As the leader of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku didn't have many personal hobbies.
First and foremost, he wasn't particularly interested in power. What he cared about was gaining honor. His decision to take on the role of clan leader was purely driven by personal interest.
After all, the position represented not power but prestige.
Even if the Uchiha clan leader wanted to build an extra bathroom in the compound, he'd have to convene a clan meeting for a vote.
Moreover, the leader bore the primary responsibility. If there was anything wrong with the new bathroom, he'd be the one to take the blame.
When Fugaku originally ran for clan leader, it was purely because he wanted to do something for the family while basking in the admiration of his clan members. At that time, the clan was in a bad spot, and the previous leader's decisions had left him speechless.
But after taking on the role, he realized that being the Uchiha clan leader was a thankless job.
He regretted it long ago.
Unfortunately, the sly younger members of the clan had a knack for blocking his escape. Every time he hinted at stepping down, a large crowd would jump out and proclaim, "The Uchiha cannot do without Fugaku-sama as our leader!"
And they say it with such earnest faces too. What a bunch of brats!
But they weren't the worst. The worst was the one who directly stripped him of his greatest joy in life.
If my handwriting is ugly, just tell me directly! Why did you have to gossip about it publicly?
And why are you so afraid of me picking up the calligraphy brush again? You've barely been back a few days, and now everyone in the streets of Konoha knows: The Uchiha clan leader is untalented but loves to play!
Today, Fugaku felt the time was right. That troublemaker had been diligently training and attending classes for jonin candidates for several days now—quite consistently, too. After careful observation, Fugaku was certain that the troublemaker wouldn't suddenly barge into his house.
Even Mikoto was out, taking Sasuke to meet with her friends. No witnesses, no interruptions.
He decided to secretly write something. His hands had been itching for ages.
The only uncertain variable left was his eldest son, who had decided to give himself an unauthorized day off.
Sorry, Itachi, but some sacrifices must be made for art. "Itachi, your training schedule has been lacking lately. I expect better from my heir."
After sending a bewildered Itachi out of the house with a stern lecture, he walked briskly into his study.
Once inside, Fugaku looked tenderly at the slightly dusty desk. He fetched a basin of water and gave it a good cleaning, watching the wood grain emerge under his careful attention.
Then, he retrieved his treasured writing tools.
Unable to hold back, he sighed deeply.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting for so long!"
Setting up his brush, inkstone, paper, and inkstick, Fugaku felt as though even his Sharingan was stirring with excitement. The familiar scent of ink brought back memories of peaceful afternoons spent in quiet creation.
He slowly reached for the brush, taking a deep breath of the air around him.
Ah, the rich smell of ink!
Yes! This is the scent!
"Eh? Fugaku-sama, practicing calligraphy today?"
The hand that was just about to write froze.
A drop of ink fell onto the paper, spreading rapidly across the surface, forming an unsightly blotch.
He silently stared at the growing stain.
Indeed, one could gaze into the abyss, but the human heart remained unfathomable.
"What are you doing here? Why didn't you knock?"
"I did knock, Fugaku-sama. No one answered, but I sensed your chakra here," Masashi said, his eyes filled with confusion as he stared at the motionless clan leader. "What's wrong? Why don't you write? The ink's already dripping onto the paper…"
"Write what?" Fugaku calmly set the brush down. "I don't practice calligraphy anymore. I was just checking if the paper is still usable—it would be a waste otherwise."
Seeing Masashi's expression of "Oh, so that's the trick," Fugaku suddenly felt an overwhelming itch in his hand. Keep calm. Must maintain dignity.
Using Susanoo inside the house—is that overkill? Maybe I should hold back. Rebuilding the house would require a clan meeting again for construction approval.
"Why are you here all of a sudden? Is there something you need?" Fugaku asked, his tone carefully controlled.
He was an elder; he needed to maintain composure. Even if certain youngsters tested that composure daily.
"Oh, it's like this," Masashi began, only for Fugaku to cut him off with a gesture to take the conversation outside.
He had no choice but to follow the clan leader out of the study.
"Masashi, let me ask you something."
"Of course, Fugaku-sama."
"After your return, there have been some unpleasant rumors spreading in the village again. Do you know anything about this?"
"Huh? What kind of rumors?"
"Things about the Uchiha clan leader. Personally, I don't mind, but sudden rumors like these are damaging to the clan's reputation…" And my personal dignity.
Oh dear, the rumors have spread to the village already? Sigh... Konoha residents really are gossip enthusiasts... Masashi was moved. He was just about to offer some comforting words when he noticed Fugaku staring at him with a meaningful expression.
Wait a second! He's suspecting me?
"Fugaku-sama, you know me!" Masashi exclaimed indignantly. "I despise rumors the most. I'll thoroughly investigate this, and when I find the culprit, I'll leave their punishment to you!"
"Forget it…" Fugaku sighed, retracting his gaze. "People will always talk. Why bother getting angry?" Though a small Susanoo punch might be therapeutic.
