Jiraiya Returns to Vie for the Hokage Position! The Son of a Scapegoat Is Still a Scapegoat! [Two-in-One] (Continued)

After the meeting ended, there was no way to keep the decision to ease some restrictions on low-level ninjutsu a secret.

More than a fifth of the people at the meeting had come from civilian backgrounds. The leader of the civilian ninja had once been the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who had promoted a large number of civilian ninja during his short time in office.

After Minato Namikaze's death, the most influential figures among the civilian ninja were undoubtedly Orochimaru and Jiraiya. But Jiraiya had left the village, leaving Orochimaru as the only leader the civilian ninja had.

Clan ninja banded together, and so did civilian ninja. After all, humans were social creatures. They knew that sticking together gave them a better chance of survival, and whenever people banded together, a leader naturally emerged.

So when Orochimaru, the leader of the civilians, secured benefits for civilian ninja, it was only natural that they would spread the word.

"So that's what this is about. Orochimaru teamed up with the Uchiha Clan because he wants the Hokage Position!"

"Orochimaru is clearly making a deal with the devil. He has no idea how dangerous the Uchiha Clan is. If he really becomes Hokage, he might end up as their puppet."

"If we try to stop him, we could spark a civil war."

"We absolutely cannot let Orochimaru become Hokage. A civil war would still be better than Konoha's collapse."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were in the middle of a heated discussion.

They had originally planned to come and give the Uchiha a scolding today. But they hadn't expected the Uchiha to bring up their rights, passed down since ancient times. The ninjutsu Konoha used as rewards belonged to the Uchiha in the first place, so it was hard to justify forbidding them from selling it.

Then Orochimaru had stepped forward, causing an even bigger stir. He had spoken up for the interests and lives of civilian ninja, while the Uchiha had also given up their own gains.

The biggest problem was that Sarutobi Hiruzen was always talking about civilian ninja. Now that the issue had come up, if he actually prohibited it, the civilian ninja would undoubtedly abandon him and throw their support behind Orochimaru. They were Sarutobi Hiruzen's base of support.

Danzo had used the Hokage's authority to suppress many of the great clans. How could those clans fail to see it? Without Sarutobi Hiruzen's permission, how would Danzo have dared treat them that way? Naturally, they were eager to see Sarutobi Hiruzen take a hit.

And the source of that confidence was the vast number of civilian ninja. They could easily replace the middle-ranked ninja from those great clans, while the middle and small clans could still produce Jonin. If you wouldn't do the job, plenty of pawns would!

The only ones in a difficult position now were the middle and small clans. Their ninja made up about thirty percent of the middle-ranked ninja. Chunin was the limit for them, and the first step in the rise of civilian ninja was taking their jobs.

They had some influence, but not much. The higher-ups didn't have a particularly large share of Jonin; their numbers were less than twice those of the civilian ninja, and most of them came from the great clans.

"The real problem now is the Akatsuki."

"If they really take over Amegakure, and Uchiha Madara really is hiding among them, the Fourth Great Ninja War could break out."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was reading the intelligence Anbu had sent back.

They had already captured five runaway ninja from Amegakure, and the information they had obtained was consistent: Hanzo was probably dead.

The famous ninja of the Second Great Ninja War, the Demigod of the Shinobi World, had really fallen just like that?

"Hiruzen, I think it's time to bring Jiraiya back."

"He didn't want to shoulder the responsibility back then, so his student, Minato Namikaze, took it on instead. But Konoha is in a crisis now."

"Things are relatively calm between Orochimaru and the Uchiha. They want to compete within the village, so we can use Jiraiya to keep them in check and buy ourselves some peace. If war really breaks out, we can have the two of them lead forces into battle. We can send Orochimaru and the Uchiha Clan to the most dangerous front, giving Jiraiya an opportunity."

"Rather than fighting a civil war, it's better to direct our strength against outside enemies. That would be best for Konoha."

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and laid out his plan.

He was very familiar with this approach. They had used the same tactics against the Senju Clan back in the day. Without the approval of the higher-ups, how could they have pulled it off?

"Exactly. Whatever happens, we can't let Orochimaru keep winning people over. He needs someone to compete against him. Besides, we're the ones who get to make the final decision, aren't we?"

Utatane Koharu agreed with the plan.

Sarutobi Hiruzen considered it for a moment, then nodded. He decided to go ahead with it.

The situation outside the village was indeed more pressing than the one within. As long as Orochimaru and the Uchiha didn't start a rebellion outright, they could take their time dealing with them. And as Hokage, he would have more room to maneuver in wartime.

