Hokage Candidate

In the middle of the night, Kurenai, having finished her battle with Xuandou, hurried away.

Pakura walked in immediately afterward, standing by the bed and looking down at him with a gaze full of disdain.

"You really are a lecher!"

Xuandou raised an eyebrow and rolled over to sit up.

"Oh? A lecher?"

Before his voice had even faded, his hands were already forming seals.

"Yin Seal: Slave Seal!"

The moment the Slave Seal was activated, lightning-attribute chakra surged from the mark on her lower abdomen, slithering into Pakura's body like fine, dense electric snakes.

"Nn~!"

Caught off guard, Pakura's legs snapped together, her body went limp, and she collapsed onto the floor.

She bit her lip, looking up at Xuandou with eyes full of irritation, yet she was unable to speak.

Xuandou stood up, walked over to her, and bent down to scoop her into his arms.

The bed was in a state of disarray, but he didn't care, gently laying her down.

"Since you put it that way."

He leaned in close to her ear, his voice low.

"Then let me show you what a real lecher is like."

The next morning.

Xuandou opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.

He glanced to the side; Pakura was still curled up in the blankets, faint red marks visible on her exposed shoulders and arms.

Her entire body was sore and weak, and she was sleeping soundly.

Xuandou smiled, got dressed, and pushed the door open to head out.

Just as he stepped out of the house, a figure landed before him.

It was an Anbu directly under the Hokage, wearing an animal mask and kneeling on one knee:

"Lord Xuandou, the Hokage requests your presence."

Xuandou nodded and, lost in thought, followed him toward the Hokage Building.

When Xuandou entered the conference room, most of the people were already there.

Xuandou found a seat and scanned the room.

Xuandou keenly noticed that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was sitting in a side seat, while the main seat remained empty.

Judging by this setup, it was clear that someone of great importance was expected.

Danzo sat in the corner, his face devoid of expression.

After a while, the door was pushed open.

A middle-aged man dressed in a luxurious kimono with a katana at his waist walked in.

He had a fair complexion, his eyebrows were slightly arched, a faint, ambiguous smile played on his lips, and his eyes held a condescending air.

Behind him followed two guards: one was a young man with blonde hair and a cigarette in his mouth, who was none other than Sarutobi Asuma.

The other was a young man with a shaved head wearing monk's robes, who was Chiriku.

Seeing this man enter, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately stood up and introduced him to everyone:

"This is Lord Isayama Komon, the chamberlain to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. Everyone, please welcome him."

The group rose one after another to offer their respects.

Isayama Komon merely nodded faintly in return.

He walked to the main seat but did not sit down; instead, he pulled a scroll from his sleeve, unfurled it, cleared his throat, and read aloud:

"By the decree of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire: The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, having served for many years with both merits and failures during the war, is granted one additional year as Hokage in recognition of his hard work. Upon the expiration of this year, he shall retire, and a new Hokage shall be selected."

Having finished reading, he closed the scroll and handed it casually to Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him.

The conference room fell silent for a moment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took the scroll, his expression calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

The failure of the war had led him to anticipate this outcome long ago.

Being able to serve for one more year was, in fact, thanks to the credit of Minato and Xuandou, which was already much better than he had expected.

Danzo, however, was different.

He kept his head lowered, but his eyes brightened, and he could barely suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

If a new Hokage was to be selected in a year, did that not mean he would have a chance?

Isayama Komon showed no intention of sitting down, his gaze sweeping across the crowd as he spoke in a tone as casual as if he were making small talk:

"Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Gento, are you present?"

A young man with golden hair stood up, his smile gentle; it was none other than Namikaze Minato.

Uchiha Gento also rose to his feet and gave him a nod.

Isayama Komon looked the two of them up and down, an expression of appreciation appearing on his face.

"The Daimyo has heard of your performance in the war and is very satisfied. He intends to make you both candidates for the next Hokage. Keep up the good work."

Minato bowed slightly:

"Thank you for your high regard, my lord."

Uchiha Gento followed suit with a bow.

Isayama Komon nodded, his gaze shifting away from them as if he were preparing to leave.

Shimura Danzō suddenly stood up:

"My lord, during this war, I joined forces with Hanzo the Salamander to thwart an organization in the Land of Rain called the 'Akatsuki,' and we even killed their leader, Yahiko. This is no small contribution, is it? I wonder if the Daimyo has mentioned allowing me to participate in the race for the next Hokage?"

Isayama Komon turned his head and glanced at him.

The look was indifferent, as if he were observing an insignificant passerby.

"Hmm... what is your name?"

The corner of Shimura Danzō's mouth twitched.

"I am Shimura Danzō."

"Oh, the Daimyo did not mention you."

Isayama Komon waved his hand.

"Besides, you are too old."

Shimura Danzō clenched his fists, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something more.

Isayama Komon did not give him the chance, turning directly to walk out:

"My time is precious, so I will not stay here any longer."

Two guards followed him, and the door closed behind them.

The group looked at one another, no one speaking.

Finally, Hiruzen broke the silence.

He gave a light cough, his tone calm:

"It is time for this old man to step down as well. However, in this final year, I will still see to it that what needs to be done is done."

Uchiha Gento sat in his seat, his thoughts racing.

In the original story, Hiruzen was forced to step down as soon as the war ended.

Now, because of the changes he had brought about, Konoha had defeated the Land of Wind, and Hiruzen had actually gained an extra year in office.

It seemed the Daimyo, out of consideration for his years of service if not his recent achievements, wanted to give him a dignified exit.

Hiruzen continued:

"The war has ended, and many ninja have returned to the village. Having spent so long on the battlefield, some have brought that barbaric atmosphere back with them. Recently, public order in Konoha has deteriorated; fights, brawls, and harassment of the citizenry occur from time to time."

He looked at Uchiha Gento:

"The Uchiha Police Force will have to work harder, strengthen patrols, and suppress these wayward trends."

Uchiha Gento stood up, lowered his head, and replied:

"As you command, Lord Hokage. I will urge Fugaku to keep a close watch on things when I return."

Hiruzen nodded:

"Very well, the meeting is adjourned."

The group rose one after another and left.

Shimura Danzō watched the retreating figures of Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Gento, his eyes filled with malice.

He returned to the Root base and waved his hand; a masked figure emerged from the shadows and knelt on one knee.

"Send a few people to investigate Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Gento."

"Find out everything about their pasts, piece by piece, and compile it for me."

"Yes."

The dark figure flashed and vanished into the darkness.

On the other side, Uchiha Gento left the Hokage Building and walked along the street toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

As he walked, he pondered what had just happened.

With the Hokage re-election in one year, both he and Namikaze Minato were candidates.

Namikaze Minato was upright, powerful, and highly popular; not only had he achieved military merit just like him, but more importantly, he was Hiruzen's grand-student.

According to the unwritten rules regarding the position of Hokage, his chances were likely slim to none.

That was just as well; the seat of Hokage was a hot potato right now, hardly a desirable position.

Just as he was thinking this, a commotion broke out ahead.

Xuandou looked up to see a crowd gathered at the street corner, noisy and boisterous.

He walked over and pushed through the crowd to get a look inside.

Two young men wearing the vests of the Uchiha Police Force were pinning a drunken man to the ground. The man was still struggling, cursing under his breath.

Sitting on the ground nearby was a woman, her clothes disheveled, head bowed as she sobbed softly.

Xuandou frowned and stepped forward:

"What is going on here?"