With Danzo’s mental breakdown, the trial concluded successfully.
With the Fifth Hokage gone, the urgent task now was to elect the Sixth Hokage. Konoha needed a leader. And who else but the most anticipated candidate — Uchiha Dan?
The problem was, that Dan had shown no interest in becoming Hokage.
At this moment, Kakashi stepped forward, kneeling on one knee, and made a public plea to Dan:
“Lord Dan, please become the Sixth Hokage and lead Konoha!”
Previously, Kakashi had pleaded with Dan to save Konoha. But he now understood that Dan had no interest in saving or revitalizing the village. In fact, he found the notion quite distasteful.
Why should he save these people? Did they deserve it?
Realizing this, Kakashi changed his approach, asking Dan to rule instead of save Konoha. Even if Dan ruled the villagers as slaves, their lives would still be better than before.
Moreover, Dan’s decisive and ruthless actions during the trial, where he executed the criminals from the four Great Shinobi Villages, suggested he might be an excellent Hokage.
As soon as Kakashi finished speaking, the clan heads and elite shinobi of Konoha rushed to the plaza, kneeling in unison, following Kakashi’s example.
“Lord Dan, we pledge our loyalty to you and the Uchiha clan, without any regrets.”
“Please rebuild Konoha as a great shinobi village under the Uchiha name!”
Nearly twenty thousand villagers echoed these sentiments, their voices resounding like a tidal wave, begging Dan to take up the mantle of Hokage.
Today, the people of Konoha felt an immense sense of relief, their long-suppressed emotions were finally released.
Dan’s trial reminded many of an incident during the Third Hokage’s tenure — the kidnapping of Hinata Hyuga by a Hidden Cloud emissary. At that time, the Third Hokage chose to appease the Cloud Village by demanding the Hyuga clan sacrifice Hizashi Hyuga.
Now, in a similar situation, Dan had decisively executed hundreds of criminals, spilling blood to bring justice.
Compared to the weak and indecisive Third Hokage, Dan’s ruthless and authoritative approach earned him the genuine support of Konoha’s villagers.
Additionally, Dan possessed power surpassing even the First Hokage, subduing the Great Shinobi Villages single-handedly. He was more cold-blooded than the Second Hokage and had greater leadership qualities than the Fourth Hokage. Compared to Danzo, the worst Hokage in history, Dan was vastly superior.
Given these considerations, Uchiha Dan was clearly the best candidate for the Sixth Hokage.
Everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed on Dan, waiting for his decision.
“Dan, I know you’re not interested in being Hokage, but if you don’t take the position, no one else will dare. Even if someone else does, they won’t have the villagers’ approval,” Fugaku said, stepping forward to persuade Dan.
“You’d be a good fit, brother-in-law,” Dan remarked, looking at Fugaku.
“Please, no,” Fugaku waved his hand dismissively. “I’m just a puppet of the Uchiha clan. All major decisions are made by you. I don’t want to be Hokage only to remain your puppet.”
Dan laughed, knowing Fugaku wasn’t complaining but admitting he wasn’t suited for the role.
“Alright, I’ll do it, but…” Dan finally agreed, adding a condition. “You, brother-in-law, won’t get off easily either. I’ve arranged a position as a Konoha advisor for you.”
Dan planned to reorganize Konoha’s leadership, including Fugaku, Tsunade, and Kakashi in an advisory council. This council would handle the village’s day-to-day affairs, allowing Dan, as Hokage, to delegate most responsibilities.
“Fine,” Fugaku agreed with a wry smile.
He had always known he wasn’t an ideal clan leader, yearning for a simpler life. He had hoped to spend more time with his family but realized that he would have to wait.
Fortunately, Dan reassured him, “I’ll personally train Sasuke.”
Fugaku’s face lit up with relief, “That’s wonderful. I’ll leave him in your hands, Dan.”
After consulting with Dan, Fugaku turned to the villagers and announced:
“Uchiha Dan’s inauguration as Hokage will take place in three days.”
The announcement was met with deafening cheers, the plaza filled with joy and excitement.
The villagers were ecstatic. Kakashi and Yamato exchanged relieved glances, feeling a weight lifted off their shoulders. To them, Dan becoming Hokage was as significant as the First Hokage founding Konoha. With Dan at the helm, Konoha would enter a new era.
Might Guy looked conflicted. He had never liked Dan, disagreeing with his methods and beliefs. But after a year in prison and witnessing Konoha’s decline and the Uchiha clan’s rise, Guy began to see the reality of his own naivety.
He now reconsidered his father’s death and Dan’s previous words.
“Uchiha Dan really made everyone beg him to be Hokage. What a large ego,” Tsunade muttered, secretly admiring Dan’s ability to win the people’s hearts.
