Orochimaru's Promise

Naka Shrine.

The Uchiha Clan held another clan meeting.

This clan meeting requires all Jonin) to attend, and those below Jonin who wish to attend may also participate as observers.

"As you all probably know, the Third Hokage just announced that he is preparing to elect the Fourth Hokage."

Uchiha Fugaku sat upright at the front and said, "There are currently two candidates for Hokage: Orochimaru, one of the Sannin Orochimaru, and Yellow Flash Minato Namikaze."

In the Hokage election, all the Jonin in the village have the right to vote.

The purpose of this clan meeting is to reach a consensus as much as possible and determine which candidate the clan should vote for.

In fact, this can be considered the first true Hokage election since the founding of Konoha.

In the election for the First Hokage, only Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara were qualified to compete, but their prestige and popularity were not on the same level at all.

Later, Uchiha Madara died in battle at the Valley of the End, First Hokage Hashirama Senju, passed away from illness. At that time, there were no other candidates in the village who could compete with Senju Tobirama the position of Second Hokage.

As for the Third Hokage, needless to say.

It was entirely Senju Tobirama's will before his death!

In this election for the Fourth Hokage, the two candidates appear to be evenly matched, at least on the surface.

Whoever gains the support of more Jonin and attracts more Jonin will have a better chance of eventually succeeding as the Fourth Hokage!

Why are there only these two candidates?

The Uchiha Yashiro was extremely dissatisfied. "It's already the Fourth Hokage, shouldn't it be our Uchiha's turn?"

They, the Uchiha, were also among the founders of the village!

Leaving aside the First and Second, the Third passed on his skills to the Second Hokage's disciple, and the two candidates for the Fourth Hokage were again the Third's disciple and the disciple's disciple.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the Uchiha!

"That is!"

Uchiha Yakumi, unusually, didn't contradict the Uchiha Yashiro and instead spoke up for him, "Clan leader, you are clearly the infamous Fugaku with the Fierce Eyes, how come you don't even qualify as a candidate?"

Seeing the two squad leaders speak, the group Jonin Uchiha started talking, most of them expressing dissatisfaction with the village's arrangements.

"Don't say that, I'm still far inferior to those two."

Uchiha Fugaku felt a headache coming on.

Should he be allowed to compete with Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze for the Hokage position?

Wouldn't that just make him look bad?

"Now that the candidates have been decided, everyone should stop complaining and quickly decide who to support," Uchiha Fugaku said helplessly.

"Why do we have to choose one? I abstain. I don't approve of either of them!" Uchiha Yashiro was indignant.

"I support Uncle Uchiha Yashiro, and I'm abstaining!" Uchiha Inabi chimed in.

Qingye sat quietly to the side, watching without saying a word.

This clan association is practically the corporate culture of the Uchiha.

Every matter, big or small, requires a clan meeting, which usually ends in a lot of arguing and no results are achieved.

Coupled with the incompetent clan leader Uchiha Fugaku, there was no way to unite the clan members or reach a consensus, making it even more impossible to reach a conclusion through arguments.

It's no wonder that in the original timeline, they couldn't even reach a consensus on who should be elected as Hokage; they had to hold clan meetings repeatedly to decide whether or not to stage a coup.

Uchiha Tekka was huddled in the back, asked in a low voice, "Qingye, who are you planning to support?"

Shisui looked over with some curiosity. "Shouldn't you be supporting Minato Jonin?"

He had also learned that in the latter half of the battle in the Land of Sea, it was Qingye and Minato Namikaze who were cooperating with each other, so they must have a good personal relationship.

Sitting in front, Uchiha Inabi's ears twitched. She turned her head and couldn't help but feel a little regretful. "If only you were a bit older, Qingye Qingye, with your battle achievements, you would definitely have gotten a candidate spot!"

"Indeed, what a pity!"

Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Yakumi both nodded in agreement.

It would be fine if Orochimaru became Hokage.