"Have Anbu contact Jiraiya and tell him to return to Konoha at full speed."

"At the same time, send more ninja to the border of the Land of Rain, as well as an Anbu squad to confirm whether Hanzo is really dead."

Sarutobi Hiruzen issued his orders.

He had considered sending Uchiha Gin on the mission, but after much hesitation, he decided against it.

They had already lost one Mangekyo Sharingan wielder, and there was still another possible survivor, an old monster, out there. If they lost another Mangekyo, Konoha would truly be in trouble. The Uchiha were like mules that only moved when coaxed, so it was better not to provoke them.

"These old men really can't keep up with the times."

Orochimaru and Uchiha Gin were enjoying a meal in a private room at the Uchiha restaurant.

Three days had passed since the meeting, and the village was in quite a commotion.

But the decision to make ninjutsu easier for civilian ninja to learn had been spun into a joint achievement for Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen, split evenly between them. The Uchiha had been completely overlooked.

If Danzo were still around, the rumor might have become that Sarutobi Hiruzen deserved all the credit. Danzo had always been better at spreading rumors.

"They're just set in their ways."

"Now we can start acting a little more freely."

Uchiha Gin said.

This was only the beginning.

Yesterday, he had also received intelligence from Shisui through the Ninja Cat network.

He knew the Akatsuki had made quite a stir, and that Obito had captured Danzo.

Uchiha Gin wasn't in a hurry. He had a feeling Konoha would be more worried than he was. This situation also suited the Uchiha's plans, and he couldn't send Shisui any messages anyway. As long as Shisui stayed alive, that was enough.

"Civilians alone can't shake the Hokage Position."

"Are you sure about the Hyuga Clan?"

Orochimaru took a bite of his Molecular Ice Cream, looking pleased, then asked.

"I've arranged to meet them tonight. The civilians are just a pretext. In the end, the great nobles of the Land of Fire and the Daimyo decide who becomes Hokage. We've already made plans for all of that."

"The Uchiha Clan is about to undergo Gene Completion on a large scale. Their strength should increase significantly. They ought to reach the point where, in the First Hokage's era, the Uchiha Clan accounted for a third of the village's strength."

Uchiha Gin nodded.

Over the past few days, he had found an opportunity to have Blue Star control a member of Hyuga Hiashi's bodyguard team and pass along a request for a private meeting.

The reason Uchiha Gin didn't care about the other clans was that he planned to drag the Hyuga Clan into this. Besides, these were only precautionary measures. Their real reliance was their own strength.

"You're clearly better at all this than I am. It's a shame you can't take the Hokage Position."

Orochimaru truly meant it.

Now he wanted even more to get his hands on Uchiha Madara's cells and study them properly. So souls really could be reincarnated, bringing such tremendous power with them.

Uchiha Gin had told him to pay more attention to analyzing chakra. Now he understood why: chakra could be treated as a vessel for the soul's reincarnation, carrying so much information. He had vaguely considered the idea before. His reincarnation method with the Heavenly Cursed Seal was somewhat similar to Karma, though he used fragments of his soul directly as the medium for reincarnation.

But his recent research had also shown him that progress was getting harder and harder. There were too many tedious, repetitive tests, and they wasted his time. Becoming Hokage and reforming scientific research was what he wanted most now.

"Let one of you Hokage's students inherit the position."

Uchiha Gin was a little put off. The Hokage was the very embodiment of hypocrisy.

Once the Uchiha had completed their Gene Completion, they would be strong enough to leave the village if they wanted. But Konoha was the Uchiha's ancestral home, so why should they run?

He was still waiting for Konoha to make money so he could get his share and buy gemstones!

He still hadn't even raised half the funds to make his Mystic Code, but now he could start taking action.

Orochimaru shrugged and prepared to return to his tedious experiments. He had already begun analyzing the information contained in the chakra of the First Hokage Cells.

That evening, in the courtyard where Hyuga Hiashi lived, Hyuga Hiashi opened the door to the tea room. He sat on the tatami with his legs folded beneath him, eyes closed as if deep in thought.

Suddenly, Hyuga Hiashi opened his eyes, a look of shock crossing his face. Uchiha Gin had appeared before him without him noticing.

"I believe I arrived on time."

Uchiha Gin spoke as he sat down without ceremony.

The pattern in his pupils caught Hyuga Hiashi's attention. Mangekyo Sharingan!

He had actually been unsure whether to meet Uchiha Gin. In the end, he had decided to wait and see whether Uchiha Gin could reach him.

A squad of Hyuga Clan branch members was guarding him. They took turns using the Byakugan to watch the surroundings, covering a hundred meters around the courtyard. Yet Uchiha Gin had entered just like that, without causing the slightest disturbance.

