The True Obstacle is the Thousand Hands!

"The biggest obstacle to you becoming Hokage is the ninja clans of Konoha, and the Uchiha are at the forefront."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. The news of his teacher Tobirama Senju's death was leaked by the Uchiha. He believed Kagami Uchiha was not the one to leak it, meaning the Uchiha had their own channels for information.

It was even possible they already knew about Tobirama's negotiation being attacked.

The Uchiha's desire for the Hokage position had always been unconcealed. Even during Tobirama Senju's tenure as Hokage, radical ideas within the Uchiha clan to overthrow Tobirama's rule still existed.

However, such individuals would always meet a reasonable end in some mission or war, and the Uchiha clan could not find the slightest flaw to prove their deaths were related to Tobirama Senju.

The deaths of a few extremists made the Uchiha wary and much quieter.

Furthermore, Tobirama Senju had acted justly, and the benefits that should have been allocated to the Uchiha were not reduced at all. The other ninja clans of Konoha had flourished in recent years, fully recognizing Tobirama Senju as Hokage.

It was a pity that his teacher Tobirama's accidental death during negotiations this time had given the Uchiha a tremendous opportunity to vie for Konoha's Hokage position.

"Regarding the Uchiha, I am confident. They have always been the same; they listen to whoever has the stronger fist. Back then, Hashirama defeated Madara, and ultimately Madara left Konoha, but the Uchiha clan did not follow Madara."

"And now, no one in Konoha among the Uchiha is my opponent. Unless they go mad and send their elites at all costs, they might be able to kill me."

"But they don't have the guts!"

Mito Uzumaki changed the subject, her tone filled with confidence. Currently, no one in Konoha was her match. Mito Uzumaki, who was already incredibly powerful, combined with the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed within her, was now a walking disaster.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Mito Uzumaki's confident demeanor, his heart stirred, feeling the presence of the older generation of powerhouses.

He had just experienced Mito Uzumaki's strength; it was suffocatingly powerful.

"I have a way to deal with the Uchiha, but the Uchiha are not the only clan hindering your path to becoming Hokage."

"The Senju Clan is also unwilling for you to become Hokage."

Mito Uzumaki sighed. The real crisis was not from the external Uchiha, but from her own clan, the Senju.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened. He thought Mito Uzumaki supported him and instinctively considered the Senju Clan to be on his side.

"You don't think I can represent the Senju Clan, do you?"

Mito Uzumaki looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression and said slowly.

"Normally, my status allows me to act with impunity within the Senju Clan; even Tobirama had to give me face. But now that Tobirama is dead, the position you are vying for is Konoha's Third Hokage."

"Two Hokage have already come from the Senju. The Senju enjoy this honor, are accustomed to the benefits brought by the Hokage position, and have already seen the Third Hokage being from the Senju as a foregone conclusion."

Mito Uzumaki spoke slowly, giving Hiruzen Sarutobi time to process.

How to persuade the Senju Clan to accept Hiruzen Sarutobi was Mito Uzumaki's most troublesome issue.

The Senju Clan founded Konoha, and two Hokage came from the Senju. They also died in the position of Hokage. This was immense prestige.

Not only that, but during the First Great Ninja War, the Senju Clan contributed the most in Konoha. Their clan head was Konoha's Hokage, and the most dangerous positions were often filled by Senju clan members.

Senju clan members were also generous in sacrificing their lives to protect Konoha. Almost the entire Senju Clan believed that the Third Hokage would still come from the Senju. Extreme Senju clan members even believed that their Senju Clan was Konoha!

Now that the war was nearing its end, and they were about to reap the fruits of victory, after the Senju clan's sons had shed so much blood, they were allowing the Sarutobi clan, who had always followed behind picking up scraps, to snatch the rewards.

Mito Uzumaki dared not imagine how much resentment this would cause.

The elders in the Senju family who survived the Warring States period were not all dead yet. Each of them valued the future of their clan more than their own lives.

Some were older than Hashirama, even several generations older. They had dedicated their lives to the Senju Clan. It was like slapping Hashirama's face, and Hashirama would still happily persuade them.

"Great-grandfather, does your hand hurt? I won't dare next time."

Mito Uzumaki could imagine how furious they would be if she announced that Tobirama had passed the position of Third Hokage to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Even if Tobirama were alive, they would curse him into a pile of excrement, let alone her.

A single sentence, "You, a Uzumaki, what right do you have to discuss Senju family matters?" would be enough to choke her to death.

These cornered old men would say anything, no matter how outrageous. Even with her unparalleled combat power, she couldn't lay a hand on them.

Not to mention, these old men no longer feared death. They could extend their necks and let Mito Uzumaki cut them, as long as she could guarantee that the Third Hokage would still be from the Senju family. They would die willingly.

"Lady Mito, this..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless. If the Senju Clan opposed him, he had no recourse. What could he do to his teacher's clan?

He couldn't defeat them, and he had no logical ground to stand on.

"Those old men in the Senju clan have long decided on the candidate for the Third Hokage position, and that is Toma Senju."

"He is Hashirama's son, and his strength is among the best in the Senju Clan. He has achieved outstanding merits in this ninja war. As a frontline commander, he withstood the pressure from the Hidden Stone Village."

"He is currently on his way back to Konoha and will return soon."

Mito Uzumaki looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, scrutinizing him. She could help him bear the pressure from the Uchiha, but she couldn't help with the pressure from the Senju Clan.

Being able to remain neutral was her limit. Moreover, Toma Senju was her son. Since childhood, he had taken his father, Hashirama, as his role model, dreaming of becoming Hokage and protecting Konoha.

Helping an outsider fight her son was beyond Mito Uzumaki's selfless nature.

"If you want to become Hokage, you must defeat Toma. In front of the Senju Clan, defeat him honorably, and only then will I have a chance to persuade the Senju Clan."

Mito Uzumaki continued. This was the limit of what she could do. She had seen how much Toma had sacrificed to become Hokage.

Alas, Tobirama, you scoundrel, you are even more of a scoundrel than Hashirama, always giving me such difficult problems.

Mito Uzumaki was conflicted, wishing she could drag Tobirama Senju out of the underworld and beat him up.

"Lady Mito, I understand. You have already done enough."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was filled with gratitude. Mito Uzumaki had been selfless enough. Toma Senju was her son. She had deliberately avoided mentioning this identity just now. Lady Mito had already been fair enough.

Thanks to "Riding a Pig to Watch the Sunrise" and "Rutou Fighting the Melon-Eating Chaz" for the daily recommendation tickets!

Continuing to ask for recommendation tickets and collections.