Inside the Senju compound, Tobirama's frown deepened.
"Brother, what is going on?" he demanded. "Why are the Sarutobi and Shimura clans suddenly being driven out of Konoha?"
Hashirama looked just as troubled.
"Didn't I already tell you to send those two brats back to their families?" he muttered, clearly frustrated himself.
Tobirama had carried out the order without hesitation—removing Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō from his roster of disciples.
But banishing two entire clans?
That was different.
Tobirama sat down directly in front of Hashirama, planting himself like a wall.
"If you don't give me a reason, I'm not agreeing this time."
Hashirama sighed, rubbing his brow.
Recently, his mind had been occupied by what he'd learned—especially the thought of a coming "leaderboard" and what it would mean for Konoha's standing. In his eyes, Konoha was already the strongest among the Five Great Nations, and he had every intention of keeping it that way.
But then a darker realization had settled in.
The Sarutobi and Shimura clans.
If they truly grew in influence…
They could become a blade aimed at Konoha from within.
Worse—aimed at the Senju and the Uchiha.
A slow, hidden collapse.
And Hashirama had no intention of allowing that.
He didn't have the luxury of presenting proof—because he didn't have any.
So he chose the only path he could justify quickly: expulsion.
Tobirama wouldn't accept it without an explanation.
Hashirama weighed his options… then chose a lie that sounded like truth.
"When I was studying certain secret arts," Hashirama said slowly, "I encountered the Sage of Six Paths."
He met Tobirama's eyes.
"And I saw Konoha's future."
Tobirama froze.
He searched Hashirama's face—hard.
Then he exhaled.
"…You're not lying."
He didn't say it lightly. Tobirama trusted his instincts on one thing above all else: his older brother's sincerity.
"Are these 'secret arts' truly that incredible?" Tobirama asked.
Hashirama nodded once.
"They are."
Tobirama finally rose.
"All right," he said quietly. "Leave it to me."
And with that, the threat inside Konoha was marked for removal.
Not as an argument.
Not as a debate.
As an operation.
Soon, a barrier sealed the Sarutobi and Shimura compounds. Shinobi slipped through it like ghosts, and by morning, the two clans were simply… gone.
No witnesses.
No surviving branches.
As if those names had never belonged to Konoha at all.
Tobirama's World — One Month Later
A month passed in the world where Tobirama still wore the Hokage hat.
At Konoha's gates, a large squad assembled—travel gear on their backs, eyes forward, ready for the Land of Lightning.
At the center stood Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Beside him, Shimura Danzō watched with barely contained hunger.
Tobirama's gaze swept over them.
"Hiruzen," he said, voice steady, "you've done well."
"When you return… Konoha will rely on you."
Hiruzen's heart surged.
This trip was supposed to be simple: sign the alliance in the Land of Lightning, then return.
Even with the title being handed to him, he still carried himself like a dutiful student.
"Yes, Sensei," Hiruzen said firmly. "I will complete the mission."
Tobirama's mouth curved—briefly—into a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
It vanished a moment later, replaced by solemn ceremony.
He lifted the Hokage hat from his head.
And placed it into Hiruzen's hands.
"Do not disgrace Konoha… Third Hokage."
Hiruzen's breath caught.
The symbol.
The weight.
The dream he'd chased.
His fingers tightened around it as if he feared it might dissolve.
Danzō's eyes nearly bulged.
Jealousy poured off him like heat.
That hat should have been his.
It should have been him.
Hiruzen put it on.
His posture straightened.
His spirit soared.
"Don't worry, Sensei!" he declared. "We'll show the Cloud Shinobi the true spirit of Konoha!"
Tobirama nodded calmly.
"Go."
The squad departed.
And the moment they were gone—
Tobirama returned to the Hokage Tower.
Inside, Senju shinobi were already waiting, lined up and silent.
"Patriarch," one reported, "everything is prepared."
Hashirama had died years ago in this world, and Tobirama had inherited not only the Hokage seat—but the role of Senju patriarch as well.
Tobirama nodded once.
"Tonight," he said. "We move."
"Fast."
"Clean."
"Execute."
Nightfall — The Knife Falls
Night covered Konoha.
A Senju strike group moved through the village without sound, led by Tobirama himself.
Their target:
The Sarutobi clan.
From within the compound came laughter—celebration.
They were drunk on victory, drunk on pride, basking in the glory of Hiruzen's promotion.
Tobirama watched from the shadows, expression unreadable.
To him, they looked like corpses that simply hadn't realized they were dead yet.
He raised a hand slightly.
"Begin."
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