After wrapping up matters in the outside world, Lucas turned his focus back to the Chat Group for The Dead.
Lucas: "Alright, you four newcomers from the ninja world—are you just going to lurk silently? After all this time, I think you've realized this isn't some genjutsu, right?"
Gengetsu Hōzuki: "A chat group where the dead gather? Intriguing. So, this is the afterlife, huh? I must admit, what surprises me more is seeing the likes of the Ninja God and Ninja Demon here."
Namikaze Minato: "If I'm understanding this correctly, this chat group exists so that we, the dead, can offer our abilities to the group leader in exchange for having our unfulfilled wishes granted?"
Uchiha Shisui: "But… the group leader isn't from our world. Should we really be giving someone from another world access like this?"
Senju Tobirama: "Exactly. I suggest you don't hand anything over so easily. My brother and I haven't given all of our abilities yet. We still don't know if letting people from other worlds interfere with ours is a good idea."
Senju Hashirama: "That's right! I don't think spirits should meddle in the world of the living. We didn't allow the group leader access to our world for a reason."
Lucas: "Two naive fools. Do you really think the ninja world is some peaceful paradise without my involvement? @Namikaze Minato, you were the fourth hokage would you kindly educate these two about the mess their world turned into after they died?"
Senju Hashirama: "Wait… Nani?! Forth Hokage? No, no, if the Fourth Hokage died, doesn't that mean… the Fifth Hokage took over?"
Senju Tobirama: "Brother, that's not the point right now! Fourth Hokage, tell us—what happened after we died?"
Namikaze Minato sighed but agreed. He began recounting the events that unfolded in the ninja world after the deaths of the First and Second Hokage.
But Lucas quickly grew impatient.
Lucas: "Who asked you to give them the boring history lecture? Get to the important part. Tell them—are the Senju clan and the Uzumaki clan still around?"
Namikaze Minato hesitated. "Uh… I'm not entirely sure about the specifics. But, well… both the Senju and Uzumaki clans are basically extinct. A few descendants might still exist, but the clans as a whole… they're gone."
Senju Tobirama: "Damn it! So, the Senju clan really did perish? I thought Lucas was exaggerating!"
Lucas: "I wasn't exaggerating. I was telling the truth. As far as I know, the only Senju left is Tsunade. And even she's hanging by a thread."
Senju Hashirama: "You mentioned the Senju clan earlier, but what about the Uzumaki clan?"
Lucas: "The Uzumaki were attacked by other villages. Konoha didn't lift a finger to help them. Why? Because war means casualties. Konoha's leadership didn't want to lose their shinobi. So, the Uzumaki were sacrificed."
Senju Tobirama: "What? Are the leaders of Konoha that stupid? Do they have any idea how vital the Uzumaki were to Konoha? Without them, even more people will die in future conflicts!"
Lucas: "Second Hokage, you're too naive. People are short-sighted. Ever heard the saying: 'You can dodge something today, but you can't avoid it forever'?"
Senju Tobirama: "What does that mean?"
Lucas: "It means people will do whatever they can to avoid immediate danger, even if it leads to greater risks in the future. Why sacrifice today for something that might happen tomorrow? Most people won't agree to that."
Senju Tobirama: "…Because they think they won't live long enough to face those future consequences."
Lucas: "Exactly. That's why every village, every faction, needs a strong leader—someone with vision, who can plan for the future and enforce difficult decisions."
Senju Tobirama was silent, absorbing Lucas's words. He couldn't deny the truth in them. He knew how high the death rate was for shinobi. In a world where tomorrow was never guaranteed, few would think far ahead.
Senju Tobirama: "I understand why ordinary people wouldn't think about the future… but even the leaders of Konoha are that short-sighted?"
Lucas: "Didn't I already tell you? Konoha's leaders are a bunch of fools. Thanks to your teachings, they're experts in civil wars but amateurs when it comes to dealing with external threats. Your pathetic students have done more harm to Konoha than you can imagine."
Senju Tobirama fell silent again, then turned to Namikaze Minato. "Is what he's saying true? Are my students really the ones destroying Konoha?"
Namikaze Minato hesitated. Ever the optimist, he couldn't bring himself to openly criticize his predecessors.
Namikaze Minato: "I believe everything the leaders do is for Konoha's sake… but… the results… haven't been great. In fact, some decisions might've backfired badly."
Lucas seized the opportunity.
Lucas: "Speaking of bad decisions, let's talk about the Fourth Hokage's death. Minato had just become Hokage, his wife—Kushina the Nine tails Jinchuriki—was giving birth, and guess what? A masked man attacked Konoha, released the Nine Tails, and all hell broke loose."
