Sasuke’s bold declaration made everyone laugh.
“Sasuke, this kid, isn’t even a ninja yet and already wants to be Hokage. But I have to say, having such ambition from a young age is a good thing.”
“Hey, Sasuke, have you awakened your Sharingan yet? Your brother had a two-tomoe Sharingan at your age.”
The clan members teased Sasuke, making his face turn red with embarrassment and frustration.
In truth, Sasuke regretted his boastful words as soon as he said them. Even without comparing himself to his brother, the Uchiha clan had so many talented individuals, each far more capable than him. How could he ever become the next Hokage?
Feeling dejected, Sasuke’s face flushed with shame. But then, Itachi patted his brother’s head and smiled.
“Sasuke, you’ll have to work hard because I will see you as my greatest rival and give it my all to defeat you.”
Itachi didn’t actually dream of becoming Hokage anymore. Once, perhaps, but not now.
To him, his uncle Uchiha Dan was the perfect Hokage, and he hoped his uncle would continue in that role. But to encourage his brother, Itachi told a small, kind lie.
Sure enough, Sasuke’s determination was reignited by Itachi’s words. He nodded vigorously, his face serious.
“Brother, I will catch up to you soon!”
Fugaku and Mikoto watched their sons with pride, smiling warmly.
In the midst of this harmonious scene, Shisui, about to fade away, looked up one last time at Dan standing on the Hokage Tower.
Dan stood alone, overlooking the village from the high vantage point. He nodded slightly at Shisui.
Create a new future, Dan.
Shisui silently bid farewell, no longer having any regrets. With a faint smile, his body disintegrated, and his soul ascended to the Pure Land, finding eternal peace.
Shisui’s departure was bittersweet, but the overall mood remained joyous and celebratory, especially for Konoha’s villagers who were jubilantly welcoming their new Sixth Hokage.
Clan leaders like Hiashi Hyuga, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, Shibi Aburame, and other ninjas and civilians all wore smiles, savoring a long-missed sense of joy, relaxation, and safety.
After enduring the oppressive occupation by the Four Great Ninja Villages, Konoha’s residents deeply appreciated the sense of security the Uchiha clan now provided.
Under the Uchiha’s protection, they no longer feared the humiliations of the past. This gratitude ensured their unwavering loyalty to the Uchiha.
“Hey kid, don’t push!”
Amid the jostling crowd, Choji and Shikamaru managed to push to the front, gazing up at the Hokage Tower.
“I’m going to see the Hokage! He promised to take me as his student and help me train,” Choji exclaimed, his chubby face brimming with excitement.
Shikamaru sighed, trying to calm his friend. “That was a long time ago. Maybe he was just saying that and has forgotten about it. If you rush up to him and catch him in a bad mood, he might just squash you.”
Hearing this, Choji shivered, quickly stuffing his mouth with more chips to stay quiet.
As for Ino, she stayed home, still grieving her father’s death. No one could share or ease her pain; only time could heal her wounds.
In the festive crowd, Onoki, Chiyo, Raikage A, and Mei Terumi couldn’t bring themselves to smile. Seeing Dan become Hokage and the fervor in Konoha, they all had a shared premonition—
The territories they had taken from the Land of Fire would likely have to be returned. Konoha would surely seek revenge and expansion.
Their suspicions were soon confirmed.
A commotion erupted at the edge of the crowd. Konoha ninjas and villagers turned to see a path being cleared.
A group of ninjas and attendants carrying a luxurious palanquin embroidered with flames emerged and proceeded to the plaza.
“The Daimyo has returned!” a black-haired man with war paint announced loudly, his voice echoing over Konoha.
This man was Kazuma, a prominent member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, highly valued by the Daimyo.
At his proclamation, the village fell silent.
No one had expected the exiled Daimyo of the Land of Fire to return at this moment.
The Daimyo ruled the country. While Konoha’s history spanned only a few decades, the Daimyo’s family ruled these lands for over a thousand years.
Throughout history, whether samurai groups, ninja clans during the Warring States period, or the later Hidden Villages, all had pledged allegiance to the Daimyo.
This long-standing tradition ingrained a deep-seated hierarchical view in the minds of ninjas and civilians alike—that the ruler’s descendants remained rulers, and the gap between classes was insurmountable.
Even someone as powerful as the First Hokage had never thought to cross this divide. The Daimyo’s status was sacred and lofty.
However, the Uchiha clan was an exception.
Led by Fugaku, the Uchiha stood their ground, showing no reaction to Kazuma’s command.
Seeing this, Kazuma frowned and raised his voice.
“The Sixth Hokage and Konoha’s leaders should come forward to pay their respects to the Daimyo!”
Among the Twelve Guardian Ninjas, Kazuma was known for his aggressive stance. He believed the Hokage was unnecessary and that the Daimyo should hold absolute power over Konoha’s ninjas.
