There are too many secrets within the Uchiha clan grounds.
After Rengoku discussed things with Tsunade, he simply let Tsunade handle it.
Just as Tsunade walked out of the Uchiha grounds, she immediately saw an Anbu waiting outside.
"Tsunade-sama, Hokage-sama requests your presence for an important matter."
The anger in Tsunade's eyes flashed and disappeared.
After that, she put on an impatient expression, "Fine, let's go."
———
Tsunade quickly arrived at the Hokage's office and pushed the door open as she went in.
The Third Hokage and Koharu Utatane were both inside.
Tsunade sprawled onto the sofa beside her without even glancing at the Third Hokage, "Old man, if you've got something to say, hurry up. I'm busy."
The Third Hokage looked at Tsunade with probing eyes, "What did Rengoku want with you?"
Tsunade yawned, "Orochimaru broke through the barriers of cloning technology. He has already successfully cured Rengoku's younger sister, Ryuri, of her disability.
"He came to me wanting to conduct deep biological research together."
The Anbu had already delivered the information earlier.
Who was in Uchiha Rengoku's household was something the outside world already knew.
When Rengoku lingered around the entrances of several great clans, he had already guessed it.
"You agreed?"
Tsunade's eyelids drooped, her expression lacking any energy, and she lazily said, "Too much trouble. Even though Orochimaru broke through one technological barrier…"
"But every further step forward is especially difficult. Where do I have the time?"
The Third Hokage and Koharu exchanged glances. Koharu spoke, "Does Uchiha Rengoku want to become Hokage?"
Tsunade slanted a glance at Koharu, "I think him becoming Hokage wouldn't be bad."
"Anyway, the old man here is getting on in years. It's about time he retired."
The Third Hokage's heart sank, "You don't want to become Hokage?"
Tsunade snorted, "I can't even fully manage just the medical system, and you want me to be Hokage.
"You'd be better off putting your hopes in Jiraiya."
"That's that."
Tsunade rubbed her hair and directly left the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage and Koharu could only watch as Tsunade left.
Koharu looked toward the Third Hokage with worry.
"Why is Tsunade different from the promise she made two years ago?"
The Third Hokage pulled out his pipe, took a slow puff.
"Back then it was only because we feared the Uchiha would stage a military coup that we brought Tsunade back."
"Now that Tsunade sees nothing abnormal with the Uchiha, she naturally doesn't want to do it."
Koharu spoke with worry, "Then does that mean we can only hand over the Hokage position to him?"
The Third Hokage tapped his pipe against the desk a few times, "You're still worried Rengoku might settle accounts with us, aren't you."
Koharu's face darkened, "You mean that matter you mentioned before?"
"It's already being taken care of."
———
At the same time.
All the great clans had already seen Rengoku strolling about with a healthy Ryuri.
As the clan head of the Uchiha, the state of his household… Most of the ninja clans already knew.
Adding to that, Rengoku deliberately loitered in front of their homes, so naturally most of them had thoughts.
But what Rengoku didn't expect was that the very first ones to come knocking turned out to be the Akimichi clan.
Basically not long after Tsunade left.
A clansman came to report to Rengoku, "Clan Head-sama, Akimichi Choza is visiting the residence of the Fourth Elder (Fugaku)."
"The Fourth Elder asked me to invite you over."
Rengoku thought for a moment, but didn't know why the Akimichi had come.
"Alright, I'll head over now."
———
[At Fugaku's Residence]
Akimichi Choza, who had already become the head of his clan, was sitting together with Fugaku.
Although he had been served tea, Choza's expression was stern, and he hadn't touched it.
"Just be patient a moment, the clan head will be here soon," Fugaku said calmly, unhurried.
He knew Rengoku was preparing to win over ninja clans in order to seize the position of Fifth Hokage.
Precisely because of that, Fugaku was both excited and stirred.
Right now in Orochimaru's laboratory, Uchiha Kiyan, Makumi, and Rinjin had already been taken down.
Rinjin would be woken up soon, while the other two were experimental material.
Once Itachi and Shisui weakened a bit more, they too would be experimented on.
So Fugaku's mind wasn't much on Choza here.
Choza's brows were drawn with worry, but he could only wait patiently.
Before long, Rengoku arrived.
"Choza, you came looking for me?", Rengoku asked straight to the point.
Choza immediately stood up, "Elder Rengoku, today my clansmen saw you walking around the village with your younger sister?"
"I wonder, how did her body recover?"
Rengoku smiled, pointing in the direction of Orochimaru's laboratory, "Cloning technology."
"You know, as ninja, from battles or various accidents, it's easy to get injured or even disabled."
"For limbs that can't be healed, or are missing, naturally cloning is the best method."
He pressed Choza back down into his seat.
"So, do you have clansmen who need it?"
Since Choza had come all the way here, he had no intention of beating around the bush.
He sighed, "Uncle Torifu is near his end."
Rengoku raised his brows. He had never paid much attention to these clans, and thought Akimichi Torifu had long been dead, didn't expect he was still alive?
"Tell me about Elder Torifu's condition."
Choza spoke, "Uncle Torifu, back during the Nine-Tails' Rampage…"
From Choza's account, Rengoku learned that back during the Nine-Tails' Rampage, Akimichi Torifu had suffered a grave injury, damaging his lungs.
His bronchial tubes and heart were also affected.
Though the Akimichi clan had no shortage of money, medical treatment was only so capable.
Even with Tsunade's return, it wouldn't matter.
Naruto was already ten years old, which meant Akimichi Torifu had been dragging on for ten whole years.
Now his lungs were basically done for.
He was surviving entirely by means of expensive respiratory equipment, with very short waking hours each day.
That was why Choza was the first to come.
"So that's how it is. Have Torifu brought over first."
Choza froze for a moment. Orochimaru hadn't even examined him, yet Rengoku directly said to bring him over.
'Is Rengoku really that confident?'
Seeing Choza stunned, Rengoku patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. I won't take on anything I'm not sure about."
Choza immediately stood, "Alright, I'll go back and arrange it at once."
The Akimichi clan indeed had many members, but compared to Uchiha and Hyuga, their numbers were much smaller.
Especially reaching the level of a shinobi like Akimichi Torifu, those were even rarer.
When Torifu's generation was active, it was all during wartime.
Now in the clan, he was the only living relic left. No matter the cost, the Akimichi had to preserve Torifu.
Choza didn't ask what Rengoku wanted in return. After all, anyone with eyes could see it.
Anyway, in Choza's view, whoever became Hokage was the same.
Since the Sarutobi clan itself had no worthy successors, naturally they could only hand over the Hokage's seat.
It was just that Choza hadn't yet discussed things with the Nara and Yamanaka clans. When he returned, he would have to give them a heads-up.
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