Chapter 57: Discussing the Hokage
Fugaku's expression gradually turned serious.
At first, he had not paid much attention to this meeting with Yuu. The reason was simple. The gap in status was far too large.
If Minato himself had come, he would have had the standing to sit as an equal. But Yuu was only Minato's disciple. In both status and strength, the difference between them was enormous.
And yet, Yuu's performance had surprised him. Without meaning to, Fugaku had grown more cautious. He began treating this meeting with real seriousness.
Across from him, Yuu remained seated. Every movement was refined, like a high ranking noble, and the aura around him was unmistakably unique.
In truth, that was exactly what it was.
In his previous life, Yuu had been the noble Daimyo of the Land of Ancestors, the husband of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and the father of the Sage of Six Paths. In a sense, he had once been the most honored man in the world.
That nobility was etched into his bones, standing above everyone else by nature. Usually, it was fine when he kept it hidden. But now, with that presence revealed, everyone around him was instantly shaken.
"Yuu…"
The two groups sat facing each other inside the shrine. After a moment of silence, Fugaku spoke first.
"I'm glad you came to see me, but right now there isn't much I can say."
"If you came about Kakashi Hatake, then please leave."
His words were polite, yet the sternness beneath them made it clear there was no room for argument.
"The Kakashi matter is indeed why I came," Yuu said after a brief pause, smiling faintly. "But it is not the primary reason."
"Oh?"
Fugaku and the others were caught off guard.
At a time like this, what could possibly matter more than Kakashi?
"Oh?" Fugaku's tone stayed indifferent. "I'm listening."
"How does Clan Head Fugaku view Konoha's current situation?" Yuu asked softly.
Konoha's situation?
Everyone present frowned at once.
How else was it supposed to be viewed? Wasn't the current situation already obvious?
Only a few people fell into thought.
"Speak more plainly," Fugaku said after a moment.
To be honest, his position right now was awkward.
From the perspective of a friend and comrade, he could understand Minato's intentions, and he even agreed with them.
But Fugaku had another identity beyond being Minato's friend.
He was the clan head of the Uchiha.
And as the Uchiha clan head, he had to retrieve Kakashi's Sharingan. Otherwise, once the Uchiha's bloodline limit leaked beyond the clan, the consequences would inevitably be severe.
Even so, because of his personal relationship with Minato, Fugaku was still willing to give Yuu a chance.
If Yuu could provide a reason strong enough for Fugaku to convince the other clansmen, then Fugaku could accept it naturally.
Of course, that reason had to be substantial.
If it was too absurd, then even if Fugaku wanted to let it go, it would still be useless. After all, the others were not mindless puppets. They had their own thoughts.
"The Hokage election," Yuu said, with no intention of dragging things out.
In front of Fugaku and several Uchiha elders, he spoke frankly. "It won't be long before the selection begins. May I ask what stance the Uchiha clan will take in this election?"
"Hokage selection?"
The moment Yuu raised that topic, the Uchiha elders' attention sharpened.
Even Uchiha Setsuna, who had only been listening, could not help turning his gaze toward Yuu.
The Hokage was the Uchiha clan's obsession.
In the beginning, Konoha had been cofounded by the Senju and the Uchiha. They had played their part.
To put it bluntly, the Uchiha were original shareholders of Konoha, holding a vital position within it.
Yet from the founding of the village until now, through three generations of Hokage, the Uchiha had remained distant from that seat.
The First Hokage and the Second Hokage were both Senju.
Even though the Third Hokage was not Senju by blood, he was the disciple of Senju Tobirama, and could be considered part of the Senju faction.
As one of Konoha's two founding clans, the Uchiha had gained little of true weight.
Aside from being placed in charge of the Police Force, they had not even secured a seat as an advisor.
Now that the Hokage selection was approaching again, it was only natural that the Uchiha had thoughts of their own.
"In this Hokage selection, who does the Uchiha clan support?" Yuu met Fugaku's eyes, his expression calm.
Who would the Uchiha clan support?
It was a practical question.
Because as things stood, the Uchiha had no outside candidate they were backing.
Or rather, their choice had always been clear.
Themselves.
"Our Uchiha clan naturally supports Fugaku," an elder said. "That is only natural."
"Support Clan Head Fugaku?" Yuu nodded. "A commendable ambition."
"What do you mean?" Another elder stared at him, his tone turning cold. "Are you saying that, in your eyes, the Uchiha are not worthy of running for Hokage?"
"I did not mean that." Yuu shook his head. "I'm only asking, what are the chances of winning?"
The atmosphere immediately tightened.
Several Uchiha frowned. Someone was about to speak, but Fugaku raised a hand, stopping them.
"Yuu kun isn't optimistic about my run for Hokage?" Fugaku studied him, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
"I think it's difficult to be optimistic," Yuu replied evenly. "If you allow me to be blunt, the Uchiha clan currently lacks the ability to win the Hokage seat."
"To run for Hokage, in my view, one needs at least three things."
"Oh?" Fugaku's interest rose. "Explain."
"First is strength," Yuu said softly. "Those who become Hokage are, without exception, the strongest among shinobi. If one's strength is insufficient, then taking that position is impossible."
"In that regard, how does Clan Head Fugaku feel he compares to Minato sensei and Orochimaru?"
"I am not their equal…" Fugaku fell silent for a moment, then finally admitted it.
His strength was indeed excellent, top tier within the Uchiha, and he would not necessarily lose to some of the weaker Kage.
But compared to Minato and Orochimaru?
The outcome was obvious.
When it came to strength, it would be a different story if it were his two future children.
Both Itachi and Sasuke would possess sufficient power.
But Fugaku himself?
It truly was not enough.
.....
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