The Uchiha Who Doesn't Want to Be Hokage Assistant Isn't a Good Assistant

Lin Feng stood with his back to the window, gazing at the mist-shrouded harbor. Fishing boats drifted in and out, returning with full holds. The future of Kirigakure Village had shifted from bloody infighting to a prosperity built on gold. Now, it was time to turn his gaze back to Konoha.

"Let him stir up trouble. The more chaotic he makes it, the more fractured Konoha becomes," Lin Feng said softly, his voice carrying a profound sense of world-weariness.

"Once he realizes that the 'Nine-Tails Incident' he worked so hard to orchestrate has failed to meet his expectations—because we will ensure Namikaze Minato becomes Hokage smoothly and install Fugaku Uchiha as Hokage Assistant—that will serve our fundamental interests!"

Black Zetsu emerged from the shadows, his features blurred in the dim light. He appeared slightly confused by Lin Feng's mention of "fundamental interests."

"Lord Madara, didn't you previously want to incite internal strife in Konoha and have Fugaku Uchiha vie for the position of Hokage? Now you want him to be the Hokage Assistant... isn't this counterproductive?" Black Zetsu's voice held its habitual gloom.

Lin Feng turned around, his purple eyes fixed on Black Zetsu as if looking at a slow-witted apprentice.

"Counterproductive? Children make choices; as an adult, I want it all." A playful curve touched his lips. "That brat Obito has too narrow a vision. His so-called 'chaos' is nothing more than inciting a Nine-Tails riot, killing the Fourth Hokage, and plunging Konoha into a brief period of turmoil."

"Such crude methods are both boring and useless. They would only serve to solidify Konoha's hatred and ultimately push all of the Uchiha into a deeper abyss."

Lin Feng walked up to Black Zetsu and tapped his head lightly with his finger.

"Remember, true chaos comes from internal disintegration. True control is not a momentary riot, but continuous infiltration. I don't want Fugaku Uchiha to become a Hokage who is a lightning rod for criticism; I want him to be an assistant with real power who can influence decision-making."

Black Zetsu tilted his head, clearly still digesting these words.

"Letting Minato be Hokage can stabilize the hearts of the Konoha villagers and divert most of the attention. Having Fugaku Uchiha as Hokage Assistant signifies the Uchiha clan's return to the core of power. In the eyes of the villagers, this is a signal of reconciliation between the Uchiha and the village. But within the Uchiha, it is the beginning of them reclaiming their dignity."

"This political gesture can stabilize the political situation and the hearts of the people in Konoha in the shortest possible time."

Lin Feng lowered his voice, but the deep meaning contained within it sent a chill through Black Zetsu.

"Think about it: a deeply entrenched Uchiha clan leader becoming the Hokage's right-hand man—how many Uchiha loyalists will he install in various departments of Konoha? How much of Konoha's resource allocation will he influence? No matter how beloved Minato is by the people, he cannot attend to every detail. Power will eventually tilt in our favor." "In the end, the Uchiha clan will truly be able to consolidate most of the power in Konoha."

"Furthermore..." Lin Feng paused, a flash of sharp light crossing his eyes. "Doesn't Obito want to use the Nine-Tails Incident to make Konoha lose the Fourth Hokage, thereby intensifying the conflict between the Uchiha and the village? If we do the exact opposite—letting Minato take office smoothly and Fugaku enter the high-level leadership—then his plan loses its most important significance at the root."

Black Zetsu finally understood. This was not simple meddling, but a much more sophisticated reverse operation.

"But, Lord Madara, will Fugaku Uchiha really give up the position of Hokage and be content with just being an assistant? Given his ambition..."

"Ambition is a double-edged sword." Lin Feng waved his hand dismissively. "He wants to be Hokage for the glory of the Uchiha. But he knows better than anyone that on his own, even with my support, he cannot contend with Minato, who has the backing of the Third Hokage and the Daimyo, in the short term. A head-on collision would only cause the Uchiha to fall into isolation once again."

"I will add fuel to the fire for him," Lin Feng said. "Black Zetsu, return to Konoha immediately and tell 'Danzo' to change his strategy."

"He no longer needs to obstruct Minato from becoming Hokage. On the contrary, he must push for it and facilitate Minato's ascension, but with one condition: Fugaku Uchiha must be appointed as Hokage Assistant."

Black Zetsu's eyes flickered. "This... will the Third Hokage and the two advisors agree?"

"Hmph, that depends on how much damage the 'dirt' you've collected can do." Lin Feng sneered. "Minato's inauguration ceremony has been postponed, hasn't it? That gives us just enough room to maneuver."

"Spread the word that the evidence against Koharu and Homura has been acquired by a faction dissatisfied with the internal strife in Konoha. Then, have 'Danzo' 'suggest' to the Third Hokage and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire at the right moment that, in order to stabilize Konoha, appease the Uchiha, and demonstrate the new Hokage's tolerance and vision, two Fourth 'Hokage Assistants' should be established, to be held jointly by Fugaku Uchiha and Danzo, with the new Fourth Hokage's advisors to be jointly nominated by the village's ninja clans."

"The advisors of the old era should have been swept into the trash bin long ago."

"Of course, you must also disseminate some of that evidence at the right time so they feel a sense of crisis and realize that only by following my script can they save face and step down with dignity." Lin Feng's voice carried the confidence of someone in total control.

"As for Fugaku Uchiha, I will speak with him personally. I will tell him that the position of assistant is the key to truly changing the fate of the Uchiha. Because the position of Hokage may look glorious, but it requires dealing with all sorts of trivial matters, consuming too much energy. The assistant is the one best positioned to focus on enhancing the clan's influence. As a trade-off, Minato must agree to nominate Danzo as the Fifth Hokage after he steps down!"

