Hokage Position? Fugaku Uchiha, Do You Dare Accept!

Deep in the night at Amegakure, Black Zetsu's body sank entirely into the earth. Lin Feng sat back down on the stone chair, quickly reviewing the information he had on Fugaku Uchiha. A clan head possessing a Mangekyo Sharingan—was his ability some high-level genjutsu other than Kotoamatsukami, or perhaps Susanoo? The original work didn't offer much detail on Fugaku's Mangekyo, but as a clan leader, he was certainly no simple character.

Any Uchiha capable of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan was no pushover—well, excluding that comrade Shisui, whose brain was a bit faulty; he believed in love and peace so much that he secretly revealed his eyes to others, only to meet a miserable end. Then there was Uchiha Itachi, another talent with a broken brain who slaughtered his entire clan to keep his younger brother alive. I suspect Uchiha Fugaku's ability might be precognition; he offered his neck to the blade for the sake of his son's future development—a real genius, that one.

The Uchiha clan is full of such "talents." Damn, now that I think about it, I've become an Uchiha too.

(๑´0`๑)

The chaos in Konoha was unfolding exactly according to Lin Feng's script. Danzo had been "resurrected," ruining Minato's inauguration ceremony, and was likely busy tripping up the Konoha high command. As for Fugaku, he was currently in a state of emotional turmoil after receiving that scroll of the "Rinnegan Atlas."

"Well, it's time to pay a visit in person," Lin Feng whispered to himself.

He needed to strike while the iron was hot. Fugaku was struggling internally, and this was the perfect moment of hesitation. He had to demonstrate the power of "Uchiha Madara" and the profound influence of the Uchiha clan's "ancestor" to pull Fugaku completely onto his chessboard.

Space twisted around Lin Feng. He stepped into the swirling, blurred region and vanished in an instant.

Konoha, deep within the Uchiha compound, at Fugaku's residence.

Candlelight flickered, stretching and shrinking the shadows in the room. Fugaku sat on the tatami mat. On the scroll spread out before him, the purple Rinnegan pattern seemed to possess a certain magic, emitting an alluring luster in the dim light.

These eyes transcended the Mangekyo Sharingan. The few lines recorded in the clan archives were each filled with awe for this supreme ocular power. The Sage of Six Paths, Uchiha Madara—these legendary names felt so real at this moment.

Danzo's words still echoed in his ears: "Lord Uchiha Madara thinks very highly of you, Fugaku. He believes you possess not only the talent of the Sharingan but also the courage and ambition of a clan head. The position of Hokage should have been yours to sit in all along."

The position of Hokage...

Fugaku's heart rate accelerated. Of course, he craved that position; he craved leading the Uchiha clan back to the core of Konoha. To make the Uchiha clan great again! To return to the glory of the past. But his reason told him there was a massive trap hidden behind this. Uchiha Madara, the man who had stood against the First Hokage—would he really support him selflessly? What was the price?

A powerful surge of chakra suddenly appeared in the room without warning. It wasn't an infiltration or a stealthy entry; it simply manifested out of thin air, carrying a domineering aura that commanded the world, accompanied by the overwhelming majesty recorded in the clan's ancient texts!

Fugaku snapped his head up, his three-tomoe Sharingan activating instantly as he scanned his surroundings with vigilance. Yet, the source of that chakra seemed omnipresent, as if it originated from another dimension.

In the air, a tiny vortex began to condense and expand. Finally, a man wearing ancient, dark gray battle armor with long, flowing black hair stepped slowly out of the twisted space. He carried an ancient and heavy aura, as if he had stepped into the present from the Warring States period.

It was the owner of the eyes on the scroll.

Uchiha Madara!

Fugaku's pupils contracted violently, his body tensing instantly. He could not sense the man's emotions, only an unshakable power.

Lin Feng, acting as "Uchiha Madara," watched Fugaku's shocked face with amusement. This was the effect he wanted. A direct descent, maximizing the unfathomable pressure.

He did not speak, merely observing Fugaku calmly with those purple Rinnegan, as if looking at a collector's item.

This silent scrutiny was more oppressive than any words. Fugaku felt a chill rise up his spine, and cold sweat began to soak his back. He had seen many powerful figures, but this posture of standing above all else was something he had only heard of in the legends of the First Hokage.

"It seems you have already received my 'gift'," Lin Feng said, his voice flat and raspy with the weight of time, his gaze falling on the open scroll.

Fugaku struggled to steady his emotions, suppressing the fear in his heart: "Lord Madara... are you truly still alive?"

"Does it matter to you whether I am alive?" Lin Feng countered, his tone hiding a trace of imperceptible contempt. "What matters is what you can gain from my 'existence'."

