Leaving a Letter Behind

"What? How is that possible!?"

Uchiha Rettou somewhat shocked. Uchiha Nara, the clan leader with the highest number of votes in the Konoha Jonin Class, wasn't even a candidate for Hokage.

"Hmm, the list sent by Sarutobi Hiruzen Orochimaru (one of the Konoha Sannin), Tsunade (another Legendary Konoha Sannin Konoha), Jiraiya's disciple (one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha), Minato Namikaze (the Yellow Flash Namikaze Minato), and Hatake Sakumo the White Fang of Konoha). These are the only four candidates for the Fourth Hokage."

The Daimyo covered his mouth with his folding fan and spoke softly.

The Daimyo was happy to see Konoha's internal strife and openly revealed confidential information.

Although the Daimyo didn't dare to provoke Third Hokage too much, it wouldn't hurt to give him a little attention.

"This Jonin Uchiha Nara, is known as the Asura of Konoha. I've heard of Mr. Uchiha Nara's fame even in the Capital City. Hehehe, I think becoming Hokage shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Daimyo words seemed to be stirring up trouble, yet his tone was remarkably gentle.

"Daimyo Highness, Clan Head Uchiha Nara is the candidate voted for by the Konoha Jonin Class. He is the one with the most support from the Konoha Jonin and is the most popular candidate for the Fourth Hokage. Please investigate carefully."

Uchiha Rettou regained his composure. The news from the Daimyo was too shocking, and he needed to deliver it to the clan head Uchiha Nara, as soon as possible so that Uchiha Nara mentally.

Uchiha Rettou's anger surged. He had gained a new understanding of the Third Hokage's shamelessness and wished he could cut this hypocrite who claimed to be working for Konoha in two.

"Reto- kun, I understand what you're saying. I'll ask the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, and urge him to submit Uchiha Nara's resume and file."

However, if Konoha's Shura, Uchiha Naraku, were to come to the capital, he could submit his resume himself. Shura of Konoha is renowned; we would know him even without seeing his resume. But the proper procedures would still need to be followed."

The Land of Fire Daimyo said softly, "The so-called decision by the Daimyo is just a formality. Yellow Flash Namikaze Minato's resume and profile card have been specially noted by Sarutobi Hiruzen as someone who could become the Fourth Hokage."

Even the Daimyo dared not disobey the Hokage's opinion. Originally, it was just a formality to announce the Hokage candidate and then issue the imperial edict.

Looking at Uchiha Rettou below the stage, the Daimyo felt that this election for the Fourth Hokage might be quite interesting.

"Forget it, we've all heard about Konoha's Shura, Uchiha Naraku's, resume. We'll just write one ourselves. These chakra armors are nice, I like them a lot, so we'll leave them here."

After saying his Daimyo, he waved and turned to leave.

"You may all leave now! Guards!"

Kazuma, the Guardian Ninja Kazuma, gathered his Chakra in his throat and shouted. Many of his followers and guards rushed to assemble upon hearing Kazuma's summons.

"After inventorying all one hundred sets of armor, store them in the Armory."

After finishing his instructions to Kazuma, he ignored Uchiha Rettou and Chubei and turned to chase after the Daimyo.

Uchiha Rettou's face was flushed, and the veins on his forehead throbbed, showing his anger.

"Lord Reto, Daimyo has accepted the gift. Let us leave now, lest we offend the Daimyo."

Seeing that Uchiha Rettou's expression was off, Chubei tugged at Reto's sleeve.

Reto nodded in understanding, and the group turned and left.

The Daimyo holds immense prestige in the eyes of ordinary people. Legend has it that the Daimyo is half-human Demigod, and has ruled the Land of Fire for generations. His bloodline has been passed down for thousands of years, and no one dares to offend him.

Even the increasingly unruly ninjas still revered the Daimyo.

After Kazuma quickly caught up with the Daimyo, he had some suspicions about the Daimyo's acceptance of the gift, and whispered to the Daimyo from behind:

"Your Daimyo, are you planning to divide Konoha?"

