At the other end of the shinobi world, Uchiha Madara also silently watched Uzumaki Mito's funeral.
Although Uzumaki Mito had a normal relationship with him, they had known each other since their youth.
Uchiha Madara felt inexplicably sad.
After Mito died, he no longer had a contemporary. From then on, he truly became a legend in books and stories, just like a symbol. No one would regard Uchiha Madara as a living person.
"Izuna, Hashirama, Mito, and the damn Senju Tobirama..."
Uchiha Madara whispered about the shinobi he was familiar with and shook his head. "Am I the only one left?"
An emotion called loneliness surrounded his heart.
Only when he saw Kazuki's figure did Uchiha Madara feel relieved...
He also has a new brother, and he will meet Kazuki to discuss how to save the entire shinobi world and bring permanent peace.
"Mito, you did cause some trouble at the last moment..."
Uchiha Madara chuckled. Uzumaki Mito's perception ability made White Zetsu TV unable to broadcast Kazuki's movements in real time, making him a little unhappy.
In the months before her death, Uzumaki Mito seemed to have an interest in Kazuki, and even taught Kazuki the Adamantine Sealing Chains by some unknown method.
Fortunately, everything continued as usual.
Under Madara's detailed observation, Kazuki remained the same, and the power in his eyes, so similar to Izuna's, increased at an astonishing speed, so much so that even Madara was astonished.
But in any case, this shows that Senju Tobirama's bastard can no longer compete with Izuna, which is a good situation.
Madara calmly watched this funeral, his thoughts flying.
The death of Uzumaki Mito made Uchiha Madara smell the stench of war.
As long as the war begins, with Kazuki's wisdom, he will quickly perceive the ugliness of this shinobi world...
...
"Mito-sama's last wish... she wanted to see one last time the village she loved so much..." Sarutobi Hiruzen said in a deep voice: "Tsunade, Uchiha Kazuki, Uzumaki Kushina, step out!"
Hearing their name, Kazuki, Tsunade, and Kushina slowly walked forward from the crowd.
Together with Hiruzen, they held the four corners of the coffin on their shoulders.
Koharu and Homura stood aside, organizing the attendees and the order of the event.
According to Sarutobi Hiruzen's arrangement, the remaining shinobi will hold white flowers in their hands and follow behind them, and finally Kazuki and he will personally send Uzumaki Mito to the grave.
Shimura Danzo looked at the scene blankly...
Why didn't he know anything about it?
He felt like any other Konoha ninja, without the access to information that a Hokage advisor should have, with no choice but to stay there, unable to intervene.
However, even he understood that in front of all the Konoha shinobi, even if he had doubts and anger, he had no choice but to swallow his frustration.
If he lost his composure at Uzumaki Mito's funeral, even he, the Darkness of the Shinobi, the leader of the Root, would be infamous.
Shimura Danzo stared at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and then locked his eyes on Kazuki.
The identities of the four people carrying Uzumaki Mito's coffin had deep meaning.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage was undisputed.
Tsunade, Mito's direct granddaughter, could be understood as a subtle statement about the village's leadership.
Furthermore, the recent news about Tsunade overcoming her hemophobia had been widely circulated in Konoha.
Kushina, as the last member of the Uzumaki clan in the village, also had the right to be there, and her role as Jinchuriki projected an image of calm and stability for Konoha.
But Kazuki's presence was truly enigmatic.
Although Kazuki joined Tsunade's team and officially entered the Hokage inheritance system, especially when he was still an Uchiha, it generated all kinds of interpretations.
The people carrying the coffin seemed like a hint from Hiruzen, designating Tsunade as the next generation Hokage and Kazuki as the potential successor chosen by the generation following Tsunade's.
As for Kushina, her role was more of a symbolic figure.
Behind them, under the organization of Koharu and Homura, the shinobi of Konoha were shocked by the choice of the coffin bearers, but they still followed in an orderly manner, maintaining the solemnity and dignity of the scene.
Only Shimura Danzo stood there stunned, until Kazuki began to advance, he understood everything! He, the Hokage's assistant, was isolated!
He was the only member of Konoha's upper management who had no knowledge of these arrangements. He couldn't even help organize the event like Homura and Koharu; he simply had to move forward silently, following the crowd.
In a ceremony like this, every detail had deep intention.
Many shinobi of Konoha had already noticed the anomaly in Danzo's behavior and recorded it in their memory as valuable information.