For the first time in 56 years, the Uchiha clan would have a Hokage, fulfilling a long-held dream.
The Uchiha clan members were the happiest and most excited. Dan becoming Hokage was a source of immense pride for every Uchiha.
However, among the jubilant crowd, some smiles were insincere. These were the outsiders.
Kabuto was among them, disguised as a Konoha genin on a long-term undercover mission from Orochimaru. Hidden in the crowd, his eyes flashed coldly as he focused on a purple-haired girl near Tsunade — Anko Mitarashi.
Anko had trained under Orochimaru, learning snake techniques and bearing his Cursed Seal of Heaven. Kabuto remembered Orochimaru’s rare nostalgic and gentle expressions when speaking of Anko, indicating her significant place in his heart.
However, Anko chose not to follow Orochimaru when he left Konoha and stayed behind, becoming Tsunade’s disciple.
Kabuto decided to approach Anko, aiming to turn her against Konoha and recruit her into their ranks. This would not only provide valuable intel from Tsunade but also please Orochimaru.
There were other outsiders in Konoha besides Kabuto.
One was Kakuzu, who secretly monitored the Uchiha clan’s movements under Konan’s orders, following them from the Mountain Graveyard to Konoha.
It was time to report back.
Uchiha Dan was likely to remain the Akatsuki’s greatest past, present, and future enemy.
In a distant high-rise, Jiraiya stood by a window, lowering his monocular with a grave expression. Like past Hokages, he believed the Uchiha were inherently evil, a war-loving clan. The Uchiha was a sharp blade that needed careful handling to benefit Konoha. Left unchecked, this blade could spell disaster.
With the Uchiha at their peak and Dan’s unparalleled power, the only hope to counter them was the prophesied child — Naruto Uzumaki.
Jiraiya left Konoha, determined to find Naruto and guide him. He believed that only Naruto could defeat Dan and bring true peace.
Jiraiya’s departure coincided with the retreat of the Allied Shinobi Forces stationed in Konoha. Terrified by the public executions, they fled back to their villages.
Within a day, news of Uchiha Dan’s return and his impending Hokage inauguration spread across the ninja world, causing unease among the daimyo and kage.
Uchiha Dan was as powerful as Hashirama Senju but far more ruthless. His rise to Hokage was likely to disrupt the balance of the ninja world.
The daimyo and kage feared that he would expand his influence once Dan became Hokage, forcing them to cede territories back to the Land of Fire.
The Kage prepared to visit Konoha with their escorts and tributes to gauge the Uchiha clan’s intentions, using the pretext of offering congratulations.
In the deep mountains of the Land of Fire, a temple.
“Great news!” the daimyo exclaimed, pacing excitedly upon learning of Uchiha Dan’s victory and his ascension to Hokage.
“Pack up! We’re leaving this wretched place and heading to Konoha!”
The daimyo ordered the Twelve Guardian Ninja to escort him back to Konoha. “I need the Uchiha clan to help me reclaim our lost territories and revive the Land of Fire!”
“Hokage-sama,” Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted, trying to dissuade the daimyo, “From what I know of Uchiha Dan, he won’t help you. He might even harm you. Remember, you stripped him of his position as Hokage’s advisor. He holds grudges…”
But the daimyo, caught up in his excitement, wouldn’t listen. “You kept me in this godforsaken place, promising to help me reclaim power, yet did nothing! I’m done trusting you!”
The daimyo wasn’t a fool. He knew he couldn’t approach Uchiha Dan empty-handed and planned to offer something in return — the location of Hiruzen and his rebels, hoping this would earn the Uchiha’s favor.
“Move out!” he commanded, ignoring Hiruzen’s protests.
Asuma appeared beside Hiruzen, his expression grim. “Father, if the daimyo tells the Uchiha our location,
we’re finished.”
Hiruzen frowned deeply. The daimyo’s decision left him with few options.
“Perhaps…” Asuma began, his eyes flashing coldly as he drew a kunai.
Hiruzen’s face changed several times before he sighed deeply. “Forget it. Let him go. We need to leave here immediately.”
The daimyo might be a fallen ruler, but he was still of noble blood, not to be trifled with.
The main reason was Hiruzen’s lack of confidence in eliminating the daimyo and the Twelve Guardian Ninja without leaving any witnesses. If even one escaped, their location would be compromised, and they’d be branded as regicides, cementing their status as traitors.
Hiruzen also had another consideration.
He figured someone else would handle the daimyo. “Dan, let’s see how you handle this. When you ascend as Hokage, if the daimyo returns and demands your help to reclaim his kingdom… will you agree or refuse?”
Hiruzen muttered to himself.
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