Chapter 43.5- One Thousand Hands

I nodded, taking it as the order it was in truth. He might have tried to dress it up and offer consolations, but I could see it now. i would become the village jinchuriki, and that was it.

“But what about my team?” I asked. Mito was the present Jinchuriki, and I knew exactly how Konoha treated their tailed beast containers during times of war. There was no chance I was getting let out again.

“With present casualties, realities within the village mean that we must reinforce the Kawa no Kuni front with another battalion. Nara Shikahime will receive a field promotion to Jounin as per your recommendation and will liase with the present battalion leader. The rest of your team will return to the village and be redeployed as I see fit.” He said. So that was it then.

“We won though. We won and you’re punishing us” I couldn’t quite stop the words from leaving my mouth, and when I did I could see that they were a mistake. There was rage in Hiruzen’s eyes. Real, abiding rage.

“What were your orders, Shorirama Senju? To delay. Delay. Instead, you went ahead to wage a guerrilla campaign in foreign territory. The Kawa no Kuni Daimyo has sent us multiple letters demanding we cease and desist waging war in his borders. He has accused us of doing something to dry out his rivers, ridiculous as that may sound.” He started, and I so wished I could keep my mouth shut because I replied.

“Since when does the Hokage bow to foreign Daimyo. My Granduncle would never have” I said. Once again, I was slipping. Was it anger at him? At the loss of my teammates? At the fact that Danzo sat there by his side damn near smirking at me?

“I was not aware that you were stupid, in addition to being reckless. The Kawa Daimyo’s son is married to the Fire Daimyo’s daughter. In her, he has a hostage to wield against our throat. Letters have already been dispatched from the Capital warning me to put you on a leash or your head on a stick. Even your revered Granduncle knew that to enrage the Fire Daimyo was to court disaster.” He was practically spitting the fire his clan was famous for.

“So this is a punishment then? Making me the jinchuriki? Dismantling my hold on Rivers? All this?” I asked. His rage vanished like it was a switch to be flicked on and off. Instead, he just looked disappointed. That made my own rage, previously an inferno, calm to embers.

“Your Granduncle saw a future where you would one day rule this village as Hokage. I thought I saw it at first. So strong you were. Barely had your ball dropped, but you could fight the best of my students to a standstill. You learned and invented jutsu at will. I have no doubt that you will at one point in your life be the strongest in this village. But mark my words, Shorirama Senju, you will never become Hokage. Even now, you still focus on yourself. Selfishness. To think that the Senju clan almost fell into the hands of one so lacking in the will of fire makes me shudder. Now leave my sight. I have given orders to the Uzumaki clan. You will be the Nine tails jinchuriki by the end of the week” He delivered the dressing down in a cool tone.