User blog comment:Monkey.D.Me/Garp and Ranting/@comment-5601098-20130423194215/@comment-3569609-20130424145433

Meh, I don't think that the Tenryuubito hold much political power. (let alone more than the Gorosei)

Most likely they still exist because of the icons of power they are, though with their idiocy I wouldn't be suprised that people are using them in the shadows (perhaps the Gorosei themselves)