The First Step to Becoming Hokage: Seize the Initiative

The war had ended, and news that the front-line ninja army had already set foot in the Land of Fire and would soon return to the village spread throughout Konoha and beyond. On the bustling streets, villagers chatted with each other, smiles on their faces.

Konoha's victory did not surprise them; rather, it was the war dragging on for several years that drew their complaints. After all, weren't they living in the strongest village in the ninja world?

As for that mere Kumogakure, shouldn't they have been crushed in no time at all?

Still unaware that Senju Tobirama had died, the villagers fondly remembered the invincible First Generation, Hashirama Senju, respected the dedicated Second Generation, Senju Tobirama, and eagerly wondered who the Third Generation would be—some great figure from the Senju of the Forest? Or the Byakugan-wielding Hyuga of the ancient noble clan?

In any case, it couldn't be the Uchiha, who looked down their noses at everyone.

As if on cue, ninja clans began appearing on the streets in groups, following the flow of the crowd and naturally arranging themselves according to strength and status.

At the rear: the Aburame Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura Clan, the Kurama Clan.

In the middle: the Hyuga Clan and the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans.

And at the very front, led by Mito Uzumaki, the Senju Clan.

A line of over a hundred people, all at least Jonin-level, with some capable of bursting forth with Super Kage-level power, wore Konoha Jonin vests emblazoned with the Uzumaki Clan crest on the back, black tight-fitting combat gear underneath, and walked slowly down the street, receiving the villagers' respectful gazes.

At the head of the procession, only two people wore different attire.

One was Mito Uzumaki in a white kimono; the other, half a step behind, was the Hyuga Main Family Clan Head, a relic who had survived the Warring States Period, his strength firmly at Strong Kage, clad in a light brown kimono—Hyuga Ashidana.

"Clan Head Ashidana, you should be clear on what happened at the front lines, yes?"

"What are the Hyuga Clan's intentions?"

Faced with Mito Uzumaki's directness, Hyuga Ashidana was not surprised. This woman had been a true brute in her youth, solving more problems with her fists than with words, her personality straightforward. It was only after becoming a grandmother that her temper had mellowed somewhat.

But not being surprised didn't mean he liked it. The Hyuga Clan, with their strict adherence to rules and ancient customs, most hated and were least suited to people who were overly familiar and disregarded etiquette.

Mito Uzumaki was someone Hyuga Ashidana disliked, but her background, status, and strength allowed the Hyuga Main Family Clan Head to overlook some of her minor flaws.

Just as Hyuga Ashidana detested Uchiha Takeyasu, yet couldn't help appreciating what Uchiha Takeyasu had said in the hot spring town of the Land of Hot Water—"A wise man adapts to circumstances."

Coincidentally, the Hyuga Clan was full of wise men.

"The Hyuga, you say?"

Hyuga Ashidana's face was as calm as a placid lake. "We will follow all of the village's instructions."

(That old fox, saying nothing at all.)

"The village will act from the overall situation."

If it had been in the old days, she would have shot him a look whiter than a Hyuga's Byakugan. Sensing no malice in Hyuga Ashidana's emotions, Mito Uzumaki dropped the matter.

After all, the Hyuga Clan would never wave the flag for the Uchiha; kicking them while they were down was far more likely.

"They're here."

Suddenly, Hyuga Ashidana said softly.

Mito Uzumaki gazed calmly ahead, ignoring the commotion behind her.

From the side and rear of the crowd, nearly a hundred Uchiha Jonin, clad in black Warring States-era robes with red layered armor over them and the Uchiha Gunbai emblem on their backs, katana at their waists, advanced like an unstoppable crimson tide—seeming slow but actually fast.

The villagers and ninja in their path all cast awed glances at this group, exuding an icy, murderous aura, feeling both admiration and envy in their hearts.

They envied them for being Uchiha, and even more so, they were jealous of them for being Uchiha!

For most, the end of their training was Jonin; for most Uchiha, Jonin was just the starting point. The chasm-like gap, combined with the Uchiha Clan's pride and stubbornness, and fueled by Senju Tobirama's machinations, gradually turned this sentiment into exclusion!

The Uchiha Clan became even more unwilling to reach out. You don't like me anymore, so why should I bother with you? Thus, the rift deepened.

