If You Want to Bet on a Winner, at Least Show Some Sincerity

There were many ninja clans of all sizes in Konoha, but not many could truly dance to their heart's content on Konoha's grand stage.

The Uchiha Clan, Senju Faction, and Hyuga Clan—the Three Great Bloodline Families—were naturally the most heavyweight players. Like three towering mountains, they looked down upon all of Konoha.

There were also several Secret Jutsu Families that banded together to resist the three mountains weighing upon the many ninja clans. The three Ino-Shika-Cho families, for instance, had forged an alliance generations ago and helped one another.

The Inuzuka Clan and Aburame Clan also had a fairly close relationship. One liked raising dogs, while the other liked raising bugs. Who knew how they had gotten mixed up together in the first place?

Now that Tobirama Senju, the dancer at center stage, had died, the Uchiha Clan, which had always danced backup at the side, had a chance to become the lead—and a very good chance at that.

Hyuga Takuma decided he could wait no longer. He wanted to make progress too. He wanted to dance too.

Early in the morning, while there were still few people around, he met with Uchiha Nan.

"You truly are a young hero. At such a young age, you're already carrying the burden of an entire clan on your shoulders."

Hyuga Takuma opened with a round of flattery. Clothes could be worn through, but flattery never wore thin. Complimenting someone was never wrong.

"Not at all, not at all. It was only because the Tomita Clan Head thought so highly of me. He insisted on handing the position of clan head over to me, saying he'd kneel and refuse to get up if I disagreed. I had no choice."

Uchiha Nan could not figure out Hyuga Takuma's intentions, so he chatted with him in a half-hearted manner. That old bastard was definitely up to no good.

They idly chatted for quite a while and drank several cups of tea. Hyuga Takuma was starting to feel the urge to pee. After all, he was getting old, and his prostate was not what it used to be.

Why wasn't he saying anything yet?!

Was Uchiha Nan really that good at holding his nerve?

Didn't he want to become Hokage? I came here personally—wasn't that giving the Uchiha Clan enough face? It was time to discuss the Hokage position, wasn't it?

Uchiha Nan watched Hyuga Takuma sway from side to side, his calves rubbing together slightly. He clearly could not sit still any longer.

Uchiha Nan was still very young, and his prostate was at its peak!

So he smiled faintly.

"Another cup?"

"No, no."

Hyuga Takuma repeatedly shook his head. He had not come here today to drink tea.

"Brother Nan, I'm only a few years older than you, so let me call you that. It feels more intimate."

"It's time to say certain things. Now that Lord Tobirama is dead, Konoha is leaderless. What we need is a capable, responsible, and powerful person to stabilize the situation."

Hyuga Takuma spoke with deep sincerity, as though he were ready to brave fire and water for Konoha. When he finished, he even raised his brows at Uchiha Nan, signaling for him to pick up the thread.

Hyuga Takuma had thought it through clearly. Although the Hyuga Clan was one of Konoha's three great ninja clans, it still lacked top-tier combat power. Becoming Hokage was probably out of reach, but there was no reason they could not take another step forward and secure more benefits for the clan.

Everyone was poor now, and life within the clans was difficult.

Once the cannons fired, fortunes were made. After fighting for so long, Konoha had borrowed so much money from the clans. Once the war reparations and funds allocated by the Land of Fire arrived, it would be time to divide the spoils. If you took one more bite, I got one less.

Everyone at home was waiting for the money to be handed out!

The promises Tobirama Senju had made before were practically void now. They had to sound out the next Hokage first.

He did not even consider the Senju Faction. There was no point in pressing his warm face against a cold ass. In terms of strength, Uchiha Nan was stronger, though the Uchiha Clan was still weaker politically after being suppressed by Tobirama Senju for so many years.

Adding flowers to brocade could not compare to offering charcoal in the snow. Investing now was excellent timing!

With the two clans working together, they would surely secure the Hokage position!

"Tsk, Brother Takuma, didn't you know? The Second Hokage had already chosen his successor before he died. It's Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Uchiha Nan took a sip of tea and looked at Hyuga Takuma with a somewhat strange expression. He had spread that news long ago.

What the hell?

Hiruzen Sarutobi?

To be honest, Hyuga Takuma had never paid Hiruzen Sarutobi any attention. What backwater corner had that nobody crawled out of? Did he really think he could turn into a phoenix just because he had latched onto Tobirama Senju?

While Tobirama Senju was alive, he could still give Hiruzen Sarutobi a bit of face. But now Tobirama was dead.

Sorry, who the hell are you?

I'm the noble clan head of a bloodline family. Stop trying to cling to me!

"Brother Nan, don't joke around."

"Everyone knows those people abandoned the Hokage and ran back by themselves. Who knows whether the news they brought back is even true?"

Hyuga Takuma sneered, not taking Hiruzen Sarutobi seriously at all.

"Brother Nan, do you want to make progress?"

Hyuga Takuma finally laid his cards on the table and stated his purpose.

"As for making progress, we're not saying we won't do it. But there isn't a single matter where we can say for certain how things will go."

"It's not that we don't want to. As they say, man proposes, heaven disposes. We can do it. We can find a way."

Uchiha Nan spoke without stating his position. He finally understood: Hyuga Takuma had come to bet on him. He had always stood with the Senju Faction before, but now he wanted to switch sides.

At first, he had probably wanted Uchiha Nan to speak first so he could seize the initiative in the conversation. He needed to keep him hanging a little longer.

Excellent!!!

Hyuga Takuma was utterly amazed. So people could talk like this? Uchiha Nan, this kid was born to play politics!

Coming here had been the right choice!

"Konoha has already had two Hokage from the Senju Clan. I think it's time for the Uchiha's turn."

"You!"

"Uchiha Nan is Konoha's Peaceful Hokage!"

"The Hokage who will bring peace to Konoha!"

Hyuga Takuma decided to stop beating around the bush and state it outright.

Now this was more like it. These political types all had dirty hearts, always dancing around the issue. Why couldn't they just be direct?

"You really think so?"

"Of course! Everything this brother says comes straight from the heart!"

Hyuga Takuma's face was the picture of sincerity. With an Uchiha who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, plus the power of the Hyuga Clan, he had no idea how they could lose.

"Then, happy cooperation?"

Uchiha Nan finally smiled and held out his hand, intending to form an alliance with the Hyuga Clan. Since Hyuga Takuma had come to his door of his own accord, there was no way Uchiha Nan would turn the Hyuga away.

Securing the position of Konoha's Hokage was merely the first step of a long march. The truly difficult part still lay ahead.

Sooner or later, he would have to work with the Hyuga Clan.

"Happy cooperation."

Hyuga Takuma clasped Uchiha Nan's hand and gladly agreed. Today's objective had been thoroughly settled.

All that remained was some final pleasantries. The two shameless fellows began enthusiastically singing each other's praises.

"The future greatest Third Hokage!"

"The only choice to lead Konoha toward prosperity."

"The most far-sighted Hyuga Clan Head."

"..."

Bragging cost nothing, after all. You praised me, I praised you, and wouldn't their reputations naturally spread?

(In another world, Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the strongest Hokage, silently gave this a like.)

In the end, Hyuga Takuma left Uchiha Nan's residence in satisfaction. Before leaving, he even invited Uchiha Nan to visit the Hyuga Clan when he had time.

After Hyuga Takuma left, Uchiha Nan headed toward the Uchiha Security Force. Today was his first day reporting to work as clan head, so he couldn't be late.

Incidentally, he had been promoted. His new position was Head of the Uchiha Security Force!

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