Uchiha: This Is a False Edict!

"Captain, that joke isn't funny."

"The Shadow Guard's duty is to protect the Hokage's safety with their lives. Even if every member of the Shadow Guard dies, the Hokage cannot die."

"What kind of sense does it make for the Hokage to sacrifice himself to protect the Shadow Guard?"

Unlike his steady, composed older brother Tekka, Inohi was blunt and outspoken. The Second Hokage's death was already unbelievable enough, but the way he had died was simply horrifying.

"Inohi, you need to understand that stories need logic. Reality, however, is often absurd."

Everyone present looked at the serious, solemn Uchiha Nan and instinctively felt that he was spouting nonsense, merely amusing himself by teasing them.

Yet they ultimately chose to believe him. Uchiha Nan's status did not permit him to spout nonsense in the Security Force or fabricate stories about the Hokage's death.

Uchiha Tekka suddenly remembered something, and an inexplicable flame began to burn in his heart.

"Captain, since the Second Hokage has fallen, has a candidate for the Third Hokage been decided?"

Tekka's simple question was like a spark landing on dry kindling, igniting flames in the hearts of every Uchiha present.

The Second Hokage was dead, so who would become the Third Hokage?

It couldn't still be someone from the Senju Clan, could it?

The Uchiha had helped found Konoha as well. Even if their ancestor, Uchiha Madara, had defected, no one could erase their contribution to Konoha's founding. The Senju Clan had already produced two Hokage; no matter what, it should be the Uchiha's turn this time.

The Uchiha present began breathing more heavily. Their captain had received news of the Hokage's death first, then urgently gathered them together. Could it be that he had designs on the Hokage's position?

After all, Uchiha Nan still had Uchiha Tomita, the clan head, above him.

Uchiha Nan's strength was beyond doubt. He had already proven himself on the battlefield.

Even Uchiha Tomita might not be able to defeat him. It would not be strange for him to bypass the Tomita Clan Head and seek to become Hokage. What young man in Konoha did not have a Hokage Dream?

Besides, the Uchiha's internal culture was simple and direct: the capable rose, the incompetent fell, and whoever had the bigger fist had the final say.

No matter what, the position of Third Hokage had to rot in the Uchiha's own pot first.

"It's been decided."

Uchiha Nan's four simple words were like a basin of cold water, extinguishing the flames in everyone's hearts.

Another member of the Senju Clan?

At present, only two people in the Senju Clan had the ability to command widespread respect. One was Mito Uzumaki, the First Hokage's widow. Though she had always lived quietly in the village without drawing attention to herself, no one dared underestimate her.

The other was Senju Touma, the First Hokage's son. His pedigree was impeccable, and his strength ranked among the best in Konoha.

Oh no. Could the captain be planning a coup?

A terrifying thought surfaced in Tekka's mind. If the captain wanted to launch a coup, he had to stop him. He could not let the captain throw away his life for nothing.

"Who is it?"

"Mito-sama, or Touma-sama?"

"This is far too unfair. The Senju Clan has already produced two Hokage. It should be our Uchiha Clan's turn."

"..."

While Tekka was still considering Uchiha Nan's intentions, Uchiha Inohi had already begun complaining impatiently.

"Neither. It's Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Huh??

The same thought flashed through everyone's minds.

The captain was telling jokes again.

"Who?"

"Captain, I'm starting to suspect you've been messing with us from the beginning. If it really comes down to it, come with me to see a doctor at the clan compound. You're the pillar of our Uchiha—there can't be something wrong with your head."

Inohi's words came out before he had even thought them through, instantly making Uchiha Nan a little angry.

I'm seriously discussing important matters concerning the Uchiha's future with you, and you think there's something wrong with my head? Have I smiled at you too much? Is your hide itching again?

Uchiha Nan looked around and found that the Uchiha present strongly agreed with Inohi. One or two of them even gave him sympathetic looks.

So Uchiha Nan turned around, took out the ninja sword he used in battle, and smiled at Uchiha Inohi.

"Inohi, I think your hide is getting tight again. I'm seriously discussing major matters concerning the Uchiha's future with you, and you think there's something wrong with my head?"

"After the meeting, let's find a place to spar alone. I'll definitely beat you until you need to see one of the clan's Medical Ninjas."

Seeing the fierce glint in Uchiha Nan's eyes, Inohi fearfully backed away several steps. Then he nudged his older brother, Uchiha Tekka, with his elbow, signaling for him to save him again.

If the captain seriously beat him up, wouldn't he end up bedridden for ten days or half a month?

Tekka gave his foolish younger brother a helpless look. Why did he blurt out everything without thinking first?

"Captain, don't lower yourself to his level. That's just how he is."

"Captain, you said the Second Hokage's designated successor was Hiruzen Sarutobi. Is it true that he's about to become the Third Hokage?"

As he helped smooth things over, Tekka once again asked Uchiha Nan to confirm whether Hiruzen Sarutobi truly was about to become the Third Hokage.

"Of course it's true. I've been serious this entire time while holding this meeting with you."

Uchiha Nan sighed inwardly. Tobirama Senju's outrageous maneuver before his death was simply too absurd, making the truth sound like a bad joke.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi? What the hell is he?"

"I, Inohi, can take on three of him by myself. What makes him worthy of being Hokage?"

"If he can become Hokage, I, Inohi, will be the first to refuse to accept it."

Uchiha Inohi was the first to step forward. If Lord Tobirama had appointed Mito-sama or Touma-sama as Konoha's Third Hokage, the Uchiha could have bargained with the Senju Clan for greater benefits in the village and grudgingly accepted it.

But what was Hiruzen Sarutobi? And what was the Sarutobi Clan behind him? During the Warring States period, they had merely been a minor clan dependent on the Senju Clan. Back then, if the Uchiha were displeased, they had the power to wipe out the Sarutobi Clan at any time.

Now they wanted to climb over the Uchiha's heads? Having the Senju above them was troublesome enough. Add the Sarutobi Clan too, and how were the Uchiha supposed to live?

The Uchiha were no insignificant household. They were a ninja clan with a thousand-year legacy. They had their pride.

Well said, Inohi. Those actually sounded like human words.

Uchiha Nan glanced at Inohi with a satisfied expression. He liked to talk, so at a time like this, he needed to talk more.

"That's right, we Uchiha refuse to accept this!"

"I don't believe the Senju Clan can accept letting Hiruzen Sarutobi, that coward who fears death, become Hokage."

"As a member of the Shadow Guard, he couldn't even protect the Hokage. What right does he have to become Hokage?"

"..."

For a time, the room buzzed with chatter as the once-quiet Uchiha erupted into an uproar.

In the Uchiha's eyes, the only ones qualified to serve as Konoha's Hokage were the Senju Clan or the Uchiha Clan. No one else was worthy!