The Senju Clan’s Resolve

The atmosphere was taut with tension. Senju Linmu's face was ashen—though truthfully, it hadn't looked normal in weeks.

Yako stood behind Captain Yellow Dog, quietly awaiting orders.

Danzo, standing in front of Yellow Dog, spoke:

"The Senju Clan must surrender the Uzumaki sealing techniques. The Nine-Tails will be sealed by ANBU.

Senju Linmu, your clan's strength is nothing compared to when Lord Tobirama led it.

If anything goes wrong with the Nine-Tails' sealing, half the village could die because of your arrogance!"

Linmu's face twisted in pain. He exhaled heavily before speaking.

"The weakening of the Senju… isn't that because we've sacrificed too much for the village?

My father died. My uncles died. My brother died. Now my son is dead too.

Which of them didn't die for this village?

The Nine-Tails seal is the foundation of the Senju. Only our clan has the sealing techniques powerful enough. Only my niece, Kushina, can withstand the Nine-Tails' chakra.

The sealing must be done by the Senju. On this matter, I will never compromise."

Yako listened with fascination. It was clear: neither side was backing down.

As long as the Nine-Tails existed, the Senju remained Konoha's most important clan.

Even ravaged and diminished, they held irreplaceable value.

If they yielded and let ANBU take over the Nine-Tails' seal, ANBU could justify seizing custody of the jinchūriki for "safety," stripping the Senju of their last bastion of power.

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally intervened: "This is not the place to argue."

Danzo's face remained blank. Linmu gritted his teeth.

Sarutobi watched Linmu's stubborn, almost feral expression. His gaze shifted multiple times before he finally said:

"This constant arguing won't solve anything. Lady Mito's mind is faltering more by the day.

However—we cannot risk a sealing ceremony within the village. If anything goes wrong, half of Konoha could be destroyed.

Clan Head Linmu, begin preparations for the Nine-Tails' transfer seal. Draft a proposal."

Linmu's eyes lit up. Was this… a concession?

Danzo glanced at Hiruzen, puzzled why he was going off-script and not continuing to pressure Linmu.

"Yes! Lord Hokage, I will create the perfect sealing plan!"

Sarutobi nodded, though his face remained clouded with worry.

"Clan Head Linmu, I understand your position.

But does the Senju truly have the strength to seal the Nine-Tails? How much power are you willing to commit?

Danzo is right—your clan's strength has undeniably declined.

I want a viable plan, not just words. We can't afford mistakes."

Linmu vowed confidently:

"Lord Hokage, the Senju have always believed in uniting others' strength.

Yes, we have fewer Kage-level shinobi and elites than before—but we never worshipped individual power. We believe in collective strength.

The Senju possess a Joint Sealing Technique that draws from every clan member's chakra.

I will mobilize every single Senju—man, woman, and elder—to complete this seal together!"

From a distance, Yako caught pieces of their conversation, and his heart trembled.

Was Linmu truly prepared to stake the entire clan on this seal?

Would the Nine-Tails' transfer be… the Senju's night of annihilation?

No. He couldn't allow the Senju to go extinct like in the original timeline.

Sarutobi and Danzo began walking back toward the Hokage Tower.

There was no one around them—ANBU had cleared the area.

Danzo asked, "Have you made your decision?"

Sarutobi nodded solemnly.

"The Second Shinobi War has lasted just over two years. We've lost too many.

A full quarter of Konoha's shinobi have died in that time.

Too many now resent me for their families' deaths.

I can't take risks. I must have total control over the Nine-Tails.

Danzo, carry out your plan. Go to the frontlines. Find Orochimaru."

Danzo nodded and vanished with a shunshin.

The next morning, after rotation duty ended, Yako returned to ANBU base with Captain Yellow Dog.

Yellow Dog issued a new directive: all squad and unit leaders were to study the Joint Sealing Technique—gather records, history, and intel.

ANBU had few sealing experts. ROOT hadn't even started using the Curse Seal of the Tongue yet.

Yako himself knew a few sealing jutsu: the Curse Seal of Self-Harm, and the Contract Seal.

The former came from the system, the latter from a scroll given by Uzumaki Yuka.

He pretended to study sealing with the squad leaders—no way was he revealing what he actually knew.

Days passed. The Nine-Tails' chakra grew more unstable.

Then came the twelfth day of the second month.

The Senju were finally beginning the sealing.

Under cover of darkness, the Senju compound slowly went dark.

One door after another opened. Shinobi stepped into the streets.

Husbands and wives. Fathers and sons. Brothers. Sisters.

Anyone who had graduated from the academy now wore robes bearing the Senju crest.

Unlike standard shinobi vests, the Senju robes were like those of nobility—flowing, wide-sleeved garments, elegant and ancient.

A proud, thousand-year legacy walked in silence.

Each Senju bore that pride on their face.

If they succeeded in transferring the Nine-Tails' seal to Kushina, they could continue to prosper for decades more.

Long ago, Hashirama entrusted the Nine-Tails to the village—and to the Senju—because only the Senju and the Uzumaki could control it.

Now, the Senju were but a shadow of that golden age, forced to pin their revival on a jinchūriki.

This was their darkest hour.

With Nawaki, heir to the clan, fallen on the frontlines… perhaps it was also time for their rebirth.

Kushina Uzumaki would become the Senju's next Kage-level shinobi.

From the rooftop beyond the compound walls, Yako cast one last glance at the empty Senju district.

Only children too young to graduate remained.

They carried infants on their backs—babies younger than themselves.

At the gate stood elders with missing limbs, waiting, heads raised.

As far as Yako knew, aside from Tsunade and a few critical personnel, all Senju shinobi had returned from the front.

In the depths of the district, Mito Uzumaki moved slowly, resting after each step, supported by others as she climbed into the carriage.

Kushina followed her in.

This time—it wasn't a feint like at the Battle of Gyūgasan.

This time, the transfer was real.

The wheels turned.

Two Uzumaki—one old, one young—departed the compound.

Eight elite Senju surrounded the cart.

Tonight… might be the Senju Clan's requiem. Their final aria.