He walked slowly to the opposite side of Fugaku and stood there without sitting, looming over him like an insurmountable mountain.

"The Uchiha clan, as one of the founders of Konoha, is now pushed to the edge of the village, treated like a caged beast and faced with the encroaching pressure of the Konoha high command." Lin Feng's voice was low, every word striking precisely at Fugaku's defenses. "As the head of the Uchiha, have you never felt a shred of resentment?"

Fugaku's Sharingan trembled imperceptibly. Resentment? It was more than just resentment! It was the shame and anger carved into the heart of every Uchiha!

"Konoha is powerful because of the Uchiha. Yet now, they fear the Uchiha's strength." Lin Feng chuckled, his laughter filled with thick mockery. "Sarutobi Hiruzen, that old monkey, views your position in the Military Police Force as a 'favor' to the Uchiha, rather than a sign of trust."

These words made Fugaku's breathing heavy. Madara was right; Konoha's suspicion of the Uchiha was bone-deep. They craved power, yet feared that power would spiral out of control.

"Do you want to change this situation, Fugaku?" Lin Feng's gaze suddenly turned sharp, as if he could see through the human heart.

"I... naturally hope the Uchiha can return to glory," Fugaku said, his voice dry.

"Only glory?" Lin Feng shook his head, his tone tinged with disdain. "Your perspective is too small. The position of Hokage should be held by my Uchiha clan. That is true glory, true control."

He looked directly into Fugaku's eyes; those Rinnegan were like bottomless whirlpools.

"Have you ever considered sitting in that Hokage's chair yourself? Have you ever considered wielding the authority of Konoha?"

Fugaku's heart skipped a beat. This was the most direct temptation, and the most dangerous invitation.

"Lord Madara... forgive my bluntness. Minato is exceptionally talented, deeply loved by the people, and has the support of the Third Hokage..." Fugaku tried to use facts to refute him, buying himself time to think.

"The will of the people?" Lin Feng scoffed, cutting Fugaku off. "The people are like water; they can carry a boat, but they can also capsize it. Konoha may look bright on the surface, but it is already rotten to the core."

"The only competitors are those few disciples of the Hokage. You hold a large number of elite Uchiha ninjas in your hands; you represent the Uchiha clan, a critical force in Konoha!"

"As long as the Konoha high command isn't brain-dead, they are destined not to ignore the needs of the Uchiha. Furthermore, the Hokage position has been held by the Senju clan—why can't my Uchiha clan hold it?"

He glanced at Fugaku's Sharingan, his tone suddenly becoming meaningful: "As the head of the Uchiha, have you... not seen through this hypocritical facade? What have those eyes of yours seen?"

Fugaku's body jolted. The secret of his Mangekyo Sharingan, hidden deep within his ocular power, had never been mentioned to anyone. How could Madara know?

Lin Feng saw Fugaku's reaction and felt triumphant. As expected, Fugaku's Mangekyo was no ordinary item. The original work was vague about its ability, but the fact that it made Itachi hesitate during the clan massacre and led Itachi to "tamper" with his memories proved that his genjutsu ability was far from ordinary.

"What your Mangekyo sees is far more than just the surface," Lin Feng's tone became even more seductive. "It can peer into the abyss of the human heart; it can see the world... as it truly is."

"And yet you, Fugaku, choose to hide it. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of the village's deeper suspicion of the Uchiha? Or are you afraid of that craving for power and authority... deep within your own heart?"

Every word was like a blade, slicing open the facade Fugaku had maintained. The ambition he had suppressed and hidden for so long was now being ruthlessly exposed by Madara.

"I... I..." Fugaku opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Lin Feng did not give him the chance to think or refute, continuing to apply pressure: "What I am offering you is the chance to reclaim the glory of the Uchiha. It is the key to making Konoha, and indeed the entire ninja world, bow before the Uchiha."

"As long as you are willing, I can lend you a hand." Lin Feng extended his hand, palm upward, in a gesture of invitation, as if he held the entire world within his grasp. "Your Mangekyo, combined with my power, is enough to grant you ocular prowess that surpasses everyone else. When that time comes, the position of Hokage will be nothing more than something within your reach."

He did not mention the specific details of the cooperation, nor did he promise how he would "help"; he simply used the words "power" and "glory" to continuously stimulate Fugaku's nerves.

Fugaku looked at that outstretched hand, then back at Madara's bottomless Rinnegan. He knew this might be the only chance in his life to touch the position of Hokage. But at the same time, he was well aware that cooperating with Uchiha Madara was no different than asking a tiger for its hide.

"What do you need me to do?" Fugaku took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch.

Lin Feng watched with satisfaction as Fugaku finally asked the key question. This indicated that Fugaku was already tempted and had begun to consider the practical execution.