In truth, he was furious. Not about the rumors, but because…
This brat has grown so shameless—why wouldn't he run for clan leader?
Does he think I'm unwilling to step aside for the younger generation!?
Don't you realize how much the younger members of the clan idolize you? Hurry up and tell me you want to be clan leader already!
"You're truly admirable, Fugaku-sama." Masashi gave a thumbs up. "You're the only leader I respect in our clan! Just say the word, and I'll take down whoever you point to!"
Take yourself down? That works too. Fugaku smirked inwardly.
"Spit it out already."
"Well, Fugaku-sama, I just heard about something…"
"Is it about the position of Hokage's advisor? I won't compete for it. Didn't you often say to wait for the right opportunity? I don't think the timing is right now—there's no hope of winning." Fugaku waved it off.
He genuinely wasn't interested.
In fact, he was quite content with the current state of things.
Minato's leadership as Hokage was increasingly to his liking. The Uchiha clan's reputation in Konoha was steadily improving, and relations with the Hokage's office were much more amicable.
Even the council now had members willing to speak up for the Uchiha.
The clan's contributions to the village had not gone unnoticed. This brought him great satisfaction.
"No, Fugaku-sama, you misunderstood," Masashi corrected him.
"Oh?" Fugaku was puzzled. This wasn't the kind of response he expected from Masashi, who had always been aiming for the Hokage advisor position.
"It's precisely because the chances are slim that we need to run for it."
"Ridiculous." Fugaku frowned. "Stay away from underhanded schemes." We've worked too hard for this peace.
"This is a great opportunity," Masashi persisted, ignoring Fugaku's subtle warning. "Earlier today, Shikaku told me that some people hope our clan won't participate."
"Shikaku…" Fugaku's demeanor grew serious. He couldn't ignore that name "Did he say that outright?"
"Yes, and he made sure to distance the Nara clan from it. I pretended to be very upset."
"I see. This matter will be discussed at the clan meeting," Fugaku decided. "If the clan requires it, I'll participate." And perhaps between meetings, I can still find time for calligraphy.
---
After leaving Fugaku's house, Masashi left in high spirits.
The ever-composed and stoic clan leader was finally ready to step forward and take action. Talks about a clan council vote?
For a group like the Uchiha, who hadn't had a seat in the decision-making process for decades, just showing restraint and not overreaching would already be a display of tact.
This position—Hokage Advisor—was another of Tobirama's creations.
With the explosive combination of the Senju and Uchiha at Konoha's inception, followed by the addition of other powerful ninja clans, the structure of the village was inherently complex. From the very beginning, Konoha had been composed of various factions with hidden tensions lurking underneath.
These tensions were only concealed by the sheer strength and authority of Hashirama and Madara.
As the de facto administrator of the village, Tobirama grew increasingly uneasy over time, feeling as though he was sitting atop a powder keg. He wasn't worried about his own generation but about the next.
Thus, the position of Hokage Advisor was born.
From its inception, the role of Hokage Advisor was designed as someone who would "assist the Hokage in exercising authority." This implicitly included the responsibility of ensuring that the village did not become a dictatorship under the Hokage's sole rule.
The Hokage and the Advisor, acting as primary and secondary leaders, were meant to jointly govern Konoha. The position was also created to prevent the various interest groups within the village from tearing themselves apart over the Hokage's seat, potentially causing the village to collapse from within.
Such conflicts were not uncommon among ninja.
To ensure that the Hokage Advisor had sufficient authority and standing to mediate dissatisfaction with the Hokage, the position was also subject to elections. The process mirrored that of electing the Hokage, with votes cast by the jonin corps and final approval by the daimyō.
Additionally, the Hokage could not directly dismiss the Advisor. Instead, they could only nominate a new candidate, prompting a re-election in which the incumbent Advisor could still participate.
Danzō, for example, only stepped down because Hiruzen, the leader of his faction, pressured him to do so.
The news of Fugaku running for Hokage Advisor spread through the Uchiha clan like wildfire that very same day.
The entire clan was in uproar. Many people couldn't believe it.
As a result, when a clan meeting was called that evening, not a single member was late. Everyone arrived early at the main hall, the usual Uchiha composure cracking under the weight of anticipation.
This clan meeting was extraordinarily formal, held in the largest hall in the compound, with attendees seated in strict order.
The clan head and the elders sat on the stage, following tradition.
The front row was reserved for the clan's jonin, followed by chunin and genin in descending order of rank.
Hundreds of Uchiha filled the hall, with many standing due to a lack of seating. Even those without Sharingan—those not actively serving as ninja—attended or waited anxiously for news at home.
These civilians were just as aware of the Uchiha's precarious standing in Konoha and the recent changes within their clan.
The shift from a tense and lifeless environment to one filled with laughter and hope was something no one wanted to lose.
Yet beneath this positivity was anxiety: as long as the Uchiha clan had no representation in the Hokage's administration, their current stability could disappear in an instant.