Shimura Danzo clenched his fists tightly, and was extremely angry at the moment, but he could only suppress it in his heart.
[From the target Shimura Danzo: You get the special talent - Konoha Root!]
[Konoha Root]: When fighting with Konoha shinobi, you will be more likely to see through their weaknesses.
Kazuki's hand holding the coffin did not move at all, but he was already laughing in his mind.
The special talent that Shimura Danzo revealed was the most bizarre Kazuki had ever seen. It was specifically targeted at his own people, which was in line with his domineering style in Konoha...
At this moment, the commotion was not exclusive to Danzo. Many shinobi present also exploded gold coins just like Danzo.
[A strong curiosity towards the host has been detected on the part of Hyuga Hizashi. The target has been linked!]
[A strong impression towards the host has been detected on the part of Aburame Shibi. The target has been linked!]
[Great confusion towards the host on the part of Kurama Murakumo has been detected. The target has been linked!]
[The curiosity of Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Inuzuka Hana has been detected…]
[…]
Practically all the renowned shinobi in Konoha directed their gazes towards Kazuki, ignoring even Hiruzen and Tsunade.
Kazuki, in his mind, silently thanked Uzumaki Mito.
Mito had given Kazuki one last big gift at the last moment…
No one understood why a ninja from the Uchiha clan like him was holding Mito's coffin and had quietly risen to such a high position in Konoha's hierarchy.
It is worth mentioning that the relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha is still very tense now. None of the Uchiha members of the Police Force are qualified to attend this funeral, even Uchiha Captain Fugaku...
What all Konoha shinobi don't know is that this is the result of the discussion between Kazuki and Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen proposed that some of the Uchiha could attend the funeral, but Kazuki smiled and declined.
Interestingly, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't ask Kazuki the reason, but just nodded, thinking in his mind that he is worthy of being the product of Tobirama-sensei's forbidden technique. Even though he is an Uchiha, he still continues to target Uchiha so much...
But Kazuki was not against the Uchiha clan; he understood that favors should be administered wisely, without revealing all one's cards at once.
He wanted all members of the Uchiha clan to fully understand that it was not the power of the clan that earned them recognition and respect among Konoha's higher-ups, but rather he himself, his ability, and his position.
[Uchiha Heart], this special talent allows Kazuki to obtain a considerable amount of rewards after a little planning. This justified the time and dedication Kazuki invested in them.
Slowly, Kazuki's group moved out of the plaza, leading Mito to take in Konoha one last time.
Around, several members of the Uchiha clan and ANBU were stunned.
Yashiro, Yakushi, Tetsuhi, and Komehi nearly screamed. Kazuki had told them not to be angry at the Uchiha clan's absence at such an important funeral, and had assured them that he would attend on behalf of the clan.
Although these Uchiha trusted Kazuki very much, they never thought that Kazuki would actually carry Uzumaki Mito's coffin, along with Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade and Kushina!
The meaning of this can represent too many things, so many that even the calmest and dullest members of the clan will have wild thoughts...
At that moment, the long-awaited position of Hokage seemed more attainable than ever for the Uchiha clan, almost within reach.
Especially, Kazuki is still so gentle to the Uchiha clan members. If he can become the clan leader...
Wouldn't that be much better than having Uchiha Fugaku who always frowns but can't do anything?
[From the special talent Uchiha Heart - the purity of your Uchiha bloodline has increased and your pupillary power has increased!]
Kazuki felt his power growing and laughed to himself.
Unlike Kazuki's support group led by Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Setsuna's expressions darkened visibly.
[Uchiha Fugaku has been detected to have a strong fear of the host, the target has been linked!]
Uchiha Fugaku stared at Kazuki's back, his heart was in turmoil.
In any case, he did not expect Kazuki to reach such a height and be recognized by such Konoha's high-level officials.
For a moment, Fugaku contemplated bowing down to him…
But Setsuna's words kept echoing in his mind.
Uchiha Fugaku became more and more gloomy, silently calculating the future in his mind.
It is extremely unwise to have a direct conflict with Kazuki, and he must not listen to Uchiha Setsuna's words, but he must try his best to delay it, so that he can hold the position of the Uchiha clan leader in his hands as much as possible until the day his son grows up.
As for whether he can do it, Uchiha Fugaku doesn't know, but he doesn't want to be like a coward and do nothing...
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---