There were many ninja clans of all sizes in Konoha, but only a few could truly dance on Konoha's grand stage.
The three great bloodline clans, the Uchiha, the Senju, and the Hyuga, were naturally the heaviest contenders, standing like three mountains overlooking all of Konoha.
Then there were the secret technique clans, some of whom banded together to resist those three mountains pressing down on the rest of the ninja clans. The Ino-Shika-Cho clans, for example, had forged an alliance that had lasted for generations, supporting one another.
Then there were the Inuzuka and the Aburame. Their relationship was fairly close too. One liked raising dogs, the other liked raising bugs. No one really knew how those two groups had ended up getting along in the first place.
Now, the center-stage lead dancer had died.
Tobirama was gone.
And the Uchiha, who had always been dancing on the sidelines, now had a chance to take the lead.
A very real chance.
Takuya decided he could not wait any longer.
He wanted to rise too.
He wanted to dance too.
So early in the morning, while there were still few people around, he came to meet Haru.
"What a remarkable young hero. At such a young age, you're already carrying the burden of an entire clan on your shoulders."
Takuya opened with a round of flattery.
No matter what happened, praising someone was rarely the wrong move.
Haru could not quite figure out what Takuya was after, so he simply chatted with him in a casual, back-and-forth way.
No matter what, this old man definitely had something up his sleeve.
They kept talking like that for a long while. By then, several cups of tea had already been emptied. Takuya was starting to feel the urge to pee. After all, he was getting old, and his prostate was not what it used to be.
Why still not getting to the point?
Was Haru really this good at holding out?
Didn't he want to become Hokage?
I already came here in person. That was enough respect shown to the Uchiha. It was about time they started discussing the Hokage issue, wasn't it?
Haru noticed that Takuya's body was shifting slightly from side to side and his calves were rubbing together now and then.
It was obvious he was getting restless.
Haru, on the other hand, was young and in his prime.
His prostate was at its peak!
So he smiled lightly.
"Another cup?"
"No, no."
Takuya shook his head repeatedly.
He had not come here today to drink tea.
"Haru, little brother, I'm a few years older than you, so let me call you that. It sounds more friendly."
"There are some things that should be said now. Tobirama-sama is already dead, and Konoha is leaderless. What Konoha needs most right now is someone capable, responsible, and strong enough to stabilize the situation."
Takuya spoke with deep sincerity, looking as if he were ready to throw himself into fire and water for Konoha. By the time he finished, he even raised his brows at Haru, signaling for him to pick up the thread.
Takuya had thought things through very clearly.
The Hyuga were one of Konoha's three great ninja clans, yes, but when it came to top-tier fighting power, they were still lacking. Reaching the Hokage seat themselves was probably impossible, but that did not mean they could not take a step forward and secure more benefits for the clan.
Everyone was poor right now.
The clan's days were not easy.
Once the cannons fired, gold flowed like water. After fighting for so long, Konoha had borrowed huge sums from the clans. Once the war reparations and the funds allocated by the Land of Fire arrived, the spoils would have to be divided.
If one side took one more bite, that meant the other side got one less.
There were plenty of people at home waiting to get paid.
Any promises Tobirama had made before were practically worthless now. They needed to sound out the next Hokage first.
As for the Senju, Takuya had already ruled them out.
Why go and offer a warm face to a cold shoulder?
In terms of raw strength, Haru was clearly stronger.
And politically, while the Uchiha were still weaker because Tobirama had suppressed them for so many years, that only made the timing better.
Better to send charcoal in winter than flowers in spring.
This was the perfect time to invest.
If the two clans joined hands, they could definitely seize the Hokage seat.
Haru took a sip of tea and looked at Takuya with a strange expression.
"Takuya-san, don't you know? Before the Second Hokage died, he'd already chosen a successor. It's Hiruzen."
What the hell?
Hiruzen?
To be honest, Takuya had never taken Hiruzen seriously in the first place.
What kind of nobody was he?
Did he really think that just because he'd climbed onto Tobirama's leg, he could fly up and become a phoenix?
When Tobirama was alive, they might have given Hiruzen a little face.
But now Tobirama was dead.
Sorry, who are you again?
I am the noble head of a bloodline clan.
Do not try to compare yourself to me.
"Haru, little brother, don't joke around."
"Everyone knows that group abandoned the Hokage and ran back alone. Who even knows whether the story they brought back is true?"
Takuya let out a cold laugh, clearly not taking Hiruzen seriously at all.
"Haru, little brother, do you want to move up in the world?"
At last, Takuya laid his cards on the table and made his intentions clear.
"When it comes to moving up, let's not say it absolutely can't be done. But also, there isn't anything we can say will definitely happen one way or another."
"That doesn't mean I don't want it. It just means these things depend on people. There are ways to do it. There are methods."
"..."
Haru spoke without taking a clear stance.
Now he finally understood.
Takuya had come to place a bet.
He had been standing with the Senju side before, but now he wanted to change houses.
He had probably been waiting for Haru to speak first, hoping to take control of the conversation.
Which meant Haru definitely had to keep stringing him along a bit.
Good, good, good!!!
Takuya was stunned with admiration.
A person could talk like this?
Haru, you were born to eat politics for breakfast.
This trip had absolutely been worth it.
"Konoha's Hokage. The Senju have already produced two of them. I think it's about time the Uchiha had their turn."
"You!"
"Haru is Konoha's Hokage of peace!"
"The Hokage who will bring peace to Konoha!"
Takuya decided to stop circling around and spoke directly.
Now this was more like it.
These political types all had filthy hearts. They always circled and circled instead of just being direct.
"You really think that?"
"Of course. Every word your big brother says comes from the heart."
Takuya's face was full of sincerity.
An Uchiha with the Mangekyo Sharingan, plus the power of the Hyuga Clan.
He genuinely could not see how they could lose.
"Then... shall we call this a pleasant cooperation?"
At last, Haru smiled and extended his hand, intending to form an alliance with the Hyuga Clan.
Takuya had already come to his door personally. There was no reason for Haru to push the Hyuga away.
Taking the seat of Hokage was only the first step of a long march.
The truly difficult part would come later.
Sooner or later, he would have to cooperate with the Hyuga anyway.
"A pleasant cooperation."
Takuya clasped Haru's hand and agreed happily.
The goal of today's visit had finally been settled.
What remained was the final round of pleasantries.
The two shamelessly began flattering each other like businessmen making a deal.
"The greatest future Third Hokage!"
"The only choice capable of leading Konoha into prosperity!"
"The most farsighted Hyuga Clan Head!"
"...."
After all, bragging cost nothing.
Just praise each other. You praise me, I praise you, and before long the reputation builds itself.
In another world, the man once known as the strongest Hokage, Hiruzen, silently gave a thumbs-up.
In the end, Takuya left Haru's house in great satisfaction. Before going, he even invited Haru to visit the Hyuga Clan sometime.
After Takuya left, Haru headed toward the Uchiha Military Police.
Today was his first day going to work as clan head.
He absolutely could not be late.
And one more thing.
He had been promoted.
His new position was Director of the Uchiha Military Police.
(End of Chapter)
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