Chapter 37 — Uzushiogakure
Not long after the clan head inauguration ceremony concluded, Senju Morin had barely returned to the Hokage's office when he summoned Senju Tao alone.
"Tao, I have a special task I want you to handle."
Morin intended to dispatch a ninja squad in the name of the Hokage to Uzushiogakure, formally inviting a delegation from the Uzumaki clan to visit Konoha and celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Konoha–Uzu alliance.
After Tao acknowledged the order and departed, Morin leaned back in the Hokage's chair, his gaze drifting out the window as he took in the bustle and vitality of the village below.
The support of several ninja clans had indeed played a major role in his rise to the position of Third Hokage—but Morin had not forgotten who had been the very first to help him.
The moment Uzumaki Chizawa received Morin's message, he had not hesitated for even a second—slipping straight into the outskirts of Konoha before following Morin headlong into a desperate gamble in the Land of Lightning.
The plan had succeeded, but Morin would never forget that debt.
Now that he had firmly secured the Hokage's seat, it was time to fulfill the promises he had made—to the Uzumaki clan, and to Chizawa himself.
---
Political credibility was an invaluable asset.
Even in a world filled with supernatural power, unless one possessed the strength to single-handedly oppose the entire world, credibility had to be defended at all costs.
Once lost, the price of political dishonor was immeasurable—no matter who you were.
Not even "the God of Shinobi," Senju Hashirama, was an exception.
Anything obtained through false promises was destined to be lost again someday.
Madara's departure had many causes—Black Zetsu's tampering with the Uchiha stone tablet among them—but Hashirama's blatant political betrayal bore a share of the blame that could not be ignored.
If you cannot keep a promise, then you should never make it.
That was the simplest truth of all.
Hashirama had personally promised Madara the position of First Hokage—only to renege the moment he convinced himself that there was a "better" choice. Worse still, after becoming Hokage himself, he had the audacity to ask Madara to continue supporting him.
Perhaps it was all justified in the name of some higher ideal—but from any objective standpoint, it was naked deception and betrayal.
Madara could choose to believe Hashirama once—for the shared dream they had cherished since childhood, even enduring the searing hatred of his brother's death.
But to believe him again after such a catastrophic betrayal?
At that point, he might as well stop calling himself Uchiha Madara and change his name to Uchiha Fool.
It was easy to foresee that if Tobirama could persuade Hashirama to change his mind once, there would inevitably be a second time. A third time.
After the Jonin Vote system was established, Hashirama's new promise—"You can succeed me as the Second Hokage"—was nothing more than an impulsive lie.
It was never going to happen.
Madara understood this as well.
And so, he left in fury.
If someone is willing to trust you, then once you make a promise, you must fulfill it.
Not because of morality or virtue—but because it is the lowest-cost, most rational choice available.
---
Beyond openly honoring his commitments, Morin also handed a sealed letter to Tao in private, instructing him to deliver it to Uzumaki Chizawa during this trip.
Back then, Morin had not been fully confident of victory in the Hokage election.
As insurance, he had left himself a way out—entrusting three of the Six Paths Ninja Tools, excluding the Bashōsen, to Chizawa for safekeeping.
The reasoning was simple.
If he lost, he would not be forced—under Sarutobi Hiruzen's authority—to surrender them to the village.
And if matters came to the worst, those tools could become an unexpected trump card in a coup.
Now, however, such concerns were no longer necessary.
Morin intended to bring those three unused Six Paths artifacts into the open—converting them into the reputation and political capital he truly needed.
Naturally, such calculations were not meant for public discussion.
Having Chizawa quietly return the items under the pretense of an Uzumaki diplomatic visit was far more appropriate.
And beyond that…
More important still were matters of marriage alliance—and how to support Chizawa in securing his position as the next Uzumaki clan head.
Uzushiogakure was not particularly far from Konoha, located on a coastal island directly east of the Land of Fire.
This was not Senju Tao's first visit there, and with three other shinobi accompanying him, the journey was smooth and familiar.
Departing from Konoha, deep in the heartland of the Land of Fire, it took only a single day to reach the eastern border. From there, a dedicated sea vessel carried them swiftly to the Land of Whirlpools, home of the Uzumaki clan.
Though small in territory, the Land of Whirlpools occupied a crucial strategic position.
On a map, it resembled a wedge driven firmly between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire.
As long as the Uzumaki clan remained anchored here, Kirigakure would never be able to land troops on Fire Country soil unnoticed—let alone launch a direct surprise attack on Konoha.
For Konoha, Uzushiogakure was the first line of defense against the Hidden Mist.
Uzushiogakure had no official "Uzu-kage," but since the village was composed almost entirely of Uzumaki shinobi, the Uzumaki clan head effectively served as its shadow leader.
In response to Morin's invitation as the newly appointed Hokage, the current Uzumaki clan head—Uzumaki Chihaya, Chizawa's father—displayed unmistakable sincerity and respect.
He personally led a welcoming party to receive Senju Tao's group and organized a grand reception within the village.
Only then did Chihaya finally feel his heart settle.
After all, the message Chizawa had previously delivered on Morin's behalf had been far too alarming.
These young people nowadays…
One moment it was "the Senju clan may be wiped out,"
the next it was "a coup may be inevitable,"
and in the end, they were even talking about "seeking an early escape route by defecting to Kumogakure or Iwagakure."
For an aging man like him, such talk was enough to make his heart pound violently every time he thought back on it.
Thankfully, the final victor had still been their longtime ally, the Senju clan, and the new Third Hokage was none other than his son's closest friend.
Everything had turned out well.
---
Later that same day, Senju Tao took advantage of a moment alone with Uzumaki Chizawa. Reaching into his robes, he carefully produced Morin's sealed letter and handed it over with both hands.
"This is something Morin asked you to receive?" Chizawa asked with a smile as he accepted the scroll, his demeanor visibly relaxed.
He had never been particularly ambitious or competitive by nature. Upon hearing that Morin had successfully taken the Hokage's seat, it felt as though a massive weight he had been carrying for months had finally been lifted.
"That's right," Tao nodded.
"Morin-san said that now that he's stabilized his position as Hokage, it's time for him to help you secure your standing within the clan. He also asked me to remind you of something…"
Chizawa read the letter while listening to Tao's account.
Before long, his expression grew serious. When he finished reading, he rose abruptly to his feet, his face grave.
"I understand Morin's intentions completely. The Six Paths tools have already been sealed within a scroll and are ready to be transported at any time. Tomorrow morning, I'll depart with you for Konoha."
He paused, then added solemnly,
"As for what Morin warned me about… it is of great importance. I must discuss countermeasures with my father immediately."