Shikaku was seen by Masashi as the most likely candidate to be chosen as the Hokage Advisor.
He possessed all the necessary qualifications.
He was a standard-bearer of the "Hokage faction." And he was close in age to Minato.
During Minato's time in the jonin team, Shikaku often provided strategic advice, earning Minato's full recognition of his abilities. As long as Shikaku garnered the most votes, Minato would not hesitate to appoint him as Hokage Advisor.
The Ino-Shika-Chō alliance had flourished during the Third Hokage's era and maintained harmonious relationships with all the ninja clans, laying a solid foundation for vote-gathering.
Take the Hyūga clan as an example—the largest in number.
The Hyūga's long-standing aspiration was to be a clan trusted by the Hokage. Shikaku, with his close ties to both the Third and Fourth Hokage, offered a sense of reliability and capability as an intermediary.
His main rival in the election would likely be a nominee from the Sarutobi clan, another group with strong vote-gathering ability.
However, he was sure to first eliminate any unpredictable factors, and the biggest uncertainty lay in the votes of the civilian jonin.
Unlike clan-affiliated jonin, civilian jonin voted purely based on their own opinions. Their votes were the most dispersed, yet they could also consolidate unexpectedly, becoming the "final straw" that tipped the scale.
For instance, if the Hokage endorsed a nominee, civilian ninjas—unsure of who else to vote for—might simply follow the Hokage's suggestion. In the absence of such endorsement, they might vote randomly.
Rather than letting these votes scatter, it would be better for the Fourth Hokage to nominate an Uchiha, effectively nullifying those votes. That would simplify matters into a game among the clans, a field in which Shikaku had a significant advantage.
Masashi believed that, to ensure the Uchiha clan did not leverage the Police Force's power to win over other clans, Shikaku would likely introduce additional candidates to restrict the Uchiha's voting influence.
Those adept at tactics often played dirty.
Though running for Hokage Advisor might not be Shikaku's personal ambition, in the world of ninja clans, personal will often had to yield to collective interests.
The Ino-Shika-Chō alliance, having grown robust under the Third Hokage's reign, had now reached a transformative stage, where quantitative growth was giving way to qualitative breakthroughs.
Not every member of the Nara clan feared "trouble."
After voicing his analysis, Masashi fell silent.
He glanced to his side, where Shisui wore a perplexed expression—he was utterly baffled.
The Fourth Hokage's ANBU was far less "informed" than it used to be. He likely had no insight into the Hokage Office's inner workings or the movements of its key players.
However, his mental state was much healthier than in the original timeline. At least he was no longer plagued by worries of irreconcilable conflict between the Uchiha clan and the Hokage.
For now, he was simply confused.
Seeing this, the other clan members began to show sympathy in their gazes toward him.
"Shisui, maybe you should leave the ANBU," someone suggested.
"Exactly. You don't even seem to know what's going on in the village."
"The ANBU doesn't suit you, Shisui. Come back to the Police Force. It's doing great now."
Hearing his clansmen's well-meaning advice, Shisui, though still confused, couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness.
He began to wonder if he was indeed... rather inadequate.
Unable to stand the sight, Masashi stepped in to help.
"Shisui's work is external. Such roles don't involve much interaction with the higher-ups."
"Ohhh—"
"As expected of Masashi, so knowledgeable!"
The clansmen's expressions shifted to ones of sudden understanding.
Shisui, on the other hand, hung his head dejectedly.
On the stage, Fugaku and the elders remained silent, their eyes watchful.
Gradually, the discussions among the clansmen quieted. Everyone was striving to provide as much information as possible, and a consensus was beginning to emerge.
"Fugaku-sama, please run for the election yourself!" someone finally spoke up.
Once the first voice was heard, others quickly joined in, the momentum building naturally.
"Let's pick a representative to speak—talking all at once isn't clear," Setsuna reminded from the stage.
"There's no need for that," Masashi interjected. "I believe most of us share the same opinion: we want the Fugaku-sama to run for Hokage Advisor."
