Konoha, Hokage Office.
As news of the peace talks between Konoha and Kumogakure spread, most of Konoha's ninja clans truly had no objections.
Naturally, no one objected to gaining benefits without having to lose lives.
Only the Uchiha Clan strongly opposed it.
Too many members of the Uchiha Clan had died in this war.
To the Uchiha Clan, the benefits offered by Kumogakure's peace talks were far too few.
Even if they sent troops to attack Iwagakure, Kumogakure's support would be extremely limited.
After all, Kumogakure itself was still locked in a tug-of-war with Iwagakure. How many supplies could it possibly spare for Konoha?
"This is nothing but Kumogakure's sugar-coated bullet! We cannot agree to Kumogakure's alliance agreement. This is clearly a conspiracy!"
Uchiha Fugaku loudly voiced his opinion in the Hokage Conference Room, and several ninja clans shared similar views.
Still, benefits were already on the table, and there was no reason not to take them. As for smashing Kumogakure's pot and breaking Kumogakure's bowls afterward, that was not impossible either.
But would the "great, glorious, and righteous" Third Hokage approve?
Well, probably not. After all, it would ruin his image.
So even if the ninja clans agreed with Uchiha Fugaku, they would not openly support him.
"Clan Head Fugaku, I know that your Uchiha Clan lost many ninja in this conflict, and even lost a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan. But considering Konoha's overall interests, I believe Kumogakure's alliance agreement is not beyond discussion."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and calmly stated the opinion previously offered by the Advisory Council.
"Sunagakure seems to have agreed to certain terms from Kumogakure and is now moving troops toward the border of the Land of Rain. If we do not agree to Kumogakure's terms, then once Iwagakure withdraws from the Kumogakure front, we will have to face Kumogakure directly.
"You should understand that no matter how wars are fought, clans will lose their people. Therefore, for Konoha's sake, I hope the Uchiha Clan can view this alliance agreement rationally. Afterward, Konoha will grant the Uchiha Clan greater war compensation."
Uchiha Fugaku was deeply displeased. Although the Uchiha Clan's reputation had improved because of Shisui's outstanding performance in this war, the fact that Shisui's Mangekyō had gone blind was already undeniable.
"Third Hokage, my Uchiha Clan has decided to nominate Lady Kushina for Hokage."
After calming down, Uchiha Fugaku made a proposal that instantly rendered the entire conference room silent enough to hear a pin drop.
"Impossible!" Shimura Danzō was the first to stand up in opposition.
He still wanted to take the position himself. How could he let Kushina become Hokage? What kind of nonsense was that?
"Why not? Lady Kushina has already earned the Name of the Nine-Tails Demoness. On the Kumogakure battlefield, whenever she appeared, Raikage A retreated. Several times when she led the main force on the march, the Kumogakure Ninja chose to fall back. That proves Lady Kushina's reputation is enough to frighten Kumogakure."
Uchiha Fugaku was simply muddying the waters now.
Kushina was currently tied rather closely to the Uchiha Clan. To completely turn this Jinchuriki into an asset of the Uchiha Clan, nominating Kushina for Hokage was undoubtedly the most efficient move.
As the clan of war heroes, the Uchiha Clan openly supporting Kushina's bid for Hokage could completely divide the ninja clans that supported the Third Hokage.
For example, they could win over the Hyuga Clan or keep the Ino-Shika-Cho Clan neutral. Both would be good news in their struggle against the Hokage faction.
The clan heads and elders present exchanged glances, all somewhat bewildered.
They had received no news of this whatsoever. Why had the Uchiha Clan suddenly pulled something like this?
The Third Hokage frowned deeply. He too sensed that something was wrong. He had originally believed that Kushina had no military achievements, and that Uchiha Shisui had been crippled, so no one could threaten his position as Hokage.
But Uchiha Fugaku's words made him begin to reconsider.
He had previously sent Kushina on so many S-rank missions, and that had indeed greatly increased her fame. Even without accomplishments, Kushina naturally qualified to compete for Hokage merely through her status as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Fourth Generation's widow.
It was only because Kushina did not care about fame that no one had proposed her as a candidate for Fifth Hokage.
Now that Uchiha Fugaku had raised the matter, he had effectively brought it into the open.
"Clan Head Fugaku, you should know that everyone in Konoha knows Kushina. She is the evil Nine-Tailed Demoness, yet you propose that Kushina run for Hokage?"
Utatane Koharu was extremely displeased. Kushina had no manners whatsoever. If she became Hokage, would old people like them not become mere decorations?
Just like Kumogakure's Advisory Council before, becoming a department truly meant for retirement?
"That's right, Lady Kushina's reputation is terrible, but isn't that precisely a weapon for intimidating other ninja villages?" Uchiha Fugaku then turned to Utatane Koharu. "Advisor Utatane, which tailed beast is righteous? Yagura, Mizukage, is also a Jinchuriki, so why can't Lady Kushina become the Kage of a village?"
Shimura Danzō was completely stunned. He had been extremely proactive in spreading stories about Kushina Uzumaki, but after hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, he realized that the more mud he threw at Kushina Uzumaki, the more he raised her fame.
"Clan Head Fugaku, you should know that Kushina Uzumaki has absolutely no recognition of the Will of Fire. If she does not even recognize the Will of Fire, how can she lead Konoha to greater prosperity?"
Mitokado Homura had no better solution and could only bring up his old friend Sarutobi Hiruzen's theory of the Will of Fire.
"Is that so? Then how does Advisor Mitokado know that Lady Kushina lacks the Will of Fire? On the Kumogakure battlefield, Lady Kushina never gave an order that sacrificed even a single ninja from her own village."
"Clan Head Fugaku, are you saying that we issued missions requiring the sacrifice of ninja from our own village?"
"Wasn't the Rearguard Mission exactly that? If Shisui of my clan had not driven back Kumogakure's A-B Combination by himself, would those rearguard ninja have had any chance of surviving?"
"How can there be no deaths in war? For victory in war, preserving the overall strength of the forces is the top priority!"
Mitokado Homura's expression was also extremely unpleasant.
"Hmph, wasn't that because the Hokage failed to properly arrange the frontline ninja from the beginning?"
After Uchiha Fugaku said that, the four members of the Hokage faction were all unhappy. Uchiha Fugaku had openly talked back to their entire Advisory Council.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, he also supported the Advisory Council's views.
It was just that Sarutobi Hiruzen had not expected the rumors he had spread back then to benefit Kushina Uzumaki as well.
Now, it felt like he had lifted a stone only to smash his own foot.
"Clan Head Fugaku, regarding Kumogakure's withdrawal, we have reason to suspect that Kumogakure retreated because it needed to deal with Iwagakure internally. This has little to do with Kushina Uzumaki."
After Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, the other advisors expressed their agreement, while the other ninja clans tacitly remained silent.
"Then what does the Third Hokage mean?"
"Kushina Uzumaki is not qualified to serve as Hokage. Therefore, Clan Head Fugaku's proposal to recognize Kushina as a Hokage candidate will be raised again during the later Hokage selection." After Sarutobi Hiruzen said this, no one present objected.
Uchiha Fugaku still wanted to press the matter. "But, Lord Hokage..."
"Enough, Clan Head Fugaku. I know what you wish to say, but these old bones of mine can still contribute to Konoha."
As soon as Sarutobi Hiruzen said that, Shimura Danzō immediately followed up, "Uchiha Fugaku! Are you trying to force the Hokage from his position?"
"Lord Hokage, Fugaku would not dare."
Before you continue