Better to Shine in the Land of Whirlpools than Fade Away in Konoha

Looking back at the first three Great Ninja Wars, Konoha was always the victorious village! However...after fighting through the Third War, Konoha was basically defeated. The high-level shinobi were either framed to death or left the village, while the talented young generation was mostly sold off by Root. Unless you had the luck of the Twelve Rookie Ninja, it was better to leave Konoha for greater prospects! Otherwise, it was a dead end. 

So it can be said that during Hiruzen Sarutobi's tenure as Hokage, he not only failed to improve Konoha's strength, but almost led it to ruin. How else could the mere Orochimaru nearly destroy the village? If not for the rise of the Twelve Rookie later on, Konoha would have been in dire straits!

Instead of allowing Hashirama Senju's legacy to be squandered by Hiruzen and Danzo, it would have been better to pass it on to Ryuto Uzumaki of the Uzumaki clan - Hashirama's in-laws after all! The Uzumaki have always been Konoha's allies, so inheriting some leftovers wouldn't be a problem.

"What do you think of Konoha's current state?" Ryuto asked the members of the Senju clan.

Hearing his words, Hidezumi Senju sighed and said, "Regardless, this is still the village founded by Lord Hashirama. The Senju will never abandon it."

He understood Ryuto's intention, but could not speak ill of Konoha! The Senju greatly revered Hashirama, and even after his and Tobirama's passing, the clan still upheld Hashirama's philosophy - sacrificing lives for peace in the ninja world and Konoha until the last Senju fell.

Otherwise, when the clan was decimated and Tsunade's brother killed and lover dead, why didn't she take any action instead of just leaving the village? Because her love for Konoha ran so deep! And in the end, didn't she return to serve Konoha once more?

The Senju clan's integrity was unmatched. No matter how bad Konoha became, as long as it was Hashirama's legacy, they would devote their lives to protecting it.

"Then how do you think you'll be treated if you return to the village?" Since this approach didn't work, Ryuto changed tack. Otherwise, continuing to criticize Konoha might make them dislike him, when he actually wanted to recruit them.

"I..." Hidezumi paused, then said resolutely, "Since we disobeyed the Hokage's orders, we should be punished."

"..." 

Geez!! Why were the two founding clans of Konoha so stubborn? Since Konoha didn't welcome them, they could develop elsewhere! Why stay in Konoha, courting clan annihilation??

"Sigh!!" Ryuto sighed helplessly. Such capable and loyal clans were exactly what the Land of Whirlpools needed, yet he could only say, "Not just you, perhaps even the entire Senju clan will be implicated!"

Since that was the case, he had to lay everything out clearly.

Hidezumi's pupils contracted as he looked at Ryuto seriously, "The Senju would never wrong Konoha, just as Konoha would never wrong the Senju."

"Heh heh!" Ryuto laughed. Perhaps the Senju wouldn't betray Konoha, but the same couldn't be said for Konoha's treatment of them! Who knew if the Anbu and Root weren't already plotting to seize the clan's assets and lands to resolve land annexation issues? The Senju did control a large swathe of fertile territory!

Hearing Ryuto's words, Hidezumi sighed. Hiruzen was already displeased with Konoha's clans, and now the Senju had defied the Hokage's orders. The clan might really need to prepare for population reduction.

"So, ah! Can't put all your eggs in one basket, ah no, risks must be...ah no!!" Ryuto thought for a moment then said, "The Senju could split, with one branch coming to the Land of Whirlpools. That way, even if danger arises, you won't face extin..."

Ryuto didn't finish the last word, knowing the Senju would understand. If they still refused this proposal, he would no longer bother with them. Blind loyalty was one thing, but it could lead to betraying national interests! When promoting public education later, he would need to provide moral education to the younger generation.

"I..." Hidezumi opened his mouth but didn't know how to respond. Perhaps Ryuto's suggestion wasn't bad, but...this was a decision beyond the authority of a mere jonin like himself.

"You don't need to answer me now," Ryuto waved his hand. "I'll visit Konoha later, you can give me your decision then."

Relieved at not having to decide immediately, Hidezumi thought he could consult the clan head. No matter what the Senju decided, it would be a serious consideration - for they were ninja!

...

"How does the Uzumaki clan respond?" Gengetsu Hozuki frowned. Dammit, as one of the Five Great Villages, having to surrender to a small nation was too humiliating! This Mizukage stint was a disaster - upon returning to the village he'd surely be dismissed and saddled with massive debts!

So in these negotiations, the Village Hidden in the Mist couldn't suffer too many losses!

"Damn Konoha!" Gengetsu's face twisted in anger as he cursed. If not for them, would the Mist have fallen to such straits? Now Konoha was the victor while his village the loser, defeated by a tiny nation. The daimyo might impose restrictions on the Mist out of displeasure.

If so, Gengetsu would truly become the Mist's criminal. He no longer held any ambition for the Mizukage position, only hoping his village wouldn't lose too much!

"Hopefully the Land of Whirlpools doesn't make outrageous demands," he muttered.

But the Mizukage's assistant was less optimistic. They were the invaders who failed - how could the Land of Whirlpools, backed by Konoha, not make harsh demands? The Village Hidden in the Mist was truly stuck between a rock and a hard place!

Originally they had agreed that the Mist would take the Land of Whirlpools' spoils of war and copy their sealing techniques. But now...they had failed, facing not just the Land of Whirlpools but the other Four Great Villages too!

All due to Konoha's schemes!!

The assistant sighed. "We shouldn't have trusted Konoha so readily. Of course they wouldn't let other villages gain jinchuriki so easily."

"Indeed!" Gengetsu shook his head hopelessly. "Prepare for the negotiations."

"The Village Hidden in the Mist is still one of the Five Great Villages. We cannot be controlled by the Land of Whirlpools."

"We must have our own bottom line. I leave everything...to you!"

(End of Chapter)