The Daimyo nodded, covered his mouth with his folding fan, and said:

"The Third Hokage and the Jonin Uchiha Nara are clearly two interest groups. Although I live in the palace, I am very clear about the history of the Senju and Uchiha."

The Senju clan has held the Hokage Position for too long, and they've become increasingly arrogant and unruly. As the Daimyo, it's time for me to put them in charge.

"Your Highness, it should have been done long ago! The Land of Fire should not have two jewels coexisting. The Daimyo has ruled the Land of Fire for a thousand years. The Land of Fire should only have one jewel, and that is you!"

The Daimyo glanced at Kazuma. Daimyo didn't doubt Kazuma's loyalty, but Kazuma's thinking was too simplistic and crude.

Do you think the Konoha can control tens of thousands of ninja in Daimyo? If he displeases Konoha has plenty of ways to make the Daimyo die suddenly and replace Daimyo.

"This Konoha Shura, Uchiha Naraku, is not bad. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was nominated, but Uchiha Naraku wasn't even on the list for the Fourth Hokage. Oh ho ho ho, that's really interesting."

"I think this Jonin Uchiha Nara, is pretty good; the Chakra Armor he gave me is a very thoughtful gift."

The Daimyo dared not offend Konoha, but it was insignificant to vent his anger over such a trivial matter, such as the Daimyo's nomination of Uchiha Nara the Fourth Hokage.

As for who will become Hokage, that will depend on the struggles within Konoha itself. At least Uchiha Nara knows how to offer gifts and treasures to himself.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others, though seemingly respectful, actually don't take me seriously at all, especially Danzo Shimura, the Third Hokage's Shimura Danzō, who is arrogant and rampant.

The fact that the Daimyo ultimately accepted Uchiha Nara's gift demonstrates his interest in the matter and in Uchiha Nara.

Outside Konoha

As dawn broke and the rising sun slowly ascended, Naraku in wait atop the treetops, his four squads lying in ambush, awaiting the arrival of the Root.

Naraku looked very unwell. After returning to the Senju Estate early yesterday morning, he found a letter left by Tsunade on the table in Tsunade's house.

The letter roughly stated that Tsunade was somewhat worried about the change of the Fourth Hokage, so she was in a bad mood. She wanted to support Naraku, but she didn't dare to disobey her teacher.

So he left the village, telling Naraku to be careful and not to think about him. Naraku pondered the letter several times, only getting one meaning out of it.

"Tsunade without saying goodbye, leaving behind this letter. Does that mean she's dumped me?"

The more Naraku thought about this, the more grim his expression became. He hadn't been able to concentrate on his work at the Military Police Force during the day, and now he had been lying in ambush here for most of the night without seeing anyone.

Naraku a terrible mood. He had been looking forward to the arrival of the Root ninjas so that he could kill these scoundrels and vent his anger.

"What kind of Root? I thought they were vengeful, but we haven't caught them in two nights. They're just a bunch of useless idiots."

Naraku's constitution meant he could go without sleep for days and nights without any problems, but failing to get a chance to seduce someone for two consecutive nights, coupled with the matter of Tsunade, left Naraku feeling somewhat depressed and short of breath.

Naraku took out Tsunade's letter again and began to read it by the Gekko.

"The Hokage isn't from the Sarutobi Clan, so isn't a normal election perfectly normal? Tsunade even promised to support me before."

Could it be that lecherous old man Sarutobi Hiruzen said something to Tsunade? Otherwise, there's no reason for Tsunade to leave the village. "Be careful, doesn't Tsunade know my Tsunade perfectly well?"

The more Naraku read the letter in his hand, the more his brows furrowed.

"Tsunade, does this mean she's dumped me?"

Naraku lit a flame in his hand and burned the letter, no longer thinking about these emotional matters, and turned his mind to the Hokage election.

"It's almost time to depart for the Capital City. Reto should have completed the task I assigned him by now."