As the distant sound of firecrackers echoed through the air and the cheers of the crowd reverberated across the village, 'Madara' stood at the edge of a cliff outside Konoha Village, wearing his distinctive red and black mask. Beside him stood Hyuga Aoki, who had recently defected from Konoha. However, Aoki's calm and unsupported standing posture indicated that he was not the real Aoki, but rather a puppet that closely resembled his original body.
Despite Shinichi's disruptive actions, Aoki managed to form an alliance with the Akatsuki Organization. In exchange for providing information about Yama, the Amatsukami Organization, and the Ōtsutsuki Clan, he received a powerful puppet as a valuable asset.
With his Byakugan activated, Aoki observed the scene from a distance, and a smile played on his lips. "It appears that the Godaime Hokage has been elected," he remarked.
The Byakugan embedded in the puppet's eye sockets did not belong to Aoki himself. It had been taken from the Hyuga Elder whom Aoki had assassinated a few years ago during his ill-fated attempt to access the forbidden section of the Hyuga Clan's domain. However, due to the considerable distance, even with the high purity of the Byakugan, Aoki was unable to discern the exact situation atop the Hokage building. He could only surmise from the jubilant cheers and celebratory noise that the Godaime Hokage of Konoha had been officially announced.
As the two figures silently observed the village below, the air hung heavy as the two former Konoha ninjas stared at the distant village where a new chapter of history was unfolding.
'Madara' turned his gaze towards Aoki. "Who do you believe has the highest likelihood of being elected?" he inquired curiously.
Aoki didn't even ponder for a moment and responded confidently, "It must be the Patriarch of the Uchiha Clan." He paused, a subtle chuckle escaping his lips. "There is no chance for a member of the branch family, bound by the Cursed Seal and fated to live as mere servants, to ascend to the position of Hokage. A bird in the cage would never be allowed to soar the skies, it would always be chained within the cage."
While Aoki's tone held a hint of amusement, his eyes conveyed his utmost seriousness. Having been part of the Hyuga branch family himself, he understood the political standing of branch members within the Hyuga Clan and the village as a whole. To put it bluntly, they were deemed inferior, sometimes even beneath the status of civilian ninjas. With this knowledge, Aoki was convinced that a branch member could never emerge victorious over the formidable Uchiha Clan Patriarch and secure leadership through the Vote of Confidence.
'Madara' nodded, contemplating Aoki's words. Recollections of his time in the ninja school resurfaced, reminding him that Hyuga Kuroto, even back then, had shown little promise in terms of surpassing him. He acknowledged the unlikelihood of Kuroto's victory, as he was unwilling to accept the idea that someone he had easily bested in the past could rise to the position of Hokage.
While 'Madara' personally held a disdainful view of the significance of the Hokage title, he still found it preposterous to imagine someone like Hyuga Kuroto assuming such a prestigious role. The notion simply defied all reason in his eyes.
'Haah… Hyuga Kuroto can never become Hokage…' 'Madara' thought, scoffing at the idea.
As the two ninjas stood atop the cliff, certain of their thoughts, Zetsu emerged from the ground. With half of his body peering out, he delivered the news. "The Godaime Hokage of Konoha has been chosen!"
"Hmm... well, let's go. There's nothing more to see here." 'Madara' nodded, ready to depart.
Aoki concurred, his body levitating into the air.
Observing the apparent lack of curiosity from 'Madara' and Hyuga Aoki, Zetsu was momentarily taken aback and questioned, "Aren't the two of you interested to know who the Hokage is? Or is it that you already know who the Godaime Hokage of Konoha is?"
"What is there to know? Isn't it glaringly obvious?" 'Madara' retorted. "The Uchiha Clan strategically placed Shinichi within our organization and successfully retrieved him. Shinichi possessed extensive insider information of Akatsuki, which the village now has access to. This compelled us to abandon our previous hideouts and establish new ones. Furthermore, Uchiha Fugaku revealed that he, too, possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan. With the appearance of three Mangekyō Sharingan users in the Uchiha Clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen has no choice but to make compromises!"
His disdain for Hyuga Kuroto's potential ascension to the Hokage position was not solely based on personal contempt. 'Madara' took into account the Uchiha Clan's contributions and their current enigmatic strength, which shaped his assessment of the overall situation.
