Chapter 74: Campaigning for Hokage
"You mean… you want to elect me as Hokage?"
Inside Konoha Hospital, Yuu stood quietly, looking at Koharu and the person beside her. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
"Correct." Homura nodded. "If Hiruzen were still here, he would undoubtedly be the best candidate for Hokage. But he has gone missing."
"The teacher is gone, but Danzo is still here." Kei spoke softly. "He is also Hokage sama's student, and his strength is top tier in the village. He has the qualifications to become Hokage."
"Although I do not want to say this, Danzo's personality is not suitable for the Hokage seat."
Koharu hesitated, then finally sighed. "His temperament is too extreme. If he becomes Hokage, the village will suffer a disaster."
Compared to Hiruzen's mild nature, Danzo's cold disposition was the kind many people disliked.
Even his teammates, Homura and Koharu, did not want someone like that sitting above them.
In comparison, Kei's image was far more suitable.
He had a gentle temperament. He maintained good relationships with Hiruzen's supporters, including the Ino Shika Cho. He was also on good terms with Koharu, Homura, and others.
Back when Tobirama was still alive, Tobirama had held Kei in high regard as well.
Kei's ability was obvious to everyone. The results of his leadership in the Medical Department reforms over the past few years were visible throughout the village.
Across Konoha, even the Hiruzen of the past could not compare to Kei in that particular area.
And the most crucial factor was his background.
Kei came from the Uchiha clan.
Originally, that should have been a disadvantage.
But through Kei's deliberate efforts over the years, the mark of the Uchiha on him had faded. Meanwhile, his identity as Hiruzen's disciple had become far more prominent.
As Hiruzen's disciple, he could inherit many things.
Much of the foundation Tobirama had prepared for Hiruzen's succession could now be redirected to support Kei, now that Hiruzen was absent.
For example, right now.
"Kei, you are Hiruzen's disciple."
Homura spoke steadily. "Hiruzen was the Hokage sensei designated before his death. Now that Hiruzen is gone, as Hiruzen's only disciple, you should naturally become a nominee for the next Hokage."
A disciple inheriting a teacher's legacy was common in this world.
With Hiruzen missing, it felt natural to Homura and the others that Kei should inherit Hiruzen's legacy.
Of course, that was assuming they did not know Kei was the one who had dealt with Hiruzen.
"I am still too young, after all…" Kei showed hesitation as Homura and Koharu tried to persuade him.
"That is not a problem." Koharu pressed on. "Your abilities are obvious to all, and your strength is no less than Danzo's."
"If you step forward, everyone will be convinced."
"I will consider it further."
Kei did not agree immediately.
Of course, this was partly an act, and partly practical.
Agreeing too eagerly would expose his intentions and place him in a passive position.
The Hokage election had only just begun. There was no need to rush.
Kei did not have to wait long.
Just as he expected, only a short time passed before the situation outside began to shift rapidly.
There were interludes as well.
The Uchiha clan head entered the Hokage election in a high profile, brazen way.
If he had simply campaigned, it might have been manageable.
Instead, he did it with great fanfare, even threatening smaller clans who were unwilling to support the Uchiha, claiming they would pay the price in the future.
His style was far too flamboyant. He had no sense of restraint.
Even if he truly planned to settle scores later, he should never have said it aloud.
But the Uchiha clan head was exactly that kind of person. Not only did he refuse to put on a front, he spoke whatever was on his mind.
Regarding this performance, Kei could only shake his head internally.
To an ordinary person, such behavior might be unbelievable.
But coming from the Uchiha, it was painfully normal.
He had seen the Uchiha's political ability before. He had no reason to doubt it now.
And once the news spread, resistance within Konoha against the Uchiha taking power only grew stronger.
There were already many who did not want to see the Uchiha rise.
Now there were even more.
"Kei, this cannot continue."
In a quiet courtyard, Kagami stood beneath a tree, looking at Kei with urgency. "The clan head has gone mad…"
"If he becomes Hokage, he will turn the village into a mess."
Kei stood nearby, calm as ever, pruning flowers and plants like a gardener.
