Tenzō Senju

Captain Tenzō Senju is a shinobi of the Senju Clan, in Konohagakure.

## Background

   Tenzō's existence was intertwined with the intricate machinations of Orochimaru Yasha, a notorious figure in the shadowy corners of the ninja world. Orochimaru, ever the scientist, sought to experiment on the Iburi Clan, known for their unique kekkei genkai, the Iburi Smoke. Their peculiar ability made them susceptible to the wind, prompting them to willingly participate in Orochimaru's experiments if it meant they could venture outdoors safely.

During one of their missions, Team 16, led by Udoka Senju and comprised of Katan Ogata and Kamuy Uchiha, found themselves near the cave where the Iburi Clan resided. This encounter marked a rare interaction between outsiders and the secluded clan. Team 16 assisted the Iburi Clan, with Udoka forming a particular connection with a clan member named Kosei Iburi. Their friendship blossomed, and Udoka promised to return for future visits.

Orochimaru, always keen on acquiring powerful genetic material, manipulated Kosei into getting close to Udoka. In exchange for Kosei's cooperation, Orochimaru agreed to continue his experiments on the Iburi Clan. However, over time, Kosei and Udoka fell deeply in love, complicating Orochimaru's plans. When Udoka became pregnant, she chose to retreat to the safety of the Iburi Clan's cave, avoiding potential scandal in Konoha. Kosei, initially happy about the pregnancy, soon realized Orochimaru's nefarious intentions and tried to convince Udoka to leave. Despite his efforts, Udoka stayed, leading to tragic consequences.

Within Konoha, rumors swirled that Udoka bore the child of a married man, prompting her to escape from the village to avert complications. As her pregnancy progressed, Orochimaru seized the opportunity and took Udoka while she was in labor. A desperate Kosei tried to thwart Orochimaru but tragically lost his life in the process. Distraught, Udoka gave birth to Tenzō, a name chosen by Kosei.

Orochimaru, a master of manipulation, marked Udoka with a curse seal that restricted her from venturing beyond a specific radius from the Iburi Clan's cave. He then left her and Tenzō within the confines of their sanctuary. The Iburi Clan rallied around Udoka, offering comfort and support in raising Tenzō. Tragedy struck again when Tenzō, just past his second birthday, was abducted by Orochimaru for further experiments. In a valiant but ultimately fatal effort, Udoka attempted to reach her son but perished in the attempt.

The experiments conducted on Tenzō granted him a unique and powerful ability – the elusive Wood Release, a Kekkei Tōta. Unfortunately, these experiments also had a profound impact on his memory, causing him to forget his past. Orochimaru, sinister as ever, then entrusted the child to Danzō Shimura. Under Danzō's tutelage, Tenzō assumed the codename Kinoe and was inducted into the covert Anbu's Root division, where his life took a dark and enigmatic turn.

### Chūnin

   Danzō effortlessly elevated Kinoe to the rank of Chūnin, harboring great expectations for the young operative. Recognizing Kinoe's potential, Danzō took on the responsibility of personally mentoring him within the secretive ranks of Root. To enhance Kinoe's abilities, Danzō entrusted him with a scroll containing the coveted secrets and techniques of Wood Release, a power that held immense significance in the ninja world.

During this tumultuous period, when Hiruzen Sarutobi resumed his role as Hokage after Minato Namikaze's tragic demise, Danzō, ever the manipulator, dispatched Root members, including Kinoe, on a mission to assassinate the Fourth Hokage. However, a recent recruit to Root, alert to the sinister plot, warned Hiruzen and volunteered to go in his stead, narrowly escaping the deadly conspiracy. In the wake of this failure, Danzō redirected Kinoe's attention toward another pressing matter: Orochimaru's defection from Konoha.

Kinoe was assigned the task of meeting Orochimaru at a concealed underground cave sheltering the Iburi clan, a move intended to intercept Orochimaru before he could escape the country. Within the cave's depths, Kinoe encountered a spirited young girl named Yukimi, who surprisingly claimed him to be her cousin, Tenzō. While Yukimi guided Kinoe through the cave's intricacies, they received alarming news – an unknown intruder had breached their sanctuary.