This was why the Uchiha's obsession with the Hokage position persisted. The oppressive atmosphere that had once driven a wedge between the clan and the village was still fresh in everyone's memory.
Even the expansion of the Police Force was only accepted because most of the clan had come to embrace Masashi's philosophy: "You have to give something to gain something."
If Fugaku could successfully campaign and win the role of Hokage Advisor, it would finally give the clan the peace of mind they desperately needed.
They would no longer be the village's "outsiders."
Thunk... thunk...
The sound of footsteps echoed from the entrance.
Everyone—whether kneeling on the tatami or standing—turned their gaze toward the door.
Fugaku and the elders appeared in the doorway, their presence commanding immediate respect.
The kneeling attendees stood and parted to create a path.
As a senior jonin, Masashi sat in the front row. He rose with the others, watching as Fugaku and the elders walked through the crowd and ascended the stage.
The elders walked slowly, carefully observing the expressions of each clan member as they passed. Both sides maintained a solemn demeanor.
When Fugaku passed by Masashi and Shisui, he briefly smiled at them before stepping onto the stage and kneeling in his designated spot.
The last elder, Setsuna, paused to pat both Shisui and Masashi on the shoulder, saying, "Well done," before taking his seat.
With the elders settled, the rest of the attendees followed suit, sitting down one by one.
"Let's begin," Fugaku announced, his gaze sweeping over the hall filled with passionate eyes. He nodded slightly. "As you all know, we are here to discuss whether our clan should participate in the election for Hokage Advisor, and, if so, who our candidate should be. That is the sole agenda for today."
"Speak freely," Setsuna added. "This matter is of immense importance to the clan. Let's put aside rank distinctions for now."
As soon as he finished speaking, discussions erupted across the hall.
"Shisui," a chunin called out from two rows back. "You're close to the Fourth, right? What's his stance on all this?"
Before Shisui could answer, another voice cut in. "The Fourth's not the only one who can nominate. What about the Advisory Elders?"
"The elders?" A bitter laugh came from somewhere in the crowd. "I heard they can't even agree on lunch orders these days. Last week, their argument about mission assignments was so loud, the ANBU thought someone was being attacked."
"Then the Hokage Advisor is our best shot," someone else added. "Has anyone spoken with—"
"Masashi." A firm voice cut through the chatter. It was Inoka. His eyes were fixed on Masashi with an intensity that drew others' attention. "You're in and out of the Hokage's office more than most of us. What's the real situation with the jonin corps?"
Here we go. Masashi met Inoka's gaze. "You want the honest truth?"
"No, I want you to lie to make us feel better," Inoka said dryly. Several others chuckled, the tension easing slightly.
"The Sarutobi clan's already positioning themselves against us," Masashi began. "They've been—"
"Of course they are," Yatsushiro interrupted from Masashi's left. "They've always—"
"Let him finish," Tetsuka snapped. "Some of us actually want to hear the analysis."
Masashi continued, "The Sarutobi have the Ino-Shika-Chō alliance backing them. Usually."
"Then we're doomed to lose!" an outraged jonin interrupted, his Sharingan briefly flashing to life. "This kind of backroom deal is despicable!"
"Let me finish," Masashi sighed. "I said they usually side with the Sarutobi, but not always."
"What does that mean?" Inoka asked.
"It means," a new voice joined in—it was Yaku, "that the alliance isn't as solid as everyone thinks. Right, Masashi?"
Sharp as ever, Yaku. Masashi nodded. "Earlier today, Shikaku suggested our clan should abstain from running."
"What?" Several voices exclaimed at once. Sharingan flared across the room in flashes of red.
"Shikaku? He's the jonin commander!" someone exclaimed, visibly shocked. "Does that mean we still have no allies in the corps?"
"That snake," another one hissed. "First they shut us out, now they want us to—"
"Think," Masashi cut in sharply. "Why would the jonin commander, who could easily pressure us through official channels, make a mere suggestion?"
"If Shikaku truly didn't want us to run, he would have approached the Akimichi clan to persuade Fugaku-sama directly"
A moment of silence fell as people considered this. Yaku's eyes widened slightly. "He wants the Fourth to nominate Fugaku-sama."
"Exactly." Masashi watched understanding dawn on some faces. "If the Fourth nominates us..."
"The civilian jonin bloc," Inoka breathed. "They'd support the Fourth's choice."
"And if the Fourth doesn't nominate us?" Another voice joined in, tension evident in their tone.
"He will. Fugaku-sama is the only plausible candidate among the clans for the Fourth Hokage to nominate," Masashi said confidently.
"And who will Shikaku vote for?" Tetsuka asked, scratching his head.
"Isn't it obvious?" Masashi said. "You're forgetting that the Third Hokage can also make nominations. He'll never nominate someone from the Sarutobi clan. His pick will be Shikaku himself."
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It's going to be a bit more political, but I did warn you about that at the beginning.
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42/150 reached for bonus chapter.
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