1 Arriving at Konoha

Konoha has nearly won the Second Shinobi War. Even though they had nearly won this war, their losses were quite heavy. The Third Hokage gave the order to build up their strengths.

As the end of the Second Shinobi War drew near, Tsunade left the village under the pretext that staying in the village depressed her. The Third Hokage was powerless to convince her to stay.

Uzumaki Mito, the wife of Senju Hashirama, let her granddaughter leave so that she could get over her lover's death.

Around this time, a young boy entered the Konoha. He was halted at the gates of the Konoha, and some Chunins stepped forward before asking him, "Who are you?"

"Senju Araki." The boy spoke out his name while puffing his chest a little. No matter what he says, he couldn't help but be proud of his clan, which had such a great history.

However, contrary to his expectations, the Chunins started laughing out loud. They hadn't heard such a good joke. For someone to come while claiming to be a member of the Senju Family?!

It was a well-known fact that only Senju Tsunade was the living descendant of the Senju Hashirama.

"Kiddo, at least think about the joke a little. But still, you did make me laugh a lot. Now, tell me your real name." The words of this Chunin really irritated Araki.

He stared at the Chunin for some seconds before saying, "Go and ask someone from my Senju Clan to come. They would surely know about my father, Senju Ramatsu!"

Seeing the kid being so stubborn about this matter, the chunin stepped forward with a stern look, saying, "Kid, I can tolerate this joke one more time. After that, I won't hesitate to take action against you for trying to declare yourself a member of the Senju Clan."

At this moment, Araki understood, this chunin before himself wouldn't understand anything no matter what he says.

"Hmph… Father did say that this could occur if I go to Konoha alone. He told me to not use my special ability unless it's really urgent. Maybe this is the time…" Araki stretched out his hand and closed his eyes. He concentrated heavily for some time.

The Chunin was growing angry at seeing Araki standing there, not at all going away. He was about to move when suddenly, his eyes focused on the ground right in front of Araki.

Something was moving in the ground. What was it? This question appeared in his head. But he didn't plan on thinking about it too deeply.

Just as he was ready to make his move again to apprehend this child, the ground right in front of Senju Araki twitched, and a small bud of a plant was released! Its height was only 10 or so centimetres. And it's width was quite small.

However, seeing this small bud shocked the chunin utterly. He then raised his head and saw Araki looking at him cheekily.

"Hehehe… Father said this will definitely shock anyone who sees it. So? How do you like it? I have the same ability as my grandpa Hashirama! Does this prove anything?" Araki said with an amused tone, happy to have shocked this chunin.

The Chunin immediately turned towards his friend and said, "Go and inform the Hokage-sama! Ask him to come here. This is of utmost importance!"

His friend nodded and went away to call on for the Third Hokage. He also realised just how urgent the situation was.

The Chunin meanwhile turned towards Senju Araki and says, "It was my fault to have not acknowledged Senju-sama."

Senju Araki rubbed the back of his head shyly as he heard the chunin and says, "It's alright. Can you bring me to the Senju Clan? Father used to tell me all sorts of stories about the clan. I really want to see the Senju Clan Manor."

"Please wait for some time here, Senju-Sama. Hokage-sama must be on his way to get here. Once he verifies your identity, he will personally take you to the Senju Clan Manor."

"Okie~!" Senju Araki agrees to wait for some time. He had heard that Hokage was the head of the village. Previously, it used to be his grandpa and granduncle, and now, it was their student, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Soon enough, a middle-aged man appeared, with some wrinkles on his face and a red coloured hat of the Hokage. He was followed by the chunin's friend from earlier.

Araki stared at the Hokage quite curiously, while thinking 'So this is the head of the village. Bleh…'

The Hokage stared at Araki for some moments before he asked him kindly, "Are you the one claiming to be from the Senju Clan?"

"Yups! Don't you see this cute bud?! I had to concentrate a lot to create this!" Araki said while puffing his cheeks. He was pointing his finger at the bud.

The Hokage did saw the small bud which had grown to the height of 10 centimetres. However, he couldn't help but become perplexed about it.

He asked a little cautiously, "Who is your father?"

"Hmm… Father's name is Senju Ramatsu!" Araki says his father's name quite proudly.

The Hokage's eyes narrowed at the name. He had indeed heard about the younger son of Senju Hashirama. The one who had left the village shortly after his wife's death to figure out the identities of the preparators.

He stared at Araki's face, "Where is your father?"

The bright expression on Araki fell. On that face, a gloomy yet raging expression appeared which stared into the Hokage's eyes, "He is dead."

Sucking a breath of cold air even though he expected this response, the Hokage couldn't help but become a little melancholic himself. For his teacher to have lost both his sons…

He stared at the young child who was only of the only remaining grandchildren of Senju Hashirama!

