To Repay My Debts, I'll Become Hokage!

"Chonhua, call me Uncle Ryutai."

"...Yes, Uncle Ryutai. I wonder, is there something you needed me for today?"

Uchiha Ryutai feigned dissatisfaction upon hearing this and said, "Can't you come over if there isn't a reason? Chonhua, you should come find Mikoto to play more often. That child is very close to you; ever since she started at the Ninja Academy, she's been muttering your name at home every single day."

Uchiha Ryutai tapped his right ear and laughed, "My ears are practically calloused from hearing it."

Are you sure you didn't just make that up?

Uchiha Chonhua was skeptical; he only felt that Uchiha Ryutai was using his relationship with Mikoto to get closer to him.

Regarding this, Uchiha Chonhua naturally nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Uncle Ryutai. I will come to play with Mikoto more often in the future."

"Mm, that's right."

Uchiha Ryutai nodded with satisfaction, then took out an exquisite wooden box and handed it to Uchiha Chonhua.

Uchiha Chonhua took it and looked at the other man in confusion.

What kind of tactic is this? Starting off with gift-giving right away?

"Sigh."

Uchiha Ryutai suddenly sighed, "I have already sent those six people to prison. I will ensure they receive the necessary punishment. It was my own failure to properly oversee clan affairs; I only learned of this incident through my daughter, Mikoto."

The truth was that he had learned the full scope of the event from his subordinate, Uchiha Muze, but it was indeed Mikoto who had arranged for Uchiha Muze to secretly protect Uchiha Chonhua.

Uchiha Chonhua's parents both knew that some individuals within the clan were dissatisfied with his frequent visits to the Senju Compound, and anyone with a mind to notice could easily find out.

Uchiha Mikoto was one of those observant people.

Ever since she heard that some people were displeased with Uchiha Chonhua and might take risks to bully him, Uchiha Mikoto had instructed Uchiha Muze to protect him from the shadows.

However, Uchiha Chonhua's strength had exceeded all their expectations.

A five-year-old child actually capable of defeating six genin—what kind of innate talent was this?

When Uchiha Ryutai first heard the news, his mind was full of disbelief, but under the guarantees of his subordinate, he had no choice but to believe it.

The five-year-old child before him already possessed the strength of a genin. Such brilliant and stunning talent immediately made Uchiha Ryutai consider winning him over.

He really had to thank his daughter, Mikoto; a simple act of protecting a classmate had allowed him to be the first to discover such a genius.

"There are two ninjutsu inside. This is my apology, please accept it."

Uchiha Chonhua declined, "Uncle Ryutai, please take it back. It was those six people who had dark intentions; it has nothing to do with you, and there is absolutely no need to apologize to me."

Uchiha Ryutai pressed down on the wooden box being pushed toward him and firmly pushed it back.

"A mistake is a mistake. No need to say more; Chonhua, just accept it with peace of mind."

Uchiha Chonhua took the box in stride and said modestly, "Alright, I will accept it then. Please don't take this matter to heart, Uncle Ryutai."

"However, Uncle Ryutai, do you have no objections to me frequently visiting the Senju Compound?"

Uchiha Ryutai picked up a cup of sake and laughed, "Of course I have no objections. Chonhua, I am different from some people in the clan. Set your mind at ease; not only will I not stop you from going to the Senju Compound, on the contrary, I hope you go there more often."

"Chonhua, the Uchiha clan and the Senju clan were once mortal enemies, but now, we are all part of Konoha."

"We are the Uchiha clan of Konoha. Do you understand?"

Uchiha Chonhua nodded; he understood.

The Uchiha Ryutai before him belonged to the faction within the Uchiha clan that was close to the Konoha administration.

He was happy to see Uchiha Chonhua's behavior of frequently visiting the Senju Compound.

Uchiha Ryutai inwardly mocked those Uchiha clansmen who couldn't see reality clearly and remained intoxicated by the glory of the past.

Following their hardline ideology, the Uchiha would only face destruction, not become stronger.

This was no longer an era where ninja clans fought their own separate wars.

In this big family of Konoha, there were ninja clans of all sizes. Could their Uchiha really stand against the entire Konoha as a single clan?

Uchiha Ryutai felt from the bottom of his heart that it was impossible. Since they couldn't dominate Konoha alone, getting closer to the Konoha administration would ultimately do no harm.

"I heard your dream is to become Hokage?"

Uchiha Chonhua nodded and said with longing, "I love Konoha, I love everyone here, I love everything about this place. I want to protect them."

Uchiha Chonhua stated firmly, "I want to become Hokage."

Uchiha Ryutai clapped and laughed, "A fine dream. Once upon a time, my dream was also to become Hokage."

Is that true or not?

Uchiha Chonhua wore a look of agreement, but deep down, he didn't believe it.

In the early years of Konoha, the authority of the Hokage was not as stable or deeply rooted in people's hearts as it was now. To say that Uchiha Ryutai's dream back then was to become Hokage?

Heh.

"There are many things one needs to prepare to become Hokage. First and foremost is the extraordinary strength that makes people praise and believe in you."

Uchiha Ryutai beckoned Uchiha Chonhua to rise, and the two crossed the corridor together, arriving in the courtyard.

"Let me test your strength."

"Father, Chonhua is a guest in our home for the first time, no fighting allowed!"

Clatter!

Mikoto Uchiha slid open the door and ran out from another room, looking at her father, Uchiha Ryutai, with dissatisfaction.

"Sigh, my dear daughter, why did you run out?" Uchiha Ryutai patted Mikoto's small head. "Doesn't this confirm the fact that you were eavesdropping?"

"Ah!"

Mikoto Uchiha let out a startled cry, turning around with a face full of shame.