Namikaze Minato: "You even know about that?"
Lucas: "I know more about the ninja world than you do."
Gengetsu Hōzuki: "Wait, wait—Nine Tails were unleashed in Konoha? That must've caused catastrophic damage!"
Lucas: "Of course. Countless civilians and shinobi died. And Minato, along with his wife—also perished."
Senju Hashirama: "The Nine Tails were that dangerous? No way!"
Senju Tobirama: "Brother, shut up. Not everyone can suppress the Nine Tails like you could."
Lucas: "But the real kicker is what happened after. Let's discuss the role of Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō during the Nine Tails' attack. Danzō and his elite squad were nowhere to be found. Third Hokage? Although he did contain the Nine-tails, but he was completely unscathed. Then, right after Minato's death, guess who became Hokage again?"
Doflamingo: "Fufufufu~ I smell conspiracy. Looks like your world's full of political snakes too!"
Senju Tobirama: "You mean to say… Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen just sat back while Konoha was falling apart?"
Lucas: "Exactly. And do you know how Minato became the Fourth Hokage? Because Third Hokage screwed up during the Third Great Ninja War and was forced to step down. Now tell me, don't you think he wanted the title back?"
Senju Tobirama: "…"
Namikaze Minato: "No… I believe the Third Hokage isn't that kind of person. Everything he did was for Konoha's good. I never doubted that."
Lucas: "Really? I never said Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't act for Konoha's benefit. But think about it from his perspective. What he did starts to make a lot more sense."
Senju Tobirama: "Explain."
Lucas: "Let's start with the Senju clan. A powerful ninja family from the Warring States period. Their strength was unmatched, rivaled only by the Uchiha. And let's not forget—they produced two Hokage, including the legendary First Hokage who founded Konoha. The village itself was built on the Senju foundation."
Howard Stark: "Oh, I get it now. No wonder the Senju clan was wiped out by Konoha's leadership."
Senju Hashirama: "What do you mean?"
Senju Tobirama: "You're from another world—how could you possibly understand the intricacies of Konoha Village?"
Lucas: "You two seriously underestimate Howard Stark. He's far smarter than both of you combined. Unlike you guys who've been fighting since childhood, he's a highly educated man. What seems complicated to you is often simple for people like us."
Senju Tobirama: "Really? Then let me hear what this genius has to say."
Lucas: @Howard Stark, mind sharing your thoughts?"
Howard Stark: "Konoha Village is made up of various ninja clans, and the Senju clan is one of the most prominent. They not only possess strength that outclasses the other clans, but they also hold significant prestige, right?"
Senju Tobirama: "That's correct."
Howard Stark: "Alright, then here's my question—when there's a disagreement between Konoha's leadership and the Senju clan, whose authority prevails?"
The question was simple, yet it left Senju Tobirama momentarily speechless.
After a pause, Senju Tobirama finally replied
Senju Tobirama: "The Senju clan wouldn't oppose Konoha Village. We've always aligned with Konoha's interests."
Lucas: "Do you even believe the nonsense you're spewing? You and your brother had differing opinions about Uchiha Madara. If you two couldn't agree, how could the entire Senju clan always see eye to eye with Konoha's leadership?"
Senju Tobirama fell silent, realizing the flaw in his logic.
Howard Stark: "Exactly. When disagreements arise, conflicts follow. The leadership of Konoha is supposed to guide the village, but if the Senju clan wields more power and prestige, how can the leadership truly lead?"
Doflamingo: "Fufufufu~ Power is a seductive thing. It's enough to make people lose their minds. Sounds like this is exactly why the Senju clan had to go."
Howard Stark: "Precisely. When that conflict surfaced, both sides saw the problem. Konoha's leadership had three options: back down, compromise, or strike first."
Lucas: "But let's be real—Konoha's leadership would never choose the first option. They couldn't just relinquish power. And the other clans wouldn't tolerate becoming mere vassals under the Senju."
Senju Hashirama: "But why wouldn't they choose to compromise?"
Lucas: "Hashirama, you're unbelievably naive. Compromise would still mean the leadership is conceding some of its rightful authority to the Senju. But according to Konoha's structure, the true command lies with the village leadership, not any single clan."
Lucas: "From a political standpoint, compromising weakens leadership. It sets a dangerous precedent. If the leadership caves to the Senju, what's to stop other clans from demanding the same? Soon, Konoha would cease to be a unified entity—it'd turn into a loose alliance of clans."
Lucas: "And on a personal level—do you think anyone willingly gives up power once they've tasted it? Even if it's 'for the good of the village,' no one likes to feel like a pawn."
