Clan Celebration

The selection for the Third Hokage finally concluded, and the news of Uchiha Nan's great victory instantly swept across Konoha.

According to gossip from the onlookers, Madam Mito Uzumaki was beaten into a pulp by Uchiha Nan, and had to cover her face with a cloth before returning to the Senju Clan Land.

Of course, the Senju Clan immediately issued a statement regarding this gossip.

"Rumors, pure rumors! Anyone who dares to spread them will be invited to sit with the Anbu. Madam Mito Uzumaki voluntarily stepped aside to make way for the younger generation! She ultimately lost to Uchiha Nan!"

The Senju Clan mobilized their family forces, spreading the message throughout the streets and alleys of Konoha. They needed to cover up this embarrassing matter.

However, this news was soon drowned out by the announcement that Uchiha Nan was about to become the Third Hokage.

The position of Hokage had always been monopolized by the Senju Clan. Now, the situation had changed. The tables were turned, and the Uchiha clan would take the initiative in Konoha.

The various ninja clans in Konoha had always been opportunistic, siding with whoever was winning between the Uchiha and Senju clans.

For a time, the entrance to the Uchiha clan's residence was almost trampled flat by the endless stream of families wanting to pledge their allegiance.

Uchiha Nan was naturally pleased to see this. If these ninja clans wanted to be under the Uchiha's protection in the future, they had to bring gifts when they came calling.

Each envelope contained a thick stack of bills. Uchiha Nan wouldn't even see those who sent too little!

This was just common courtesy between clans; they were all familiar with the rules.

However, Uchiha Nan only met with the heads of the smaller clans to get acquainted. Whether they would be heavily relied upon in the future was another matter. While Uchiha Nan might not remember everyone who came, he would certainly remember those who didn't.

Uchiha Nan focused his attention on meeting with the clans known for their bloodline limits and secret jutsu.

Hyuga Takuma excitedly brought gifts to visit Uchiha Nan. The Uchiha and Hyuga clans were currently in a honeymoon period. With Uchiha Nan's victory over Mito Uzumaki and his ascension to the Hokage seat, the Hyuga clan, as an ally, would naturally reap great rewards in the future.

However, what caught Uchiha Nan's attention was that Hyuga Takuma had also brought a young girl from the main family, named Hyuga Asuka, who was only twelve years old.

After exchanging pleasantries with Hyuga Takuma, Hyuga Takuma enthusiastically introduced Hyuga Asuka to Uchiha Nan.

Dressed in a yellow kimono, she was polite and possessed a maturity beyond her years, yet her childlike innocence was still evident. Her appearance was naturally exquisite, bearing some resemblance to Naruto's younger sister-in-law, Hanabi, but with a more composed demeanor.

Hyuga Takuma showered Hyuga Asuka with praise, calling her the most outstanding young girl of the Hyuga main family.

Hyuga Takuma had thought it through clearly. Uchiha Nan's strength had already reached the pinnacle of the ninja world, and he would likely rule Konoha for decades. For the future of his clan, what was a mere girl?

Even if it might lead to the dilution of their bloodline, it wasn't a problem. Hyuga Takuma had a very long-term vision. If everything went smoothly and Uchiha Nan and Hyuga Asuka got together, they would have children.

The children born from the combination of Uchiha Nan's bloodline and the Hyuga clan's bloodline would undoubtedly be geniuses among geniuses.

As Uchiha Nan's children, they might even become the Fourth Hokage in the future. A child with the bloodlines of both the Hyuga and Uchiha clans would, by extension, mean that the Hyuga clan had also produced a Hokage.

The harm of bloodline dilution was far less than the potential gains from this investment. So why not do it?

The Hyuga clan pursued the prosperity and continuation of their family. In later generations, they were so desperate that they sacrificed the clan head's own brother. They acted high and mighty, but deep down, they were quite unscrupulous.

If it were the Uchiha, they would probably have fought to the death with Kumogakure.

Was this a matchmaking attempt?

Uchiha Nan looked at Hyuga Takuma's sales pitch. He considered himself morally bankrupt, but he hadn't expected Hyuga Takuma to be even more unrestrained.

He was willing to offer a twelve-year-old girl. However, Hyuga Asuka didn't seem to have any objections. Konoha had only been established for twenty years, and it still carried the customs of the Warring States period. Once a girl reached puberty, she was considered a potential candidate for childbearing.

After all, the high mortality rate among ninjas 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 into trouble with the "River Crab God" (a euphemism for censorship), so he gave a vague response to brush it off.

Seeing that Uchiha Nan wasn't interested, Hyuga Takuma didn't press the matter further. It was just an initial meeting today; there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

After a busy day of meeting many people, the celebration for the Uchiha began!

Night

Naka Shrine

All members of the Uchiha clan were present, even those who hadn't awakened their Sharingan. Fireworks and firecrackers were set off on the stage, illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime.

After the fireworks, Uchiha Nan was taken by the clan elders to pay respects to their ancestors. The elders, with tears in their eyes, looked at the ancestral tablets and wept profusely, praising Uchiha Nan incessantly.

"The hope of the Uchiha clan, the strongest Hokage of Konoha."

They said anything and everything that sounded good. Since the founding of Konoha, the Uchiha had been suppressed by the Senju for twenty years, and they had finally reached the day when they could hold their heads high.

The torrent of praise made Uchiha Nan feel a little embarrassed. They even attributed Hiruzen Sarutobi's title to him.

He wasn't that narcissistic. If he fought Hashirama Senju now, he would likely be crushed by a giant hand, just like the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox.

After ancestor worship, a grand banquet was naturally held. Uchiha Nan was dragged into drinking bouts. On such a happy occasion, Uchiha Nan naturally wouldn't spoil the mood.

However, even he couldn't withstand the continuous rounds of toasts from his clan members. In the end, he was dragged home by Manji.

While the Uchiha celebrated under the bright lights, the Senju Clan was naturally filled with grief and went to bed early, extinguishing their lights.

The position of Hokage, which had been passed down for two generations, was now taken by the Uchiha. This was an unbearable humiliation.

Senju Clan Land.

A secret underground chamber, filled with all sorts of experimental equipment and piles of research materials.

This was once Tobirama Senju's laboratory.

Toma Senju unearthed a sealed research document from the very bottom.

"Clan Head, are we really going to restart the cell experiments?"

These were experiments Tobirama himself ordered to be stopped. Back then, every clan member who voluntarily participated died without exception!

Toma Sato's face was etched with fear. He was Toma Senju's confidant, having followed him onto the battlefield.

Toma Sato was a few years older than Toma Senju. He had personally witnessed the horrific state of the test subjects back then. They were beyond recognition, writhing in agony, and the sight had terrified the young Toma Sato for days, causing him to have nightmares.

"The Uchiha have already climbed over the Senju!"

"I need more power to reclaim the position of Hokage in the future!"

Toma Senju's face was filled with resentment. Uchiha Nan's mocking expression at the time had completely broken Toma Senju.

"What about Mito-sama?"

"Keep your mouth shut about Mother. I'll handle it when the time comes."

Toma Senju waved his hand, unwilling to dwell on the matter any further.