His words caused many villagers to frown, especially since he mentioned the Sixth Hokage.
Countless eyes turned to Dan on the Hokage Tower, but Dan seemed oblivious, gazing off into the distance without acknowledging Kazuma.
Understanding Dan’s stance, Fugaku stepped forward with Tekka, Itachi, and others.
“I am the head of the Uchiha clan. If there’s something to discuss, let the Daimyo step out and speak directly,” Fugaku said calmly.
Everyone’s attention shifted to the palanquin.
“How dare you!”
Kazuma started to shout but was interrupted by a lazy voice from within the palanquin.
“Kazuma, stand down.”
The servants lifted the curtain, revealing a middle-aged man with an effeminate appearance, dressed in luxurious robes and holding an ornate fan.
“Congratulations on reclaiming Konoha and driving out the invaders,” the Daimyo said, addressing Fugaku and the others.
He opened his fan and, fanning himself elegantly, asked, “You remember the agreement of the one nation, one village system between the Land of Fire and Konoha, don’t you?”
The one nation, one village system meant the Land of Fire provided military funds and resources to Konoha, which in return served the Daimyo as the standing army.
This system ended the chaotic Warring States period and brought mutual benefits to both Konoha and the Land of Fire.
Other countries and villages quickly adopted this model, shaping the current ninja world.
In this system, the Land of Fire and Konoha were deeply interconnected, their fates intertwined.
Thus, when the Four Great Nations divided the Land of Fire, Konoha couldn’t escape their plight and became a colony of the other villages.
Now, the Daimyo appealed to the Uchiha.
“With Konoha reborn, I, as the Daimyo, hope you will continue to uphold the one nation, one village agreement and help restore the Land of Fire.”
His words sounded reasonable, and many in Konoha, including Hiashi Hyuga, agreed with him.
A restored Land of Fire would support Konoha economically, allowing ninjas to receive missions from the Daimyo, sustaining their livelihoods.
This system had operated for decades, but Fugaku knew that Dan’s silence meant refusal.
So he shook his head and replied coldly.
“The times have changed. The one nation, one village system is a thing of the past.”
The Daimyo’s face stiffened, stopping his fanning.
Kazuma scoffed, mocking Fugaku.
“Do you intend for the Uchiha to replace the Daimyo and rule the Land of Fire? Do you think governing a country is easy? The millions of citizens won’t accept you.”
In Kazuma’s view, ninjas were mere warriors, and the Uchiha were especially brutal and unfit to rule.
Unfazed by Kazuma’s mockery, Fugaku replied calmly.
“That’s none of your concern. Daimyo, return to where you came from. The Uchiha have many matters to attend to and won’t see you off.”
The Daimyo’s face darkened further.
“Kazuma!” he called out, trying to maintain composure.
Kazuma, incensed, shouted at Fugaku, “The Daimyo is of divine descent, his bloodline noble. How dare you speak to him this way!”
Tekka scoffed.
“Divine descent? We Uchiha are descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, and that’s a fact.”
From the start, Tekka had been annoyed by Kazuma. Given the order, he wouldn’t hesitate to act, regardless of the Daimyo’s status.
Kazuma, already furious, attacked first.
Lightning surged from a metal rod he planted in the ground, aiming to strike the Uchiha. While the Uchiha remained unharmed, many villagers were caught in the electric shock, crying out in pain.
“You’re courting death!”
Fugaku’s eyes transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan, focusing on Kazuma.
With tears
of blood streaming down his face, he summoned a black flame that engulfed Kazuma.
Amaterasu.
Kazuma screamed as the inextinguishable flames consumed him, burning him alive.
The remaining Guardian Ninja tried to help but were also engulfed by the flames, dying alongside Kazuma.
As the Daimyo watched in horror, his protectors were reduced to ashes.
Stumbling back in fear, the Daimyo fell to the ground.
“Protect the Daimyo!” his remaining guards shouted, surrounding him and warily watching the Uchiha.
Fugaku gestured forward.
Tekka, Itachi, Izumi, and the others activated their Mangekyo Sharingan and advanced toward the Daimyo and his guards.
“Wait!”
The Daimyo, trembling, called out, “Don’t attack! I can tell you where Konoha’s traitors are hiding—Hiruzen Sarutobi and his followers! They plan to use the Edo Tensei to revive past Hokages and fight the Uchiha!”
The Uchiha were taken aback.
The Edo Tensei, a familiar technique, had revived many of their kin, including Shisui. Learning that Hiruzen was also mastering this jutsu and planning to resurrect past Hokages was alarming.
The Daimyo seemed sincere.
Finally, Dan moved.
In a single leap from the Hokage Tower, he descended gracefully to the ground amidst the astonished crowd.
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