Chapter 12 - Tsunade

Later that night, in the main Senju residence, Towa and Mikumo sat in a small room as they waited for Tsunade to return.

Before long, they heard a knock on the door as it slid open.

"Ah, Towa-sama, I'm sorry for being late. I swear today was just a little unlucky, ahaha! Don't worry I didn't go over budget."

Towa looked at Tsunade with disapproving eyes but didn't comment.

"Tsunade-hime, my granddaughter and I have something we wish to discuss with you, please sit."

"Ah, yes, okay."

As soon as Tsunade closed the door and walked over to sit across from Towa and Mikumo, Towa started to perform a weave a few hand signs.

"For privacies reasons, we've decided to use this room, but just in case, let me add another precaution."

Towa then slammed her palm on the ground.

"Fuin! (Seal)"

A small barrier rose from the corners of the room and sealed it tight.

Tsunade was surprised by the development but quickly put on a serious expression, she used to be a professional ninja not too long ago, after all.

"Towa-sama, what do you want to discuss that requires so much precaution?"

Towa looked at Mikumo and Mikumo nodded at her before taking out a scroll.

Tsunade looked at the pair's serious expressions and didn't comment on the fact that a six-year-old kid was about to brief her.

Mikumo handed Tsunade the scroll and began explaining.

"Tsunade-hime, please take a look at this scroll. Within lies the records of recent births and deaths within the clan over the past five years."

Tsunade took the scroll and started examining it before a shocked expression appeared on her face.

"This is..."

"Five years ago, we had over one hundred fifty clan shinobi. Over three years our birth rate severely went down, and many clansmen died in the war, whittling our clan down to just one hundred shinobi. However, if you notice, after Mito-sama's death, things got much worse."

Tsunade's heart stung upon the mention of Mito, her beloved grandmother and she bit her lip.

"After Mito-sama's death, not only did our clan rapidly decline in the last two years of the war down to just forty shinobi left, but the civilians in our clan also started passing away at an alarming rate. Especially pregnant women."

Tsunade gripped the scroll tightly as she confirmed the young girl's words.

"Not to mention, immediately after Mito-sama's death, her homeland and the Uzumaki clan were destroyed. Don't you find this to be odd, Tsunade-hime?"

Tsunade nodded and started turning the wheels in her brain.

"You mean...someone is instigating the downfall of our clan"

Mikumo nodded.

'Tsunade understands politics well, as expected of someone qualified to be Hokage, so I don't need to explain much.'

"Due to Mito-sama's connection, the Uzumaki clan was our biggest ally due to their prowess in Fuinjutsu. Now that they're gone, we have no more strong allies and our clan is in rapid decline civilian or otherwise. Tsunade-hime, we can't let our family perish like this."

Tsunade displayed a remorseful expression as she heard Mikumo's words. The word 'family' stung deeply. At this time, Towa decided to speak as well.

"Tsunade-hime, although I no longer have any say in the clan's affairs, I beg of you. Don't let our clan, the clan Hashirama-sama, and my sister, shed blood for, go to ruin. Not like 'this.'"

Towa emphasized her last word as a hint, one that Tsunade quickly picked up on.

Tsunade gnawed her teeth together and held the scroll so tight it came close to tearing apart. Soon, her anger subsided and she looked apologetically at Towa and Mikumo.

"Towa-sama, there's no need for you to beg me, I should be apologizing to you. It's because of my own incompetence as clan head that things have gotten this far. I will recall all clan members back to the Senju estate. We'll protect ourselves and our family starting now."

Towa shook her head and sighed.

"Tsunade-hime, this is also my fault. You are still young, I should have been there to help you as an elder in the clan. I hope you will entrust me with this responsibility from now on, it will be my final duty."

Tsunade nodded firmly.

"Okay, we will hold a clan meeting and I will promote you to head advisor."

Towa nodded and then put her hand on her granddaughter's shoulder.

"Also, my granddaughter here is the one that gave me the courage to stand up to this issue. Youngsters like her are the future of our clan, I can only ask that you will protect her in my stead, Tsunade-hime."

Tsunade looked over to Mikumo and the two exchanged looks for a brief moment.

"I understand. Mikumo-chan was it? You can leave her to me. Do you plan to have her family integrated into the clan?"

Towa looked at Mikumo as if urging her to answer.

Mikumo thought for a while weighing the merits of the proposal before displaying a wry smile on her face.

"No, it's okay, Tsunade-hime. My family is happy as they are, and I bear the Kashima name proudly."

Tsunade nodded and didn't press further.

"Mikumo-chan, I understand, if you ever need any help, don't be afraid to ask. Now, Towa-sama, let us plan our measures."

Mikumo sighed in relief at the development.

'I know for a fact that Tsunade cares about her family more than anything, otherwise, she wouldn't have been so disillusioned after Nawaki and her lover Dan passed away. Now that I've given her a new purpose, I can only hope that this change is enough. Tsunade may still be cynical of the village, but for now, this is in my favor, as grandma will be able to guide her to protect the clan. I don't know if the higher-ups are really responsible for the decline of the clan and destruction of the Uzumaki or not, either way, it helps me to have some backing.'

Mikumo didn't comment much more as she didn't care much for politics, so she let Tsunade and her grandma handle the finer details.

'And so, the hands of fate have shifted. I wonder what will happen next?'