With everything finally settled, the tense standoff between the two sides vanished in an instant.
The Kage Level powerhouses came forward one after another to offer their congratulations. Setsuna Uchiha was beaming, his usually sinister old face smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum.
Even Shikata Uchiha, who often sat at home frowning over the clan's future, had a flush of happiness on his cheeks.
Kaku Uchiha scampered off toward the Uchiha Clan Compound, calling out with Chakra as he ran, "The Third Hokage of Konoha is our very own Uchiha Takeyasu!" He had none of his usual dignified, composed elder's bearing.
Naori Uchiha stood quietly behind Uchiha Takeyasu, her eyes reflecting the handsome young man as everyone showered him with praise. Ripples stirred in the young woman's heart.
As the clan's most outstanding girl, and one of an ideal age, Naori Uchiha had been approached in secret by Setsuna Uchiha and Kaku Uchiha, who had spoken to her about Uchiha Takeyasu.
Her parents' wishes and a matchmaker's word.
When the two elders had tried to bring them together, and the match was the clan's handsome Young Lord—someone whose majestic Susanoo she had witnessed with her own eyes—her young heart had inevitably begun to flutter.
Yet beneath her delicate, fair skin, Naori Uchiha was a little too shy to approach Uchiha Takeyasu.
In their interactions so far, she had always been stiff and proper, unsure how to express her affection.
(I'll ask the elders about it later.)
Naori Uchiha thought to herself.
Unaware of the purple-haired girl's feelings, Uchiha Takeyasu smiled and accepted everyone's congratulations of "Congratulations, Hokage-sama!" Then, feeling refreshed and full of energy, he turned to Mito Uzumaki and said,
"Chief Secretary Mito, you know the Hokage's succession ceremony better than the Uchiha do. Could you handle all the arrangements?"
"No problem."
Having accepted Uchiha Takeyasu as Hokage, Mito Uzumaki quickly adjusted her attitude, settling into the role of a subordinate and laying out her plans.
"The preparations for the succession ceremony aren't complicated. They'll be ready by noon tomorrow, and the morning after, Hokage-sama can officially become the Third Hokage in front of all the villagers."
"Simple and efficient. No wonder you're my Chief Secretary."
Uchiha Takeyasu was riding high, and lavish praise flowed from his lips without pause. Even Mukai Senju, standing behind Mito Uzumaki with a sour, glowering face, looked a little less grim.
"By the way, this sparring match is bound to stir things up among the Daimyo's delegation. Chief Secretary Mito, please arrange for someone to calm them down."
Without batting an eye, Uchiha Takeyasu declared the cause of the commotion, then continued,
"And there's a banquet tonight for the heir to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. We'll all get together then. There are a few things I want to discuss with everyone, to set the course for Konoha's development."
(Here it comes!)
The Ninja World had no saying about a new official lighting three fires, but that didn't stop everyone from understanding what it meant.
At Uchiha Takeyasu's wave, everyone returned to their respective clan compounds, each with their own thoughts.
As for the Sarutobi Clan, Uchiha Takeyasu decided to go through the motions. He would have the jubilant Uchiha Police Force take some members of the Sarutobi Clan into custody, just to follow procedure and bring the matter to a proper close.
Now that the whole clan had survived and Uchiha Takeyasu had become the Third Hokage as he had hoped, Sarutobi Sasuke had decided to blame Hiruzen Sarutobi's death on Kumogakure.
He would pass that "hatred" on to his grandson, Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
From now on, the Sarutobi Clan would be loyal supporters of the Uchiha Clan.
"Clan Head Sarutobi, I'll leave the repairs in this area to you. When it's time to pay, go to Chief Secretary Mito and have the expense deducted from Konoha's accounts."
"This Old Man understands, Hokage-sama."
Seeing Sarutobi Sasuke with a little more life in his expression, Uchiha Takeyasu smiled with satisfaction. Then he looked at the two Anbu squad captains, [Tiger] and [Elephant], still standing behind Mito Uzumaki.
"After what happened today, all current Anbu members are to come out of the shadows. Go home and wait for new orders."
The [Tiger] and [Elephant] units had no grounds to refuse an order from the duly elected Third Hokage, whose authority rested on reason and merit.
They obediently removed their masks. Confusion and apprehension showed on their dimly lit faces, and many looked to Mito Uzumaki for hope.
"Hokage-sama, what will you do with them?"
The current Anbu were all elite shinobi painstakingly trained under Hashirama Senju and Senju Tobirama. Mito Uzumaki couldn't simply ignore them, but in her new position, she couldn't help speaking with the cautious deference of a subordinate addressing a superior.
"Don't worry."
Uchiha Takeyasu understood exactly what they were thinking and spoke frankly. "I've said it before: the Uchiha Clan does things openly and honorably. We don't act one way to someone's face and another behind their back."
"If I wanted them dead, wouldn't it be better to keep them in the Anbu?"
"I could send them out of the village on some mission and have them killed. Wouldn't that be easy?"
"I'm only making them take off their masks because they're no longer suitable to serve as my Anbu."
Uchiha Takeyasu regarded the Anbu, whose ranks were still more than half full—including two Kage Level captains—with a trace of regret in his voice.
"If I kept them on as my Anbu, they might not be comfortable with it, and I'd certainly find it grating. Better to let them all go and recruit a new batch."
"I haven't decided what they should do next. For now, I'll let them rest at home for a few days. They've had more than enough of those Anbu missions that go on year after year."
The Anbu members stared at Uchiha Takeyasu in surprise. His few unhurried words changed many of their opinions of him, and some even felt an urge to give their lives for him.
The same words could have completely different effects depending on who said them.
It was like an emperor declaring that sweet tofu pudding tasted better: then sweet tofu pudding tasted better. Anyone else saying so would be talking nonsense worthy of execution.
"Also, count the Anbu who died today among those who fell fighting Kumogakure. Chief Secretary Mito, make sure they receive the compensation they're owed."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
This time, when Mito Uzumaki thanked him, there was genuine sincerity in her voice. It was no longer just a polite formality required by her job.
"You should go back too. Keep an eye on the Senju. I don't want anything happening that I'll regret."
Mito Uzumaki's expression turned serious. She said nothing more, bowed, and left with her people.
At Uchiha Takeyasu's gesture, the Anbu members also bowed respectfully before departing with the bodies of their fallen comrades.
A gentle breeze swept down the street, as if carrying away the bloodshed and death that had come before.
Uchiha Takeyasu pondered for a while—he had thought of many things, only to realize that most of his ideas were pointless, as stupid as they were unnecessary.
The world was simple, while people were both complicated and simple.
So he performed the Summoning Jutsu and summoned Tachibana, whose catlike face wore a somewhat pleased expression. Without a second thought, he buried his face in the soft fur.
After taking a deep breath, he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Uchiha Takeyasu lifted his head, staring in disbelief. "Tachibana, why do you smell like a woman?"
"While I was keeping the enemy occupied, you went off to see someone else behind my back!"
"You cheating cat!"
"Meow!"
Before you continue