He had been like this throughout the entire period.
No matter how chaotic the outside world became, he stayed here as if he were ignoring everything, maintaining the same indifferent attitude.
"What about Danzo…" Kei asked softly after hearing Kagami. "What does he say?"
"Danzo, he…" Kagami hesitated. Then he finally sighed. "He has changed. He feels like a stranger now…"
"In order to fight for the Hokage seat, he is doing whatever it takes."
With the Uchiha clan head causing problems on one side, Danzo's side did not look much better.
To seize the Hokage position, Danzo was also using many tactics.
They had some effect, but they also disgusted many who watched from the outside.
Because of that, Kagami and others felt even more disappointed.
No one wanted a leader who relied on dirty methods sitting above them.
This was especially true for people like Kagami and Homura, people who genuinely loved Konoha.
To put it bluntly, in this fight for Hokage, Kei had not even truly made a move yet, and his rivals were already destroying themselves one after another.
Sometimes, you do not need to be exceptional.
You just need your opponents to be bad enough.
This was a world of comparing who was less terrible.
"Is that so…"
Kei let out a quiet sigh.
Hearing Kagami's words, he seemed moved, falling into thought.
Kagami did not interrupt. He simply watched Kei with expectation.
Among Hiruzen's many friends, most had good relationships with Kei. Even Danzo had maintained normal friendship and social interaction with him in the past.
But among them all, Kagami was the one closest to Kei.
On one hand, they were from the same clan.
On the other, it was admiration.
Unlike many Uchiha, Kagami truly loved Konoha and truly believed in Hiruzen.
But who did not carry the dream of becoming Hokage somewhere in their heart?
People like Kagami and Homura had never stepped forward only because they understood their own limits. They knew they were not enough to shoulder that role.
But Kei was different.
In Kagami's view, although Kei was young, his ability was even a cut above his teacher, Hiruzen.
Within Konoha, the only one who could truly compare to him was Tobirama, who was now gone.
Kagami had no hope of becoming Hokage himself, but this junior from his own clan did.
And there was also the debt.
When Homura's group returned to Konoha, most were fine, but Kagami's injuries had been severe.
If Kei had not treated him in time, Kagami might have died.
With that, plus their shared clan and their previous relationship, Kagami supported Kei from every angle.
"What does the clan say?"
After a long time, Kei finally looked up. His eyes met Kagami's.
"If I step forward to campaign for Hokage, what will the people in the clan say?"
"Most people in the clan support the clan head."
Joy appeared instantly on Kagami's face. "But if you, Kei, are willing to step forward, I can guarantee at least thirty percent will support you. Many of the rest will take a wait and see attitude."
Kei was Uchiha by blood.
Over the years, as a genius of the clan, even though he had deliberately downplayed his Uchiha identity, he still held great prestige within the Uchiha.
From any perspective, he was an astonishing genius.
Kagami was proof of that.
Compared to Kei, who came from an ordinary background, Kagami's family was not ordinary within the Uchiha.
Though not part of the clan head's branch, they had produced many elders and carried great influence.
Otherwise, Tobirama would never have chosen Kagami as his student.
With Kagami's support, and Kei's own reputation, it would be enough to pull the majority of Uchiha shinobi toward Kei.
"That is enough."
Kei nodded. "In that case, let's do it."
He did not think thirty percent was small. On the contrary, he felt it was already quite high.
After all, to minimize his Uchiha identity, he had not done much inside the clan.
In that situation, achieving this level of support was already good.
"What about Senior Torifu?" he asked.
"He has not stated his position, but he also does not support Danzo."
Kagami spoke confidently. "As long as you step forward, Homura and I will go persuade him together. There will definitely be no problem."
Akimichi Torifu had also been part of Tobirama's guard unit, and he represented the three traditional clans, the Ino Shika Cho.
If Torifu supported Kei, then Kei would effectively gain the backing of the Ino Shika Cho.
And those three clans had always been Hiruzen's supporters.
"In that case…"
Kei's voice turned quiet and steady.
"Let's begin."
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 10–50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Soul Land, NBA, and more — all in one place.]