Early spring, Konoha Year 53.
Konoha and Kumogakure signed an alliance agreement, and Kumogakure paid compensation to Konoha.
Upon receiving this news, Ōnoki decisively abandoned every strategic position within the Land of Lightning, and the army withdrew.
During this time, Kumogakure did not intercept the retreating Iwagakure forces. They began cleaning up the aftermath within the Land of Lightning.
Iwagakure's invasion had struck one-fifth of the Land of Lightning's territory, causing its economy to plummet by 20%. The Land of Lightning Daimyo's budget was also cut by 10%. At the same time, Kumogakure had to pay war reparations to Konoha and military compensation to Sunagakure.
The greatest beneficiary was undoubtedly Iwagakure. They had seized vast amounts of wealth and supplies within the Land of Lightning.
Yet after this war ended, Konoha did not remain peaceful for long.
The Uchiha Clan's public support for Kushina's candidacy for Hokage gave the Hokage faction a massive headache.
They wanted to nominate Jiraiya or Tsunade for Hokage as well, but the only problem was that neither of them would return to the village, and both refused to become the next Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was so angry that he even skipped a meal. He did not have a late-night snack.
At the same time, clans that truly intended to support Kushina as the next Hokage gradually began emerging within the village.
Some smaller clans that had not been doing particularly well in Konoha chose to support Kushina.
Kushina gradually began replacing Minato's former symbolic standing in Konoha.
Yet unlike Minato Namikaze, the sunny and cheerful representative of civilian ninja, Kushina Uzumaki was the renowned representative of a fallen ninja clan.
Many of Konoha's smaller clans indeed faced the risk of decline, and Kushina Uzumaki's emergence made their eyes light up.
She too came from a fallen ninja clan, yet Kushina Uzumaki had risen to prominence and possessed formidable strength. Though her reputation in Konoha was poor, it was poor in the other ninja villages too.
A notorious person was still better as an ally than as an enemy!
Kushina Uzumaki, who had come to the Uchiha Clan Residence, was deeply troubled.
More and more ninja had begun paying attention to Kushina.
Gradually, more people also began addressing her as Lady Kushina.
Adding "Lady" after someone's name was generally already a term of respect. In other words, after a war in which she had made no contributions whatsoever, Kushina had miraculously become Lady Kushina.
Anju had not expected matters to develop so quickly. He had never considered making Kushina vie for the position of Hokage.
But judging by the current situation, if he worked a little harder, he might really be able to push Kushina into the Hokage's seat.
The Third Hokage was too conservative. In this war, Konoha could have cooperated with Iwagakure and divided up a great many towns and riches in the Land of Lightning, stuffing itself full just like Iwagakure had.
Yet the Third Hokage had chosen to cooperate with Kumogakure instead, greatly diminishing Konoha's gains.
Of course, Anju also knew that the Third Hokage had most likely acted for his own interests.
He was old, and he did not have enough accomplishments to support his continued tenure. If the Uchiha Clan or Kushina increased their achievements, it would be extremely unfavorable to him.
So why not end this war, which had not been part of his plans, as quickly as possible while immediately obtaining the war dividends he deserved?
What troubled him most now was the lack of a successor. He ought to retire, yet there was no suitable person to replace him.
He now only hoped that Jiraiya would return and take over.
"Danzo, don't provoke the Uchiha Clan during this period. Stabilize Konoha first, then proceed gradually."
Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his smoking pipe and calmly looked at his old companion, Shimura Danzō.
"Hiruzen, the Uchiha Clan has produced a Shisui. What if another genius appears? We cannot be softhearted!"
"Danzo, the Uchiha Clan now stands with Kushina Uzumaki. Openly, they support Kushina, but in secret, they have already begun contacting other ninja clans.
"If we move against the Uchiha Clan at a time like this, we will completely sever our ties with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. We cannot afford to lose the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's recognition entirely."
"Hiruzen! Kushina Uzumaki has already drifted further and further away from us. She is too close to the Uchiha Clan. We have no choice but to be on guard!"
"Danzo, Naruto is still in Konoha."
After hearing the Third Hokage say that, Danzo said nothing more.
Naruto, this Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, was not merely a Jinchuriki. He also carried the role of restraining Kushina.
For example, when the Third Hokage had sent Kushina to the front lines earlier, he had directly used Naruto to threaten her.
Afterward, Sarutobi Hiruzen had even put on a conciliatory show. It truly disgusted Kushina, but it also forced her to consider Naruto and prevented her from acting recklessly.
How could anyone in Konoha completely disregard the authority of the Third Hokage?
That was also what made Kushina accept the Uchiha Clan's proposal to nominate her for Hokage.
Originally, Kushina had never considered becoming Hokage at all.
Uchiha Clan Residence.
Uchiha Fugaku's home.
Kushina Uzumaki once again sat facing Uchiha Fugaku.
This time, they were most likely discussing how to force the Third Hokage from office.
Ever since Kushina had accepted Uchiha Fugaku's proposal that she run for Hokage, they had discussed removing the Third Hokage several times.
But even now, Uchiha Fugaku had no good way to accomplish that goal.
Kushina needed prestige, which meant more high-level missions or war achievements. Yet Konoha was very peaceful now.
It simply gave Kushina no such opportunities.
Even high-level missions were no longer assigned to Kushina because of the rift between her and the Third Hokage.
A useful tool could not be allowed to bite back at its master. Now that Kushina was biting back at the Third Hokage, how could he dare hand high-level missions to her?
"Lady Kushina, Konoha has been far too peaceful lately. Even the disputes between the Military Police Force and civilians have become much fewer."
Uchiha Fugaku was extremely displeased. He had wanted to use the Uchiha Clan's accomplishments in the war to persuade ordinary civilians that the Uchiha Clan had shed blood for Konoha too.
But no civilians came to cause trouble for the Military Police Force at all.
At that moment, Anju spoke within Kushina's Sealing Space. "Kushina, persuade Fugaku to let the other ninja clans in Konoha send people to join the Konoha Military Police Force."
Kushina said with some difficulty, "Clan Head Fugaku, I have a proposal. I wonder whether you would approve of it?"
In Kushina's view, this proposal was unlikely to succeed. The Uchiha Clan had always controlled the Military Police Force, and asking them to give it up with a single sentence was rather wishful thinking.
"Lady Kushina, please speak."
"I hope the Uchiha Military Police Force will accept ninja from Konoha's other ninja clans."
"...!!!"
Uchiha Fugaku looked at Kushina Uzumaki with a stunned expression.
Kushina Uzumaki also looked at Uchiha Fugaku somewhat awkwardly. She felt that her proposal was too foolish. Why had Anju suggested something like this?
"Lady Kushina! You truly are a genius! Since Konoha is peaceful, then we'll make Konoha no longer peaceful!"
"But the Military Police Force?"
"What does the Military Police Force matter? So long as it can help you take power, the Uchiha Clan can give up the Military Police Force!"
One day later, all of Konoha was shaken, because the Uchiha Clan had decided to follow Kushina Uzumaki's proposal and add ninja from other ninja clans to the Konoha Military Police Force.
This greatly increased the other ninja clans' favorable impression of Kushina Uzumaki!
The Konoha Military Police Force! That was Konoha's civil service, an iron rice bowl. It had always been controlled by the Uchiha Clan, and other ninja clans had been unable to interfere. Now, Kushina Uzumaki had proposed that the Uchiha Clan give up this massive piece of the pie, and the Uchiha Clan had actually agreed.
This made Kushina Uzumaki's reputation in Konoha grow even louder.
Meanwhile, recruitment for the Konoha Military Police Force was proceeding in full swing.
Before you continue