The First Step to Becoming Hokage: Make a Grand Entrance

News that the war had ended and the frontline Ninja Army had set foot in the Land of Fire—and would soon return to the village—spread throughout Konoha. The bustling streets were filled with villagers chatting and smiling.

Konoha's victory hadn't surprised them. What they did complain about was that the war had lasted for years. After all, they lived in the strongest village in the Ninja World: Konoha!

Shouldn't a mere Kumogakure have been beaten in no time?

The villagers still didn't know Senju Tobirama had died. They missed the invincible First Hokage, Hashirama Senju; respected the hardworking Second, Senju Tobirama; and wondered who the Third Generation would be. Would it be one of the lords of the Senju of the Forest? Or the Byakugan Hyuga of an ancient clan?

In any case, it couldn't possibly be one of those Uchiha who looked down on everyone.

As if they'd timed it perfectly, members of the ninja clans began appearing in groups along the street, falling into place according to their strength and status as the crowd flowed forward.

At the back were the Aburame Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura Clan, and the Kurama Clan.

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

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

The procession numbered over a hundred. Every member was at least a Jonin, and together they could unleash power at the Super Kage level. They all wore Konoha Jonin vests with the Uzumaki Clan's crest on the back, over black, close-fitting combat uniforms. They walked slowly down the street, receiving respectful looks from the villagers.

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

One was Mito Uzumaki, dressed in a white kimono. The other, a half-step behind her, was the Hyuga Main Family's clan head, Hyuga Ashidana, a relic who'd survived since the Warring States Period. His strength had steadily reached the Strong Kage level, and he wore a light brown kimono.

"Clan Head Ashidana, you know what happened at the front, don't you?"

"What is the Hyuga Clan planning to do?"

Faced with Mito Uzumaki's blunt question, Hyuga Ashidana wasn't surprised. When she'd been young, the woman had been a genuine violent hothead, solving more problems with her fists than with words. She'd always been direct, and only mellowed out a little after becoming a grandmother.

But being unsurprised didn't mean he liked it. The Hyuga Clan, with its strict rules and old-fashioned traditions, hated—and was least suited to—people who were overly familiar and disregarded etiquette.

Hyuga Ashidana didn't like Mito Uzumaki, but her background, status, and strength allowed the Hyuga Main Family's clan head to overlook a few of her trivial faults.

Just as Hyuga Ashidana disliked Uchiha Takeyasu, but still admired what he'd said on the hot spring street in the Land of Hot Water: "Those who understand the times are wise."

As it happened, the Hyuga Clan was full of wise people.

"The Hyuga?"

Hyuga Ashidana's face was as still as a tranquil lake. "We'll follow the village's orders."

That old fox. He might as well have said nothing.

"The village will consider the bigger picture."

In the past, Mito Uzumaki would certainly have shot him a look even whiter than the Hyuga Byakugan. She sensed no ill will from Hyuga Ashidana, though, and let it go.

After all, the Hyuga Clan wouldn't possibly cheer for the Uchiha. They were far more likely to kick them while they were down.

"They're here," Hyuga Ashidana said softly.

Mito Uzumaki gazed ahead without a care, ignoring the commotion behind her.

At the rear flank of the crowd, nearly a hundred Uchiha Jonin appeared. They wore the black robes of the Warring States Period beneath red segmented armor emblazoned with the Uchiha Gunbai. Katana at their hips, they advanced like an unstoppable crimson torrent, moving slowly yet swiftly.

Villagers and ninja in their way all watched the cold, murderous-looking warriors with awe. They felt both envy and jealousy.

They envied them for being Uchiha—and were even more jealous of them for being Uchiha!

For most people, Jonin was the pinnacle of their training. For most Uchiha, it was only the starting point. That gulf, along with the Uchiha Clan's pride and stubbornness, gradually turned those feelings into resentment, thanks to Senju Tobirama's efforts.

The Uchiha Clan became even less willing to approach them. You don't like me, so why should I bother with you? And so the rift only grew deeper.

That bunch of aloof, arrogant bastards.

Green and red stood side by side. The Jonin in their vests, ignored by the Uchiha, were so furious their teeth ached. Yet most of them didn't dare meet the Uchiha Jonin's eyes, and they were all shaken by the Uchiha Clan's formidable strength.

Seeing this only made the Uchiha more imposing.

Their cold, deep Chakras, all of the same lineage, linked together. The pressure they created was nearly tangible, relentlessly squeezing the space the Jonin in their vests had to walk in. Those of weaker strength were already sweating and gasping for breath, their chests tight.

The green-clad procession had lost its earlier momentum.

"Princess Mito, it's been a long time."

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

Uchiha Shikata stepped out from the crowd and glanced at the Senju Clan's ninja, especially Senju Moriki, Hashirama Senju's son, whose face was turning pale as he clenched his fists. Shikata chuckled. "Good thing our clan's younger generation still has Takeyasu Young Lord. I wonder if the Senju of the Forest have anyone left?"

"You—"

Before Senju Moriki could finish, Mito Uzumaki stepped forward. Red Chakra poured from her body, vast and wicked, like the embodiment of hatred. It bore down on Uchiha Shikata and the Uchiha behind him like a mountain, immediately knocking the wind out of their sails.

The Jonin in their vests sensed it sharply. Their formation began to close ranks, and with Mito Uzumaki's help, they managed to withstand the Uchiha's pressure.

Mito Uzumaki went straight to the front, asserting Konoha's strongest authority. She looked back at Uchiha Shikata.

"Clan Head Shikata, don't slack off on your training just because you couldn't become Hokage!"

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

Faced with Mito Uzumaki's seemingly concerned but actually mocking words, Uchiha Shikata's expression shifted. Then he broke into a cheerful smile.

"I'm old. I can't train anymore. From now on, our clan will give Takeyasu Young Lord its full support and let him show what he can do. As for an old relic from the Warring States Period like me, I'll go home and teach my son a thing or two, so he doesn't grow up to be a useless failure."

Hyuga Ashidana, watching the exchange with his eyes lowered, couldn't help admiring Uchiha Shikata's composure. Every word was laced with mockery, and he felt a hint of worry.

The Uchiha Clan's behavior made it clear that, with Uchiha Takeyasu among them, their three factions had united around a common goal. What kind of fighting strength would they unleash next? Could the Senju of the Forest withstand it? It was hard to say.

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

Uchiha Setsuna and Kaku Uchiha chimed in as well. Every word nearly drove Mito Uzumaki, grandmother-aged yet still beautiful and dignified, to hit someone. Fortunately, they'd reached Konoha's gates, and the returning Ninja Army was visible in the distance.

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

Once the distance had closed, Uchiha Shikata smiled and passed Mito Uzumaki. Using Chakra to carry his voice across ten miles, he called out,

"Welcome home, our Uchiha Takeyasu Young Lord, victorious after slaying the Second Raikage!"

The Uchiha behind him shouted in unison:

"Welcome home, our Uchiha Takeyasu Young Lord, victorious after slaying the Second Raikage!"

Their voices rang across the land. The villagers looked stunned, the ninja clans' expressions darkened, Mito Uzumaki's face showed her fury, and the Uchiha were elated.

Uchiha Shikata looked around smugly. In his original plan, he'd wanted to add something about avenging Senju Tobirama. But then he'd thought of Mito Uzumaki, that terrifying woman. If she beat him up in front of everyone, he'd lose every last scrap of dignity.

Looks like the old folks in the clan—no, the clan elders—have really come through.

Uchiha Takeyasu narrowed his eyes, smiling. The first step to becoming Hokage: make a grand entrance.