Fifth Hokage Competitor - Kushina

Konoha Village, Hokage Office.

As the news of Konoha's peace talks with Kumogakure spread, most of Konoha's ninja clans did not object.

Since they could gain benefits without casualties, naturally no one opposed it.

Only the Uchiha Clan strongly objected.

This was because too many members of the Uchiha Clan had died in this war.

For the Uchiha Clan, the benefits offered by Kumogakure in the peace talks were simply too little.

Even if they sent troops to attack Iwagakure, Kumogakure's support would be very limited.

After all, Kumogakure itself was still in a stalemate with Iwagakure, so how many resources could it spare for Konoha?

"This is simply Kumogakure's sugar-coated poison! We cannot agree to Kumogakure's alliance agreement, this is clearly a conspiracy!"

Uchiha Fugaku loudly expressed his opinion in the Hokage Conference Room, and some ninja clans had similar views.

However, with ready benefits available, it would be foolish not to take them. As for smashing Kumogakure's pot and breaking Kumogakure's bowl after taking them, that wasn't impossible either.

But would the "great and righteous" Third Hokage agree?

Hmm, he probably wouldn't agree, as it would ruin his image.

Therefore, even if the ninja clans agreed with Uchiha Fugaku, they would not publicly support him.

"Clan Head Fugaku, I know that your Uchiha Clan lost more ninja in this conflict and even lost a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, but considering the overall interests of Konoha, I think Kumogakure's alliance agreement is not entirely out of the question."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and calmly stated the opinion given by the Advisory Council earlier.

"Sunagakure has likely agreed to some of Kumogakure's agreements and is now deploying troops to the border of the Land of Rain. If we don't agree to Kumogakure's agreement, once Iwagakure withdraws from the Kumogakure battlefield, we will face Kumogakure directly.

You should understand that no matter how a war is fought, people will die. So, for the sake of Konoha, I hope the Uchiha can view this alliance agreement reasonably. Afterwards, Konoha will provide the Uchiha Clan with more war compensation."

Uchiha Fugaku was very unhappy. Although the Uchiha's reputation had improved due to Shisui's prominence in this war, it was also a fact that Shisui's Mangekyo had gone blind.

"Third Hokage, my Uchiha Clan has decided to nominate Lady Kushina as Hokage."

At this moment, after Uchiha Fugaku calmed down, he proposed a suggestion that made the entire conference room so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Impossible!" Danzo Shimura was the first to stand up and object.

He still wanted to rise to power, so how could he let Kushina become Hokage? Wasn't that ridiculous?

"Why not? Lady Kushina has already earned the name Nine-Tailed Demoness. On the Kumogakure battlefield, as soon as she appeared, Raikage A retreated. Several times when she led large troops, the Kumogakure Ninja chose to retreat, which shows that Lady Kushina's reputation is enough to deter Kumogakure."

Uchiha Fugaku was now stirring up trouble.

Kushina was currently closely tied to the Uchiha Clan. To completely turn this Jinchuriki, Kushina, into a force for the Uchiha Clan, nominating Kushina as Hokage was undoubtedly the most time-saving and effortless measure.

Now, with the family of a war hero, the Uchiha Clan, openly supporting Kushina's bid for Hokage, they could completely divide the ninja clans who supported the Third Hokage.

For example, winning over the Hyuga Clan, or making the Ino-Shika-Cho family remain neutral, these were all good news for resisting the Hokage faction.

The clan heads and elders present looked at each other, all somewhat bewildered.

They had not received any information about this; how could the Uchiha Clan suddenly make such a move?

The Third Hokage frowned tightly, also sensing something was wrong. He had originally thought that since Kushina had no war achievements and Uchiha Shisui was incapacitated, no one would threaten his position as Hokage.

But now, Uchiha Fugaku's words made him start to reflect.

The many S-rank missions he had assigned to Kushina had indeed greatly increased her fame. Even if Kushina had no achievements, her identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Fourth Hokage's widow naturally gave her the qualification to compete for Hokage.

It was just that because Kushina didn't care about fame, no one would suggest Kushina compete for Fifth Hokage.

Now that Uchiha Fugaku had brought it up, it was equivalent to bringing the matter into the open.

"Clan Head Fugaku, you should know that Kushina is well-known in Konoha as the evil Nine-Tailed Demoness. You are actually suggesting that Kushina run for Hokage?"

Koharu Utatane was very unhappy. With Kushina's appearance and lack of manners, if she became Hokage, wouldn't these old folks become mere decorations?

Just like the Kumogakure Advisory Council before, becoming a true retirement department?

"That's right, Lady Kushina's reputation is very bad, but! Isn't this also a sharp weapon to intimidate other ninja villages?" Uchiha Fugaku then turned to look at Koharu Utatane, "Advisor Koharu, which Tailed Beast is righteous? Yagura, Mizukage is also a Jinchuriki, why can't Lady Kushina also be the Kage of a village?"

Danzo Shimura was completely stunned. He had been very actively promoting the deeds of Kushina Uzumaki. Now, after hearing Uchiha Fugaku, he realized that the more he slandered Kushina Uzumaki, the more he increased Kushina Uzumaki's fame.

"Clan Head Fugaku, you should know that Kushina Uzumaki has no recognition of the Will of Fire at all. If she doesn't even recognize the Will of Fire, how can she lead Konoha to greater prosperity?"

Homura Mitokado also had no good solution and could only bring up his old friend Sarutobi Hiruzen's Will of Fire theory.

"Is that so? Then how does Advisor Homura know that Lady Kushina doesn't have the Will of Fire? On the Kumogakure battlefield, Lady Kushina did not issue any orders to sacrifice any fellow villagers."

"Clan Head Fugaku, are you implying that we have issued missions that sacrifice fellow villagers?"

"Aren't the Rearguard Missions? If it weren't for Shisui of my clan single-handedly repelling the Kumogakure A-B Combination, how would those rearguard ninja have survived?"

"In war, how can there be no deaths? For the victory of the war, preserving the overall strength of the troops is the top priority!"

Homura Mitokado's face also looked very bad.

"Hmph, wasn't that caused by the Hokage not arranging the front-line ninja properly in the first place?"

After Uchiha Fugaku finished speaking, the four people from the Hokage faction were all unhappy. Uchiha Fugaku had contradicted all of their Advisory Council.

As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, he also agreed with the Advisory Council's opinion.

It was just that Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't expected that when the rumors were spread, they would also be beneficial to Kushina Uzumaki.

Now, it felt like he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

"Clan Head Fugaku, regarding Kumogakure's retreat, we have reason to suspect that it was due to internal reasons within Kumogakure Village needing to deal with Iwagakure, and it has little to do with Kushina Uzumaki."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, the other advisors also expressed their agreement, while the other ninja clans tacitly remained silent.

"Then, Third Hokage, what is your opinion?"

"Kushina Uzumaki is not sufficient to serve as Hokage, so Clan Head Fugaku's suggestion will be brought up again during the subsequent Hokage selection process regarding Kushina's candidacy for Hokage." After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, no one present objected.

Uchiha Fugaku still wanted to try to argue, "But Hokage..."

"Alright, Clan Head Fugaku, I know what you want to say, but this old man can still contribute to Konoha."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, Danzo Shimura on the side immediately chimed in, "Uchiha Fugaku! Are you trying to force the Hokage's hand?"

"Hokage, Fugaku wouldn't dare."