"What!"
Within the Shimura Clan compound, Danzo Shimura suddenly looked up, a look of shock appearing on his face as he stared at the person before him. "Is this true?"
"Yes."
The person before him had a solemn expression. "It has been confirmed. Uchiha Tsugi has issued a statement and is preparing to enter the Hokage Election."
"A significant number of people have already expressed their support."
"To think it would turn out like this."
Hearing this news, Danzo Shimura couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
The matter of the Hokage Election primarily depended on one's opponents.
Originally, Danzo Shimura had some confidence in his campaign, believing he would likely become the Third Hokage of Konoha.
After all, his opponent was none other than the Uchiha Clan Head.
Defeating the Uchiha Clan Head didn't seem difficult to him.
After all, even before he could do anything, the Uchiha Clan Head had already managed to stir up widespread resentment.
At this rate, the position of Hokage would inevitably be his.
But just at this moment, Minamikawa Yuu stepped forward.
It would have been fine if he hadn't, but once he did, Danzo Shimura and the others were immediately taken aback.
Before today, he knew of Minamikawa Yuu's reputation and influence, and had some understanding of it, but he hadn't truly felt it.
But when Minamikawa Yuu actually stepped forward, he was still shocked.
Throughout Konoha, many Ninjas who had previously remained silent immediately began to speak up.
They took to the streets, publicly supporting Minamikawa Yuu and wanting him to become the Hokage.
This was the result of Minamikawa Yuu's years of hard work.
Over the years, it seemed like he hadn't done much, but in reality, he had been quietly handling logistics for Konoha.
Konoha Hospital was established by him, and many Medical Ninjas were his students, having been personally taught by him.
He had opened the earliest medical training classes and participated in compiling Textbooks. Now, more than half of the Medical Ninjas in Konoha were his students.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that within the current Medical Ninja community of Konoha, Minamikawa Yuu's prestige was even greater than the later Tsunade's.
Normally, when not needed, these supporters didn't seem like much, but the moment Minamikawa Yuu stepped forward, he immediately displayed a terrifying level of influence.
A vast number of Medical Ninjas began calling on those around them, seeking to support Minamikawa Yuu in this way.
And using these people as a base, they could influence even more.
That astonishing display had only just begun to manifest, yet it already left many people shaken.
Danzo Shimura was also among those secretly alarmed.
As he watched the surging crowds within Konoha and heard the whispers of the villagers everywhere, he felt nothing but jealousy.
The support of ordinary villagers and Ninjas might seem insignificant, but it represented a level of prestige for Minamikawa Yuu that was now beyond the reach of ordinary people.
And with these people as a foundation, he could likewise influence many others.
After all, even in a power like Konoha Village, ordinary Ninjas made up the majority.
Minamikawa Yuu held absolute prestige among these groups, which naturally allowed him to influence many in higher tiers.
Witnessing this spectacle, many Jonin who had originally intended to support Danzo Shimura couldn't help but waver.
Originally, if Minamikawa Yuu hadn't run, they would have supported Danzo Shimura in the absence of a better choice.
But now, since Minamikawa Yuu had stepped forward, they seemed to have a better option.
At the very least, compared to Danzo Shimura, Minamikawa Yuu was far more popular.
All of a sudden, the supporters around Danzo Shimura began to waver.
"Sensei, was this also your arrangement?"
Feeling the hesitation of those around him, Danzo Shimura let out a long sigh.
He hadn't felt it before running for Hokage.
But now that he was actually campaigning, he could feel just how substantial the resources the Second Hokage had prepared for Hiruzen Sarutobi were.
This included Minamikawa Yuu.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't gone missing, Minamikawa Yuu, as his student, would naturally have been a loyal supporter.
Then this power should have belonged to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It was precisely because of this that Danzo Shimura had the chance to compete.
Otherwise, with his current strength, let alone standing up to compete, he wouldn't even have the qualifications to participate.
"I can't give up yet."
Danzo Shimura thought to himself, "It's not over until the very end."
"Torifu, and Homura..." He looked into the distance, thinking of his old friends.
Those friends were all mainstays within Konoha, each representing a faction of power.
As long as they were willing to support him, there was still room to compete for the Hokage position.
With this in mind, he walked toward the place where Homura Mitokado and the others were.
However, only a moment later, he returned with a livid expression.
None of his old friends supported him.
Although he had anticipated this outcome, he hadn't expected them to refuse so thoroughly.
Among them, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu refused on the spot, stating they would support Minamikawa Yuu.
Akimichi Torifu didn't refuse outright, but he didn't agree either, merely expressing tactfully that he didn't wish to be involved.
As for Uchiha Kagami, Danzo Shimura hadn't counted on him at all.
After all, he was of the same clan as Minamikawa Yuu and had been personally treated by him before; whether emotionally or through their relationship, he would certainly support Minamikawa Yuu.
After making the rounds, he realized that not a single one of his old comrades supported him.
This made his heart feel a bit cold.
He realized that his base of support was even weaker than he had imagined.
He thought that in his competition with Minamikawa Yuu, even if his old comrades didn't stand by him, they would at least not side with the opponent out of respect for their past relationship.
But now it seemed he had been overthinking.
Akimichi Torifu might remain neutral for the sake of their past, but Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu, and the others would undoubtedly support Minamikawa Yuu.
As for Uchiha Kagami, it went without saying.
His situation was far worse than he had imagined.
"The only breakthrough point right now lies in..."
"
Danzo Shimura looked toward the Uchiha Clan compound. "The Uchiha Clan..."
Of course, he wasn't counting on the Uchiha Clan to support him.
Setting aside his consistent attitude toward the Uchiha, the clan itself would never abandon their own leader to support an outsider like him.
What he was contemplating was another plan.
Minamikawa Yuu was also from the Uchiha Clan, yet he had now established his own path and was competing with the Uchiha Clan Head for the position of Hokage.
Putting himself in his shoes, Danzo Shimura figured the Uchiha Clan Head must be extremely infuriated right now.
As long as he could incite conflict between the two sides, he might just find an opportunity to succeed.
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