Yagami swept his gaze across the crowd of Jōnin, taking in their stunned expressions — and couldn't help but find it amusing.
Before today, the Senju Clan had always been the ones who fought the hardest.
Whether it was the First Shinobi World War or the current Second, the Senju were always the first to charge into battle.
From elite Jōnin to rookie Genin, every Senju had proven worthy of the village, worthy of the Will of Fire.
And the Jōnin here weren't fools — they all understood the real meaning behind Senju Hanaki's declaration.
On the surface, the Senju were "strengthening the village's medical corps."
In truth, they were withdrawing from the combat roster.
But that wasn't even the most significant part.
It signaled something far graver — Sarutobi Hiruzen's political credit with the Senju Clan had collapsed.
From this moment onward, the Senju would no longer give their full support to the Third Hokage.
Hanaki and Tsunade had laid everything bare — especially when they publicly stated their clan's current numbers.
They made the entire village remember just how much the Senju, once Konoha's mightiest clan, had already sacrificed for this village.
And now, should the Senju suffer further large-scale casualties, every single death would be recorded and remembered.
...
Hiruzen rose, his tone forced calm:
"Over a hundred and fifty Senju shinobi transferring to the medical corps will drastically affect the village's combat strength.
Tsunade, don't be willful. You're already an elite Jōnin — together with Orochimaru and Jiraiya you held your ground against Hanzo the Salamander, earning the title of the Legendary Sannin.
The Senju are a founding clan of Leaf — surely you don't want them branded as cowards who shrink from battle, do you?"
That was practically an insult.
Tsunade's fist slammed down on the table.
"Third Hokage! Did you just accuse the Senju of cowardice?
My clan — over seven hundred of my kin — died in the First Shinobi War!
My grandfather died fighting Madara Uchiha, his body broken by overexertion!
My father, my mother, my grandmother — and those same seven hundred clanmates — all died protecting this village's tailed beasts!
And now, in this Second War, more than three hundred Senju have perished!
My brother died in the Land of Grass for this village!
My granduncle, the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, gave his life protecting you — the very people sitting on that stage!
And you dare call the Senju cowards!?"
The last of the Senju, barely two hundred strong, burned with a fire deeper than red — a purple-blue flame of fury and grief.
Tsunade's outburst was no mere argument — it was a public scolding.
Hiruzen's face turned visibly ashen.
And when Tsunade mentioned Tobirama's death protecting the current leadership, the Jōnin below began whispering among themselves.
The Senju's fall had stirred sympathy — a hare's death grieved by the fox, as the saying went.
For some of those Jōnin, their eyes toward the podium were no longer respectful — but sharp, questioning, even hostile.
...
Yagami thought back to the story he knew from before.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's political credit — his trustworthiness as a leader — had already collapsed in Tsunade's heart.
That's why she never returned to the village, even after his death.
His credit had also collapsed with the Hyūga.
When Orochimaru attacked the village, Yagami didn't believe for a second that the Hyūga hadn't sensed something — they simply didn't act.
Piece by piece, through endless internal decay, Hiruzen's political capital crumbled.
In the end, he stood alone — facing the former student who had become his executioner.
Even Maito Gai, with his simple loyalty, tried several times to rush to the Hokage's aid, only to be stopped each time by Kakashi.
How much trust did Hiruzen still have left in Kakashi's eyes? Hard to say.
A politician's death doesn't begin on the day his body dies — it begins the day his political credit does.
...
The murmurs of the assembled Jōnin darkened the expressions of every elder on the podium.
Even Danzō — whose face was usually carved from stone — twitched at the eyelid.
But Tsunade wasn't finished. Her storm hadn't yet passed.
"The Senju have sacrificed everything! Tell me, has the village grown stronger because of it?
When we founded Leaf, the Senju had over three thousand ninja — the Uzumaki, two thousand more kin by marriage.
Now? The Senju number just over two hundred.
The Uzumaki? Only Kushina remains.
Hidden Leaf has climbed upon the corpses of the Senju — and for what?
Did the village protect its own?
My brother Nawaki died at twelve on the front line!
Of his classmates — how many are even alive today?
Third Hokage, I do not acknowledge your way of protecting the village.
I accept what you say — that in war, we cannot do everything.
I accept that I cannot change the village's system.
But I can and will strengthen Leaf's medical corps.
That is how the Senju will protect this village — in our way!"
Her words left no room for negotiation — this was no proposal, it was a declaration.
The Senju were still loyal to Leaf, perhaps more than anyone.
But endless death had finally broken their resolve.
They were no longer burning with passion — only with resolve.
Their retreat into the medical corps was their last protest, their final act of defiance — and their last expression of love for the village.
...
Yagami suddenly recalled a conspiracy theory from his past life.
It was said that in the Ming Dynasty, many emperors had been killed — by their imperial physicians.
The famed court doctor Liu Wentai was rumored to have "treated" two emperors to death.
After that, the Jiajing Emperor executed the entire Imperial Medical Bureau — and lived to be over sixty.
If the Senju were now to seize control of the Hospital and the front-line medical divisions, their influence might actually increase, not diminish.
He remembered — on the night of the Nine-Tails' sealing, he had managed to save a few surviving Senju.
Now, at last, the Senju were striking back.
Tsunade's storm of accusations had ripped apart the facade the high council had so carefully maintained — and none of them could do a thing about it.
In strength, status, and willpower, Tsunade was beyond their reach.
At this Jōnin Council, Hiruzen and his elders had lost all dignity — their faces metaphorically slapped raw.
Tsunade's simple question — "Have you protected the villagers?" — was one Hiruzen could not answer.
Leaf's deaths had piled too high.
So high that people had begun asking when they would need to expand the cemetery behind the Memorial Stone.
...
Hiruzen drew in a long breath.
"Tsunade… can't you even bring yourself to call me teacher anymore?"
Tsunade glared at him, her voice like ice.
"Third Hokage — this is a Jōnin Council meeting, not a reunion!
While on duty, address yourself by your title."
Yagami sucked in a breath.
As expected of Tsunade — the true female lead of Leaf, second only to Sasuke in sheer intensity.
Hiruzen, stone-faced, forced himself to continue.
"Regarding the Senju Clan's proposal to strengthen Hospital and the front-line medical corps — that matter will require further discussion.
For now, let us move on to the pressing issue at hand — the Land of Rivers War.
The Hidden Sand has declared war on us.
Leaf has just endured the conflicts in the Lands of Steam and Grass — with the latter spilling into the Rain front.
We cannot, must not, show weakness now.
Therefore, I will now announce the commanders for the Riverfront Campaign."
Seeing that he had changed the topic, Tsunade did not press further.
Her goal — and the Senju's — had already been achieved.
Nara Kakaku took out the prepared roster and glanced toward the Hokage for confirmation.
This list, after all, included Tsunade herself as one of the deputy commanders.
Seeing no objection from Hiruzen, he began reading aloud:
"Commander of the Riverfront Forces — Nara Shikaku.
Deputy Commander — Lady Tsunade, also serving as Chief Jōnin of the Front-Line Medical Corps.
Deputy Commander — Hatake Sakumo, Chief Jōnin of the High-Action Unit.
Remaining appointed Jōnin division captains include…"