Whispers of Shadows.(EDITED)

(Tsunade's POV)

Tsunade stormed into the Hokage building with the fury of a brewing tempest. Even the ANBU posted at the door hesitated before stepping into her path.

"Lady Tsunade, Lord Hokage is—"

"I don't care," she snapped, brushing past them like they weren't even there.

Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, looked up from his desk as she entered uninvited. He raised a hand, signaling the ANBU to stand down, and gestured for her to sit.

"Tsunade… I assume this is about the Senju compound?"

"Don't play dumb, sensei," she said sharply, not sitting. "You already know why I'm here. You sent those so-called 'guards'—Danzo's spies—to my home."

Hiruzen sighed, folding his hands calmly. "They were posted for your protection. The Senju bloodline—"

"Spare me the crap," Tsunade interrupted. "You let Danzo plant his rats in my house. I've removed them. Don't send anyone else."

With that, she turned and walked out before Hiruzen could respond.

He sat there, silent for a moment, then picked up his smoking pipe and stared out the window, watching the smoke curl toward the sky.

There were some things he could no longer control.

And Tsunade was definitely one of them.

(Back to Ren)

Tsunade returned later that evening and found me deep in training, manipulating small wooden roots with precision. I was getting better—more control, more creativity.

She sat down beside me and, for once, didn't correct my form. She just watched.

Then, after a long pause, she spoke.

"Ren… do you know why there are only two Senju left?"

I stopped mid-movement, turning to her.

"After the deaths of Hashirama and Tobirama, our clan… started disappearing," she said slowly. "Killed in wars. Missions. Ambushes.

But too many of those deaths were convenient. Too many happened under suspicious circumstances."

She looked me in the eye, her voice grim.

"I believe that some within our own village wanted to see the Senju clan fall. Maybe it was fear. Maybe envy. Maybe just politics.

But I want you to promise me something, Ren—never trust the words of the Konoha Elders. Not even the Hokage."

She stood up and placed a hand on my head gently.

"I'll protect you with everything I have."

Then she walked away.

Of course, I already knew.

Danzo had feared the power of the Senju for years. Assassinations, misinformation, forced deployments into no-win missions—he orchestrated much of it. And Hiruzen? He just watched, pretending his hands were tied.

It didn't matter.

I had no plans to rely on any of them anyway.

I'd play the harmless child in front of them for now—until I was strong enough to burn their illusions to ash.

Time Skip: Six Months Later

I stood in the training field, roots twisting around me in elegant spirals.

I'd done it.

Mastered Wood Release control.

I could now pull roots from beneath the earth and manipulate them with precision—stab, entangle, shield. Defense and offense in one.

Tsunade had even tested me with shuriken and kunai—every single one deflected, grabbed, or broken mid-air by living wood.

During those six months, I didn't slack. My shurikenjutsu, taijutsu, and chakra control had all become second nature. I trained like breathing—constant, automatic, focused.

Tomorrow would be the first time I stepped out of the Senju compound.

My first day at the Ninja Academy.

I stood at the edge of the lake, watching the sun reflect off its surface.

"Six years," I thought.

"Six years of training… and now the real game begins."

I took a deep breath, reviewing everything I'd built.

Senju Taijutsu – Mastered in form and flexibility.

Water & Earth Chakra Control – Refined and efficient.

Wood Release – Fully awakened, fully controlled.

Shurikenjutsu – Sharp, accurate, lethal.

Genjutsu Resistance – Natural Energy acts as a tether; I'd feel it instantly if a genjutsu disconnected me from the world.

With my Senju vitality and perfect chakra control, only Mangekyō-level genjutsu could affect me—and even then, not for long. And in time, once I fully develop my sage body… I'd be immune.

Tomorrow, the village would meet "Ren Senju."

But they wouldn't know what he was truly capable of.

Let them underestimate me. Let them see just a polite, quiet child.

Because under the surface…

A storm is growing.

(Author's Note):

Ren's officially heading to the Academy in Chapter 11! Who do you think he'll meet first—Kakashi? Guy? Future classmates? Comment your predictions or ideas!