"The Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan don't exactly have a good relationship. What important matter requires us to discuss it in a way like this?"

Hyuga Hiashi was an important figure in his own right. Though he was a little on edge, he didn't think Uchiha Gin had come to assassinate him. He had only made a reasonable objection back then.

At the same time, he began preparing tea, using the task to conceal his nervousness.

"You've probably figured out what the Uchiha have been doing lately."

Uchiha Gin asked directly.

Hyuga Hiashi felt a headache coming on. He had more or less guessed what was going on. Did the Uchiha want the Hyuga to support Orochimaru, too?

He wasn't interested. As a member of a great clan, he knew that aside from Ino-Shika-Cho, the three clans entirely dependent on Sarutobi, the other great clans all hoped the situation would become more chaotic. That would make it easier for them to benefit.

After the Senju Clan fell, the ones who gained the most were the Sarutobi and Ino-Shika-Cho. The great clans like his came next, while the Uchiha were kept in check and forced to watch from the sidelines.

So this time, he wanted to do what he had done before: take no side and wait to collect whatever scraps came his way.

"If I'm not mistaken, the Uchiha want to help Orochimaru become Hokage, right?"

Still wary of Uchiha Gin, he didn't dare gamble. He decided to answer honestly.

"I want the Hyuga Clan to support Orochimaru at a crucial moment."

Uchiha Gin stated his intentions outright.

He didn't expect the Hyuga Clan to support Orochimaru wholeheartedly. He only needed them to turn against the other side at the crucial moment.

For instance, when it was time to choose a new Hokage after Sarutobi Hiruzen's death, they could support Orochimaru.

"Why should we?"

"The Hyuga Clan has always stayed out of things. We don't want to get involved in this sort of business."

Hyuga Hiashi's tone hardened.

He was afraid Uchiha Gin might attack him, but when the interests of his entire clan were at stake, he still had the courage to stand his ground.

That was the main reason the Hyuga Clan had survived to this day: make money, find ways to preserve the clan, and stay out of everything else.

The Hyuga Clan had joined Konoha because it had recognized the benefits the village offered.

"The Hyuga Clan is already Konoha's dog. Don't talk about staying out of things. When they need a scapegoat, you're the one who gets sacrificed. When they want your people to be dogs, all you can do is send your own clan members to serve under Danzo."

Uchiha Gin tore away Hyuga Hiashi's pretense without mercy.

He talked about staying out of things, but in truth, he had no choice at all.

"What did you say?"

Hyuga Hiashi was furious.

Uchiha Gin was insulting him and the Hyuga Clan.

"During the Nine-Tails Incident, the Uchiha were suppressed. You thought it was the Hyuga Clan's chance to rise and become Konoha's foremost clan."

"And then?"

"Sarutobi Hiruzen easily outmaneuvered you, forcing your younger brother to die in your place—to become a scapegoat!"

"This was nothing but a deal between Sarutobi Hiruzen and the current Fourth Raikage. He helped Fourth Raikage A eliminate his rival for the position, in exchange for a period of peace. At the same time, he used the opportunity to sabotage the Hyuga Clan, forcing you to bow your head and make your younger brother take your place as the scapegoat!"

Uchiha Gin went straight to the truth behind the death of the Kumogakure envoy less than a year ago.

The envoy had some support in Kumogakure. He could stand against Fourth Raikage A and had a chance to compete for the Raikage Position. So Fourth Raikage A and Sarutobi Hiruzen had exchanged favors and arranged for the man to be killed in Konoha.

The envoy's arrogance during his visit to Konoha might well have been part of A's scheme. Perhaps he had said that whoever could restore Kumogakure's honor in Konoha would become the next Raikage.

Hyuga Hiashi fell silent. He had suspected as much. After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo had kept pressuring him, saying that if he failed to provide an explanation, another war could break out.

"The son of a scapegoat can only become a scapegoat too. Unless you make a change, the Hyuga Clan will be wearing a dog collar forever."

Uchiha Gin might as well have been pointing at Hyuga Hiashi and cursing him.

Hyuga Hiashi clenched his fists. He badly wanted to grab Uchiha Gin and unleash the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms on him, letting him experience the power of the Gentle Fist.

But in the end, his expression crumpled, and his face showed his grief.

"Can choosing Orochimaru really change all that?"

Hyuga Hiashi asked.

"I can't explain everything to you, but Sarutobi Hiruzen got your younger brother killed. So when the time comes, will you deal him a blow?"

Uchiha Gin's answer left Hyuga Hiashi dissatisfied.