"It's simple." Lin Feng withdrew his hand, his tone becoming meaningful. "Let the power transition in Konoha continue to descend into chaos. Let those who crave power see an opportunity. Let the dissatisfaction of the Uchiha clan... erupt completely."

"Minato is succeeding as Hokage; you only need to find a suitable excuse to obstruct him once more. As for that Danzo..." Lin Feng mentioned him dismissively, "he will help you muddy the waters even further. You only need to go with the flow and guide the Uchiha clansmen to transform their dissatisfaction with the village into a yearning for the Hokage's seat."

"What I want is not for you to ascend to the Hokage's seat immediately." Lin Feng shook his head, dismissing the fantasy that might exist in Fugaku's heart. "What I want is internal strife in Konoha. A turning point... enough for the Uchiha clan to completely control Konoha."

Fugaku's Sharingan spun violently, the three tomoe rapidly connecting into a four-pointed windmill—the Mangekyo Sharingan! His secret was completely exposed before Madara.

Lin Feng's gaze fell upon Fugaku's Mangekyo, a flash of surprise crossing his mind. The pattern of Fugaku's Mangekyo did not seem to be the one commonly seen in the original records. He remained calm, merely lifting his chin slightly.

"Very good, your eyes... truly did not disappoint me." There was a hint of playfulness in Lin Feng's tone. This was both a compliment and a silent intimidation.

Fugaku lowered his head abruptly, forcibly suppressing his Mangekyo. He knew he had been completely exposed to Madara.

"Now, do you still think the position of Hokage is an unreachable dream?" Lin Feng's voice sounded once more, like the whisper of a demon.

"I will give you three days to consider. In three days, I will come for you again."

Lin Feng said nothing more; the space around his body twisted once again, forming a deep vortex. His figure slowly dissipated before Fugaku's shocked gaze, as if he had never appeared at all.

The room returned to a deathly silence. Only Fugaku remained, his eyes fixed on the unfurled scroll and his own uncontrollably pounding heart.

The position of Hokage.

The glory of the Uchiha clan.

And... Uchiha Madara's meaningful words about "a turning point to completely control Konoha."

He knew he had no other choice. He had to gamble with the future of the Uchiha clan, playing in this game of chess directed by Uchiha Madara, to fight for a glimmer of survival for himself and his family.

Fugaku slowly closed his eyes, the pattern of the Mangekyo flickering beneath his eyelids.

A storm that would sweep through Konoha, and perhaps the entire ninja world, was quietly brewing.

"Itachi, Sasuke... for the sake of the Uchiha's future, Father will make his choice."

He snapped his eyes open, the Mangekyo Sharingan flashing in the darkness with resolve.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng had already returned to the cave via space-time transfer.

"Lord Madara, did you get it done on your end?" Black Zetsu emerged from the ground, wearing his habitual, sinister grin.

"Mm." Lin Feng responded lazily, leaning back in his stone chair. "Uchiha Fugaku has no other choice. He will bring more 'surprises' to Konoha."

"What about next?" Black Zetsu asked. "Should we continue to monitor Amegakure and let Nagato fully consolidate his rule as a 'god'?"

"No." Lin Feng shook his head, his gaze turning profound. "Leave Amegakure alone for now. Nagato still needs time to adapt to his new role and to feel the power of 'pain'."

"Black Zetsu, I suddenly have a new idea." Lin Feng's voice was low, carrying an inexplicable excitement. "Since the power transition in Konoha has already been disrupted and various factions are beginning to stir, why don't we... add more fuel to the fire?"

"Add fuel?" Black Zetsu was somewhat puzzled.

"Exactly." Lin Feng's lips curled into a dangerous arc. "Black Zetsu, go help me gather relevant intelligence."

"I want to know... do those two old fogies, Konoha's current Hokage advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, have any... unspeakable secrets?"

Lin Feng looked at Black Zetsu, an strange light flickering in those Rinnegan eyes.

"After all, how could they be simple characters to have sat firmly as Hokage advisors for so many years?"

For the first time, an expression of surprise appeared on Black Zetsu's dual-toned face. He had not expected Lin Feng's target to shift to those two old people who seemed to pose no threat.

"Lord Madara, you are..."

"I just want to see," Lin Feng snapped his fingers, and a subtle fluctuation of chakra rippled through the air. "If the 'secrets' they harbor were made public, how... interesting the situation in Konoha would become."

"Go investigate. I want them... from the inside out, every weakness that can be exploited."

Black Zetsu's body slowly sank back into the ground. He knew that Lord Madara was about to begin his game of "toying with human hearts" once again.

This time, the targets were Konoha's two high-ranking advisors.