He was even more afraid of Sarutobi Hiruzen's insidiousness. No wonder he was later given the titles Twin Jade of the Land of Fire and Strongest Hokage.
Once a person is shameless and has great power, he can write his own history.
Use rumors to attack people's weaknesses and beliefs.
As long as you stand at the highest moral point, you will always have the absolute advantage.
…
"I can't enter?!"
A burst of noise came into the ears of Senju Nawaki, among which was the voice of his sister, Tsunade.
There was also the sound of the ground cracking — he could already imagine that his sister was angry and, unable to control her strength, had smashed the earth beneath her.
"Granduncle Dōma, they can't wait any longer."
A sharp light flashed in Senju Nawaki's eyes.
His sister was brainwashed by the Third Hokage and immersed in false lies.
If she were asked to choose between Konoha and Senju Nawaki now, she would definitely choose Konoha and criticize him.
"It's despicable that she was brought up like this by that brat Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Complex emotions flickered in Senju Dōma's eyes.
Tsunade's talent and genius had been recognized by him. But all of Tsunade's achievements had become a weapon to attack Senju Nawaki, proof to others that he was unworthy to inherit the Senju name.
That was why he had never acknowledged Tsunade as heir. She had not inherited the true title of Senju.
Only Senju Nawaki was the future of the Senju clan.
Now, Nawaki had awakened Wood Release, and also possessed the ability to help others awaken Wood Release. As long as he was given time — as long as the Senju clan was given time — the clan would rise to unimaginable heights.
Senju Nawaki's mindset was no longer that of the idiot boy from the past. He was now capable of shouldering the burden of the Senju clan.
"Granduncle Dōma, let's start the plan! Sarutobi Shinnosuke is the only one there."
Senju Nawaki nodded firmly to Senju Dōma.
"Good."
Senju Dōma gave a grave nod and stepped outside.
There was noise beyond the door. His sister again, questioning Dōma why Nawaki wouldn't even see her.
But Dōma, the elder inheritor of the Senju clan — a man who had once wrestled with Senju Tobirama himself — easily suppressed her.
A few minutes later.
A figure who should have been following behind Dōma suddenly sped up and pushed past him.
Senju Dōma did not stop him, but dissatisfaction filled his eyes.
The Sarutobi clan truly had no respect at all. They understood no rules.
"How can you stop an idiot from dying?" Dōma muttered, shaking his head as he looked at Sarutobi Shinnosuke's back.
Shinnosuke was no longer in his standard Anbu uniform.
The hair on his face was thick, making him resemble a monkey that hadn't yet fully evolved.
There wasn't much difference between him wearing a monkey mask and not wearing one.
Senju Nawaki recognized him at a glance — this was the Anbu captain who had questioned him before. The corners of Nawaki's mouth curled upward unconsciously.
So it's finally come to this?
Konoha had been controlled by Sarutobi Hiruzen to this extent.
"Senju Nawaki, I will now read out Konoha's judgment on you…"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke pulled out a scroll from behind him, his eyes brimming with arrogance and excitement.
He looked down on Nawaki, lying on the hospital bed, as though he were nothing more than prey.
Like seeing a plate of delicious food, ready to devour it all.
Senju Nawaki frowned.
He hated that look.
Exchanging a glance with Senju Dōma, both of them had the answer in their hearts.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, still reading the so-called resolution, suddenly sensed something strange in the air.
Swish!
Wooden thorns broke through the ground, turning it into a hedgehog of sharpened stakes.
"Ah—! Wood Release?!"
He had no time to react. His body was impaled. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth as he let out a scream, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The breath of life rapidly drained from him.
The scroll slipped from his hand, and Nawaki's gaze fell on Konoha's decree that had not yet been read aloud.
[ …Senju Nawaki, hand over all the hidden power of the Senju clan… to be distributed by Konoha's Elders… Konoha guarantees his safety… ]
A scornful smile touched Nawaki's lips.
"Safety?"
The word echoed in his mind as he looked at Sarutobi Shinnosuke lying on the ground.
Such an idiot.
Lacking in strength, yet daring to come alone into his ward?
It was because Nawaki had once given the impression of weakness, someone who could be bullied.
That was why they dared to oppress him and the Senju clan this way.
But the new Nawaki was no longer prey to be slaughtered — he was the hunter.
Shinnosuke's eyes widened with fear. His life force was gone, but disbelief remained.
His father had told him he would be Hokage.
Senju Nawaki — once considered waste, someone he thought could be exploited and manipulated — was now the one to end his life.
His eyes were filled with regret and terror.
"Regret? Fear?" Nawaki's voice was cold.
"No. You're just dying. Go in peace. I will slowly collect everything the Sarutobi clan owes me — and your corpse will be of interest."
Senju Nawaki shook his head. Such people never realized their mistakes; they only feared death.
He pressed his palm onto Sarutobi Shinnosuke's head. Before the man's soul could pass into the Pure Land, Nawaki dragged it into his own soul space.
The Bloodline Replenishment System in his soul immediately began analyzing Sarutobi Shinnosuke's bloodline, fusing it with his own and running countless deductions.
But Nawaki's mind wasn't in the soul space.
Though the commotion had been small, it was enough to draw the attention of elite jōnin outside who were watching the ward closely.
Their plan could begin.
Outside, Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo were struggling to hold others back.
Senju Dōma glanced at Nawaki and quickly formed hand seals.
The ground rolled and shifted, erasing all traces.
"Nawaki, you don't have to go this far," Dōma said, his eyes heavy as he looked at his grandson.
"Granduncle Dōma," Nawaki replied evenly, "if we're putting on a play, it has to be complete. I don't want to become a poor orator like the Third Hokage. The Senju clan's resentment needs a spark — and the most suitable person to ignite it is me, the once 'unworthy' heir."
"Sarutobi Shinnosuke, assassinating the heir of the Senju clan — that reason is legitimate enough to silence many voices, and it will make our future plans easier to implement."
Dōma stared at him, then slowly nodded. The reluctance in his eyes faded into grim relief.
"Earth Style: Thousand Spears!"
As the words left his lips, his fingers flew through hand seals.
The ground burst upward. Spikes of earth shot out, piercing into Nawaki's body.
Blood poured from his chest.
The most serious wound was his right arm, severed clean at the root.
Hands — the core of a ninja. Because most relied on hand seals to perform ninjutsu, such an injury was shocking enough.