There was once news that shook all of Konoha.
The daughter of the "God of Shinobi," Senju Hashirama, current head of the Senju clan at the time, did not marry within the clan. Instead, she married into the household of the Land of Fire's daimyō in what was essentially a political union.
She married an ordinary man, not a shinobi.
And the little princess of the Senju born a few years ago bears only the name "Tsunade," no longer inheriting the surname "Senju."
Because of her kinship with the daimyō, she was conferred the title "Tsunade-hime," meaning Princess of the Land of Fire.
After setting an example with the Senju, Tobirama hoped that the founding great clans—the Hyūga, Uchiha, and the Ino–Shika–Chō trio—would follow suit.
In this way there would be no more divisions among clans, and all shinobi of Konoha would become one family. That was the grand vision.
If achieved, it would also fulfill his elder brother Hashirama's long-cherished wish.
But the moment he revealed even a hint of this intent, the ninja clans, led by the Uchiha, showed unprecedented resistance.
After Uchiha Setsuna was arrested, the Uchiha hardliners—previously suppressed—began to resurface. Konoha Prison was infiltrated several times in just three days.
With the outbreak of the First Great Ninja War, Tobirama had no time to spare and had to abandon the idea of forcing the policy through.
Angered, he devised only the Uchiha Police Force as a measure aimed at the Uchiha, then dropped the matter and devoted himself fully to the war.
This explains why the younger and older generations within the Senju came to such a sharp divide.
For the young, in their teens and twenties, blood runs hot. They yearn to build merit and earn honor and power.
Only if the Senju remained intact would it best serve them, providing protection and securing greater rights.
Otherwise, if the Senju name vanished, would they not become mere civilian shinobi?
Those comrades who once stood together in great numbers, shoulder to shoulder on the battlefield and within the village, would become a scattered rabble.
After several generations of intermarriage, would those of diluted blood still count as Senju? Would they not gradually fade into the crowd and sink into mediocrity?
Then they would not only fail to measure up to their old rivals, the Uchiha, but might even fall behind mid-sized clans like the Sarutobi, Shimura, Inuzuka, and Aburame, who in the Warring States era could only live under the Senju's shadow.
For the older generation it was different. Thanks to seniority and merit, each held important posts in Konoha. They could live well even apart from the Senju.
Because of the slaughter of the Warring States, two elders no longer had direct descendants. They had fewer concerns.
Moreover, having survived from the Warring States, they harbored a near-blind reverence for Hashirama, who pacified the chaos. That reverence naturally extended to Tobirama.
They thus supported almost every decision of the Senju brothers by instinct.
Outside the "Kōga Shrine" where the clan assembly had been held, the departing Senju split cleanly into two camps.
Surrounded by more than ten young clansmen, Senju Mori looked at none of them. His deep gaze turned to the north of Konoha.
"Wait for the clan head to return? I'm afraid you'll never wait him back," he thought.
In Mori's view, timing often decides whether a plan succeeds.
He had chosen this assembly to stand up, challenge the revered elders, gather allies, and publicly question Tobirama's decision for one reason.
The moment he had long awaited had finally arrived.
Senju Tobirama had traveled with his "Shadow Guard" to the Land of Lightning to sign an alliance.
The so-called "Shadow Guard" were his six disciples, whom he trained almost as successors to the Hokage:
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Akimichi Torifu, and Uchiha Kagami.
They seemed formidable, but they failed to protect their shadow.
The alliance invitation itself had no flaw, but within Kumogakure a powerful faction opposed the ceasefire.
Unlike the First Hokage and the two future Raikage of Kumo, the Second Raikage was not from their same clan and was a man who loved peace.
He ignored opposition in the village and pushed the treaty through by the authority of the Raikage.
In the end, the Gold and Silver Brothers—Kinkaku and Ginkaku—who had earned great merit in the war, rallied the hawks and launched a coup.
After assassinating the Second Raikage, they led elite troops to hunt Tobirama and the others across the Land of Lightning.
To protect Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other "young heirs to the Will of Fire," Hokage Tobirama chose to cover the retreat himself and ultimately fell to the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers.
Mori knew clearly how events would unfold, but not the exact day of this great incident.
If he were to plan the coup, he would wait until the day the treaty was formally signed, or strike the moment it was sealed.
That would be when both the Second Raikage and Tobirama were most relaxed.
'Strike while the iron is hot. The chance won't come again.'
One way or another, he had to act soon.
Just then, a figure appeared at Mori's side and whispered a few words in his ear.
Such an elusive arrival could only be the Body Flicker Technique.
This was Senju Tao, newly eighteen, promoted to jōnin just last year.
Counting him, twelve gathered around Mori. All were elite of the young Senju generation, and all were jōnin.
Some had grown up with Mori. Some were friends met later in their shinobi careers. Others were clansmen he had saved or impressed on the battlefields of the First Great Ninja War.
Mori had already shared part of his plan with them and assigned roles to each.
Only after the other Senju had gone far did Mori turn, his face solemn, and instruct:
"Leave village matters to you. Until I return, keep a tight grip on the situation. Do not let…"
"This concerns the life and death of you, me, and the entire Senju clan. Do not be careless."
"While I'm away, obey Yu's arrangements. No unauthorized action."
"Yes!"
They answered in unison.