Naruto: The Resurrection of the Senju clan

Seeing the confused expression on Uzumaki Kushina's face, Uzumaki Mito decided it was time to tell everything. Konoha was no longer the village her husband had established. There was no need to continue to cover up the truth.

Kushina, sensing the seriousness of the moment, straightened up. She had a hunch that what she would hear tonight might subvert everything she had known.

After a long pause, Mito finally began, "Back then, when the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, returned from a mission in the Hidden Cloud Village, he was ambushed by the Gold and Silver Brothers of the Hidden Cloud Village and a group of rebels. To protect his disciples, Tobirama chose to sacrifice himself."

"On his deathbed, he appointed Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Third Hokage. When Sarutobi returned to the village, with the support of the Sarutobi clan, the Shimura clan, the Ino-Shika-Cho families, he successfully took over as Hokage."

"After Sarutobi came to power, he began to consolidate his position by suppressing the powerful clans of Konoha. The Senju clan was the first target. Despite many members adopting other surnames, they still identified as Senju. However, after two wars, the clan was nearly decimated."

"The remaining members were mostly ordinary people with diluted bloodlines or weak strength. Even my grandson, Nawaki, died mysteriously on the battlefield. In just over a dozen years, the once-mighty Senju clan was almost wiped out."

Mito paused, letting her words sink in. "This decimation of the Senju clan was not a coincidence. It was a deliberate act orchestrated by the Third Hokage."

Kushina's eyes widened in shock. "How can this be? Grandma Mito, Tsunade-sama, if you knew, why didn't you do anything?"

"That's the cunning of Hiruzen," Mito said coldly. "He used his power to send Senju clan members to the most dangerous battlefields. It appeared as though they were dying for the village, but it was a calculated move to weaken us."

"Even if we wanted to protest, we couldn't find any tangible proof of wrongdoing. The Senju clan's reputation would have been ruined if we objected to sending our ninjas to dangerous missions."

Kushina clenched her fists, frustration boiling inside her. Could this be the reason why Takuya gave up becoming a ninja?

Mito continued, "After weakening the Senju clan, Hiruzen turned his attention to other powerful families like the Uchiha and the Hyuga. Under his leadership, Konoha's strength declined significantly."

"This decline led to Konoha standing idly by when the Uzumaki clan was besieged. In Konoha's heyday, such a tragedy would never have happened."

"But… even if all this is true, it doesn't prove that the Third Hokage conspired against us," Kushina argued, still finding it hard to reconcile this with her image of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I don't care about the political games," Mito said. "What matters to me is what he did to you. He wants to control your life."

"Control my life?" Kushina repeated, baffled.

"Yes," Mito said. "As the last member of the Uzumaki clan and the next Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, you've been under constant surveillance by the Anbu. Your every move is watched, and anyone who approaches you is thoroughly investigated."

Kushina nodded silently. She knew about the surveillance and had protested to Hiruzen, but to no avail.

"Have you ever wondered how, despite such tight security, you were kidnapped by the Hidden Cloud Village ninjas?" Mito asked pointedly. "And how, despite their strength, they were easily defeated by Minato, who at the time was just an elite Chunin?"

Kushina's eyes widened as the realization dawned on her. "It was all arranged?"

"Yes," Mito confirmed. "It was a calculated move to make you more reliant on Konoha and to bring Minato closer to you."

Kushina's eyes filled with tears of rage. "That bastard!" she cried, her image of Hiruzen Sarutobi shattering.

Tsunade raised her wine glass and downed its contents. "kushina, calm down," Senju Takuya said gently, hugging the trembling Kushina.

"Wooo…" Kushina sobbed in Takuya's arms, unable to contain her grief and betrayal.

After a while, she stabilized her emotions and looked at the tear stains on Takuya's clothes, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Grandma Mito, why are you telling me this now?" she asked.

"Tsunade and I thought Minato was a good match for you. He's talented, kind, and unaware of the dark plans surrounding you. But knowing the truth, we think you deserve to choose your own path."

Mito and Tsunade exchanged a look and then turned their gaze to Takuya. "The reason for telling you the truth now is because our Takuya has asked me to speak on his behalf. Compared to Minato, we believe Takuya is a better match for you."

"Kushina, are you willing to marry Takuya?"

Kushina looked at Takuya, who had always been there for her, silently supporting her through thick and thin. Despite the turmoil in her heart, she saw the genuine care and love in his eyes.

"Yes," she said softly, her heart feeling lighter as she made her choice. "I am willing."

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