Chapter 35: The Second Clan Assembly
That very evening, Senju Morin returned to the Senju clan compound and immediately convened a new clan assembly.
All of the Senju clan's jōnin, along with several clan elders, were summoned. Morin intended to formally announce his plans to hold a Clan Head Succession Ceremony and Tsunade's Restoration-to-the-Clan Ceremony.
Night had already fallen, yet the Kōga Shrine blazed with light.
Thick wooden pillars—like the arms of giants—held the roof aloft, creating a vast, open interior. Upon the walls, the Senju clan crest was painted in vivid vermilion, so enormous it covered an entire wall. Under the lantern light, it seemed even more brilliant, as though pulsing with renewed vitality.
The shrine was filled with shinobi, yet an unusual restraint and silence prevailed.
Because standing at the very front was their new clan head—the Third Hokage of Konohagakure, Senju Morin.
He was not wearing the Hokage's ceremonial robes. Instead, he had changed into traditional clan attire, seated upright upon a slightly elevated platform.
His gaze was calm, surveying everyone below.
Compared to the sharp confrontations of the previous clan assembly, this gathering felt markedly gentler.
The younger generation, who had long rallied around Morin, wore expressions of excitement and pride. Their parents, uncles, and elders—the previous generation of the clan—were no different.
Even the clan elders who had once glared at Morin and rebuked him openly now wore warm, benevolent smiles, presenting the image of unconditional support.
Once again, Senju Morin began to speak.
This time, he intended to make his resolve unmistakably clear—to define the course of the Senju clan for decades to come.
---
"The clan."
Morin's voice was clear and steady, carrying a natural authority that compelled belief.
"The clan is the foundation upon which we survive in this shinobi world. It is our greatest shield against its cruelty, and the very basis upon which every Senju stands."
"A village is a community of shared interests formed by many clans. It is stronger, larger, and more reliable—but the birth of the village does not mean the disappearance of the clan."
"In this era of shinobi villages, the clan remains the most steadfast protection for every one of us—the most reliable shelter, and our truest source of security."
"As Hokage, I bear the duty to protect the village and its people. But even Clan Head Hashirama, even Clan Head Tobirama, could not possibly know or remember every single villager and shinobi in Konoha."
"But the clan is different."
Morin's tone rose sharply, firm and unquestionable.
"We are bound by blood and kinship. We are united more closely than any other group."
"I can say this without hesitation—every Senju is my family."
"My relatives. My kin."
"And the people I cherish above all else."
Morin's gaze swept slowly across the hall, coming to rest first on the clan elders seated in the front row.
"Elder Taiwu. Elder Yoshimura. Elder He…"
Since Morin had, after ascending to the position of Hokage, magnanimously preserved the elders' standing and dignity within the clan, the old men were naturally filled with gratitude—and no small measure of relief.
Now, hearing Morin address them first, and with such formality and respect, it was as if a spring breeze had passed over their hearts. Their aged faces bloomed like chrysanthemums in full flower.
Morin's eyes lingered, meeting theirs one by one. In each gaze, he saw reverence, joy, and—buried deep within—a trace of belated regret. The elders hurried to return his look, nodding again and again, their approval unmistakable.
Morin then shifted his attention to a group seated slightly farther back, and the titles he used grew warmer, more familial.
"Aunt Tōka. Uncle Shinmaru. Uncle Detai. Aunt Sachi…"
One by one, the middle-aged members of the Senju clan looked toward him. Their eyes carried not only closeness, but also the pride and affirmation of elders who felt truly acknowledged.
At last, Morin turned to those closest to him—his confidants, the younger generation of the clan.
"Tao. Genma. Yoru. Yu…"
Each time his gaze settled on a name, the young shinobi rose at once, bowing crisply and without hesitation. When they lifted their heads again, pride shone openly on their faces, their eyes fixed on Morin with something approaching unreserved devotion.
Smiling, Morin continued, calling out every name present in the shrine—leaving no one overlooked.
"Today, I stand before you as the Hokage of Konoha," he said at last. "But at the same time, I will formally assume the position of Clan Head of the Senju."
"To safeguard the clan's security and prosperity, to lead it forward and see it grow stronger—to protect every single person who bears the name Senju—this too shall be a mission and duty I will uphold for my entire life."
Within the most sacred grounds of the Senju—the Kōga Shrine—Morin made a declaration that shook the clan to its core.
In response, the Senju gave him their support without reservation.
Though Konoha itself lay quiet in the night, from within the shrine erupted cheers and shouts that seemed to tear straight through the heavens, echoing across the entire Senju district.
Countless clan members who had not attended the assembly stepped out of their homes, gazing in astonishment toward the shrine. They knew the jōnin were holding a clan meeting there—but they could scarcely imagine why those usually composed, dignified shinobi would lose themselves so completely in this moment.
Yet Morin was not finished.
At the close of the assembly, he formally announced the upcoming Clan Head Succession Ceremony and Tsunade's Restoration-to-the-Clan Ceremony.
The reaction was instantaneous.
A second wave of cheers exploded through the shrine—louder, fiercer than before.
There were only a little over thirty Senju jōnin present, yet the sound they unleashed was thunderous enough to alarm even the neighboring clans.
Inside the shrine, the elders—eager to mend ties with this new Hokage and newly confirmed clan head—hurriedly volunteered to take part in the ceremonies.
Even if they were assigned nothing more than ceremonial roles, they would do so gladly.
Morin approved without hesitation.
He appointed Senju Yu as the principal organizer, with the elders assisting in refining the rites and procedures, working together to prepare a grand and formal ceremony to be held three days hence.
At last, amid a third thunderous round of cheers, the Senju clan's second assembly finally came to an end.
Dozens of Senju jōnin streamed out of the shrine, hurrying back to their homes. They could scarcely wait to tell their families of their new clan head's solemn promises, to share the excitement and pride still burning in their chests.
This night—
was a celebration that belonged to the Senju alone.