Naruto: The Senju Patriarch

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In Iwagakure...

"WHAT!" Onoki exclaimed.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? ROSHI HAS BEEN CAPTURED? OVER 3000 SHINOBI LOST? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE! WEREN'T WE COMPLETELY PUSHING THEM BACK BEFORE?!"

A Jonin replied, somewhat fearful at Tsuchikage's outburst. "Lord Tsuchikage, we believe its because of the reinforcements from Konoha. It included a lot of Shinobi including large numbers from the Uchiha clan and the entire Senju clan."

"Those accursed clans, Konoha's bloodlines are really to be envied. But even so, how was that enough to turn the tides?" Onoki asked more calmly, but still seething.

"Sir, it is because of Senju Katsuro, the Patriarch of the Senju. Our men are calling him the Stormbreaker. He used multiple S rank Ninjutsu when dealing with the 4 Tails, including a catastrophic fire style Ninjutsu, and had extreme proficiency in all styles of nature - but he especially used lightning and water. He used a sword, and is estimated to have killed hundreds of our men alone."

"You mean to tell me one Shinobi turned the tide all by himself? Damn it! Curse Konoha and their luck with talents! I will go and deal with the Stormbreaker myself! Let's see if he can stop my Particle Style! And make sure to send a message to Sunagakure as well - we'll need them to put more pressure on Konoha."

—

In Sunagakure

A similar report had arrived at the Kazekage's office. 

"Are you sure this report is accurate?" an elder asked the reporting shinobi. 

"Yes my lord, our spies reported this, and the Tsuchikage sent us something similar as well."

"That damn Fence Sitter, Onoki! He's using us to add pressure to Konoha," said the strongest ever Kazekage. 

"But it isn't the wrong move - we'll need to act. We are already losing this battle. I will take the One Tails with me." 

— 

The success on the Iwa front had also reached the Suna front, boosting morale there as well.

Hatake Sakumo, the man leading the front, had been the one to first receive the news of the victory on the Iwa front. Sakumo was expecting to hear that the Iwa front would get stronger with the reinforcements, especially Katsuro and the Senju Clan, but to hear that Katsuro had single handedly captured a Jinchuriki? Promoted to Jonin after mere minutes on the battlefield? That was a surprise, even for him. But as his surprise wore off, a feeling of immense pride came over the man now hailed as the White Fang. His student had carried out his duties and responsibilities, both personal and professional. Not only that, he had used the same Kenjutsu and Shunpo technique that he had taught him to defend Konoha, and that made him even more proud. 

Katsuro aside, Sakumo was also impressed by the feats of Orochimaru and Jiraiya - wearing down the enemy numbers by much and holding back a Jinchuriki were no small feats after all, and he heard of the heroism of more figures on the battlefield too - Uchiha Tajima, Uchiha Fugaku, Senju Kaito and many more had proven themselves in combat. That combined with Tsunade's feats here, Sakumo was glad - the future of Konoha was in safe hands. 

I should share this news - it will boost the force's morale. Wait, how could I forget? I need to tell -

"Mr Sakumo! Are you here?"

The Princess of the Senju clan, Senju Tsunade, walked into the tent, speaking about something related to medical supplies. Speak of the devil, the elder shinobi thought.

"Tsunade," he said, interrupting her. 

"I have some important news to share with you." 

At first, she seemed almost afraid to hear it, but the kunoichi wasn't able to contain her curiosity.

"Go on …" she said, cautious. Sakumo cursed his tactlessness. 

Of course she would be cautious. Just last month, she got the news that her last remaining family member had died - her little brother. That wound isn't going to heal anytime soon - or ever.

"We've had major success on the Iwa front! Reinforcements from the village have managed to turn the tables in a single battle alone - and guess who was there, at the centre of it all?"

Watching Tsunade's eyes widen and light up for the first time in what felt like forever, Sakumo was gratified. He knew that he didn't have to tell her who he was talking about, and just as he expected, Tsunade bit the bait. 

"What - what do you mean?"

"Katsuro single-handedly captured the 4 Tails Jinchuriki! Not just that, he did it quickly too, and then helped the main shinobi force - his kill count was 400 alone! And not just that - not a single Senju life was lost!"

Now, Tsunade was unable to hide a small smile.

"Jiraiya and Orochimaru are also still safe - Jiraiya was on the frontlines in the main force and managed to even the gap in numbers between our forces and theirs, Orochimaru helped to contain the 5 Tails during the battle - all in all; Konoha and Iwa have even numbers of shinobi, and we have one of their Jinchuriki's and higher quality shinobi now too! Oh speaking of high quality shinobi I forgot to mention - Katsuro's already a Jonin!"

Tsunade's smile grew wider, grateful that her friends and lover were still alive. Sakumo knew he couldn't expect her to be laughing and smiling - not after all she had lost and seen in this war. The young woman had been inconsolable after her little brother's death - but a different type of inconsolable to how she had been after her father's. This time, there were no tears. She only threw herself into work more - creating more and more cures to the poisons Lady Chiyo had created, making more advancements in Iryo Ninjutsu, and coming into battle far more often.

"People are dying. I have no time to waste," is what she would say whenever anyone asked about her wellbeing.

Sakumo was grateful for her smile that betrayed what she really felt for Katsuro, and he could only hope that the news that no further Senju lives had been lost would help her grieve. That, and the fact that Katsuro had come to the battlefield. After all, both Tsunade and Sakumo both knew - Katsuro had not just come to battle for the sake of the village - he had come to settle the score for Nawaki.

That night, Sakumo relayed the news to the rest of the Suna front, and as he expected it was met with great enthusiasm. Konoha was now winning the war on all fronts - the war that had previously seemed like it may never end was now seemingly increasingly in their favour, and after all the sacrifices that the shinobi had made - blood and bones, arms and legs, family and friends, or their own lives - it seemed like it would all be worth it.

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