(These arrogant, self-important bastards.)

Green and red began to stand side by side. The vest-wearing Jonin, ignored by the Uchiha, ground their teeth in anger, but most dared not meet the Uchiha Jonin's eyes, and were even more shocked by the sheer strength of the Uchiha Clan.

Seeing this, the Uchiha Clan's arrogance only grew.

Their cold, deep chakra, stemming from the same lineage, linked together like threads, forming an almost tangible pressure that constantly squeezed the walking space of the vest-wearing Jonin. The weaker ones were already drenched in sweat, short of breath.

The green-clad formation had lost its former imposing momentum.

"Princess Mito, long time no see."

"Now that Lord Hashirama is gone and Lord Tobirama is also gone, does the Senju of the Forest need to rely on Princess Mito?"

Uchiha Shikata stepped forward from the crowd, glancing at the Senju-aligned ninja, especially Senju Moriki, son of Hashirama Senju, whose face was turning pale and fists clenched tightly. He chuckled, "Fortunately, our clan's younger generation still has the Takeyasu Young Lord. I wonder if the Senju of the Forest still has anyone?"

"You bastard..."

Before Senju Moriki could finish, Mito Uzumaki stomped her foot. Red chakra radiated from her body—a chakra like a mass of hatred, vast and malevolent, pressing down like a mountain on Uchiha Shikata and the Uchiha behind him, instantly dampening their momentum.

The vest-wearing Jonin keenly sensed this, and their formation began to converge. With Mito Uzumaki's help, they subtly withstood the Uchiha's pressure.

Mito Uzumaki walked directly to the front, declaring Konoha's strongest sovereignty. She turned her gaze back to Uchiha Shikata.

"Clan Head Shikata, you shouldn't slack off in your training just because you can't become Hokage!"

(The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!)

Faced with Mito Uzumaki's seemingly caring but actually mocking words, Uchiha Shikata's expression shifted slightly, then he laughed cheerfully.

"I'm old, can't train anymore. From now on, our clan will fully support the Takeyasu Young Lord in spreading his wings. This old relic left over from the Warring States Period should go back and educate his own son, lest he grow up into a useless waste."

Hyuga Ashidana, who had been keeping his eyes on his nose and nose on his heart, truly admired Uchiha Shikata's magnanimity. Every word and implication was laced with sarcasm, and a hint of worry crept into his heart.

The current performance of the Uchiha Clan made it clear that, under the influence of Uchiha Takeyasu, the three major factions had unified their objectives. What kind of combat power they would unleash next, and whether the Senju of the Forest could withstand it, was truly a question mark.

Perhaps the Hyuga Clan could no longer stand by and watch from the sidelines.

Setsuna Uchiha and Kaku Uchiha chimed in with their agreement, their words and remarks nearly driving Mito Uzumaki—who was of grandmotherly age yet still beautiful and dignified—to want to hit someone. Fortunately, the group had already reached the main gate of Konoha, where they could see the returning Ninja Army from afar.

The Uchiha members also spotted Uchiha Takeyasu at the front of the Ninja Army, returning.

As the distance closed, Uchiha Shikata curled a smile on his lips, stepped past Mito Uzumaki, and, with the aid of Chakra, his voice spread across ten miles in all directions.

"Welcome our clan's Uchiha Takeyasu Young Lord, who has slain the Second Raikage and returned victorious!"

The Uchiha behind him shouted in unison.

"Welcome our clan's Uchiha Takeyasu Young Lord, who has slain the Second Raikage and returned victorious!"

The sound spread across the wilderness, met by the stunned faces of the villagers, the grim expressions of the ninja clans like dark water, Mito Uzumaki's furious countenance, and the excited faces of the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Shikata glanced around with self-satisfaction. In his original plan, he had wanted to add words like "avenging Senju Tobirama," but recalling that terrifying woman Mito Uzumaki, if she were to beat him up in front of everyone, his old face would be utterly disgraced.

(Looks like the old geezers in the clan—no, the seniors in the clan—are still quite effective.)

Uchiha Takeyasu narrowed his eyes slightly, a smile lingering in them—The first step to becoming Hokage: seize the initiative with a commanding presence.