Chapter 77: The Senju Clan’s Perseverance
The situation was extremely tense, Senju Rinki’s expression was ashen. For a while now, his expression hadn’t been normal.
Arriving behind the Kiiroinu Captain, Yoru waited for the order.
Danzo said in front of Kiiroinu:
“The Senju Clan must hand over the Vortex Sealing Secret Jutsu and have Anbu perform the Nine-Tails Seal.
Senju Rinki, the Senju Clan’s strength has greatly declined, far inferior to when Tobirama Teacher was Clan Head.
If there’s any mishap with the Nine-Tails Seal, half the village will be buried with your ambitions!”
Senju Rinki suddenly looked pained, letting out a long breath before continuing to speak:
“The Senju Clan’s strength has weakened—isn’t it precisely because we’ve sacrificed too much for the village?
My father died, my uncle died, my younger brother died, and now my son has also died.
Which one of them didn’t die for the village?
The Nine-Tails Seal is the foundation of the Senju Clan. Only we Senju Clan master powerful Sealing Jutsu, and only my niece Kushina can withstand the Nine-Tails’ chakra.
The Nine-Tails Seal must be completed by us Senju Clan! On this matter, I absolutely will not compromise.”
Yoru listened with keen interest. It seemed both sides absolutely would not compromise.
As long as there was the Nine-Tails, the Senju Clan remained Konoha Village’s greatest ninja clan.
Even if the Senju Clan suffered countless casualties and weakened to the extreme, they were still the village’s most important ninja clan.
If they backed down this time and handed the Nine-Tails Seal to Anbu, Anbu could use maintaining the Nine-Tails Seal as a pretext to seize custody of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke up: “Don’t argue here. This isn’t the place for arguing.”
Danzo was expressionless, while Senju Rinki gritted his teeth.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Senju Rinki’s stubborn and even somewhat ferocious expression, his gaze shifting several times, ultimately saying:
“Constantly arguing like this isn’t a solution. Master’s Wife Mito’s mind is becoming increasingly unclear.
However, the Nine-Tails transfer seal absolutely cannot be performed within the village. If there’s an accident, half the village will be buried because of it.
Clan Head Rinki, you first formulate a scheme. Begin preparations for the Nine-Tails transfer seal.”
Senju Rinki’s eyes lit up. Had the village finally compromised and yielded?
Danzo turned his head to glance at Hiruzen, puzzled why Hiruzen wasn’t following the previous plan to continue pressuring Senju Rinki.
“Good! Hokage, I will formulate a perfect sealing plan!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, his expression filled with worry:
“Clan Head Rinki, I understand your stance.
Does the Senju Clan really have the ability to complete the Nine-Tails Seal? How much strength are you willing to commit?
Danzo says the Senju Clan’s strength has declined—this is an indisputable fact.
I hope you come up with a feasible scheme to ensure the Nine-Tails Seal has no problems, rather than just verbally emphasizing your stance.”
Senju Rinki said with utmost conviction:
“Hokage, the Senju Clan has always been researching how to unite more people’s strength.
Indeed, the Senju Clan’s Kage Level Ninjas and elite ninjas have decreased a lot in number, but we never worship individuals—we prefer to rely on unity.
The Senju Clan has a Combined Sealing Jutsu that can gather the strength of every Senju clansman.
At that time, I will arrange for all Senju Clan ninjas, regardless of gender, age, young or old, to complete the seal together!”
Yoru listened to snippets from afar, his heart filled with shock.
Was Senju Rinki going to stake the Senju Clan’s entire fortune on the Nine-Tails Seal?
Could the Nine-Tails transfer seal be the Senju Clan’s Night of the Clan Annihilation?
Yoru’s mind trembled. No, he absolutely could not let the Senju Clan suffer clan annihilation like in the original story.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo walked toward the Hokage Building.
The two of them had no one before or behind; everyone had been cleared out by Anbu.
Danzo asked: “Have you made up your mind?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said:
“The Second Ninja War only lasted a little over two years, and Konoha lost too many people.
In two years, Konoha lost a quarter of its ninjas.
Because of relatives’ deaths, more and more people in the village are dissatisfied with me.
I cannot take risks; there cannot be any accidents. We must firmly control the Nine-Tails.
Danzo, execute your plan. Go to the front line and find Orochimaru.”
Danzo nodded and body flickered away.
The morning after the shift change the next day, Yoru followed the Kiiroinu Captain back to the Anbu Base.
The Kiiroinu Captain issued an order requiring all squad leaders and small team leaders to research the Combined Sealing Jutsu, look up records of the Combined Sealing Jutsu, and collect intelligence.
At this time, Anbu was not skilled in Sealing Jutsu, and Root Ninjas did not have the Tongue Root Destruction Seal.
Yoru had mastered a few Sealing Jutsu: the Karma Seal of Retribution and the Contract Seal.
The Karma Seal of Retribution came from the System, and the Contract Seal came from the scroll that Yuka Uzumaki gave him.
He pretended to discuss the Combined Sealing Jutsu with the small team leader, but he wouldn’t contribute the Sealing Jutsu he had mastered.
Time passed day by day, and the Nine-Tails’ chakra grew increasingly volatile.
On the 12th of the second month, the Senju Clan was finally about to begin the Nine-Tails Seal.
Under the night sky, lamps went out one by one in the Senju Compound.
Doors opened one by one, and Senju ninjas stepped out of their homes.
Husbands and wives, fathers and sons, brothers, sisters.
As long as they were ninjas, as long as they had graduated from the Ninja Academy, they all put on robes bearing the Senju Clan Emblem.
Unlike ninja vests, the Senju Clan’s robes were like those of nobles, with wide robes and large sleeves, fluttering elegantly.
This was a ninja clan filled with a sense of glory and a legacy of over a thousand years.
Every Senju clansman’s face was filled with pride.
As long as they completed the Nine-Tails transfer seal, the Senju Clan, centered around Kushina Uzumaki, could continue to prosper for decades.
Back then, Clan Head Hashirama left the Nine-Tails to Konoha Village and the Senju Clan because he believed only the Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan had the ability to control the Nine-Tails.
Unexpectedly, now the Senju Clan had declined and could only rely on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to slowly recover their strength.
Now, it had arrived at the Senju Clan’s worst moment. The clan’s hope, Young Clan Head Nawaki, had sacrificed on the front line. It was also the moment for the Senju Clan to hit rock bottom and rebound.
Kushina Uzumaki would become the Senju Clan’s next Kage Level Ninja.
Yoru stood on the rooftop outside the Senju Compound, taking a final look at the empty Senju Compound.
Inside the compound, only some children who hadn’t graduated from the Ninja Academy remained.
These children carried swaddled infants and toddlers even smaller than themselves on their backs.
At the compound entrance, there were also some disabled elders looking on eagerly.
As far as Yoru knew, on the front line, aside from a few key Senju clansmen like Tsunade, the remaining Senju ninjas had all returned.
Deep in the compound, Mito Uzumaki moved sluggishly, needing to rest for several seconds after each step, slowly ascending the carriage with others’ support.
Kushina Uzumaki also boarded the carriage.
This time, it wasn’t the disguise from the previous Ushi-ga Mountain battle; it was the real transfer seal.
The wheels rolled slowly, carrying the elderly and young Whirlpool Ninjas outward.
Around the carriage, there were also eight Senju Clan elites.
Tonight might be the Senju Clan’s tragedy, their final swan song.
