Chapter 3: The Millennium Ally from the Warring States
Senju Morin had always been decisive—never one to hesitate.
Barely ten minutes later, he was fully dressed for battle and already standing in the forest outside Konoha.
He now wore a dark crimson breastplate, the Konoha forehead protector tied firmly around his head, and a long ninja blade strapped to his back.
With his natural black hair and dark eyes, from afar he looked strikingly similar to the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
But unlike Hashirama's ever-present gentle smile and approachable aura, Morin's gaze was sharp, his facial lines cold and severe.
In terms of presence alone, he resembled the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Before him stood two figures—Senju Tao, who had departed earlier, and another shinobi with striking red hair.
Just as Tobirama had his carefully selected "Hokage candidate squad," Morin, too, had his own trusted companions.
The red-haired man's attire also retained a strong Warring States flavor—black underclothes covered by a light gray cuirass, and a massive scroll strapped across his back.
The spiral pattern on his clothing and forehead protector revealed his identity without a word.
A shinobi of Uzushiogakure.
A member of the Uzumaki Clan.
"Chizawa, long time no see."
Morin's expression softened as he stepped forward with a warm smile, pulling the man into a brief embrace.
Uzumaki Chizawa, however, sighed helplessly, half complaining:
"Brother Morin, what's with all this secrecy? You even had Peach bring me in through the border undetected. Isn't your clan leader the Hokage of Konoha?"
"Peach" was Senju Tao's nickname—used only by close friends.
"Not for much longer," Morin replied calmly.
"What do you mean?"
The helplessness vanished from Chizawa's face, replaced by a solemn intensity.
For the Uzumaki Clan—Konoha's allied clan for a thousand years—the change of Hokage was no trivial matter.
It could determine the fate of the entire Uzumaki Clan… and even that of the Land of Whirlpools.
"Time is short. I'll explain on the way."
Morin then turned to Tao.
"Go back, Peach. Follow the plan. Yu still needs your strength."
Senju Tao nodded, though worry flickered in his eyes—he knew, vaguely, where Morin intended to go.
"Please be careful, Brother Morin…"
"Don't overthink it. You know my strength better than anyone."
Morin scolded him with a laugh, giving him a firm smack on the head before vanishing with Uzumaki Chizawa into the forest.
---
To Senju Morin, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage, was only in his early forties—prime age by Senju standards.
Given the clan's naturally vigorous constitution, his peak could easily last until around sixty.
Which meant…
If Tobirama didn't die unexpectedly, he would govern for at least twenty more years.
Over those twenty years, Tobirama would have more than enough time to dismantle the Senju Clan piece by piece, and smoothly pass the Hokage title—and every bit of authority that came with it—to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Which meant one thing:
Senju Morin would never have a chance at the Hokage position.
Worse, his identity as a Senju and his exceptional strength would likely make the newly enthroned Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen—deeply wary of him.
In the best-case scenario?
Morin would have to "accidentally injure himself," then hide away in the village pretending to be chronically ill for the rest of his life.
And if Hiruzen decided to pay him a visit one day, Morin would have to put on a grateful expression, bowing and showing absolute loyalty to the great Third Hokage…
Just imagining that humiliation sent chills through him.
Luckily—
fortunately—
after Senju Hashirama's death, the moment Tobirama formally assumed full power, the Shinobi World War erupted.
And before that war had even fully concluded, Tobirama's life came to an abrupt end.
Thanks to the Gold and Silver Brothers who chose rebellion over survival, Morin was now presented with a rare and precious opportunity.
He had to seize the position of Third Hokage before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He absolutely could not let the Gold and Silver Brothers' noble sacrifice go to waste.
---
The wind rustled through the leaves as two figures darted between the towering trees of the Land of Fire, leaping across the treetops.
"You're sensing both that Uchiha guy and Lord Tobirama? Who is this guy, anyway?"
Uzumaki Chizawa asked in bewilderment, holding a photograph of Uchiha Kagami.
"Uchiha Kagami," Morin replied with a bright smile—though his eyes were ice-cold. "A member of the Shadow Guard. One of Tobirama's disciples."
This was precisely why Morin had brought Uzumaki Chizawa along.
He trusted him completely—and Chizawa's sensory prowess was unrivaled.
As a powerful Uzumaki shinobi, Chizawa had mastered Kagura's Mind Eye, a rare sensory technique that could only be activated through Uzumaki bloodline abilities.
And the first task of Morin's plan—
assassinate Uchiha Kagami.
---
Among Tobirama's six disciples, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the strongest, and also the one practically predestined to become the next Hokage.
Danzō believed for his entire life that he missed his chance at the Hokage position only because he hesitated one second too long—forever resenting that moment.
But what he didn't know was this:
Hiruzen had already been chosen as the Third Hokage during Hashirama's lifetime.
This was never a spur-of-the-moment choice from Tobirama.
Even if Danzō had spoken up first and volunteered to stay behind during the fatal mission, Tobirama would likely have just praised him—
something along the lines of:
"Good! I knew I didn't misjudge you. Now go back and support Hiruzen."
…or perhaps, at best:
"Excellent. Come with me—we'll hold the rear together."
Either way, Danzō had no hope of becoming Hokage based on a single act of bravery.
Now, back to the topic.
In Tobirama's view, aside from Hiruzen, what were the roles of the other disciples?
To Morin, the answer was obvious:
They were the pillars meant to keep Sarutobi Hiruzen firmly seated as Hokage.
Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado did not come from major clans.
If the Sarutobi had any fame, it was solely because of Sarutobi Sasuke.
The others?
Practically nobodies at the founding of Konoha.
Which meant the four would cling tightly together for their own political survival and interests.
Meanwhile—
Akimichi Torifu, representing the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance,
and Uchiha Kagami, representing the Uchiha Clan,
were there to serve as bridges—bringing the major clans behind them to support Hiruzen's rise.
In theory, Hiruzen should have had a Senju and a Hyūga "classmate" as well, completing the balance of the great clans.
But Tobirama had his concerns.
If he took a Senju disciple, he feared it would send the wrong political message to his clan—
making them think they still had a claim to the Hokage seat.
And the Hyūga had their own issues:
Main family members could not risk losing their Byakugan on dangerous missions,
and taking a branch family member as a disciple would mean nothing—
it would not influence Hyūga politics at all.
A deadlock on both sides.
In the end, Tobirama probably reasoned that the Hyūga Clan had always been obedient.
Even without early "team-building," they were unlikely to oppose Hiruzen later.
After all…
obedient people are always the easiest to bully, aren't they?