To Repay My Debts, I'll Become Hokage!

To Pay Off My Debts, I Shall Become Hokage!

Author: Deep Sea Snake Skin Fish

Synopsis:

[Please become Hokage to activate the system.]

Uchiha Chonhua, a beautiful young child with tiny arms and legs, glanced at the iconic ping-pong paddle emblem on his clothes.

"...Are you sure?"

[You can take out a loan, you know.]

Many years later, Uchiha Chonhua sat on the seat of the Hokage and sighed with emotion.

"I didn't want this either; to pay off my debts, I had no choice but to become Hokage."

Volume One

Chapter 1: No-Sweat System

[Please become Hokage to activate the system.]

A mechanical voice echoed in his ears, leaving Uchiha Chonhua with a face full of helplessness.

He looked at his own tiny arms and legs, then turned his gaze to the mirror on the wardrobe.

A fair-skinned, red-lipped beautiful youth... no, a beautiful young child, his pitch-black pupils filled with speechlessness.

"...Do I look like someone who can become Hokage right now?"

"Besides, my surname is Uchiha."

Uchiha Chonhua was wearing a high-collared short-sleeved shirt identical to the one Uchiha Sasuke wore in his childhood, with the clan crest on the back—which the clan claimed was a fire fan, though to him, it looked exactly like a ping-pong paddle.

"For an Uchiha to become Hokage? System, you really have a wild imagination."

It is common knowledge that the Uchiha clan and the Senju clan jointly founded Konohagakure.

As a founding clan, many adults within the clan believed that the position of Hokage should rightfully belong to them.

Though, it was unclear where the Uchiha clan—who had been defeated by the Senju—got the delusional idea that they were entitled to the Hokage seat.

Could it be that the "bromance" between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara had given them the wrong impression?

Or perhaps the scene of the alliance between the Senju and Uchiha clans made them feel that the Uchiha hadn't actually lost, but rather fought to a draw, with both sides suffering losses and reaching a stalemate, leading them to form an alliance for the safety of their kin, the peace of the Land of Fire, and the stability of the ninja world?

If they truly thought that, the Uchiha shouldn't be called the "Crazed Clan," but rather the "Delusional Clan"!

Regardless of how one looks at it, in short, all in all.

After the passing of Senju Hashirama—who only had a stress response toward the village but otherwise possessed a heart of great love for all—the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama and his successor, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, both displayed varying degrees of vigilance and precaution toward the Uchiha clan.

For him, someone born into the Uchiha clan, to become Hokage?

Shimura Danzō would reveal a ferocious grin, Sarutobi Hiruzen would watch silently with a kind smile, and Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu would remain expressionless while secretly giving a thumbs-down in their hearts.

It's a death trap!

[As long as the host becomes Hokage and activates the system, you will have nothing to fear; it will be a piece of cake!]

The system's voice remained mechanical, yet Uchiha Chonhua seemed to hear a heroic arrogance, as if it were saying, "The high-ranking officials of Konoha are nothing but heads waiting to be lopped off."

"...But I don't have the ability. I think you should find another client, System."

The year was 27 since the founding of Konoha, and if nothing went wrong, the Second Shinobi World War was already brewing.

He said he lacked the ability, which wasn't to say he was completely useless, but he certainly wasn't a genius.

To become Hokage, one must establish great achievements and accumulate prestige; otherwise, who would submit to your rule?

Even if one were to force their way into the hall, ignore the rules of the court, and demand absolute authority, one would still need the overwhelming, crushing martial power to silence any dissent.

"I'm overthinking this. I'm actually considering how to become Hokage."

Uchiha Chonhua snapped back to reality; had he been influenced by the system's words?

"Instead of the Hokage, I should be thinking about how to survive the upcoming Second Shinobi World War; that is the proper path."

[Host, as long as you become Hokage and obtain Ninja Character Cards, any war will be a piece of cake!]

"...Ninja Character Cards? Don't tell me you're a pay-to-win gacha system."

The system fell silent.

Well, Uchiha Chonhua was certain: the system was definitely a pay-to-win gacha system.

"System, what do you think about me becoming a 'Hokage of One'?"

[...Host, the system does not accept bug exploits.]

"Tch."

Uchiha Chonhua felt the system wasn't progressive enough; it needed to be more flexible!

"Well, that's that then. Although I love supernatural powers—spitting fire, wielding lightning, satisfying my old middle-school delusions—it's not worth losing my life over a single misstep."

After some thought, Uchiha Chonhua's eyes lit up, and he tapped his palm with his fist: "I've decided. I'm going to follow in my father's footsteps and become a Tempura Sage!"

[Host, don't give up!]

The system seemed a bit flustered; Uchiha Chonhua could feel its anxiety.

[I've got it! Host, I've thought of a solution!]

"Oh?" Uchiha Chonhua paused, stunned. "My mistake, you do still want to improve. Tell me, what's the plan?"