"Even if it means failure?" Fugaku finally spoke, gazing at Masashi with sharp eyes that missed nothing.
By now, Masashi had become the de facto representative of the Uchiha clan in external affairs. This was evident from how the clansmen fell silent the moment he began speaking.
It wasn't merely due to his strength—Shisui was also strong but lacked Masashi's influence.
Ultimately, this trust stemmed from the role Masashi had played in improving the clan's situation. Unconsciously, the clan had placed their full faith in him.
"Even failure wouldn't be a bad outcome," Masashi replied, turning to face the clansmen. "The purpose of running is to make our voice heard. During the campaign, we'll have opportunities to connect with many people and build deeper relationships. Through this, we can more forcefully challenge the stereotypes others have of the Uchiha."
"Things might not go as smoothly as you hope, Masashi," Fugaku countered with a slight smile. "Your opponent is Shikaku."
"Regardless of Shikaku's intentions, there's one thing I'm certain of." Masashi smiled, the kind of smile that suggested he held the winning hand. "He has a flaw—a very significant one."
"And what flaw is that?"
"Strength," Masashi replied emphatically. "Hokage Advisor is still a position of 'Kage,' and it requires corresponding personal strength. That is Shikaku's fatal flaw. He doesn't have the raw power expected of a Kage-level individual."
"The Hokage Advisor rarely needs to engage in direct combat," Fugaku retorted with a grin. "Your argument might not hold. And Shikaku isn't weak."
"But you are stronger, Fugaku-sama," Masashi said, pointing to his eyes. "On this trip, I gained some insights. Your ocular power is on par with Shisui's—you also possess the Mangekyō Sharingan. When the gap in strength becomes evident, all of Shikaku's advantages will turn into liabilities."
Turning back to the assembly, Masashi declared loudly, "With two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan and the Police Force finally opening up, the Uchiha clan has everything to gain, even in failure. What do you all think?"
The hall fell silent.
Moments later, it erupted in fervent agreement.
All Uchiha clan members began to voice their approval in unison, each expressing the same sentiment despite varied wording: "Whoa! Fugaku-sama, you're this amazing?!"
The excited voices filled the room, some leaning forward on their cushions, others exchanging meaningful glances.
Even Shisui was stunned as he stared at the calm-faced Fugaku. So, he wasn't the only one with the Mangekyō Sharingan. No wonder, back then, Fugaku had asked him if he had awakened his.
Wait... why did he feel a bit thrilled by this revelation?
"Fugaku, is what Masashi said true?" Setsuna asked.
"Yes..." Fugaku nodded, his expression somewhat somber. "I obtained this power during the war."
"Then, here comes the next question." Setsuna suppressed his excitement and turned to Masashi. "Masashi, as an elder, I think I have some say in this matter... Only someone with a Mangekyō Sharingan can sense another Mangekyō Sharingan. So, do you also have one?"
All eyes in the room instantly locked onto Masashi. Some were filled with anticipation, others with excitement. A few of the younger members whispered among themselves.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Setsuna-sama. I don't." Masashi shrugged.
But Setsuna wasn't buying it.
"I think you do," the stubborn elder replied with a mischievous glint. "You might've awakened it without realizing. Let's have Shisui use a Mangekyō illusion on you. That should confirm it."
What nonsense!
Noticing that Shisui looked a bit eager to try, Masashi quickly clamped a hand on his shoulder, using brute strength to keep him seated.
"Setsuna-sama, you must be joking. The Mangekyō isn't something to mess around with."
"Trying doesn't hurt," Setsuna remembered certain brothers from the past. "Masashi, being overly cautious can make you miss opportunities. If there's a chance, you should be bold and go for it."
"I don't feel like it." Masashi said firmly. "Stick to steady development and avoid unnecessary risks—that's my ninja way."
"Ninja way, huh..." Setsuna looked somewhat wistful. "That sounds serious, but every time you tell us about your ninja way, it's different. Why not settle on one? Maybe set a small goal, like awakening a Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"Setsuna-sama, can we focus on the real issue here?"