Subduing the intruder, Kakashi, the Iburi clan intended to execute him, but Kinoe intervened. He revealed that his true mission mirrored Kakashi's: ensuring Orochimaru's capture. Gotta, the clan's leader, overheard this revelation and ordered the execution of both Konoha ninjas. Yukimi, refusing to let Kinoe perish, saved them both, leading to a unique alliance between the three. Departing from Kakashi, Yukimi merged her consciousness with Kinoe's, and they ventured to a carnival, seeking a brief respite amidst the chaos.

Their peaceful interlude was short-lived. Kakashi swiftly caught up, aiming to employ Yukimi as bait to capture Orochimaru. Determined to shield Yukimi from harm, Kinoe ran away with her, adopting the identity of "Tenzō." Faced with the urgency of the situation, Kakashi made a crucial decision – to cooperate with Tenzō in saving Yukimi. Together, they embarked on a daring rescue mission, only to discover the cave's grim fate: Orochimaru had annihilated the Iburi clan and captured Yukimi. Guided by the Iburi clan's spirits, Tenzō and Kakashi restored Yukimi's stability, defying Orochimaru's sinister designs.

In the aftermath, Kakashi questioned Tenzō's age, puzzled by the boy's youthful stature. To Kakashi's astonishment, Tenzō matter-of-factly stated he was three, as though it were perfectly normal for toddlers to undertake missions. Another mystery arose when Kakashi inquired about Tenzō's preference for the name "Tenzō" over "Kinoe." Tenzō casually speculated that Tenzō might be his true name.

Realizing that Tenzō might hold the key to his origins, Kakashi made a bold decision—he took Tenzō under his wing and brought him back to Konoha. Deep down, Kakashi suspected Tenzō might be a member of the esteemed Senju clan, given his appearance and his ability to wield the First Hokage's rare Kekkei Tōta: Wood Release. However, as they returned to the village, Kakashi began to realize the gravity of the situation. Tenzō's presence felt peculiar and unconventional, leading Kakashi to grapple with the decision of who to confide in about his unexpected find.

Tenzō, not understanding the complexity of the situation, remained content with the arrangement, happy to be in the Hatake home. Kakashi and Tenzō formed an unexpected bond. Tenzō, in a show of respect, started addressing Kakashi as Senpai, acknowledging Kakashi as his senior. Kakashi appreciated this acknowledgment, believing it was the right way to address their relationship.

In the following days, as Kakashi struggled with his newfound responsibility, Jiraiya, Kakashi's guardian, returned home. To Jiraiya's shock, he discovered that the boy Kakashi had brought home was not a friend from Kakashi's academy days, but an entirely unfamiliar child he had picked up, suspecting he was a Senju.

Concerned about Tenzō's true identity, Jiraiya accompanied Kakashi and Tenzō to Tsunade Senju, who Jiraiya was close to. Tsunade, with her keen perception and the unique chakra sensing abilities of the Senju clan for other Senju's, quickly identified Tenzō as a Senju. She decided to run further tests but left Tenzō, Kakashi, and her daughter Toki alone at her house in the meantime.

During this time, Toki, ever the playful child, encouraged Tenzō and Kakashi to engage in activities. Tenzō found comfort in Toki's company, and the three ended up sharing a bed for the night when the adults did not return home as expected.

Amidst the unfolding truth that Tenzō was the son of Udoka Senju, a member of the Iburi clan and Tsunade's second cousin, Tsunade, driven by compassion and her own maternal instincts (especially as she was pregnant herself), chose to adopt Tenzō. This decision not only made Tenzō a part of their family but also gave him Toki as his sister.

In the midst of these revelations, Tenzō's bond with Kakashi deepened. Despite the uncertainty, their relationship flourished, with Kakashi assuming the role of Tenzō's Senpai, nurturing a connection that surpassed the boundaries of mere family ties. Tenzō's integration into the Senju clan marked the beginning of a new chapter, his extraordinary abilities and mysterious origins adding a captivating layer to the village's intricate tapestry.