"Alright, I will take you to the Senju Clan Manor. Come, your grandma is still there. She will be delighted to see you." The Hokage said, in an attempt to cheer up the young child.

"Grandma?! Yatta!" Instantly, the gloomy feeling around Araki dispersed. A look of excitement appeared on his face.

At that moment, they heard an old, seemingly ancient voice filled with gentleness, "There is no need for you to trouble yourself, monkey. I will take my grandson to the Clan Manor."

Only a single person in the whole village dared to call the Third Hokage a monkey. It was none other than Uzumaki Mito. Mito had long, bright red hair and large, pupilless eyes. She had a kind look on her face as she gazed at Araki.

For some reason, Araki sensed a strange familiarity with this woman. It was like this woman was incomparably important to him like his father was. Who was this woman? Wait… Did she just call him, her grandson? Was she his grandmother?

At that moment, the Hokage turned towards Uzumaki Mito and speaks with a startled look, "Mito-sama! There was no need to personally come here! I was about to take him to the Senju Clan Manor myself."

"Nonsense! Do I need a reason to come and greet my dear grandson, monkey? Go and return to your office. Hokage shouldn't be so free to intervene in the matters of the Senju Clan!" Mito said in a decisive tone. The Hokage had no choice but to return to the office with a gloomy expression.

"Waah! Are you really my grandma? Father said you would be an old woman by now with white hairs. Are you an imposter?" Araki spoke out while pointing at Mito.

The Chunins next to Araki broke out in a cold sweat. They were well aware of who Uzumaki Mito was. Calling her the most dangerous woman in the village wasn't exaggerated by any means. For this child to call her an imposter…

"That little rascal. So this is what Rama-chan has been telling his child about his mother. Good thing he isn't here, or else I would have spanked him like I did before." She said it with such an amused tone.

Immediately, Araki jumped towards her, "Waah! You really are my grandma! Are you really that same grandma Mito?"

Mito gently nodded her head to answer her grandson's question. She didn't ask about her son because she could anticipate the result of her younger son if only Araki had come. He was probably killed by the assassins who wanted to destroy the Senju Clan. It was fortunate enough that her grandson was still alive. Another good thing was that he didn't reveal his Mokuton anywhere other than Konoha! He would have been hounded to death, otherwise!

"Grandma, you are so fierce. You even made the Hokage return with your word." Araki said to his grandma while hugging her tightly with his little arms.

Smiling at these words, Mito replied, "He is just a little monkey for me. If you want. You can call him monkey too."

"Really! Yay!" He cheered out as if he had some weapon to use against the Hokage now.

In the other part of the village, The Hokage sneezed loudly, feeling as if something terrible had just happened.

Mito and Araki continued to walk for some time, and they soon arrived at the Senju Clan Manor. Seeing the Clan Manor, Araki couldn't help but let out a whistle of surprise.

"Woah! This is going to be my house?! AWESOME!" He said that letting go of Mito's hand and running towards the Senju Clan Manor.

The guards were about to stop him at the gate, but Mito gave them a fierce glare. The guards couldn't help but back away when they saw that glare.

As they backed away, there was no one to block Araki from entering the Senju Clan Manor. Araki didn't even bother removing his sandals and ran inside the Mansion in excitement.

Mito had a gentle smile on her face as she slowly followed her grandson. It was quite lovely to see a bundle of energy running around.

The guards soon closed the entrance after she entered. Mito followed after her grandson and found him roaming around the house. It seemed that he was opening one door after another to meet someone else from the Senju Clan.

However, he was bound to be disappointed. After opening and closing around 20 or so doors, Araki was slowly lowered his head and didn't understand just why couldn't he see anyone here.

He then turned his head and saw his grandma coming towards him. An idea appeared in his head as he rushed towards his grandma, asking her with a curious expression, "Grandma, grandma, why can't I see anyone else here? Father told me that there used to live so many people in the Senju Clan Manor. Why isn't anyone here now?"

Mito kneeled to his height and rubbed his black hairs. Looking into Araki's emerald green eyes, she says, "They are dead. Just like how Rama-chan has been killed. Now, tell me what happened. I can sense that this isn't the real you." Mito's gentle voice seemed to have startled Araki who backed away a little in fear.

He gulped down a mouthful of saliva in nervousness. He took a deep breath in to calm himself, it was rather strange to see a child of 7-years-old trying to calm himself.

After he did calm himself, there was a sharp gaze from his emerald eyes which caught Mito's attention, Araki asked with a rather emotionless voice, "How did you know?"

A smile broke out on Mito's face as she replied, "This grandma hasn't gone senile in her age… I could sense your negative emotions from the other side of the village. Your appearance is also similar to my son. And I was surprised to see that one of our grandchildren had finally inherited Hashi's Mokuton."