A few days later.
Katsuro stood on a podium, before the assembled Senju shinobi gathered in the Senju complex. Roughly 800, he noted. 400 shinobi, 30 Jonin. Not bad, but less than I expected. He turned behind him slightly, and made eye contact with Tsunade. He nodded, and Tsunade clapped loudly. The crowd fell silent, respectful of the Princess of their clan. Katsuro cleared his throat, and started to speak.
"Fellow Senju, I, Senju Katsuro, son of Senju Hana and Senju Raito, welcome you back to the Senju complex - back home!" His words were met by cheers from the crowd, and Katsuro breathed out a discreet sigh of relief. That's a good start.
"For a long time, we have remained divided, scattered throughout the village, and with that, our strength was divided too. You respected Lord Tobirama's wishes, no matter how unsatisfied you may have been. But times have changed, and I stand before you as your Patriarch, and welcome you back home!" More cheers ensued, and Katsuro continued further.
"But, not everything is perfect." The cheers had quietened now, but Katsuro pushed on.
"The number of border skirmishes have been steadily increasing. The number of shinobi casualties too. And, as I'm sure you've all heard, Uzishogokagure has fallen. The Uzumaki, our sister clan, has been reduced to but a few survivors scattered around," as he spoke, all eyes fell on Kushina, who squirmed under the pressure.
"But it will not end with them! War is brewing, and we must be ready! Now is not the time to be divided, it is the time to stand together, united!" Again, there were cheers of support for Katsuro's words, but this time, someone from the crowd spoke up.
"If war is coming, then why are you our leader?" The crowd fell deathly silent, the speaker, a man not much older than he. A shinobi, by the looks of him, with considerable strength too - at least a Jonin.
"What's your name, clansman? And ask any questions you have clearly and directly. I will answer them all," Katsuro responded.
Unafraid, the man spoke without missing a beat.
"My name is Eda Kaito. I am a Jonin. My question is, why are you, who is not a ninja - not a shinobi - leading us, during times of war? What could you possibly know about war, or the lives of shinobi? The way I see it, following you into war is like signing a death sentence!"
Most of the crowd looked on in silent shock, but there were undeniable murmurs of agreement from the crowd too.They were waiting for his response - it was a test. Good, Katsuro thought, I'll be able to address this here and now. He also made a mental note: this Kaito guy, he's honest and straight-forward; he'll be someone I can rely on - if I win his trust, that is.
"That's a fair question, Kaito. You're correct. I am not a ninja. I am not a shinobi. In fact, I failed the graduation exams in the Academy, so in truth, I was never even a Genin." Katsuro's words were met by gasps of surprise, and distrust brewed in the crowd.
"However, I know war. I know that in war, nothing is certain. I know war is unforgiving, and takes anyone, regardless of age or innocence. It takes parents and children alike, and it splits apart brothers and sisters. Nobody is safe in war, ever. I hate war. I also know shinobi. Shinobi, who fight with their lives on the line as a profession. Shinobi, who risk their lives for their family, their friends - their home. Shinobi, who die everyday in missions most people will never know about.
Many of you probably believe that because I am not a shinobi, I won't be able to lead you into war. It is a fair assumption. However …"
As Katsuro continued, he released a chakra greater than the chakra he released in front of the Hokage. It rolled off him in waves, and as doors were broken off their hinges and windows were shattered, the Senju clan were pushed back by the sheer power, the shock on their faces palpable.
"I will protect you. Kaito, you asked what I knew about shinobi? My parents were Jonin that sacrificed their lives for this village. The woman who raised me, Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, died in front of my own eyes, as a result of this Shinobi world and its cruelty. I do not care about being a shinobi. I do not care for glory in war, either. You want to know what I care about?" he roared, and his chakra grew even more - but now, the Senju were unafraid. They looked up at him, clinging onto every word.
"I care about my family - my clan! I care about the last words of Granny Mito, and the oath I made to her! I will lead this clan, regardless of if there is peace, or war! I consider every drop of Senju blood lost in conflict as my own, as you do too! So if there is war, and if the Senju clan must fight, I swear to you - shinobi or not, I will be there on the frontline, next to you! Shinobi or not, I will fight beside you! Shinobi or not - I will die with you!"
For a moment, there was silence, but Katsuro stared at the man that had asked the question.
"So, Kaito, does that answer your question?
He turned to the crowd again and drew in a deep breath.
"So I ask you! I will lead you! Will you follow me?"
The Jonin who questioned him shouted first. "I will!" With his words, the crowd erupted into noise, cheering like they hadn't before with approval, and with a relieved smile, Katsuro nodded in respect at Kaito, who returned the gesture. Like always, Katsuro searched for Tsunade, and when he made eye contact with her, she gave him a smile that almost had him blushing in front of the crowd. He shook his head to snap out of his fervour, and suddenly remembered something he had forgotten to mention.
He body flickered down from the podium, to in front of Kaito. The crowd ceased their celebrations somewhat surprised but relieved at his display of strength, and they waited for the interaction to unfold, as Kaito looked at him apprehensively.
"One last thing. From now on, your name isn't Eda Kaito."
Katsuro extended his hand to Kaito.
"It's Senju Kaito!"
Without missing a second, Kaito grasped and shook his hand firmly, and unable to maintain his stoic demeanour, he smiled - and with that, for the fourth and final time, the crowd celebrated, and that night, the entire village heard the Senju clan rejoice, finally reunited.
AN: If you would like to view up to 20 chapters ahead, and would also like to support me, please visit my P@TR30N, at pa tr eon.com / GhidorahWriter (remove the spaces). Also, if you like the story so far, please remember to vote for the fic by voting with power stones, so we'll be able to continue uploading daily! Thanks for reading!