A year later, Tomoki Senju was born, making Tenzō an elder brother and adding another dimension to their evolving family dynamics. Initially, Tenzō and Toki shared a harmonious relationship, with Tenzō often complying with Toki's instructions. However, their dynamic shifted when Toki entered the academy. Tenzō's advanced skills, shaped by his challenging past, created a gap between them, leading to some strain in their relationship. Toki, resentful of Tenzō's closeness with Kakashi, felt entitled to a stronger bond with him as his sister.

Despite these tensions, Toki stood by Tenzō when he faced bullying from other students due to his social struggles. She defended him and spent time playing with him, acting as a steadfast ally. Additionally, Tenzō shared a warm rapport with Tomoki, and together with Toki, they cared for her during her younger years. As Tomoki grew older, conflicts arose between her and Toki due to their similar personalities. Remarkably, Tenzō managed to maintain positive connections with both of his siblings, navigating their differences with understanding and empathy.

### Chūbu

   Despite his advanced skills, Tenzō was enrolled in the academy to enhance his social abilities, aimed at helping him interact more naturally with his peers. Despite being placed in the Chūbu rank due to his exceptional skills, the academy experience proved beneficial for his social development. Although he didn't have an extensive circle of friends, he found companionship in two individuals, Yūgao Uzuki and Shisui Uchiha. They were deeply impressed by his shinobi expertise and took it upon themselves to assist him in improving his social interactions.

Shisui, in particular, displayed remarkable acceptance of Tenzō's quirks, endearing him to Tenzō. Shisui's ability to overlook Tenzō's peculiarities fostered a sense of belonging and acceptance, providing Tenzō with a supportive environment to enhance his social skills.

Upon graduating from the academy at the age of ten, Tenzō, classified as a Chūbu, earned the right to embark on missions. Lacking a dedicated team, he often collaborated with other squads temporarily or undertook solo missions, reminiscent of Kakashi's earlier days.

At thirteen, Tenzō found himself assigned to Team 13, a group reeling from the loss of a member. Led by the experienced Jonin sensei Kamuy Uchiha, the team included Hayate Gekkō and Ibiki Morino as fellow members. Fueled by newfound determination and burdened by the fractures within her team, Kamuy took it upon herself to nurture unity among her students. Her mission extended beyond the battlefield; she aimed to be a constant source of support and guidance in all aspects of their lives.

Kamuy's persistence yielded results. The once-disjointed team began to coalesce, finding solace and understanding in shared experiences and the memory of their fallen comrade, Tokara. The significance of friendship and solidarity became apparent on their arduous shinobi journey, solidifying the bonds that had eluded them before.

While adjusting to Tokara's absence, Hayate gradually formed a close connection with Tenzō, who had replaced Tokara on the team. As time passed, their camaraderie evolved into a profound and enduring friendship, making them each other's most trusted confidants and allies.

However, tragedy struck two year later when Tenzō received the devastating news of Kamuy Uchiha's passing. Kamuy had been more than a mentor; she had been a guiding light, an inspiration, and an unwavering pillar of support for him. Her compassionate and diligent nature had left an indelible mark on Tenzō, shaping not only his skills as a shinobi but also his values and character.

### ANBU

    Upon reaching the age of fifteen, Tenzō gained entry into ANBU, Konohagakure's prestigious and covert ninja division. His desire to join ANBU, an organization akin to ROOT but under Tsunade's official approval, had long been harbored. He knew Tsunade would grant him permission when he was prepared. Under the alias "Cat," Tenzō began his ANBU journey. Simultaneously, Hayate, motivated by a deep reverence for Kamuy's memory, chose to walk the same path. His decision was fueled by a profound dedication to upholding Kamuy's legacy of compassion, unwavering commitment, and unyielding determination.

Tenzō worked really well in ANBU, and was put on Team Ro, an elite Anbu unit that serves directly under the Hokage. On this team was Kakashi Hatake as leader, Tenzō's old friend Yūgao Uzuki, Hayate Gekkō, and Mikage Gekkō, Hayate's sister. Later on Itachi Uchiha would also join this covert team.

