Chapter 115.1 : Senju Clan's Low Rank!

Time elapsed, and one formidable entity after another claimed its position on the Power List.

Naturally, individuals discerned whether their abilities warranted inclusion. Those lacking even the rank of Jōnin knew they stood no chance. Conversely, forces boasting Kage-level prowess faced no uncertainty; their ascendancy to the list was assured.

Soon, the fiftieth slot on the power roster was revealed.

[50th place on the power list: Hōzuki Clan]

[Second Mizukage: Ah, our Hōzuki Clan once held eminence. Yet, posthumously, it languishes at 50th. A testament to the ineptitude of our descendants!]

[Fourth Raikage: The Hōzuki Clan once wielded great might. Alas, under the Fourth Mizukage's reign, many formidable shinobi deserted or perished, leading to their decline. Only a remnant remains.]

[Second Mizukage: Yagura is utterly worthless!]

[Fourth Mizukage: I, too, fell under Obito's genjutsu. I'm not bearing that blame alone!

(Second Mizukage: Were I alive, I'd obliterate Obito!)

[Uchiha Obito: Second Mizukage, could you really defeat me?]

The announcements continued, swiftly revealing fortieth place.

[40th place on the power list: Hagoromo Clan]

[Senju Hashirama: The Hagoromo Clan, ancient and revered, yet now placed at 40th. A fall, but not a collapse!]

[Uchiha Madara: Likely dwindled to a mere handful, hardly worth mention.

[Uzumaki Naruto: Are the Hagoromo Clan descendants of the Sage of Six Paths?

[Senju Hashirama: Many in the shinobi world claim descent from the Sage of Six Paths. The Hagoromo Clan merely bears the name, lacking special distinction.]

[Uzumaki Naruto: Understood.]

[Fourth Hokage: Would my son and wife be considered Uzumaki Clan?

[Fourth Raikage: Impossible. A clan must wield its own influence. Do the Uzumaki possess such sway?

Fourth Hokage knew the Uzumaki Clan had lost its power. While remnants remained, forming a force was unfeasible.

[36th place on the power list: Inuzuka Clan]

The Inuzuka, a notable Konoha clan, held a respectable standing, albeit without many renowned figures, securing the 36th spot.

Dissatisfaction rippled through the clan at this ranking, feeling deserving of a top 20 placement.

[Inuzuka Kiba: 36th place means mediocre rewards. We might not receive any worthwhile resources!]

[Inuzuka Hana: Brother, perhaps the rewards cater to multiple recipients, ensuring equitable distribution!]

[Inuzuka Kiba: Let's hope so!]

[Uzumaki Naruto: Kiba, your clan's inclusion signifies power. Alas, mine lacks recognition, denying direct entry to the list.

[Inuzuka Kiba: Naruto, your status as a Six Paths is invaluable. If I achieved such, I'd ask for no reward!]

The announcements reached the top 30.

[30th place on the power list: Aburame Clan]

[Aburame Shino: A commendable rank indeed!]

[Aburame Shibi: What's there to celebrate about being ranked 30th? Our clan should at least be in the top 20!]

[Akimichi Chōza: Looks like our Akimichi clan is faring better than your Aburame clan!]

[Hyuga Hiashi: Our Hyuga clan must surely be in the top ten, without a doubt!]

In a brief moment, the power rankings were revealed up to the twenty-sixth position.

[Ranked twenty-sixth: The Yamanaka clan]

[Yamanaka Kaiichi: Twenty-sixth isn't bad at all!]

[Yamanaka Ino: I hope we'll get a decent reward this time too!]

The announcements continued.

[Ranked twenty-fifth: The Sarutobi clan]

[Third Hokage: Hah, my Sarutobi clan only managed 25th place. If I were still around, we'd definitely be in the top ten!]

[Senju Hashirama: Little monkey, 25th place isn't good enough. When I was alive, the Sarutobi clan was just a small clan. Even in your death, the fact that they've maintained 25th place shows the Sarutobi clan's strength.]

[Third Hokage: Ahem, Mr. Hashirama is right, this ranking is indeed acceptable.]

As the announcements continued, the twenty-fourth position was revealed.

[Ranked twenty-fourth: The Senju clan]

[Senju Hashirama: ???]

[Senju Tobirama: ???]

[Uchiha Madara: Heh, the Senju clan, the first clan of Konoha, and yet they haven't improved at all.]

[Senju Hashirama: What's going on? How can Konoha's first clan, the Senju clan, be ranked so low? Tsunade, you're a powerhouse on par with me, if you were here, how could the Senju clan be ranked so low?]

[Fourth Raikage: In the beginning the power list assessed overall strength. It's not enough for just one individual to be strong. If the overall strength, influence, and various other factors aren't sufficient, the ranking naturally suffers. Nowadays, most of the Senju clan are ordinary civilians, with very few ninja among them. With Tsunade being the only prominent figure, what higher rank could they expect?]

[Senju Hashirama: Tsuna, what's become of the Senju clan? How did it come to this?]

[Tsunade: Grandpa, since you and Second Grandpa passed away, the Senju clan has been declining. Many members fell in wars and missions, and few new ninjas were born into the clan. The numbers dwindled, and except for a few, most Senju became ordinary civilians, scattered among other clans.]

At this point, some Senju members couldn't hold back their grievances any longer, expressing dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage, believing he favored the Sarutobi clan over theirs. They claimed the Senju were tasked with dangerous missions while the Sarutobi handled simpler ones.

[Senju Hashirama: Is what they're saying true?]

[Third Hokage: Teacher Hashirama, I swear I never intended to suppress the Senju clan in favor of the Sarutobi clan. My clan has also suffered significant losses.]

In truth, the Third Hokage did have his own biases, focusing more on his loyalists and the Sarutobi clan, which inadvertently led to the suppression of the Senju clan.

In the annals of Konoha's history, the Senju clan holds a position of eminence, being the first clan to establish itself within the village. Both the First and Second Hokage hailed from its lineage, imbuing the Senju with a sense of entitlement to the Hokage mantle, as if it were their birthright, a notion rooted in the belief that the village leadership should naturally spring forth from their ranks.

Yet, the destiny of Konoha isn't solely tethered to the prosperity of the Senju clan.

As the Third Hokage shoulders the weight of leadership, he grapples with internal tensions. While outwardly he must maintain impartiality, inwardly he harbors a desire for the prosperity of his own Sarutobi clan, a sentiment he dare not openly confess, even in death.

[Fourth Raikage: Sarutobi Hiruzen, a fascinating individual. Amidst the chaos of the Nine Tails incident and the demise of the Fourth Hokage, here you stand, alive and well. And the illustrious Senju clan, reduced to such a state... Were it not for Tsunade, they might not even warrant a mention on the power rankings.]

[Third Hokage: Fourth Raikage, let us not dwell on the complexities of my relationship with Hashirama sensei.]

[Senju Tobirama: Hiruzen, during your tenure as Hokage, Konoha's might has waned considerably. This is an undeniable truth. Whether your intentions lay elsewhere remains uncertain, but your ineptitude as Hokage is indisputable!]

[Third Hokage: Tobirama-sensei speaks the truth. I am indeed inept.]

Their discourse on this matter was brief, as attention shifted to other contenders entering the rankings.

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