The worst-case scenario is that Minato Namikaze becomes Hokage, given his age, who knows how many years he'll have to stay in Hokage position!

Even if Qingye is qualified to be Hokage, how many years will it be before he can truly compete for the Fifth Hokage position?

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Qingye finally spoke up, "I don't really care. If it's a vote, I'll probably vote for Minato Namikaze."

"Giving it to Minato Namikaze —it's not entirely unacceptable." Uchiha Yakumi hesitated for a moment.

"Then I'd rather vote for Orochimaru!"

Uchiha Yashiro shrugged and said to the Jonin clan members around him, "It would be best to let Orochimaru take over, then retire after a few years to make way for Qingye!"

Seeing a group of people chattering away with their own opinions and various ideas, Uchiha Fugaku became increasingly helpless.

"Great Elder, what do you think?"

Uchiha Fugaku ultimately chose to consult the most respected elder in the clan.

"You guys decide this."

Uchiha Setsuna glanced coldly at Fugaku, then slowly shook his head and said, "Anyway, my voting rights have long been taken away, so it's not my turn to participate."

What should I do?

Uchiha Fugaku stunned.

The Jonin clan members had various opinions: some supported Minato Namikaze, some wanted to vote for Orochimaru, and some wanted to abstain.

Even he, as the clan leader, couldn't reach a consensus.

On a day when the Konoha Military Police Force was on leave, an unexpected guest arrived at Qingye's house.

"Orochimaru- senpai?"

Qingye brewed tea, poured a cup for Orochimaru and one for herself, and asked with some curiosity, "Coming to see me at a time like this, you're not here to campaign for votes, are you?"

"---- Qingye- kun is certainly direct."

Orochimaru looked slightly embarrassed.

Qingye took a sip of tea, narrowed his eyes, and said, "If this isn't about campaigning, then I don't think I've had much interaction with Orochimaru, have I?"

Strangeness!

That's strange!

Orochimaru came to see me, not to solicit votes, but perhaps because he's eyeing my Mangekyo?

Even if that were true, he shouldn't have come to me so directly, right?

"Since you're being so direct, Qingye, then I'll be frank too."

Orochimaru seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said directly, "Qingye- kun, your Sharingan has been upgraded to the Mangekyō Sharingan level, right? Heh, although I haven't witnessed the power of those eyes, I still know a lot about them."

"So what?"

"I am also aware of the flaws of the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Orochimaru immediately offered his bargaining chip. "Furthermore, I also know that the Second Hokage conducted more research on the Sharingan. However, to see all the relevant information, it seems only the Hokage can provide it."

"So you still want to garner votes?"

"You can understand it that way, Qingye." Orochimaru no longer bothered to hide it. "Minato's strength is indeed very strong, and his popularity and prestige are also very high. However, when it comes to scientific research, if I consider myself second in Konoha, no one would dare to claim to be first."

I believe that!

Qingye nodded secretly.

In the original timeline, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations era, Orochimaru even created a cloned Mangekyou Mangekyo!

"Therefore, with my talent, if I could become Hokage in the future, I would be able to access more sealed-off data and mobilize more funds for scientific research."

"Even the flaws of the Mangekyō Sharingan can be addressed with continued investment in research."

"Also, Qingye- kun is currently a squad leader in the Konoha Military Police Force, right?"

"Hehe, I personally have no objection to your clan leader Fugaku, but when I think about how, with Qingye- kun's strength and achievements, he is now Fugaku, even I can't help but feel indignant."

97

Qingye's gaze suddenly sharpened.

That being said, how did we suddenly get onto the Uchiha Fugaku?

Orochimaru, are you trying to sow discord here?

"If I were to succeed the Fourth Hokage, I could decide to disregard age and promote you, Qingye- kun, to a high-ranking position as an elder, or even to assist the Hokage in the future!"

"In that case, there's no need to compete with Clan Chief Fugaku for the position of Konoha Military Police Force Minister in the future, right?"

Orochimaru spoke slowly.