in his place, it was his own teacher.

"Monkey, what have you done…" Hashirama sighed, trailing off as he glanced at the documents.

He didn't even bother arguing.

Tobirama could handle this better than anyone.

Once everyone had finished reading, Tobirama finally spoke again.

"I support Tsunade's decision to publicly document all clan shinobi."

His voice was calm, but firm.

"Transparency will integrate the clans into the larger Konoha community, rather than allowing them to develop separately."

His gaze landed on Hiruzen.

"But I didn't expect my own student to be this bold."

His voice sharpened.

"Hiruzen, I believe you owe me an explanation."

His fingers tapped against the table.

"The Senju clan was once far more powerful than the Sarutobi. And yet, I dismantled it."

His voice was cold, unyielding.

"I had hoped you would continue my legacy."

His red eyes narrowed.

"But I was mistaken. The only thing you inherited from me… was my grudge against the Uchiha."

Hiruzen gritted his teeth.

"Lord Second, I only did what was best for my clan—"

"By siphoning Konoha's resources to fuel your own family's growth?"

Tobirama's voice was low, but seething with anger.

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(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read the rest of the Chapter at Patreon com/ Emik01. 

DO NOT FORGET POWER STONE AND CHATTING