A few days later, Katsuro, in Senju clan robes, made his way towards the Hokage building.
Despite the guards in front of the meeting room, the look on Katsuro's face and their trained survival instinct did not allow them to block him. A room filled with clan heads and some of the strongest Shinobi within the village undoubtedly sensed him, and turned their heads toward the large doors. As they opened, he stepped through, radiating a cold confidence that took over the room.
"What are you doing here? You are not even a Shinobi," Danzo snorted.
Katsuro ignored the remark. "I am Senju Katsuro, Patriarch of the Senju Clan. I am more than entitled to be a part of this Clan meeting as the leader of one of the clans who founded this village."
His words sent ripples through the meeting room, clans and alliances quietly weighing the effect this would have throughout the village. Even Hiruzen sneered at this revelation.
"How are you the Patriarch? Shouldn't Tsunade be the clan leader?" replied Elder Koharu.
"I was made heir to the Senju clan by Mito Uzumaki, Wife to the First Hokage. The Senju clan is in agreement, including Tsunade."
The Senju had great respect for Mito Uzumaki, and her backing, alongside the vote of confidence from Tsunade, as well as general respect Katsuro had as a doctor and his strength known to a select few members who had seen him in action, lead to his assumption of power being smooth and uncontested.
Hiruzen, keeping up his act, continued, "I see. In that case, I will allow Katsuro to be present in this meeting. Please sit down, Katsuro."
Katsuro saw through the way Hiruzen phrased it. The Hokage made himself appear to be compassionate by allowing the unruly, undeserving, inexperienced and novice Senju to attend the meeting - but Katsuro ignored it, and took his seat.
Despite the relatively boring topics, Katsuro stayed quiet, but paid attention. He took his responsibility seriously. Eventually, when Danzo brought up the topic of Kushina he spoke.
"Uzumaki Kushina will be under the care of the Senju clan. The Uzumaki, our allies, who we apparently could not save, are tied to the Senju."
Danzo continued, despite his irritation, attempting to sway the room. "Kushina is the Jinchuriki - an asset and property of the village - she must be handed over."
All the clan leaders turned to Katsuro for his reaction. "I am aware many of you may think the Senju may misuse the power, or cannot protect the Jinchuriki. However, I can assure you that Kushina will be allowed to leave whenever she wants if she chooses to do so. I am also the one who carried out the transfer process and am a grandmaster of Fuinjutsu, so I am able to suppress any disturbances caused by the Nine Tails. It is most logical that Kushina stays beside me, who can help her."
Katsuro's sensei, the Hatake clan leader, was the first to voice his support for his disciple, imploring the Hokage to accept the arrangement. The Ino-Shik-Cho trio, who typically stood by the Senju in history, supported Katsuro, seeing his logic. Other clans also began voicing their support for the decision, fuelled by hidden grievances against Danzo. Even Uchiha Tajima supported Katsuro, surprising him. Tajima scoffed at Katsuro, but nonetheless nodded at him and turned his head. He's similar to Fugaku, Katsuro thought.
After allowing for a moment of discussion, Katsuro continued. "Finally, effective immediately, the Senju clan will reverse the decision of the Second Hokage, and will call back all our clan members to the compound and take our name again."
The reaction was swift. "What!" the elders and Danzo exclaimed. Hiruzen, equally shocked, spoke with irritation in his voice, "Think this over careful, Katsuro, do you want to disrespect the Second Hokage?"
"Lord Third, I respect Lord Tobirama as a shinobi and genius in Ninjutsu creation. However, I do not agree with all his decisions as Hokage. And, regardless of past orders, I am Patriarch of the Senju Clan. I have complete authority over my clan, and not even you as the Hokage can interfere."
Katsuro understood, well, the intentions of Tobirama. Tobriama chose to lead by example with his own clan and progress his brother's vision. A village with multiple clans considering their own self interests would lead to conflict, and so decided that clans should be integrated. Clearly, this would lead to massive retaliation from the clans who made up the bulk of the village's fighting power. Therefore, Tobriama led by example ordering the Senju to integrate within the village. Unfortunately, his good intentions were not carried forward. The Hokage faction saw it as a way to remove the dominant Senju from power and to elevate their own clans instead. It enabled them to hold more power within the village with less opposition.
The clan leaders were quite shocked at Katsuro's brazenness considering many of them still believed Katsuro was a civilian, but they agreed with his words - none of them would want the Hokage to so heavily interfere within their clan matters, after all.
Danzo spoke up, with the venom of someone who had lived in darkness his whole life.
"Think this over carefully, Katsuro. You wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you or your clan, would you?"
Katsuro laughed at his barely concealed threat.
"I think I can handle any old random weeds and roots that try to trip me up. How is your subordinate by the way, Lord Danzo? As you know, I am very skilled in Iryo Ninjutsu, though I suspect even I cannot help if bones are crushed to dust."
The clan leaders and civilian representatives watched on as the tension between the Hokage faction and the new Senju clan Patriarch rose, but they - in particular, the clan leaders - were also glad to see Danzo being put in his place so publicly.
After the meeting ended and Katsuro was making his way back towards the Senju compound, he noticed 2 presences following him. Unfazed, he smiled to himself. I hope they try something, Danzo really is asking for it at this point.
On the other hand, the Third sent the Anbu to summon his disciple, Tsunade. The Hokage, Danzo and the other Elders were standing in front of her as she walked in.
Koharu began, "Tsunade, what is going on with the Senju clan?"
Tsunade replied, confused, "What do you mean?"
Homura asked more directly, "Tsunade, why is Katsuro clan leader of the Senju clan? He is not even a shinobi! Did he trick you?"
"No," she replied absently, "Granny Mito named him heir, and I agreed."
Tsunade's mind wandered back to her conversations with Katsuro not only telling her his suspicions of the Hokage faction, but predicting this very conversation. She was annoyed at his prediction being proven right, especially because of how much she would always fight back against him in defence of her sensei, who she still saw as righteous.
It made her all the more disappointed when Hiruzen spoke to her with a fatherly tone, trying to manipulate her.
"Tsunade, it will not be good for this village or this clan if Katsuro is the clan leader. Not being a shinobi means he won't be able to lead effectively, especially considering the growing possibility of another war. It is your birthright, as the granddaughter of the First Hokage, to lead the Senju clan."
"No, sensei. Katsuro is the one who is born to lead the Senju clan. I will not go against Granny Mito's will."
Tsunade left as quickly as she came, disheartened by her teacher and his fellow disciples. But she was less naive now, her image of a perfect Sarutobi Hiruzen starting to fade.
Seeing Tsunade leave, Hiruzen grimaced at failing to convince her. Danzo, emerging from the shadows, spoke.
"Hiruzen, your method failed. Now, let me fix this with the Root."
"No Danzo, now is not the time. Katsuro dying now will have strong consequences. The clan leaders all heard your threat, and even Tsunade may even turn against me if her lover dies. The power of the village is still not fully consolidated. Many are still unconvinced with us carrying Sensei's will to make me Hokage just before his death. I will use this coming war to affirm my seat as Hokage."
Danzo said nothing, but inwardly seethed thinking of their Sensei making Hiruzen Hokage. It should have been me, he thought bitterly.
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