Zetsu responded to 'Madara's' reasoning by shrugging and chuckling. "The Uchiha Clan shares your sentiment, but unfortunately, you all are mistaken. The victor this time is Hyuga Kuroto of the Hyuga branch division, and he has been appointed as the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure by Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"???" 'Madara' was caught off guard by the revelation. Even if 'Madara' was wearing a mask and even if the Aoki before them was a mere puppet, Zetsu could still sense their shock and disbelief at this unexpected outcome.
Without even needing to inquire further about how such a turn of events came to pass, Aoki reacted with a fierce expression, shouting in disbelief, "No, this cannot be! It's absolutely IMPOSSIBLE! Hyuga Kuroto... cannot become Hokage... WHY DID HE BECOME HOKAGE? HOW DID HE BECOME HOKAGE? THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!??????"
The burden of the Caged Bird's cursed seal lay heavily upon the branch members, relegating them to the role of servitude under the main family's control. They were denied freedom and treated as mere instruments of service . No matter the talent or strength possessed by a member of the branch division, they were deemed disposable in the eyes of the main family. Their destiny seemed unalterable, trapped within the confines of their predetermined existence. This was the belief Aoki had developed over the years.
Driven by this belief, Aoki embarked on a quest for the Tenseigan, defecting from the village in a desperate bid to liberate himself. He saw no other means of escape. However, the unexpected turn of events saw Hyuga Kuroto, another member of the branch family, rise to the position of Godaime Hokage through the vote of confidence. Despite his branch family status, Kuroto was embraced by the masses as their leader. This reality shattered Aoki's deeply ingrained beliefs.
Kuroto's achievements seemed to suggest that with enough skill and hard work, one could break free from their predetermined fate. They could open the cage and soar freely. "No, he is nothing more than a loyal dog, obedient to the clan's orders. How could he be superior to me? Superior to Aoba? No, I will never accept it! I am the one who defied fate!" Aoki roared with anguish, the denial of something he had believed in so strongly causing him immense pain.
Inwardly, 'Madara' seethed with frustration as his breathing became heavier. 'That weakling managed to defeat Shisui, Kakashi, Fugaku, and rise to the position of Hokage? How is this even possible? Something must be amiss!' Though he kept his thoughts to himself, his clenched fists revealed his inner turmoil.
'Madara' could not come to terms with the fact that Hyuga Kuroto, of all people, had become the Hokage.
The clash between their deeply held beliefs and the reality before them left both Aoki and 'Madara' grappling with an intense sense of disbelief and resentment.
Observing the slightly tumultuous emotions of the two individuals even through their masks and puppets, Zetsu shrugged nonchalantly. "No matter how much you complain, it won't change the fact that Hyuga Kuroto is the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure. It would be wise for both of you to accept this reality quickly so that we can adapt our plans accordingly."
After a considerable amount of time, 'Madara' and Aoki managed to regain their composure and come to terms with the situation. 'Madara' spoke up unexpectedly, "His ascension to the Hokage position may not necessarily be a bad thing for us."
Aoki smirked in agreement. "Indeed, Sarutobi Hiruzen has made a foolish move!"
He refused to acknowledge that his and his brother Aoba's unfortunate destinies were simply due to their own inadequacies. Instead, he redirected his anger and placed the blame on Sarutobi Hiruzen's alleged stupidity. In his mind, there must be another reason why Hyuga Kuroto could become Hokage, and that reason was Sarutobi Hiruzen's folly. He believed that the world was at fault, not him.
Having accepted the reality of Kuroto's newfound status as Hokage, 'Madara' and Aoki realized that it presented them with a valuable opportunity to sow chaos within Konoha.
The defeat of Fugaku Uchiha had undoubtedly fuelled dissatisfaction within the Uchiha Clan, a clan boasting three wielders of the Mangekyou Sharingan. It wouldn't take much to ignite the Uchiha Clan's rebellion. By appointing Kuroto as Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already set the Uchiha Clan on edge. All they had to do now was wait, and it was highly likely that an Uchiha rebellion would erupt in the near future.
Once the Uchiha Clan, armed with three pairs of Mangekyou Sharingan, rose in rebellion, it would inevitably lead to a cataclysmic battle—one that could reverberate throughout Konoha. Whether the Uchiha Clan emerged victorious or the village prevailed, the impact on Konoha would be devastating. The Godaime Hokage chosen that day might very well be the last Hokage of Konoha Village.
The realization of this potential outcome fuelled 'Madara' and Aoki's determination to exploit the situation and inflict a severe blow upon Konoha.
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