Unlike the Uchiha Clan, the Senju Clan's ancestral shrine did not exude a gloomy or oppressive atmosphere. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The entire place had a warm, peaceful vibe to it. The shrine served as a place to honor ancestors, and the room beside it was where clan leaders throughout the generations had held clan meetings.
Back when Konoha was first established, the Senju shrine would be bustling with activity every time a clan meeting was called. It used to be a place filled with vitality.
But now...
Senju Yukika stood at the highest point and looked out across the hall.
All he could feel was a sense of emptiness and decay.
It felt like the once-proud and grand Senju Clan was slowly crumbling apart.
Like a mighty beast being eaten away by parasites, letting out faint cries of agony.
There were barely twenty people gathered inside the shrine.
The elders were far too old, their faces dull and lifeless.
The younger ones—those around his and Nawaki's age—had a spark in their eyes, but they were few.
"This is... the Senju Clan?"
"Why does it look even worse than some of those small, secretive bloodline clans?"
The moment those words left Yukika's mouth, the already silent hall grew even quieter.
The Senju. Once a name that defined an entire era.
But Yukika wasn't wrong. What stood before them now was merely a hollow shell of that greatness.
"Ahem, Clan Leader, you can't say things like that," came an awkward cough from not far away. It was the Third Elder, Senju Qiangjian, old and frail.
"Our clan members have blended into Konoha. The village's prosperity is the clan's prosperity."
"The Senju Clan—"
"Shhh~"
Unfortunately for him, Yukika cut him off with a sarcastic smile, raising a finger to his lips and making a clear "shh" sound.
The village's prosperity equals the clan's prosperity?
What a noble, idealistic sentiment.
But is that really the truth?
Did he just shush me?
Third Elder Qiangjian was stunned.
To be fair, he was the oldest living elder of the Senju Clan, and technically of the same generation as Hashirama and Tobirama themselves. Yukika should be calling him "Third Grandpa."
Even if the new clan leader didn't have to treat him with reverence, some basic respect was expected.
Shushing me? What the hell?
Clearly, the old man was displeased.
Still, the rules of the Senju household were clear: the clan leader held the highest authority. Trying to pull rank based on seniority would only make him look petty.
Thinking quickly, the Third Elder pointed toward the ancestral tablet enshrining the First Hokage.
"Clan Leader, what I mean is... This policy of integrating into the village was something the First Hokage, our former clan head, decided upon."
"I personally don't think it's wrong."
"If you have a problem with it, you can always report it to the First Hokage himse— Huh? What are you doing?"
Having lived through much, the old man was confident that invoking the name of the First Hokage would put Yukika in his place. But before he could even finish his sentence, the entire room suddenly reacted with alarm.
Even Tsunade and Nawaki, who stood beside Yukika, wore baffled expressions.
And the reason was clear.
As soon as the Third Elder mentioned Hashirama's name, the newly appointed clan leader stood up silently, walked straight to the ancestral tablet of Hashirama Senju...
...and very simply, took it down.
What is he doing!?
Panic spread through the clan members.
"That's the First Hokage!"