Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't appear angry. Instead, he took a deep drag from his pipe, letting the smoke curl around him as he sank into deep thought.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his tone heavy.
"Alright, Koharu, Homura. I've made my decision. The rise of the Uchiha Clan is inevitable. Given the current state of the shinobi world, perhaps allowing them to take center stage is the best choice."
"…Hiruzen, you…" Homura Mitokado was stunned, unable to believe Hiruzen was adopting such a stance.
"Homura, as Koharu said, we need to face reality. The external threats facing the village can't be resolved by our strength alone. The Akatsuki's objective is to collect the Tailed Beasts. Sooner or later, we'll be drawn into a war with them," Hiruzen said with resignation.
"Moreover, we've lost the people's trust. Their hearts are fickle. Thanks to this war, Akira's reputation now far surpasses mine—even more so than Minato's back in the day." Hiruzen moved to the window, looking down at the bustling streets below.
"We can't stop his ascent. This is an open strategy," he said, his voice distant.
Homura opened his mouth slightly, but no words came out. Instead, he let out a long sigh of helplessness.
Finally, Homura accepted it, his voice filled with defeat.
"So be it. Let's see what direction Konoha takes under the leadership of the Uchiha Clan."
"Listen carefully," Hiruzen said, gesturing towards the streets. "The villagers are already rallying behind Uchiha Akira. They believe I should step down as Hokage…"
"And I must take responsibility for the incident," Hiruzen's voice grew firm. "The Cloud Village's surprise attack on our border forces led to near-total annihilation. As Hokage, that failure is mine to bear."
As a seasoned shinobi, Hiruzen's senses were sharp enough to catch fragments of conversation from the streets below.
"This war… the Third Hokage didn't achieve anything. He even held us back…"
"The Third is too old. After Minato sacrificed himself, he shouldn't have returned as Hokage. Cloud only dared to attack because they saw our leader as weak…"
"Konoha needs a younger, stronger Hokage. Uchiha Akira would be perfect—he's so powerful!"
"With Akira leading, Konoha will shine anew. No other village would dare provoke us…"
"And don't forget, the Third still needs to account for the border forces' annihilation…"
The voices carried on, and the three figures in the conference room fell silent.
This was an unstoppable tide.
"You see it, don't you? This is the will of the people," Hiruzen said quietly.
"Hiruzen…" Koharu sighed softly, her tone filled with regret.
"In time, I'll step down and resign as Hokage, passing the mantle to Akira. He will become the Fifth Hokage of Konoha!" Hiruzen's voice grew resolute as he spoke, despite the bitterness in his expression.
Though reluctant, he understood the reality. Fighting the tide would only end in ruin.
"Perhaps I'll be the first Kage in history to retire peacefully," Hiruzen said with a touch of self-mockery.
...
Elsewhere, at the Uchiha Clan's main estate:
In the clan leader's residence, Fugaku sat at the head of the table. Across from him was Mikoto, cradling Sasuke. Akira and Shisui were seated opposite each other, while Itachi sat beside Shisui.
The table was adorned with an array of exquisite dishes.
Fugaku sighed deeply. "Akira, we owe it all to you. Without your efforts, we'd be in grave danger."
He was still shaken after witnessing Uchiha Hikaru's Complete-Body Susanoo in action.
"Indeed, we're lucky to have you, Akira. Who could've anticipated something as terrifying as a Complete-Body Susanoo?" Shisui remarked with admiration.
Akira shook his head, his tone calm. "It's nothing worth mentioning."
"Speaking of which," Mikoto said with a soft smile, "it won't be long before you become Hokage, will it?"
"Hokage?" Shisui blinked in surprise, glancing at Akira. Even Sasuke, mature beyond his years, looked equally astonished.
He understood what being Hokage meant—the pinnacle of leadership in Konoha, the most prestigious position in the shinobi world.
"Of course," Fugaku said confidently. "This war was won thanks to Akira. Without him, Konoha would've been destroyed by Cloud, Stone, and the Akatsuki."
Turning to Sasuke, Fugaku added in a softer tone, "Sasuke, you must work harder in the future and learn from your brother."
Sasuke straightened up, nodding firmly. "I understand, Father. I'll strive to become a true strong shinobi."
"Don't be too hard on him," Akira interjected, shaking his head. "Too much pressure isn't good for a child."
"Do your best," Fugaku said with a small smile, glancing at Sasuke.
"Yes, Father," Sasuke replied, a rare smile gracing his face.
The moment passed, and the group shifted to more serious matters.
"Akira's reputation now surpasses even Minato's. The position of Hokage is inevitable," Fugaku said with a grin. "Hiruzen can't escape the fallout from the border forces' defeat. As Hokage, he must take responsibility."
Looking at Akira, Fugaku continued, "If he's smart, he'll step down voluntarily to save reputation."
Akira nodded calmly. "Given the current situation, I believe he'll understand and resign soon."
"I hope so. It would be best to avoid unnecessary conflict, as it could tarnish the prestige of the Hokage. That might complicate things for you later," Fugaku said.
Akira smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I have plenty of plans for when the time comes."
"Then we'll look forward to it," Mikoto said with a gentle laugh.
Turning his gaze to Sasuke, Akira asked, "Is there anything unusual? Any signs of the Nine-Tails' chakra leaking?"
Unlike Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke bore no whisker-like marks on his face. This suggested the Nine-Tails sealed within him was only a fragment.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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