Chapter 19 — Playing the Emotional Card
"Lady Mito, it has been far too long since I last paid my respects."
Senju Morin's etiquette was flawless from beginning to end.
Even if an imperial master of ceremonies from the Fire Country court were present, they would not have been able to find a single fault.
Uzumaki Mito sat formally in the seat of honor. Behind her, the wall bore the crests of both the Uzumaki and Senju clans.
A gentle smile rested on her face, yet for reasons difficult to put into words, her figure seemed profoundly lonely.
Compared to the elaborate procedures he had passed through on the way here, Uzumaki Mito herself appeared far less severe. On the contrary, she spoke in a surprisingly warm and casual tone.
"It's you, Morin. Come—sit."
After taking his seat, Senju Morin did not rush to speak. Instead, he brought forward a finely crafted wooden box from his side and set it before him.
Only after Uzumaki Mito's gaze was drawn to the gift did he finally speak.
"Lady Mito, I recently came into possession of a set of Shino-yaki teaware. It's nothing of great value—just a small token of respect. I hope you will accept it."
"Shino ware…"
Uzumaki Mito's voice remained calm. With just a single glance at the elegantly made box, she knew perfectly well that this was no 'chance acquisition,' as Morin claimed.
Still, her mood visibly improved.
"You've been thoughtful. I see you haven't forgotten this old woman's preferences."
"I knew you would come," she continued. "With Tobirama's sudden passing, the clan must be deeply unsettled."
"Yes," Morin replied, his emotions rising naturally in his voice.
"Lord Tobirama's death has filled the clan with grief and anger alike. Kumo's treachery… must be repaid in blood."
His sorrow when speaking of Tobirama, the slight pauses in his words, the controlled fury when mentioning Kumo—
everything about Senju Morin's performance felt genuine, measured, and appropriate.
Uzumaki Mito possessed no mind-reading abilities.
Even a perfect Nine-Tails jinchūriki could only vaguely sense goodwill or hostility—much less someone at her age.
She merely nodded and continued.
"I've heard that you risked your life to infiltrate the Land of Lightning and reclaim Tobirama's remains from the Kumo ninja. If he has awareness in the afterlife, I believe he would find comfort in that."
At the mention of this, Senju Morin showed a trace of renewed vigor—yet his words remained modest.
"It was an impulsive decision. I was fortunate enough to succeed, and even then, much of it was thanks to Chizawa's help."
He deliberately avoided mentioning any intention of marriage alliances with the Uzumaki clan.
First, because nothing had yet been decided—bringing it up now would seem frivolous.
Second, and more importantly, raising such a topic at this critical juncture could easily be interpreted as a naked transaction of interests, inviting distrust instead of goodwill.
In contrast, subtly mentioning Uzumaki Chizawa made everything feel more sincere.
Sure enough, Uzumaki Mito smiled faintly.
"So Chizawa was involved as well? It seems the two of you are quite close."
"When I was younger, I too once…"
---
Senju Morin remained with Uzumaki Mito for the entire afternoon.
At such a pivotal moment before the Hokage election, he behaved as though he had truly come only to share idle conversation with an elder—never once bringing up the position of Hokage.
Uzumaki Mito, for her part, seemed to enjoy the company.
Marrying into Konoha had forced her to leave behind her homeland and kin.
Hashirama's early death had left her alone for decades.
By now, people like Senju Morin and Tsunade—those still connected to her by blood and closeness—had become among the very few she could truly call family within Konoha.
Only when Senju Morin finally rose to take his leave did Uzumaki Mito let the smile fade from her face. After a long sigh, she spoke softly:
"Morin… I've watched you grow since you were a child.
And Hiruzen is a good boy as well. No matter which of you becomes Hokage, you must protect Konoha—and do your best to treat one another with kindness."
"Yes, Lady Mito," Senju Morin replied solemnly.
"I will engrave your words upon my heart."
Senju Morin was inwardly overjoyed, yet outwardly he rose with impeccable composure and offered a formal bow.
"Please, Lady Mito—do take care of your health. I hope you won't overburden yourself with grief over Lord Tobirama's passing."
With that, he turned and departed under the guidance of a female attendant.
Although an entire afternoon of conversation had passed without Uzumaki Mito ever explicitly stating her support for Senju Morin's bid for the position of Third Hokage, that ambiguity itself spoke volumes.
Compared to the suddenly rising Senju Morin, Hiruzen Sarutobi was the successor personally groomed and effectively designated by Senju Tobirama during his lifetime.
Under such circumstances, Uzumaki Mito's refusal to openly endorse Hiruzen—her decision to remain noncommittal—was, in and of itself, the strongest possible signal of support.
---
After leaving Uzumaki Mito's residence, Senju Morin headed back toward the Senju clan compound, his thoughts already turning to the various ninja clans scattered throughout the village.
The Hyūga, Inuzuka, Aburame, Hatake, Tsukigetsu…
Even the three clans collectively known as Ino–Shika–Chō—the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi—were not necessarily beyond persuasion.
The Sarutobi clan might indeed have historical ties to Ino–Shika–Chō dating back to the Warring States period, but hadn't Clan Head Hashirama Senju himself welcomed those three clans into Konoha?
If one were to truly weigh old bonds and shared history, it was far from clear whose claim ran deeper.
For Ino–Shika–Chō, this was ultimately a matter of leverage.
If they were going to sell their support anyway, why not sell it at the highest possible price?
Senju Morin could offer something as far-reaching as shared clan governance.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, by contrast, seemed unwilling to part with even a single advisory seat, hoarding his concessions as though they were priceless heirlooms.
It was time for the village's clans—large and small alike—to see clearly who was generous, and who was merely stingy.
---
Of course, unlike visiting Uzumaki Mito—who was practically family—one could not simply show up unannounced at the doors of other clans.
Upon returning to his residence, Senju Morin went straight into his study.
From the bookshelf behind him, he retrieved a stack of high-quality sandalwood paper, each sheet marked with subtle watermark patterns. He then ground ink, moistened his brush, and adjusted the tip with care.
Only after everything was prepared did he calmly write upon the first sheet:
To Lord Hyūga Sōgo,
Before your honored desk,
Senju Morin respectfully replies,
Wishing you continued health and vitality.
I regret my long neglect in paying respects. In light of the sudden upheavals within the village, and at this critical juncture…
His brush moved swiftly. In just a few concise lines, the letter was complete.
After adding the date, he pressed the Senju clan crest into the seal at the bottom, formally concluding the invitation.
It was worth noting that although more convenient writing tools—such as pencils—already existed in this world, in formal contexts ninja still favored brush and ink.
Perhaps it was simply another lingering custom from the Warring States era.
Once the ink had dried, Senju Morin summoned Senju Yu and instructed him to carefully seal the letter and personally deliver it to the Hyūga clan.
At twenty-eight, Senju Yu was several years older than Morin, a true elite among the jōnin, and one of Morin's most trusted lieutenants.
The earlier wave of public-opinion attacks against Sarutobi Hiruzen and his companions had been personally planned and executed under Yu's direction.
The choice of messenger mattered greatly—whoever delivered the invitation would, to a certain extent, represent Senju Morin himself.
And for that role, no one was more suitable than Senju Yu.