Only Those With Great Strength, High Prestige, and a Deep Background Can Become Hokage

"You're saying Uchiha Takeyasu killed the Second Raikage, took his body, and avenged Lord Tobirama and all the members of the Kage Guard?"

Inside the Konoha Military camp, facing Nara Shikamei's bewildered expression, Yamato Yamanaka silently took out a scroll and performed hand seals. With a "bang," a corpse appeared between them.

Looking at the familiar face on the body, the physique cast like steel, and the powerful lightning chakra residue within, it was clear.

Only a Kage Level expert proficient in lightning release could achieve this even after death.

Nara Shikamei fell silent for a moment, then asked again.

"And he fought Kinkaku and Ginkaku to a standstill and retreated unharmed?"

"Mangekyo Sharingan."

Yamato Yamanaka's brief six words nearly knocked Nara Shikamei out.

After a long pause, Nara Shikamei said with a deep frown.

"This matter is full of doubts. If we continue to investigate, it will be harmful and unbeneficial. Let's hand over what we've found to Mito-sama and let her make the decision."

"The Senju have lost Wood Release, lost their Hokage, and all their disciples have disappeared. Only the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Mito-sama, is holding the fort alone."

"Uchiha Takeyasu, who has awakened the Mangekyo, has returned with a feat sufficient to clear his name – killing the Second Raikage. Everyone knows what he wants."

"It looks like Konoha is going to be chaotic again."

"Fortunately, Kumogakure can't cause any more trouble."

Listening to Nara Shikamei's analysis, Yamato Yamanaka nodded with understanding and asked in a deep voice.

"Shikamei, will our three clans continue as before?"

"Yes!"

Nara Shikamei replied decisively, "The [Ino-Shika-Cho] clans will forever follow the Hokage, not any particular clan or individual!"

"We just need to be law-abiding and maintain neutrality without taking sides. The rest is not our concern and doesn't concern us."

"This way, our three clans can continue to exist peacefully in Konoha."

Thinking of Torifu Akimichi in the Kage Guard, Nara Shikamei asked softly, "By the way, is Chohane doing alright?"

Yamato Yamanaka sighed. "He's blaming himself alone."

"I'll go see him. Torifu joining the Kage Guard was partly my responsibility too."

"We all have a responsibility. I'll go."

Yamato Yamanaka shook his head, stopping Nara Shikamei's action. "You should focus on how to report this. This could be a major earthquake."

"Then I'll leave it to you. Don't let Chohane get stuck in a rut."

Nara Shikamei said slowly with a serious expression, "In these critical times, we can't let Chohane do anything that could be misunderstood."

"Also, we need to keep an eye on the Senju clan in the Ninja Army."

Yamato Yamanaka's tone was firm. "I'll watch them."

"With you here, I feel much more at ease."

Watching Yamato Yamanaka leave, Nara Shikamei ran his hands through his hair and began writing a letter to report back to the village.

Meanwhile, in another tent at the center of the Konoha Military camp, the one being closely monitored by sensory ninja, Uchiha Takeyasu showed no displeasure at being watched. He calmly played with Tachibana.

"Lord Takeyasu, aren't you worried they'll harm you? Meow~"

Tachibana, nestled in Uchiha Takeyasu's arms, stretched her neck comfortably, signaling her servant to scratch her.

"Ninja clans without strength or the sense to know their place don't live long."

About to return to his beloved Konoha, Uchiha Takeyasu, in a good mood, patiently answered Tachibana's question while scratching her neck.

"The [Ino-Shika-Cho] clans are the backbone of Konoha. As long as they don't make fundamental mistakes, neither the Uchiha nor the Senju becoming Hokage will trouble them."

"Plus, with the intelligent [Shika] as the thinking brain, it's not hard to guess what decision they'll make. The surveillance around us is both a precaution against me and against the Senju clan."

"After all, only I know how Senju Tobirama and the six members of the Kage Guard died."

"Meow."

As if tickled, Tachibana let out a meow, then narrowed her cat eyes and said regretfully, "So, Tachibana can't publicize Lord Takeyasu's achievements?"

"Besides Senju Tobirama, the lives of the others are not important."

"It doesn't matter if their friends and family know, because the real truth, under the power of the Mangekyo and the Uchiha clan, will be dismissed as false by them!"

A proud and arrogant smile spread across Uchiha Takeyasu's lips. "They were rude first, calling me a [Naturally Evil Uchiha Brat] at every turn. I've wanted to kill them for a long time."

"I don't know how Uchiha Kagami is willing to stay in that environment. He's truly a born sycophant."

"Of the six, only Torifu Akimichi is somewhat regrettable. The others all deserved to die."

"Meow, Torifu Akimichi is also a member of [Ino-Shika-Cho], and the younger brother of Clan Head Akimichi Chohane. Will this affect Lord Takeyasu's path to Hokage?"

Tachibana wagged her tail worriedly. "Tachibana won't say anything then. Lord Takeyasu's path to Hokage can't have any accidents because of Tachibana."

"Hey, are you really the big-mouthed cat I know? Have you been possessed by some evil spirit?"

"Tachibana hasn't!"

Uchiha Takeyasu started with a joke, then took a sip of cat energy, and chuckled meaningfully in a low voice, "With a smart and dutiful [Shika] around, Torifu Akimichi was bound to be killed by Kumogakure."

"As for the path to Hokage... Hmph, the position of Hokage isn't something the Senju Clan can just bestow privately!"

Uchiha Takeyasu snorted coldly, muttering about the ninja clans within Konoha.

"The Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan are the two founding clans, in a league of their own in terms of strength and status."

"Next are the Hyuga Clan and the [Ino-Shika-Cho] trio."

"Then come the Aburame Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Sarutobi Clan, Shimura Clan, and Kurama Clan."

"Lastly, there are some ninja families with Jonin, like the Hatake Family and Nohara Family."

"Konoha's Jonin basically come from here."

Tachibana widened her bright, cat-like eyes, listening intently.

"For the selection of Hokage, over seventy percent of the Jonin must agree in the Jonin Council. For example, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had immense strength, prestige, and a deep background, so the Uchiha Clan had nothing to say."

"The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, also had solid strength, background, and reputation. Even if some in his clan were dissatisfied, it was only a minority causing trouble."

"But to appoint the Third Hokage as Hiruzen Sarutobi?"

"What kind of bullshit is this, coming from some trash ninja clan, that he's worthy of standing above the Uchiha, bossing them around?"

"When position exceeds virtue, disaster is sure to follow. Meeting me is his fated tribulation."

Uchiha Takeyasu took a sip from a kettle he took out of his spatial scroll, and then handed a small kettle to Tachibana before concluding.

"Therefore, only those with great strength, high prestige, and a deep background can become Hokage. The rest can only be dead men."

"And I, Uchiha Takeyasu, perfectly meet these three requirements."

Tachibana blinked and raised her own small question, "Mito Uzumaki of the Senju Clan should also meet them, right?"

The blind-spot-discovering calico cat counted on her paws, following Uchiha Takeyasu's line of reasoning.

"Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, strong."

"First Hokage's wife, prestigious."

"Princess of the Land of Whirlpools, deep background."

"Lord Takeyasu, you see..."

"See what, you fat cat!"

The handsome and valiant youth's face turned stern, and he menacingly pinched Tachibana's cheeks. "Knowing there's someone who can compete with me, why aren't you out gathering intelligence!"

"Meow!"