Everyone, Konoha Needs a New Leader

The meeting room at Konoha's command headquarters was thick with smoke.

Uchiha Fugaku sat at the head of the table, his hands clasped before his chin as his scarlet Sharingan slowly swept across the clan heads present.

"Everyone, Kirigakure plundered forty billion ryo from the Land of Fire. Their forces are weakened now. This is the best time for us to strike back."

Akimichi Choza snorted, his fat body leaning forward slightly. "Strike back? Clan Head Fugaku, your Uchiha Clan has already made a killing on the Iwagakure battlefield. Now you want to monopolize Kirigakure's wealth too?"

Uchiha Sanpo chuckled, mockery flashing in his eyes. "Clan Head Choza, if the Ino-Shika-Cho clans are truly capable, you can go demand compensation from Kumogakure yourselves."

Nara Shikaku narrowed his eyes, lightly tapping his temple with a finger. "Captain Sanpo, you can't put it that way. The Ino-Shika-Cho clans restrained Kumogakure's main force. Otherwise, how would the Uchiha Clan have had the chance to shine on the Iwagakure battlefield?"

Nara Shikaku: We of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans want a share of Kirigakure's wealth too!

Clan Head Kurama sneered. "Restrained them? Why did I hear that Kumogakure's AB Duo nearly broke through your defensive line?"

The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became charged with tension.

Hyuga Hiashi watched coldly from the sidelines before finally speaking. "Arguing is pointless. The question now is who will attack Kirigakure, and who will stay behind to defend?"

Clan Head Kazami immediately took up the point. "Naturally, the strongest clans should lead the attack! Our Kazami Clan excels at tracking, so we must take part in the offensive!"

Yamanaka Inoichi slammed his palm onto the table. "What a joke! How many people does your Kazami Clan even have? The three Ino-Shika-Cho clans together are more than enough to sweep away Kirigakure's remnants!"

Uchiha Fugaku's Sharingan turned slightly, and the temperature in the room seemed to plummet.

"Actually, there's no need to argue at all."

Everyone froze, their gazes turning toward him in unison.

Uchiha Sanpo slowly said, "We currently have over seven thousand people, while the Kirigakure shinobi who invaded the Land of Fire number only around two thousand. Rather than argue here over who goes and who stays, we should first spread out our forces and spend three days surrounding and exterminating the remaining Kirigakure forces within our borders."

"And then?" Shikaku narrowed his eyes.

Uchiha Sanpo's lips curved slightly. "All genin will remain behind to defend, while the chunin and jonin will attack Kirigakure."

Hiashi's brows drew together. "Leave the genin behind? That goes against the rules."

Because the Hyuga Clan excelled at reconnaissance, many of their genin had survived, so naturally they were unwilling.

Uchiha Sanpo sneered. "Rules? During the Third Shinobi World War, the genin casualty rate was 78.6%. Rather than send them to Kirigakure to die, it would be better to have them guard their homes."

The meeting room fell into brief silence.

Uchiha Fugaku slowly nodded. "Sanpo's suggestion is reasonable. First eliminate the enemies within our territory, then gather our elite forces to attack Kirigakure."

"I agree," Clan Head Kurama immediately echoed.

Shikaku pondered for a moment before finally nodding as well. "Fine, but the distribution of spoils must be agreed upon in advance."

Uchiha Sanpo said evenly, "They will be distributed according to military merit. Whoever kills more enemies gets more."

Inuzuka Tsume snorted. "Your Uchiha Clan's Sharingan makes you far more efficient at killing enemies than we are."

Inuzuka Tsume

watched as the clan heads argued until their faces turned red over the distribution of spoils.

Uchiha Sanpo slowly rose to his feet and said, "Everyone, since you all want more spoils, how about we make a deal?"

If you can't find a book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. It may simply have been renamed!

Inuzuka Tsume's ninja hound gave a low growl. She narrowed her eyes. "A deal? What kind of deal?"

Uchiha Sanpo smiled faintly, his tone calm yet carrying unquestionable force:

"As long as you support our clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, becoming the Fourth Hokage after the war ends, then the distribution of spoils can all be negotiated."

The meeting room abruptly fell deathly silent.

Hyuga Hiashi's pupils widened slightly. Veins faintly bulged at both sides of his forehead as he activated his Byakugan, as though he wanted to confirm that he had not misheard.

The heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans exchanged glances. Nara Shikaku lightly tapped his temple, calculation glinting in his eyes.

Uchiha Sanpo chuckled. "I am merely stating a fact. Konoha needs a powerful leader now, and our clan head is precisely the most suitable candidate."

Akimichi Choza's fat body leaned forward slightly, his voice low. "The candidate for Fourth Hokage should be decided by the village's higher-ups, not through an exchange of benefits from a war."

Uchiha Sanpo raised a mocking brow. "The higher-ups? Are you referring to Sarutobi Hiruzen and his advisory council? Or have your Ino-Shika-Cho clans already decided on Namikaze Minato?"

Shikaku's gaze turned cold. "Captain Sanpo, watch your words."

Uchiha Fugaku had remained silent from beginning to end, but his Sharingan slowly turned as he observed everyone's reactions.

Hyuga Hiashi suddenly spoke. "If we... support Clan Head Fugaku, how does the Uchiha Clan intend to distribute the spoils?"

Uchiha Sanpo shook his head. "The spoils will first be used to pay compensation for casualties suffered on the Kumogakure and Kirigakure battlefields. The remainder will be distributed among the clans according to military merit."

The meeting room fell silent once more.

This condition was far more generous than they had expected.

Nara Shikaku pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "This is not something a few clan heads can decide. The appointment of a Hokage requires a jonin vote, perhaps even the Daimyo Residence's approval."

Uchiha Sanpo stared at him. "So, do your Ino-Shika-Cho clans support this, or oppose it?"

Shikaku did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked toward Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza. The exchange in their eyes lasted only an instant, but it was enough for Uchiha Sanpo to catch their hesitation.

"We need time to consider it," Shikaku finally said.

Uchiha Sanpo sneered. "War does not wait for anyone. Kirigakure is weak now. This is the best opportunity. If we delay..."

He deliberately left the sentence unfinished, but the meaning was obvious: the longer they delayed, the more variables there would be.

In the end, Clan Head Kazami was the first to break the silence. "If the spoils are distributed as you say, I support Clan Head Fugaku."

Clan Head Kurama also nodded. "The Uchiha Clan's strength and achievements truly qualify them for the position of Hokage."

The Ino-Shika-Cho clans remained silent, but their stance had already softened.

Uchiha Fugaku stood up, his Mangekyō Sharingan slowly rotating as his voice rang with authority. "Everyone, Konoha needs a new leader. And I can lead the village toward a stronger future."

After a moment, Nara Shikaku slowly let out a breath. "...We will consider it carefully."

Uchiha Sanpo nodded in satisfaction. "Very well. Then the plan to encircle and eliminate Kirigakure's remnants is settled."

The meeting ended, and the clan heads departed one after another.

More than seven thousand Konoha shinobi spread out like a tide, launching an encirclement campaign against Kirigakure's remaining forces within the Land of Fire.

The outcome was without suspense. The Kirigakure shinobi had already been low on morale, and faced with enemies three times their number, they had no ability to resist.

Three days later, the battle report arrived: 731 killed, 409 captured, and the remaining forces routed into the Land of Hot Water...

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