At ANBU Tenzō became closer to Hayate, to the point that most people thought they were dating. Due to Hayate's limited experience with romance, he found himself questioning the nature of their relationship. In an effort to express his feelings, he started making romantic gestures, such as presenting Tenzō with his favorite flowers, Balloon Flowers, and dedicating more quality time to each other.

However, Tenzō, equally inexperienced in matters of the heart, was somewhat perplexed by their connection. It was a candid conversation with Kakashi that finally helped Tenzō realize that he felt romantic love for Hayate. Gathering his courage, he confessed his feelings with a heartfelt, "I like you... no, I love you." To Tenzō's surprise, Hayate nonchalantly responded with, "Well, I would hope so since I thought that we're boyfriends!" Their relationship was officially underway, marked by an amusing and slightly awkward beginning.

At the age of eighteen, Tenzō found himself witnessing Hayate's agonizing struggle with the decision to depart from ANBU. Tenzō had long hoped for Hayate to make this choice, noticing the toll it took on his health and well-being.

Additionally, Tenzō had been observing Itachi Uchiha closely. Itachi's behavior had become increasingly erratic, coupled with a persistent cough akin to Hayate's chronic condition. Concerned, just before embarking on a mission with Kakashi, Tenzō insisted Itachi visit the hospital for a thorough examination.

The events that unfolded the next day were profoundly shocking. Upon their return, Kakashi and Tenzō were greeted with the harrowing news of the Uchiha clan's downfall, orchestrated by Itachi himself. The only survivor was Sasuke Uchiha. Tenzō, sensing something awry before, was left utterly stunned by the extent of the tragedy. He hurried to check on Hayate, who had been hospitalized. Hayate had been unconscious for the initial days of Tenzō's return, sparking deep concern, but he finally awoke on the fourth day.

During their conversation, Tsunade Senju entered the room, searching for Tenzō. Their discussion delved into the tragic events and potential motives behind Itachi's actions. Hayate shared insights from his conversation with Itachi on the night of the incident. Despite Hayate's protests, Tsunade insisted on his rest and informed him of his dismissal from ANBU. She also mandated that Tenzō take a month off from missions to care for Hayate, following her appointment as the Sixth Hokage.

In the aftermath, Hayate embraced life outside ANBU. Assisted by Tsunade's medical expertise, his health steadily improved, and he was discharged from the hospital a few days later. Tsunade explained to Tenzō that she would have removed him from ANBU as well, but his exceptional skills and ability to cope made him invaluable in the covert division. Tenzō accepted this, content that Hayate's health was on the mend while he continued his service in ANBU, and they both found solace in their shared home.

### Jōnin

At twenty-one, Tenzō received a summons to Tsunade's office. There, she outlined her plan: Team 21, comprising two former ROOT members, was nearing the completion of their academy training, and she wanted Tenzō to be their Jōnin sensei. His extensive background in ANBU and his origins in ROOT made him the perfect mentor for these young ex-ROOT members. Tsunade envisioned Tenzō's guidance transforming the team into a more structured unit reminiscent of Chūnin training. This approach aimed to cultivate a sophisticated and harmonious learning atmosphere, emphasizing teamwork and helping the team members overcome their past experiences.

While Tsunade allowed Tenzō to retain his ANBU membership with the new rank of Captain, she made it clear that his primary focus should now be his team. On the team alongside the former ROOT members, Shin and Sai Sōshō, was Karin Uzumaki, a refugee who had been living in Konoha for four years. Karin would start as a genin and later have the opportunity to take the Chūnin exams, whereas Shin and Sai Sōshō would both start at Chūbu due to their prior training.

## Personality

Tenzō is a very discreet, cautious and generally well-prepared person. He projects a calm, stoic demeanour even in very stressful situations. He takes his missions very seriously, even insisting on being referred to by whatever his current codename is. Tenzō's greatest desire has become to work hard for the village to make others happy and to be acknowledged by all for his efforts, particularly as leader of Team 14.