[Host can take out a loan based on your ninja rank to obtain Ninja World Character Cards. As long as you pull a powerful character card, becoming Hokage will be a piece of cake!]

"I think you should just rename yourself the No-Sweat System."

Uchiha Chonhua retorted, then asked, "What do you mean by ninja rank counts?"

[Ninja Apprentice, Genin, Chunin, Jonin—a total of four draws.]

"Does Ninja Apprentice even count as a ninja?"

[Strictly speaking, no. You don't even have a ninja headband... but, Host, tell me, do you want it or not?]

[I can help you cancel it.]

"Wait, don't cancel it. This is fine."

Uchiha Chonhua quickly stopped it. If he lost even one of his few remaining draws, he would be beating his chest in regret.

"Let me ask, once I become Hokage and activate the system, how does the gacha mechanism work?"

[After the Host becomes Hokage, the system can connect to the Ninja Mission System. D-rank missions grant 1 Primogem, C-rank 10 Primogems, B-rank 100 Primogems, and A-rank 1,000 Primogems.]

[S-rank missions grant a direct draw. One draw equals 10,000 Primogems. There is no weapon banner, no pity system, and you are guaranteed a Ninja World Character Card!]

[Friendly reminder: the system prohibits bug exploitation. You cannot customize mission ranks.]

"...Did you just say Primogems?"

Uchiha Chonhua's expression turned subtle.

[For ease of understanding, for ease of understanding.]

"Prohibits bug exploitation, but allows loans?"

[Can a loan be called a bug?]

The system felt that the Host didn't want to improve; it had already compromised to this extent.

"If I still can't become Hokage and can't pay back the loan, what happens?"

[The Host will become a member of the system. However, unlike those naturally birthed like this system, a Host turned into a debt-repaying system worker receives very poor treatment.]

"How poor?"

[Very poor. Not to mention the compound interest, if the debt isn't paid within the deadline, the Host-system's consciousness will be erased, turning it into a purely automated system.]

"Hiss." Uchiha Chonhua drew a sharp breath.

You call that "very poor"? That's just straight-up non-existence!

Uchiha Chonhua took a deep breath and calmed his expression. He needed to weigh this carefully now.

"System, what benefits do you get from obtaining Primogems?"

Although the consequences of failing to repay the loan were severe, out of caution, Uchiha Chonhua chose to ask more questions.

He had to ensure he wouldn't be scammed.

[Host, you actually doubt the system!]

Uchiha Chonhua could already imagine the system stomping its feet like Paimon.

Anger is anger, but what can one do about the Host one has chosen? Naturally, one must forgive him.

[The system can save the Primogems to upgrade itself.]

"...Huh?"

Chapter 2: My Turn, Draw!

[The system doesn't know how Primogems are made either, only that they are a mechanism created jointly by the senior systems. Oh, don't worry about things that make the system go bald.]

Do you even have a head to go bald with?

Uchiha Chonhua felt a retort bubbling up that he just had to let out.

[Anyway, after the Host becomes Hokage, create more missions to earn Primogems, then exchange them for draw counts. This is a reward prepared by the system. The system saves the Primogems to buy upgrade packs. You win, the system wins—it's a win-win!]

"...I feel like exchanging is better than drawing."

The system ignored the Host's words.

[Confirmed: Host is currently a Ninja Apprentice. Enabling loan mechanism. Current Host Primogem balance: negative 10,000.]

[Host, do you want to draw?]

Uchiha Chonhua did not speak, sitting cross-legged on the bed in deep thought for a long time.

Ninja Apprentice, Genin, Chunin, Jonin—a total of four gacha opportunities, totaling forty thousand Primogems.

If he could become the Hokage, forty thousand Primogems would not be much, and he would be able to pay them back after a period of time.

But if he could not become the Hokage...

Uchiha Chonhua shuddered, shivering at the thought of turning into a "mechanical, clank-clank, mechanical" being.

Hokage...

Wait, Uchiha Chonhua suddenly remembered that he was an Uchiha.

Uchiha Chonhua stood in front of the wardrobe mirror, turning around to look at his back, at that Uchiha ping-pong paddle clan crest.

"That's right, I am an Uchiha."

Thinking of the Uchiha Clan Massacre that would occur in a few decades, Uchiha Chonhua suddenly realized.

What was there left to think about?

It's fine, draw, draw the damn thing!

"My turn, draw!"

As the words fell, the world before his eyes changed.

A virtual screen appeared before him, featuring the familiar blue sky and white clouds, a familiar streak of light flashing by like a meteor, and a not-so-familiar golden glow.

Zero stars, he was usually used to blue and purple lights.

After a burst of sound effects, a character appeared before Uchiha Chonhua.

He wore the auspicious cloud robe of the Akatsuki, his black hair tied into a small ponytail behind him, and a slash ran across his Konoha forehead protector.

His calm, unruffled face featured two tear troughs, and his three-tomoe Sharingan were scarlet, bewitching, and shining brilliantly.