Naruto, Madara is my girl.

"Huh? What princess?"

Tsunade looked up with her brows furrowed, her face scrunched in confusion as she tilted her head slightly to one side.

"Do you know who the head of our Senju clan is right now?"

"Ha?"

She kept her head cocked, clearly lost. Her puzzled expression showed she didn't even know much about the Senju clan being disbanded in the first place.

Akira exhaled and settled for plan B. "Alright-go call your father for dinner. We'll get together as a family and talk this over."

Even though she didn't look thrilled about doing anything for this unfamiliar grandfather figure, Tsunade glanced toward Mito and backed down under her watchful silence.

"Okay."

...

Dinner was simple in content but grand in atmosphere. Akira had insisted there was no reason for formalities, but aside from Tsunade-who happily ignored everyone's tension-the rest of the family kept stiff and cautious throughout the meal.

Afterward, Akira and Tsunade's father stepped into the study and shut the door behind them.

Nobody knew what was discussed. Nobody outside that room ever would.

By morning, the entire village of Konoha was already buzzing with one explosive announcement.

"The Senju Clan is being rebuilt!"

Word spread instantly across every district and corner of the village. Spies embedded in Konoha were ordered to relay it regardless of the risk-it cost many of them their lives.

On the streets, villagers speculated wildly. Only days had passed since Tobirama disbanded the Senju clan himself. Now suddenly, on the cusp of Sarutobi Hiruzen's inauguration, it was being re-established?

To some, that sounded like open defiance of Tobirama's decisions. Dissatisfaction started to build until Sarutobi turned it around by detaining several enemy agents just as the backlash was growing. Once reminded that the war hadn't ended, most villagers dropped their criticisms.

Some even suggested it had been misinformation from the start-a ploy to flush out enemy spies under the cover of political controversy.

Others took it further. With the Senju clan's return, they hoped it would bring security back to the village. In their eyes, Senju symbolized strength-and strength always brought stability.

Among Konoha's higher-ups, private thoughts ran deeper and darker.

"Looks like Lord Akira's planning to make a move."

"Is he reigniting the war?"

...

Discussion intensified within every major family across the village, but nobody dared ask questions outright. The moment someone tried to investigate directly, they were met with unexpected resistance-not from leadership-but from stubborn elders within each clan.

"If you want your own children to go die in some battle for glory, fine. Otherwise, shut up."

Any idea of confrontation vanished after that. Instead, ninja clans turned to whisper-networks and informal meetups with trusted allies.

When tension peaked and uncertainty seemed unbearable, Aburei Senju, the new clan head, publicly addressed the rumors himself.

"The purpose of restoring the Senju clan is simply to honor our eternal pact with the Uzumaki clan. As long as Konoha exists, so will we-and Konoha will remain the Uzumaki Kingdom's strongest ally."

"We are not seeking power. We have no intention of opposing the new Hokage. The Senju clan will not compete for the Hokage seat unless no Uchiha is nominated."

His words ignited another shocked reaction from the public-but this time it was relief with undertones of admiration. The Uchiha recognized the support and saw it as shielding them from hostility within Konoha. More than one Uchiha clan member felt deeply moved by what they now viewed as selfless loyalty from Akira Senju.

Eyes from every other ninja clan gleamed with understanding-and anticipation.

"They've already pulled in Senju… made peace with Uchiha… and even roped in Whirlpool Country," someone whispered during one late-night gathering. "Whatever they're planning-they're aiming big."

More than one talk centered around the same theory:

"Is Akira Senju about to unify the ninja world?"

Many were excited by that possibility-some sincerely believed this might be their era-defining war. A few even fantasized about becoming legends beside Akira on future battlefields.

By then, Konoha's military was fully mobilized. Pressure built to place forces on every front-and requests poured in from eager clans willing to send their best fighters to secure positions at the border posts.

Right when it seemed inevitable-something odd happened on the front lines.

All four enemy nations-including Kumogakure-suddenly dropped their offensives and braced for defense instead.

They fortified their outposts tight as turtle shells-refusing any provocation or bait from Konoha shinobi approaching within range. Even when approached within two hundred meters-nothing happened. They waited in silence and did nothing aggressive at any point of contact.

For Konoha's combat-ready teams, this was infuriating.

Push? And it would look like unjustified aggression with heavy losses guaranteed.

Hold back? And they looked weak during what should've been retaliation or preparation for conquest.

Reports returned home in frustration-and once again Konoha's leadership suspected foul play.

"The Land of Lightning leaked Akira Senju's resurrection," someone concluded quickly. "They were the only ones who knew."

Even as emotions surged and retaliation formed... another surprise dropped through diplomatic channels.

Raikage Ay-the new Third Raikage-offered peace talks. He proposed hosting another Five Kage Summit alongside Mizukage, Kazekage, and Tsuchikage.

As proof of sincerity, he delivered Tobirama's remains personally alongside those of Kinkaku and Ginkaku-along with official reparations documents and private promises of adding ten percent extra beyond agreed terms if peace could be secured peacefully.

Their overtures were practically groveling. They stopped just shy of offering territory outright.

From how well-timed and coordinated everything was-it became obvious to Konoha that these nations had already formed some kind of alliance behind closed doors. That alliance held-for now-but any failure at these negotiations would bring war crashing over them instantly, and this time, there would be no walking away intact anymore.

Worse-if Konoha launched preemptive attacks after peace had already been offered-it would turn world opinion against them entirely.

Now faced with too many risks and no clear solution-Konoha's attention turned fully back to their only remaining wild card:

What would Akira do next?

Akira himself didn't bother answering them-not even once. He had dropped out of public meetings completely since two days prior and hadn't looked back since then. War wasn't necessary anymore-not until his experiment was finished.

"Kinkaku and Ginkaku's bodies are on their way… We already have Nine-Tails chakra. Seven-Tails is near revival status... The rest comes from Ice Clan, Taketori remnants, Uzumaki DNA, Hyūga bloodline… even Uchiha."

"The ingredients are nearly complete…"

Only one thing remained: chakra from the remaining tailed beasts.

Staring at his notes again in silence, Akira dragged his fingers along scratched inscriptions and blood-marked slates laid across his study desk wall to wall with symbols only he could decipher now.

"I've done everything for this," he whispered darkly through his grin. "Black Zetsu-you better not disappoint me after this."

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