"Kazuyama, are you serious? You and Fugaku running for Hokage? How could you not give us a heads-up?"
"Hmph, this bastard probably came up with it on the spot. If he wants to go after Danzō, fine—but dragging the two of us into it?"
After leaving the Hokage Building, the three walked side by side with arms around each other's shoulders—well, it was mostly Kazuyama Gekkō clinging to the other two. As he listened to their complaints, he chuckled.
"Fugaku, you're right. I am targeting Danzō. You know what happened with my sensei."
"That bastard used the situation to suppress me again and again."
"You think I'd just sit back and take it? Hmph. Him, becoming Hokage? What a joke."
Kazuyama's face was full of contempt. Damn Danzō. If he didn't strike back, the guy would really think he was a pushover. And trying to recruit him into Root? He could forget it.
"Man, if Orochimaru hadn't defected, he'd be the best candidate for Hokage."
"It's hard to believe someone from the Sannin would go down such a twisted path."
Minato frowned. Even now, he couldn't understand Orochimaru's true intentions—just like his teacher Jiraiya.
Fugaku, on the other hand, was much more clear-headed.
"He just sought something different. If the intel is correct, and Orochimaru really left to pursue some forbidden power... then the fact that he didn't hurt anyone in the village already says a lot."
"But as for the Hokage position... I'm definitely interested. The Uchiha are Konoha's largest clan. It would only be natural."
"Alright, you bastard, let me go. I've got to get home and see my son."
Fugaku shook off Kazuyama's arm and headed toward the Uchiha district. Right now, he was the model family man—his wife and son were everything to him.
Was he really interested in being Hokage?
"That guy... honestly, I think all he sees now is Mikoto and little Itachi. Hokage? He couldn't care less."
"The Uchiha are always so proud."
Kazuyama watched Fugaku walk away, his smile gradually fading as memories of the Uchiha's future tragedy came to mind. Even if Obito hadn't become the executioner, Madara had already found a replacement.
No one could say how the future would unfold.
"Minato, do your best. You're going to be Hokage one day—don't forget your brothers when that happens."
"I've got prep to do. Hanzō of the Salamander... heh."
With Fugaku gone, Kazuyama patted Minato on the shoulder, ready to leave as well. He had volunteered to go to Amegakure, after all. Time to get ready—revenge wasn't something that happened overnight.
He intended to make sure Hanzō of the Salamander never forgot this.
"Being Hokage is a responsibility. If it really falls to me, I'll give everything I have to the village."
"But Kazuyama, be careful in Amegakure. That man's no pushover."
At Minato's reminder, Kazuyama just waved it off. The next second, he vanished using the Flying Thunder God Technique. Seeing that, Minato followed suit, blinking out in the same fashion.
Without even realizing it, he was becoming more and more like Kazuyama. With a jutsu as convenient as the Flying Thunder God, why bother walking?
...
Kazuyama didn't return home, but went to the academy instead. After all, both his wife and little brother were there.
On the training field, Pakura was in the middle of teaching a basic ninjutsu class.
The Three Basic Jutsu made Kazuyama chuckle, but off to the side, he spotted a kid with bags under his eyes standing in punishment.
It was his little brother, Hayate Gekkō.
"Huh? Little brother, why are you standing in the corner?"
"Did you make your sister-in-law mad again?"
Kazuyama Gekkō slipped over using his Transparent Escape Technique and stood behind Hayate Gekkō, tossing out the question casually.
Hayate wasn't flustered at all. There was no mistaking his older brother's voice.
"I don't want to practice ninjutsu. If I have time, I'd rather work on my swordsmanship…"
"My Kenjutsu is already good enough to beat everyone at the Academy. Hmph, someday I'll be the greatest swordsman in Konoha. Not even White Fang will be able to match me."
"My sister-in-law confiscated my sword and won't let me train anymore. Now I'm stuck standing here as punishment."
Hearing that, Kazuyama's face went blank for a moment. No wonder Pakura had tossed the kid out here—he'd completely lost himself in swordsmanship, obsessed beyond saving.
"You deserved it. Why the hell are you so fixated on sword fighting?"
"What's wrong with our Transparent Escape Technique? Or the ninjutsu we've been teaching you?"
"You could take someone out with stealth, and you choose to charge in with a sword? What are you even thinking?"
"Your sister-in-law's just being nice. If it were me, you little brat, I'd have you running laps around Konoha—under Seirin's watch, too!"
Kazuyama was getting annoyed. He'd tried so hard to steer this brat away from that path, and it was all ruined thanks to that damn secret manual Orochimaru had gifted them.
"Hmph! Just keep standing there!"
He deactivated his Transparent Escape Technique and walked over to Pakura.
...
"What? You saw it too?"
"Your little brother really doesn't listen."
"He insists on practicing swordsmanship. What are we supposed to do?"
Pakura sighed when she saw Kazuyama approaching. She really had no way to handle Hayate anymore.
"I've got nothing. I'll have Obito Uchiha straighten him out."
"If we can't get through to him, we'll let his peers do it."
"I think Kakashi and the others will handle it just fine."
Kazuyama grinned wickedly.
So the kid's being rebellious? Fine—send in a pack of other brats to knock some sense into him.
He couldn't do it. As an older brother, it was frustrating how little influence he had over Hayate's path.
...
"Meeting over?"
"Yeah. I'm heading to Amegakure in a few days—there's something I need to take care of."
Kazuyama wrapped an arm around Pakura and explained his upcoming plans.
Pakura frowned slightly at his words.
"To get revenge?"
"Hehe, guessed it already?"
"Hmph, with your temper, if Amegakure hadn't done something, you'd never have volunteered."
"Hahaha, that's my wife. You know me too well. Yeah, it's revenge. I can't stand taking a hit without hitting back."
Pakura nodded. She wasn't the least bit worried about Kazuyama's strength—he didn't earn the title "Konoha's Twin Star" for nothing.
And with what she'd heard about Amegakure's actions in the Land of Grass, it wasn't hard to guess. If Kazuyama was heading there, he was definitely going for payback.
...
Just then, a furious roar echoed from the top of the academy building.
"You bastard! If you're not going to class, then get the hell out of the school!"
"Is this some kind of dating spot?!"
Kazuyama rolled his eyes and looked toward the familiar figure—it was none other than the Academy's principal, Sakumo Hatake.