Lucas: "More importantly, trust is a fragile thing. If the leadership and the Senju couldn't fully trust each other, they'd both be constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering who'd strike first. And you know what's worse than death? The fear of death. That paranoia makes people do crazy things."
Lucas: "So, the leadership chose the third option—they struck first and made sure the Senju clan disappeared."
The explanation hung heavily in the chat, the grim truth sinking in.
Senju Hashirama: "If they just didn't want the Senju involved in high-level decisions, why not just suppress our political power? Why wipe us out completely?"
Gengetsu Hōzuki: "First Hokage, you're still as naive as ever. Why did the Senju and Uchiha fight for centuries? Because of hatred. If Konoha's leadership suppressed the Senju, how would they do it? By killing. And once blood is spilled, the Senju would seek revenge. It's an endless cycle."
Lucas: "Exactly. The leadership knew that killing off key members of the Senju would ignite a blood feud. And let's not forget, Konoha's leaders all had their own clans to protect. The only way to ensure the Senju wouldn't retaliate was to eliminate them entirely."
Lucas: "The only reason Tsunade survived was because she was the First Hokage's granddaughter, a disciple of Third Hokage, and her grandmother Uzumaki Mito was still alive at the time. That's the only reason she wasn't caught in the conspiracy."
Senju Hashirama: "Mito… Mito was alive during the Senju clan's destruction? If she was, why didn't she stop it?"
Senju Tobirama: "Brother, don't be foolish. Konoha's leadership wouldn't have openly slaughtered the Senju. They did it through conspiracies and subtle manipulations. Mito probably didn't even know—or if she did, she had no proof."
Lucas: "Or… maybe there's another reason why Uzumaki Mito didn't intervene."
Senju Hashirama felt a cold shiver run down his spine. "What other reason?"
Lucas: "Remember when you killed Uchiha Madara? You said you'd do anything to protect Konoha. It didn't matter if it was your brother, your wife, your family, or your children—if they threatened the village, you'd eradicate them without hesitation."
The realization hit Senju Hashirama like a punch to the gut.
Lucas: "What if Uzumaki Mito inherited your will? What if, in her eyes, the Senju clan had become a threat to Konoha? What if… she participated in their suppression?"
Senju Hashirama felt a hollow pit form in his chest.
Lucas: "Second Hokage, when you were in power, you constantly suppressed the ninja clans and uplifted civilian ninjas. Wasn't that just a way to secure Konoha's leadership and ensure no clan could threaten the village hierarchy?"
Lucas: "Your apprentices eliminated the Senju clan. Maybe… just maybe… they were carrying out your will!"
Senju Tobirama: "..."
For once, the sharp-tongued Second Hokage had nothing to say.
Lucas: "Why so quiet, Tobirama? When First Hokage killed Uchiha Madara for the sake of Konoha, you didn't question it. When Third Hokage eliminated the Senju clan for the same reason, are you suddenly upset?"
Lucas: "You were righteous when you suppressed the Uchiha clan in the name of protecting Konoha, but now that it's your own clan, it doesn't sit well with you?"
Lucas: "It's like that old saying—'Anyone can sound high and mighty until the knife is pointed at themselves.'"
Uchiha Madara: "Hahahahah….Well said, well said!"
Senju Hashirama: "Madara, shut up! But…"
He paused, his words weighed down by painful realization.
Senju Hashirama: "If I had still been alive then, maybe… maybe I would've acted against the Senju clan too. As much as it pains me to admit, protecting Konoha always came first—even over my own family."
Senju Tobirama: "If I'd been alive back then, I would've found a better solution! Sarutobi Hiruzen and his lot… they're trash!"
Senju Hashirama: "But… maybe they were right. Maybe the Senju clan wasn't entirely blameless. Were they really not deserving of what happened?"
Lucas: "It's just a possibility based on the facts we have. It's not necessarily the absolute truth."
Senju Tobirama: "No… I think it's very possible. After all, the Senju clan was strong—strong enough to make the Konoha leadership uneasy, but… not strong enough to be untouchable."
He elaborated, his analytical mind piecing together the reality. "The Senju clan's strength made them a threat. They could've easily turned Konoha into their personal domain. Don't say it's impossible—look at Cloud Village. The Raikage clan dominates there. Every Raikage has come from that family. Outsiders don't stand a chance."
Senju Tobirama : "But the Senju weren't strong enough to force submission. If we'd had the power of Hashirama, Konoha's leadership would've backed off. But we didn't. We were strong enough to be feared, but weak enough to be eradicated."
Lucas : "Exactly. The Senju clan was a looming threat to Konoha, but still within the realm of destruction. That's likely why they were targeted. The same thing happened to Uchiha Shisui."
Lucas: "@Uchiha Shisui, isn't that right?"
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