Chapter 18 — The Strongest in Konoha Today
Beyond the major ninja clans within the village, Konoha at this moment still possessed one elder shinobi of exceptional status, someone whose influence could not be ignored by anyone.
In fact, even with the existence of the Jōnin Confidence Vote system, as long as this person were willing to step forward and publicly state a position, the side that received their support would immediately gain an overwhelming advantage.
It had been twenty years since the founding of Konoha.
For the village, the past few years had been nothing short of disastrous.
A massive Shinobi World War had erupted, and the Senju brothers, the twin pillars of Konoha, had fallen one after the other.
If one were to ask who the strongest person in Konoha was at this moment—
It was neither Sarutobi Hiruzen, the most outstanding disciple of Senju Tobirama and a widely acknowledged Hokage candidate,
nor Senju Morin, the most prominent figure among the younger generation of the Senju clan.
It was Uzumaki Mito, widow of the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama—
and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
A legendary figure who had survived from the Warring States era and helped Hashirama found Konoha itself, Uzumaki Mito was not only immensely powerful, but also a master of the Uzumaki clan's hereditary sealing techniques.
For Senju Morin, if he wished to successfully ascend to the position of Third Hokage, Mito's stance was absolutely decisive.
---
On the second day after returning to Konoha, Senju Morin donned a plain yet formal kimono, embroidered with the Senju clan crest, and set out to pay a visit to Uzumaki Mito.
Although she was Hashirama's widow, Mito did not reside within the Senju clan compound.
Instead, she lived in the former Hokage Residence, once occupied by Hashirama himself.
The residence was a multi-story, circular structure with white outer walls and red eaves—one of the tallest and most imposing buildings in all of Konoha.
"Lord Morin."
Upon seeing him, the guards and attendants at the entrance bowed in unison.
It was clear that Senju Morin was no stranger here.
The servants were so familiar with him that no announcement was necessary before they led him inside.
"Uncle Morin!"
A bright, childish voice rang out on the first floor of the residence.
Senju Morin immediately spotted a small figure running toward him—Princess Tsunade.
Compared to her exaggerated figure in the future, Tsunade was currently just a perfectly ordinary little child.
In terms of appearance, she actually resembled a young Mitarashi Anko more than her future self:
golden hair tied into a simple ponytail, a short-sleeved outer robe in blue and red hues, and beneath it a mesh-like undershirt.
Morin had never worn such clothing himself, but he had heard it was woven from a surprisingly tough material, offering a modest degree of protection.
"So it's little Tsunade."
Being called uncle at barely over twenty was a little strange, but Morin still smiled gently.
"Time really flies. You've already graduated from the Academy and become a proper ninja."
Tsunade's presence in Uzumaki Mito's home did not surprise him in the slightest.
In fact—
He had expected nothing less.
Because Tsunade's parents lived year-round in the capital of the Land of Fire, after the successive deaths of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, Uzumaki Mito had become one of the very few remaining relatives Tsunade had in Konoha.
"Uncle Morin, are you here to see Grandma Mito?" Tsunade asked curiously.
"That's right—I've come to pay my respects to Lady Mito," Senju Morin replied with a smile. "But I also brought a gift for little Tsunade."
As he spoke, he produced a small sealing scroll from his sleeve and handed it to her.
"This contains a genuine Water Release technique. If you can learn it ahead of time, I guarantee your jōnin instructor—and your classmates—will all look at you differently."
In truth, whether it was the Senju clan's treasury or Uzumaki Mito's personal collection, the number of stored techniques was vast beyond measure.
But Tsunade was still far too young to be allowed free access to them.
And for newly graduated academy students, nothing was more alluring than flashy, powerful ninjutsu.
Senju Morin's gift perfectly filled that gap.
Tsunade had been born in Konoha's thirteenth year and had only recently graduated from the Ninja Academy.
If nothing unexpected occurred, once Sarutobi Hiruzen became Hokage, he would serve as the jōnin instructor for Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya.
What a flawless arrangement, Tobirama.
Refusing to accept Senju clan members as disciples, yet arranging for Tsunade to become Sarutobi's student—
a masterful move.
It limited the Senju clan's direct competitiveness for the Third Hokage position, while simultaneously using Tsunade to placate and bind most of the Senju to Sarutobi's camp.
Thinking it through carefully—
Had he not intervened, even if Tobirama had died outside the village, with Sarutobi's political circle, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, the Senju clan, and Uzumaki Mito all backing him…
Even if the Uchiha, Hyūga, and all the other minor clans united, they still would not have been able to shake Sarutobi Hiruzen's claim to the Third Hokage seat.
---
Soon after, led by a servant, Senju Morin walked slowly down a long corridor and entered the deeper interior of the residence.
Uzumaki Mito was waiting in the main chamber of the inner courtyard.
Outside the room, everything was quiet.
A faint fragrance lingered in the air—the scent of burning incense.
Senju Morin did not enter immediately.
At the entrance, he first removed his footwear and placed it neatly with the toes facing outward.
Then he accepted a slightly damp hand towel from a maid, carefully wiped his hands, and returned it.
For ancient clans like the Senju and Uzumaki, ritual and etiquette were no less elaborate than those of the Fire Country nobility.
An ordinary visitor would likely have been made to wait in an adjacent room for a formal summons.
But for Senju Morin, that step was skipped entirely.
Barely a minute later, another maid slid open the door panel and spoke softly:
"Lady Mito will see you now."
---
Senju Morin finally came face to face with Uzumaki Mito herself.
As Hashirama's widow, she was slightly older than Tobirama—around fifty years of age—yet she did not appear particularly aged.
Her long hair still burned with a flame-like crimson hue.
The hair at both sides was tied into rounded buns, each adorned with a hanging talisman.
Atop her head rested a golden crown shaped like a spread fan, lending her presence an air of solemn authority.
Rather than a ninja, Uzumaki Mito's attire more closely resembled that of a Warring States-era shrine maiden—a red-and-white miko robe completing the impression.
Like Tsunade in the future, Mito bore a violet, diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
It was the Uzumaki clan's chakra sealing technique—the Strength of a Hundred Seal—
and the true reason her appearance had scarcely changed from her youth.