Uchiha Chonhua returned a gentle smile.

He had long since sensed Mikoto Uchiha eavesdropping in the adjacent room. Since her father hadn't stopped her, he certainly wouldn't overstep his bounds to drive her away.

Besides, this was his first meeting with Uchiha Ryutai; they wouldn't be discussing anything too deep anyway.

This kind of eavesdropping was harmless.

"It's fine, Mikoto, just remember to be more careful next time."

"I'm sorry, Chonhua."

Mikoto Uchiha let out a sigh of relief, then glared at her father with her willow eyebrows arched.

"No fighting. It's Chonhua's first time here, we must treat him well."

"Mother has already prepared the meal. Father, Chonhua, let's go eat."

Uchiha Ryutai shook his head, feeling a sense of regret. "Sigh, I really wanted to see Chonhua's strength, but Mikoto is right. We shouldn't resort to force during a first meeting; we should treat our guest to a delicious meal."

"Chonhua, let's leave the test of strength for next time. You should come over often. You've received two ninjutsu—if there is anything you don't understand, come and ask me."

Chapter 17: The Fate of Sunagakure

At night, Uchiha Chonhua opened the exquisite box to examine the two ninjutsu.

One was a C-rank Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique, and the other was a B-rank Shadow Clone Technique.

Uchiha Chonhua tossed them aside casually.

Possessing the Uchiha Itachi character card, he had already mastered both of these techniques.

What was truly useful was Uchiha Ryutai's offer to let him ask questions if he didn't understand something.

As a Jonin of the Uchiha clan, his experience and knowledge were far more valuable to Uchiha Chonhua.

He could go to ask for advice, but not too often.

Although Ryutai was considered part of the pro-Konoha faction, he ultimately prioritized the interests of the Uchiha clan.

The persona Uchiha Chonhua was currently crafting was one that transcended clan interests, loyal solely to the interests of the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Human hearts are unpredictable; becoming too deeply entangled with the Uchiha clan would easily cause Sarutobi Hiruzen to harbor ulterior motives, which would be disadvantageous to him.

Some time later, Sarutobi Hiruzen came to the Ninja Academy to give a lecture.

After class, Sarutobi Hiruzen gathered the top ten students of the grade to offer them words of encouragement one by one.

When it was Uchiha Chonhua's turn, Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a look of gratification.

"Chonhua, keep working hard. Although you are excellent as the top of your grade, you must not slack off."

Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Uchiha Chonhua on the shoulder and smiled. "I have been keeping an eye on you."

Uchiha Chonhua acted like a fanatical fan meeting their idol, his voice trembling with excitement as he responded.

"Yes! I will study hard and will not let down the expectations of the Hokage!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with a smile, then took out a scroll and handed it to Uchiha Chonhua.

"This is the reward for being top of the grade: the B-rank Shadow Clone Technique."

"It's actually a B-rank ninjutsu, Lord Hokage, this is too precious!"

Uchiha Chonhua appeared incredibly moved, though he felt no ripples in his heart.

The ninjutsu Sarutobi Hiruzen was gifting him was also the Shadow Clone Technique; Uchiha Chonhua didn't know what to say.

"Accept it. Your grades are excellent, so you deserve it. I have high hopes for you."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"

Afterward, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave Namikaze Minato and Mikoto Uchiha each a C-rank ninjutsu before leaving.

"Minato, Mikoto, let's study the Shadow Clone Technique together."

Uchiha Chonhua extended the invitation, but Namikaze Minato quickly refused. "That wouldn't be right; it's your reward."

"Precisely because it is my reward, once it is in my hands, it is up to me how to handle it!"

Seeing Namikaze Minato still hesitating, Uchiha Chonhua spoke as if dissatisfied. "Alright, Minato, don't refuse. I have already learned the Shadow Clone Technique long ago. This ninjutsu is useless to me, so there is no harm in you taking it to learn."

"How about this, why don't you show me that ninjutsu of yours?"

"One B-rank, one C-rank..."

Namikaze Minato looked a bit troubled, but seeing Uchiha Chonhua getting slightly annoyed, his voice trailed off: "Alright, alright, sorry, Chonhua, I'm making you take the short end of the stick."

"Has Chonhua already mastered the Shadow Clone Technique so quickly?"

Mikoto Uchiha stood to the side, stunned. The ninjutsu had only been handed over a few days ago, and he had already learned it?

However, given Chonhua's feat of defeating six genin, his talent and aptitude had already been verified; thinking about it carefully, it was quite reasonable for him to master the Shadow Clone Technique so rapidly.

"Then I shall share the ninjutsu I obtained."

In the end, the three of them learned the reward ninjutsu obtained by the others.

Namikaze Minato's was Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, while Mikoto Uchiha's was Fire Release: Flame Meteor.

One blew out a powerful gale, while the other spat out a continuous stream of small fireballs.

Uchiha Chonhua had long since tested his chakra natures: Fire and Lightning.

The chakra natures of the inherited Itachi Uchiha character card were Fire, Wind, and Water.

He could also learn Namikaze Minato's wind-style ninjutsu.

Everyone possessed Yin and Yang natures, though the inclinations varied in degree, so Uchiha Chonhua was only missing the Earth nature to complete all seven.

Whether he could obtain it would depend on the ninja world character card he drew after graduating and becoming a genin.

Word spread that Uchiha Ryutai, the second-in-command of the Uchiha clan, thought highly of Uchiha Chonhua.

Now, as Uchiha Chonhua walked through the clan compound, he could feel gazes fixed upon him from every direction.

He turned a blind eye to them, having long anticipated that such a situation would arise.

Since Uchiha Ryutai was courting him by showing favor for his potential, he naturally intended to leave the mark of his faction upon him.