"Alright..." Setsuna turned back to Fugaku. "What's your take on this?"
"Actually, I've been considering this for a while," Fugaku said, standing up from his tatami mat. The movement drew all eyes to him.
As he scanned the faces of his clansmen, he saw their expressions. Young and old, eager and cautious—they all waited for his words.
"Perhaps you all remember, back when we gathered here before, how powerless we felt about our circumstances. At that time, some of you wanted me to run for the position of Fourth Hokage. But as we all saw, even if I could get nominated, no one would vote for us."
The previously excited clansmen grew calm, recalling those days. Some of the older members shifted uncomfortably, the memory still fresh in their minds.
"Back then, I asked everyone to endure. I endured as well. Even after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, I didn't dare reveal it because I feared it would cause us to lose hope and patience with the village. After all, we know best what the power of the Mangekyō entails."
Everyone listened silently.
"When did things start to change? It was during the Nine-Tails' rampage. That was when the Uchiha became heroes. Oh, and before that, we held the Uchiha Ice and Snow Festival. Perhaps you didn't notice, but from that moment, the villagers' perception of the Uchiha began to shift."
As he spoke, the clansmen started thinking back. Whispered conversations broke out among small groups, recalling the gradual changes in how villagers greeted them, how children no longer ran away when they passed.
"This time, I will recommend myself to the Hokage to nominate our clan for the position of Hokage Advisor. As a gesture of sincerity, I won't hide the existence of my Mangekyō Sharingan from the Hokage's office. Additionally, I plan to further open up the Police Force—not just its organizational structure, but even the headquarters. "
"This time, it won't be limited to ninja clans but will also include civilian ninjas. I hope you can prepare yourselves for this."
He looked around the room, carefully observing the changes in their expressions.
Most of them didn't resist, though some were confused. A small number, however, were visibly excited.
"If we've decided to be part of this, we must be resolute!" Fugaku declared loudly. "Think about it! What do we want the villagers to feel during this campaign?"
"Fugaku-sama, what do we want them to feel?" someone asked.
"Not 'The Uchiha are running for Hokage Advisor,' but rather, 'The Uchiha are returning to the village.' That, I believe, should be our goal," Fugaku answered. "Some of you may leave the Police Force, but you will gain a broader space to grow. Don't you have confidence in this?"
"Of course we do, Fugaku-sama!"
"Exactly! Staying in the village all the time has been boring anyway!"
The room erupted with lively chatter.
In the Warring States Period, the Uchiha had always been known for their fighting spirit. When faced with challenges, this clan had an exceptional ability to adapt. The more tumultuous the situation, the stronger they became.
It was stagnation that made them lazy, weak, and prone to strange issues.
"Well said," Fugaku nodded approvingly. "But we must proceed step by step. The Police Force remains crucial to us. I won't easily give it up. Over time, I'll gradually reform its organization. You'll also need to get used to working alongside non-clan members."
"Don't worry, Fugaku-sama! We're ready!" someone in the crowd immediately responded.
By now, no one was uncertain. Everyone was motivated, energized by the prospect of change.
Some of the more imaginative individuals had already begun "dreaming about the future."
"Anything else you want to add?" Fugaku asked, turning to Masashi.
"Nothing, Fugaku-sama," Masashi replied.
He didn't care about the outcome of the campaign itself, only about how the Uchiha approached it. And it seemed Fugaku had been planning this for a long time.
He really was a master actor, deceiving the younger generation so convincingly.
"Alright. I have one suggestion for you," Fugaku said. "Spend more time mentoring Shisui. You two will need to support each other in the future."
"Understood, Fugaku-sama."
"Then, the matter we're voting on today is..." Fugaku paused for dramatic effect, meeting the expectant gazes of everyone. Then, in a clear voice, he declared, "From today, the Uchiha clan will fully commit to running for the position of Hokage Advisor. Those in favor, raise your hands."
Whoosh!
Every single person, including the elders behind Fugaku, raised their hands high.
"Voting is concluded. Unanimously approved!"
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60/150 reached for bonus chapter.
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