Conclusion

The Hyuga Clan's reasoning was much the same as the Uchiha's. As one of the great clans, it made no sense that they had never produced a single Hokage.

Moreover, with the Uchiha split apart and the Senju Clan gradually declining, some among the Hyuga Clan had even begun to believe that they were now Konoha's foremost clan.

There was another important reason as well: their clan head was only in his forties this year, in the prime of his life, and the most suitable candidate in Konoha to become Hokage. If they did not fight for it at a time like this, would they not be letting themselves down?

Of course, neither the Uchiha faction nor Hiruzen Sarutobi's faction paid them any attention. Leaving everything else aside, just the Hyuga Clan's utterly deplorable main-house and branch-house system alone meant that, unless it was changed, the Hokage's seat would remain beyond their reach for all eternity.

What followed was naturally a long, drawn-out period of wrangling, with neither side willing to yield. On the surface, however, Hiruzen Sarutobi's side still held the advantage. Though he was young, he had legitimacy on his side—the handpicked successor of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. That title itself was an unshakable banner.

Furthermore, the Sarutobi Clan was also a great clan. Although they had suffered rather badly at Uchiha Shin's hands around the time Konoha was founded, over the following twenty years, their clan had recovered much of its strength.

With the support of Senju Tobirama's direct line as well, the calls for him to succeed as Hokage only grew louder. And if that were not enough, the support he enjoyed among the younger generation became a force that could not be ignored.

After taking office, Senju Tobirama had deliberately weakened the influence of