The selection of the Third had finally come to an end, and news of Uchiha Nan's sweeping victory instantly spread throughout Konoha.
According to gossip from the spectators who'd been there, Mito Uzumaki had been beaten until she looked like a pig's head. In the end, she'd covered her face with a piece of cloth before returning to the Senju Clan Land.
Naturally, the Senju Clan immediately issued a statement about these rumors.
Lies! Pure lies!
Anyone who dared spread them would be invited to spend some time in Anbu custody.
Mito Uzumaki had only stepped aside so she wouldn't block the path of the younger generation!
She had simply lost to Uchiha Nan!
The Senju Clan put its full power into spreading the news through Konoha's streets and alleys. They had to do some damage control over such an embarrassing incident.
But that news was soon drowned out by word that Uchiha Nan was about to become the Third.
Until now, the Hokage position had always been monopolized by the Senju Clan. But things were different now. The balance of power had shifted, and the Uchiha Clan would take the initiative in Konoha.
Konoha's smaller ninja clans had always been quick to follow the wind. They'd back whichever side won, the Uchiha or the Senju.
For a while, Uchiha Nan's doorstep was nearly worn down by the steady stream of clans hoping to pledge their allegiance.
Uchiha Nan was naturally pleased to see them. If these clans wanted the Uchiha to protect them in the future, they couldn't show up empty-handed, could they?
Every envelope was stuffed full. Uchiha Nan wouldn't even see anyone who brought too little!
That was just how social dealings went. Clans were naturally familiar with the rules.
Still, Uchiha Nan only met with the heads of those small clans to put a face to the name. Whether he'd actually make use of them later was another matter. He might not remember who had come, but he'd certainly remember who hadn't.
The clans Uchiha Nan made a point of meeting were the bloodline clans and those with secret techniques.
Hyuga Takuma came to pay his respects to Uchiha Nan, bringing a gift and wearing a broad smile. The Uchiha and Hyuga Clans were currently enjoying a honeymoon period. Uchiha Nan had defeated Mito Uzumaki and claimed the Hokage Position, so the Hyuga Clan, as his ally, stood to reap plenty of rewards in the future.
What caught Uchiha Nan's attention, though, was that Hyuga Takuma had brought a young girl from the Main Family. Her name was Hyuga Asuka, and she was only twelve.
After exchanging pleasantries with Uchiha Nan, Hyuga Takuma eagerly introduced Hyuga Asuka to him.
She wore a yellow kimono and was unfailingly polite. She had a maturity beyond her years, though she still couldn't quite hide her childishness. She was certainly pretty, and looked a little like Hanabi, Naruto's sister-in-law, but seemed more composed.
Hyuga Takuma praised Hyuga Asuka to no end, calling her the most outstanding girl in the Hyuga Clan Head Family.
Hyuga Takuma had thought it through. Uchiha Nan's strength had already reached the highest echelons of the Ninja world, and he would likely rule Konoha for decades. For the sake of the clan's future, what was one girl?
The possibility of their bloodline spreading beyond the clan wasn't a problem. Hyuga Takuma had a long-term vision. If all went well and Uchiha Nan and Hyuga Asuka got together, they might have a child or two.
With Uchiha Nan's bloodline combined with the Hyuga Clan's, it was easy to imagine how talented their child would be—a genius among geniuses.
As Uchiha Nan's child, he might even become the Fourth Hokage one day. A child with the blood of both the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans—rounding things up, that would mean the Hyuga Clan had produced a Hokage too.
The harm of their bloodline spreading beyond the clan was nothing compared to what they stood to gain from this investment. So why not do it?
The Hyuga Clan's priority was the family's prosperity and continuation. In later generations, they'd even stoop to sending the clan head's younger brother to his death. They put on airs of superiority, but in truth, they had no principles at all.
If the Uchiha were in their place, they'd probably fight Kumogakure to the bitter end.
Was he trying to play matchmaker?
Uchiha Nan looked at Hyuga Takuma, who was practically trying to sell her to him. He'd always thought his own moral standards had hit rock bottom, but Hyuga Takuma was even more shameless.
He'd brought out a twelve-year-old girl for this. Yet Hyuga Asuka didn't seem unhappy. Konoha had only been founded twenty years ago, and the Warring States era still cast a long shadow. Girls were considered eligible to have children as soon as they reached puberty.
After all, the high death rate among ninja was common knowledge.
But Uchiha Nan wasn't so depraved as to make a move on a twelve-year-old girl. He didn't want to get blasted with peanuts by the Crab God, so he brushed the matter off with a vague response.
When Hyuga Takuma saw that Uchiha Nan wasn't interested, he stopped bringing it up. This had only been an introduction. There'd be plenty of other chances in the future.
After a busy day of meeting a large crowd, the Uchiha celebration finally began!
Night fell.
Naka Shrine.
Every member of the Uchiha Clan had gathered, even ordinary clan members who hadn't awakened their Sharingan. Fireworks and firecrackers blazed overhead, lighting the night sky until it was as bright as day.
Once the fireworks were over, the clan elders pulled Uchiha Nan away to pay respects to their ancestors. With tears in their eyes, they gazed at the ancestral tablets and wept as they praised Uchiha Nan over and over.
They called him the hope of the Uchiha Clan, Konoha's strongest Hokage—anything that sounded good.
Ever since Konoha was founded, the Senju had kept the Uchiha down for twenty years. At last, the day had come when they could hold their heads high.
The elders showered him with so much praise that Uchiha Nan started to feel embarrassed. They even gave him Hiruzen Sarutobi's title.
He wasn't that full of himself. If he faced Hashirama Senju now, he'd probably end up like the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, squeezed into a pile of shit by one giant hand.
After paying respects to their ancestors, they naturally held a great feast. Uchiha Nan was dragged into a drinking contest, and he wasn't about to spoil the fun on such a happy occasion.
But even the strongest couldn't fight four hands at once. No matter how much Uchiha Nan could drink, he couldn't withstand the clan members taking turns to toast him. In the end, Manji had to drag him home.
While the Uchiha celebrated under bright lights, the Senju Clan was overcome with grief. They'd turned off the lights and gone to bed early.
The Hokage Position, passed down through two generations, had been snatched away by the Uchiha just like that. It was a disgrace!
Senju Clan Land.
A basement chamber was filled with all kinds of experimental equipment and piles of research documents.
This was Tobirama Senju's old laboratory.
Toma Senju pulled a sealed research file out from the very bottom of a pile.
"Clan Head, are we really going to restart the cell experiments?"
Lord Tobirama had personally ordered them stopped. Every clan member who'd volunteered to take part had died without exception!
Toma Sato wore a fearful expression. He was one of Toma Senju's trusted confidants and had followed him onto the battlefield time and again.
Toma Sato was a few years older than Toma Senju. He'd seen the horrific state of the test subjects with his own eyes. They'd been in agony, their bodies so ruined they were hardly recognizable. The sight had given him nightmares for days, back when he was still young.
"The Uchiha have climbed over the Senju!"
"I need greater power if I'm going to reclaim the Hokage Position in the future!"
Toma Senju's face was twisted with resentment. Uchiha Nan's mocking expression had made him snap.
"What about Mito-sama?"
"Keep your mouth shut around Mother. I'll deal with her when the time comes."
Toma Senju waved a hand, unwilling to dwell on the matter any longer.
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