The Succession Ceremony

"Mr. Orochimaru, I hope you can set aside your prejudices against Konoha and rejoin us. I am not like Sarutobi Hiruzen; I will absolutely provide you with all the support within our power!"

Uchiha Fugaku spoke, extending the invitation.

After all, Orochimaru was one of the Sannin, possessing Kage-level strength and unfathomable methods; he was undoubtedly an extraordinary combat asset.

Uchiha Yu shook his head slightly. Even without Orochimaru saying it himself, Uchiha Yu could guess that Orochimaru would never agree.

Sure enough, Orochimaru revealed a wicked, charming smile, his voice dripping with temptation.

"Uchiha Fugaku, perhaps it is not as you think. I have never held any so-called prejudice against Sarutobi Hiruzen or Konoha; these things are merely your own assumptions." Orochimaru turned slowly. "However, you can rest assured that I will not take any strange actions, and I have a place that suits me better."

With that, Orochimaru walked slowly out of the courtyard. At this moment, all the Uchiha clansmen watched him, yet not a single person dared to stop him.

This was one of the Sannin, a ninja who had made a name for himself during the Second Ninja World War; his strength was immeasurable!

Even Uchiha Fugaku himself dared not claim he had a thirty-percent chance of winning against Orochimaru.

This scene did not exceed Uchiha Yu's expectations.

Relying on his experience from watching Shippuden countless times, Uchiha Yu understood Orochimaru quite well.

After all, even after the Fourth Ninja World War ended, Orochimaru had not returned to Konoha, choosing instead to remain in Otogakure to continue his research.

He had even turned into "Snake Auntie"!

Even if he, the perfect vessel in Orochimaru's eyes, were in Konoha, it didn't mean the man would return!

However, whether he would make any new moves in the future was impossible to say for sure.

After all, Orochimaru was, at the end of the day, a fickle character.

"Alright, time to get some rest. Tomorrow is the Hokage inauguration ceremony, and it's going to be a busy day." Seeing that Orochimaru had vanished, Uchiha Yu stretched his neck and walked toward his room.

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Yu's back and the direction in which Orochimaru had departed, then sighed.

It seemed his own charisma was simply not enough...

The next day.

The Hokage inauguration ceremony proceeded as usual. Aside from those present last night, no one knew that an assassination attempt against Uchiha Fugaku had taken place.

The four great ninja villages had all sent envoys, and even the Kazekage, Rasa, had personally brought Gaara to attend the ceremony.

Uchiha Yu walked along with his companions from the Ninja Academy. Choji, looking at Gaara standing beside Rasa in the distance, asked in confusion, "Who is that kid? He's actually standing next to the Kazekage, and... why does he look so hostile?"

Gaara seemed to sense that Choji was talking about him and whipped his head around.

A cold gaze instantly pierced toward Choji.

Choji had never experienced such terror; his whole body trembled, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He shuddered, the flesh on his face twitching for a long while.

It was only when Gaara saw Uchiha Yu walking with them that he withdrew that murderous glare, replacing it with a full-faced smile.

"Second Brother!" Gaara raised his hand to greet Uchiha Yu.

Uchiha Yu covered his face and waved his hand reluctantly.

By now, not just Uchiha Sasuke, but even Naruto, Deidara, and now even Gaara were calling him Second Brother.

Why not Big Brother...

Because Big Brother was Uchiha Itachi!

Uchiha Itachi!

How frustrating!

What is a "perennial runner-up"? This is what a perennial runner-up is!

"You know him?" Shikamaru, hands in his pockets, looked at Uchiha Yu with a puzzled expression.

Uchiha Yu nodded and said, "I met him when I went to visit Sunagakure. His identity is the son of Rasa."

"So he's the Kazekage's son. No wonder his hostility is so heavy; it turns out his dad has the power!" Choji, having recovered, exclaimed.

Uchiha Yu shook his head slightly.

Damn it, if you hadn't slept since the day you were born, I guarantee you'd be even more irritable than him!

His morning grumpiness could turn into being grumpy while wide awake!

The Hokage inauguration ceremony did not encounter any new trouble, and no one like the remnants of the Root Organization appeared again to try and kill Uchiha Fugaku.

Everything was moving in a positive direction.

The Uchiha Clan, this great bloodline family of Konoha, had finally ushered in its first Hokage!

Uchiha Fugaku looked at the Konoha ninjas and citizens below the stage, a smile appearing on his face.

However, he knew that he was merely the first to pave the way.

Once Shisui, Uchiha Itachi, and even Uchiha Yu grew up, he would abdicate and yield the position to the worthy.

But as long as he remained in this seat, he would do his utmost to clear the obstacles for them.

The current ninja world was not peaceful; it was like a thorn bush, covered in barbs.

Only by personally smoothing out all these thorns could he safely hand things over to his successor.

Uchiha Fugaku remained quite confident in the future of both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha as a whole.

Listening to Uchiha Fugaku's speech at the Hokage inauguration ceremony, Uchiha Yu leaned against a tree, watching the crowd from afar.

It seems that for at least the next ten years, the landscape of the ninja world should become much more stable, Uchiha Yu nodded slightly.

Not for any other reason, but because the ones currently in power in Konoha were the Uchiha Clan.

A legendary, prestigious family, possessors of the Sharingan—one of the three great dojutsu—as well as masters of Fire Release, with countless geniuses within their ranks.

Moreover, they were full of competitive spirit and immensely proud.

Presumably, few villages would want to go to war with the Uchiha Clan.

If one were forced to fight the Uchiha Clan, the consequences would likely be quite grim.

Therefore, Konoha should be able to usher in a period of peace.

"However, beneath this peace, there seem to be undercurrents surging," Uchiha Yu smiled faintly.

He knew that the current ninja world could not remain smooth sailing forever.

Because there were still true threats that had yet to surface.

The Akatsuki, and even those behind the Akatsuki: Obito, Uchiha Madara, Black Zetsu, and Kaguya Otsutsuki!

Compared to these, the previous wars were merely child's play!

The Shippuden era of the ninja world was not far off!

Yet, just as Uchiha Yu had anticipated, not a single one of the four great ninja villages wanted to antagonize Konoha; the Sunagakure had even declared a permanent alliance with Konoha.

The other three great ninja villages also expressed their willingness to maintain friendly relations with Konoha.

It seemed that everything was developing in a positive direction!

Uchiha Yu looked at Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Deidara beside him, and smiled slightly.

"It looks like an era of peace is coming; we can spend a few years developing properly."

Uchiha Yu stretched his neck and asked, "When shall we resume our training?"

Hearing these words, Uzumaki Naruto felt a chill run down his spine...