Chapter 113: Political Credit
Yoru scanned the shocked expressions of the Jonin, finding it amusing.
Before today, the Senju Clan had always been the most desperate fighters on the battlefield.
Whether in the First Great Ninja War or the current Second Ninja War, the Senju Clan was always at the forefront of the charge.
Whether Jonin or Genin, the Senju Clan had lived up to the village and the Will of Fire.
Ninjas who became Jonin were not fools.
The Senju Clan’s proposal to strengthen the village’s medical system was actually aimed at withdrawing from the combat sequence.
More importantly, it signaled that Hiruzen Sarutobi’s political credibility had collapsed among the Senju Clan.
The Senju Clan would no longer fully support Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hanaki Senju and Tsunade laid everything out on the table, especially the number of Senju Clan ninjas, proving how much the Senju Clan, once Konoha’s largest ninja clan, had sacrificed for Konoha.
At the same time, any future large-scale casualties among Senju Clan ninjas would be meticulously recorded, one by one.
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately said:
“Over 150 Senju ninjas transferring to medical ninjas would have too great an impact on the village.
Tsunade, don’t be willful. You are already an elite Jonin, and together with Orochimaru and Jiraiya, you forced a draw with Demon of the Underworld Hanzo, earning the title of the Sannin.
The Senju Clan is Konoha’s founding clan. We can’t leave them with a reputation for cowardice in battle, can we?”
This was practically an insult.
Tsunade angrily smashed the table with her fist:
“Third Hokage! Saying the Senju Clan is cowardly in battle—is that going too far!
Over seven hundred of my clansmen sacrificed in the First Great Ninja War.
My grandfather died prematurely fighting Uchiha Madara.
My father, mother, grandmother, and over seven hundred clansmen all died for the village’s tailed beasts!
Excluding the Nine-Tails transfer seal, over three hundred of my clansmen sacrificed in the Second Ninja War.
My brother Nawaki died for the village in the Land of Grass!
My second grandfather even sacrificed himself to protect the few people on this stage!
Tell me the Senju Clan is cowardly in battle?”
In terms of the Will of Fire, the Senju Clan, with only over 200 ninjas left, had their fire burning purple-hot.
Tsunade’s retort was practically an insult.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression visibly turned ashen.
Especially after hearing that Second Hokage Tobirama sacrificed for the few people on stage, the Jonin couldn’t help whispering among themselves.
The Senju Clan’s fate made the Jonin feel a sense of sorrow for kindred spirits.
Some looked at the high-ranking officials on stage with hostility and scrutiny.
Yoru recalled the original story: Hiruzen Sarutobi’s political credibility collapsed with Tsunade, so she never returned to the village until his death.
His political credibility collapsed with the Hyuga Clan too; Yoru didn’t believe the Hyuga Clan noticed nothing during Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha.
His political credibility slowly collapsed amid repeated internal conflicts.
In the end, he faced his traitorous student Orochimaru alone.
The simple-minded Might Guy tried several times to rush to the rooftop to rescue the Hokage, but was stopped by Kakashi each time.
It was hard to say how much political credibility Hiruzen Sarutobi had left with Kakashi.
A politician’s death doesn’t occur on the day their body dies, but on the day their political credibility is lost.
The Jonin’s whispers made Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others look even more grim.
Even Danzo, who was always impassive, had twitching eyelids.
Tsunade hadn’t stopped her stormy onslaught and continued shouting:
“The Senju Clan made such huge sacrifices—did the village grow stronger?
When the Senju Clan founded the village, there were over three thousand ninjas in the clan, plus over two thousand Uzumaki Clan relatives by marriage.
Now the Senju Clan has only over two hundred ninjas left, and the Uzumaki Clan has only Kushina remaining.
Has Konoha Village, standing on the Senju Clan’s sacrifices, properly protected its own villagers?
My brother Nawaki sacrificed on the front line at age
Are more than half of Nawaki’s classmates still alive now?
Third Hokage, I don’t approve of your way of protecting Konoha.
I admit what you said: in wartime, nothing can be done.
I have no power to change Konoha’s current order. I will fully support Konoha’s medical system and protect Konoha in our own way!”
The Jonin realized this was a firm declaration, not a negotiation with the Third Hokage.
The Senju Clan remained the ninja clan that loved Konoha the most; however, continuous deaths had shattered their persistence.
Hot blood doesn’t cool easily.
Joining the medical system was this clan’s final resistance, their final decision.
Yoru suddenly recalled a conspiracy theory from his previous life.
It was said that many Ming emperors died at the hands of imperial physicians.
The imperial physician Liu Wentai alone killed two emperors: Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen and Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youtang, both “treated” to death by him.
Emperor Jiajing wiped out the imperial medical bureau and lived over sixty years.
If the Senju Clan controlled Konoha Hospital and the Frontline Medical Department, their influence would rise rather than fall.
On the Night of the Nine-Tails Transfer Seal, Yoru had saved some Senju Clan ninjas, and now the Senju Clan’s counterattack had come.
Tsunade shattered the illusions papered over by the high-ranking officials with her stormy attack.
Yet they couldn’t do anything to Tsunade—whether in identity, strength, or personality, she wasn’t someone they could control.
At this Jonin Meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other high-ranking officials lost face, thoroughly slapped.
Tsunade’s question about the villagers not being properly protected left Hiruzen Sarutobi unable to respond.
The village had too many deaths—enough that people were discussing when the public cemetery behind the Memorial Monument would be expanded.
After a deep breath, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, “Tsunade, you won’t even call me Teacher anymore?”
Tsunade showed no retreat:
“Third Hokage, this is the Jonin Meeting, not a place for reminiscing!
During work, please refer to yourself as Hokage!”
Yoru drew in a sharp breath—not worthy of Tsunade, the top true heroine of the Hokage besides Sasuke.
Hiruzen Sarutobi ate another rebuff and said:
“The Senju Clan’s proposal to strengthen Konoha Hospital and the Frontline Medical Department involves major issues; we’ll discuss it in detail later.
Today, let’s first discuss the more important matter: the Land of Rivers war.
The Hidden Sand Village has declared war on Konoha. Konoha has just gone through two wars in the Land of Hot Water and Land of Grass, with the Land of Grass war also involving the Land of Rain battlefield.
Facing the Hidden Sand Village’s declaration of war, Konoha must not show weakness.
Now, announcing the Battlefield Commander and Deputy Commander for the Land of Rivers Battlefield.”
Seeing the Third Hokage change the topic, Tsunade didn’t delay the main business and sat down.
She had achieved her goal, and so had the Senju Clan.
Shikaku Nara took out the previously prepared list and glanced at the Third Hokage.
One of the Deputy Commanders on this list was Princess Tsunade.
Seeing no further instructions from the Third Hokage, Shikaku Nara read from the list:
“Land of Rivers Battlefield Commander: Shikaku Nara.
Deputy Commander Princess Tsunade, also the Jonin in charge of the Frontline Medical Department.
Deputy Commander Sakumo Hatake, Jonin in charge of the highest action team.
List of remaining conscripted Jonin Captains, including…”