Tenzō also takes great interest in architecture which can be seen when he goes out on missions and creates a house to "camp out" in. While he has been good-natured so far, Tenzō claims to be a different sort of leader than Kakashi, one who is not above "ruling by the use of terror" when his team misbehaves. Aside from his obviously intimidating skills as a ninja, however, this "terror" has so far primarily consisted of casting a creepy "ghoul-eyes" expression at his charges. Karin, especially, is easily terrified by it, and stated that it felt like Tenzō was controlling her with fear — something Tenzō himself has noted that he has no qualms with.

He has also less tolerate of his team's antics and lack of respect for rules than Kakashi. He is, however, also prone to being a victim of a cruel joke when given misleading information, as witness his visible fear and subsequent annoyance when Killer B maliciously joked about the dangers of a jinchūriki trying to control their tailed beast.

Despite his serious and sometimes overworked demeanour, Tenzō is known for being somewhat playful, such as his tendency play pranks on his team during their downtime on missions. He usually does this by using his ghoul-eyes' frightening appearance or a wood clone to scare them during ghost stories, showing that he does have a sense of humour underneath all of that responsibility and seriousness. He is also aware of his tendency to be overworked by his peers and gets frustrated by their lack of appreciation of how exhausting his Wood Release techniques are despite their obvious usefulness and versatility.

## Appearance

Tenzō has short brown hair and black, almond-shaped eyes. He carries a sword strapped to his back, wears a variation of the standard attire of a Konoha-nin, with a flak jacket. The differences between his attire and that of the standard one is that his does not have the Uzushiogakure crest on the shoulders of the sleeves, and the neck of his navy-blue shirt is form fitting and goes up to his chin. He also still retains two hip pouches strapped to his lower back instead of just one. In addition to that, he has a happuri-style forehead protector that frames his face, similar to that of Tobirama Senju.

## Abilities

Danzō recognized Tenzō's exceptional abilities early on, taking him under his wing at the mere age of two. Under Danzō's mentorship, Tenzō honed his skills until he was later rescued from this situation, after which he received training from Tsunade Senju, his adoptive mother, and the Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As a member of Team 13, led by Jōnin Sensei Kamuy Uchiha and alongside teammates Hayate Gekkō and Ibiki Morino, Tenzō developed crucial interpersonal skills and teamwork. His collaboration with Hayate and Ibiki during this period enhanced his abilities, although the absence of ongoing cooperation with them has diminished its impact. Kamuy, being an Uchiha, provided him with a unique perspective, fostering Tenzō's understanding of Konoha's intricate political landscape and making him politically astute.

During his tenure in the Anbu, Tenzō showcased exceptional prowess, earning one of the most distinguished service records under the Fourth Hokage. His remarkable achievements instilled confidence in him, leading to his promotion to jōnin upon leaving the Anbu ranks.

Tenzō possesses the rare Wood Release Kekkei Tōta, a genetic legacy from Hashirama Senju. This ability allows him to blend earth-natured chakra with water and Yang energy, enabling him to generate various plant life, including trees and grass, even from his own cells. Despite not fully mastering the Wood Release techniques, Tenzō incorporated it significantly into his fighting style. He can create resilient wooden domes, ensnaring foes within or utilizing trees to impale enemies. Tenzō's mastery extends to defensive tactics, constructing a self-rebuilding wooden shield and intricate wooden structures, from cages to houses, instantaneously. Moreover, he can transform into others using wood as an outer layer and generate wood clones for communication and tracking purposes.

Additionally, Tenzō demonstrates proficiency in Water and Earth Release, raising the ground and shaping waterfalls. He has a command over Yang Release, allowing him to execute medical jutsu, a skill learned from his adoptive mother. Although he possesses some wind release techniques, his expertise lies primarily in Water, Earth, and Yang elements. Furthermore, Tenzō harnesses the Senju Clan Senjutsu, showcasing his mastery in tapping into Senjutsu, a level of proficiency surpassed only by the legendary first Hokage himself.

## Trivia

* Favourites:
	+ Food: Walnuts
	+ Colour: Green
	+ Season: Spring
	+ Time of Day: Dawn
	+ Weather: Sunny, but not hot
	+ Flower: Balloon Flower
	+ Animal: Cats