Lin Feng looked into the distance, the corners of his mouth curling upward once more.

"Doesn't Obito want to see Konoha torn apart? Then we will give him a Konoha that is united on the surface but rife with undercurrents, where the Uchiha's status has been elevated. He will surely be very satisfied with this 'surprise'."

Black Zetsu accepted the order, his figure sinking into the ground once more and disappearing into the shadow at Lin Feng's feet.

Konoha Hidden Village, Uchiha Clan Compound.

Inside Fugaku's residence, the candles had burned down to mere embers. He had not slept all night, his eyes bloodshot. The scroll before him remained spread open, and the Rinnegan depicted upon it seemed to mock his hesitation.

"The position of Hokage..." he repeated Lin Feng's words in a low voice, his heart feeling as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand.

Becoming Hokage was his dream, and the dream of all Uchiha clansmen.

But Lord Madara's power, along with his description of Konoha's "rotting interior," made Fugaku realize that this path was far more difficult than he had imagined. A head-on clash with Minato, even with "Madara's" support, could result in heavy losses. After all, the Hokage lineage had the support of the Sannin, who possessed strength comparable to Kage, the elite Jonin of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, and the ninjas who had long bowed to the Third's rule. Even if Danzo remained neutral, relying solely on the strength of the Uchiha clan, even if they barely succeeded, the resulting Konoha would be left severely crippled.

"Rather than fighting for a Hokage position that puts me in the crosshairs, it is better to... seize real power first." Fugaku muttered to himself, every word of Madara's circling in his mind.

Just then, a subtle spatial fluctuation appeared in the room. Fugaku looked up sharply, his Sharingan activating instantly.

Within the distorted space, Lin Feng's figure appeared once again.

"It seems you've been considering this for days and still haven't figured it out." Lin Feng's tone held a hint of amusement as he walked straight toward Fugaku.

Fugaku stood up abruptly and bowed his head. "Lord Madara."

"No need for formalities." Lin Feng gestured for him to sit. "Tell me, what are you struggling with?"

Fugaku took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm. "Lord Madara, you said the position of Hokage should be held by an Uchiha. But currently, Minato has the highest prestige in the village. If I were to force a contest, I fear it would bring disaster upon myself and further intensify the conflict between the Uchiha and the village."

"You are quite clear-headed." Lin Feng chuckled, his tone carrying a touch of appreciation. "However, who said you had to sit in that position immediately?"

Fugaku looked up suddenly, his eyes filled with confusion.

"The position of Hokage is merely the highest symbol of the village. But power exists in every corner of the village." Lin Feng sat down opposite him, leaning forward, his voice carrying an irresistible temptation.

"As the leader of the Uchiha, if you become the Hokage Assistant, you will possess a legitimate status, allowing you to install Uchiha elites into every key department of the village. The Military Police Force, the Anbu, and even the various departments directly under the Hokage."

"Minato is the Hokage; he needs to balance various factions and maintain the village's superficial peace. You, however, can operate in the shadows, within the rules, using the excuse of helping the shallow-rooted Minato to slowly infiltrate Konoha's relevant departments, continuously strengthening the Uchiha clan's influence in Konoha, and making the Uchiha's voice an indispensable part of the village."

"Do you think the position of Hokage is easy? How many trivial matters must be dealt with every day? You have to fawn before the Daimyo and maneuver between families large and small." Lin Feng's tone held a trace of disdain. "That position is nothing more than a facade for the village. The assistant is the one who holds real power and is the key to truly influencing the village's direction."

"Think about it: would you rather be a Hokage entangled in all sorts of petty, tiresome affairs every day, or an assistant who can infiltrate the clan's power into every inch of the village? Which is more conducive to the rise of the Uchiha?"

Fugaku's Sharingan spun violently. He had never imagined that the position of "Hokage Assistant" could be portrayed with such immense potential and temptation.

"Moreover, I will support you from the shadows," Lin Feng said. "Within Konoha, it's not just Minato's side. Although the Third Hokage has retreated behind the scenes, his apprehension towards the Uchiha has never disappeared. Minato is young and impetuous, and can still tolerate the Uchiha. But if the Third Hokage passes away in the future, or if Minato meets with an accident, won't you have opportunities?"

"I have already reached an agreement with Danzo, the leader of Konoha's Root. He will shift his support to Minato inheriting the position of Fourth Hokage, in exchange for you jointly serving as Fourth Hokage Assistant with him. Then, after Minato abdicates, the Uchiha clan will fully support Danzo to become the Fifth Hokage as a trade-off."

"When you accumulate enough prestige and power in the assistant position, and when the Uchiha's infiltration into Konoha reaches a certain level, the position of Sixth Hokage will naturally fall into the Uchiha's hands."

"If you cannot do it, you can let your son, Sasuke Uchiha, or Uchiha Itachi, take on the role of Sixth Hokage."

Fugaku's breathing grew heavy. The ambition in his heart, as depicted by Lin Feng's words, felt within reach.

"Assistant... the position of Assistant..." he murmured softly.

"That's right," Lin Feng stared at him, a glint of undeniable resolve flashing in his eyes. "Hokage Assistant is your most correct choice right now. It will allow the Uchiha to legitimately enter the core of power, and also give you enough time and space to plan. This is far more stable than rashly taking the Hokage position."

"If you insist on vying for the Hokage position now, it will only deepen the village's suspicion towards the Uchiha, ultimately forcing Minato and you into a mutual destruction. At that time, the Uchiha will return to being ostracized on the fringes."

"Fugaku Uchiha, what I am giving you is an opportunity for the Uchiha clan to completely control Konoha. Do you want it?" Lin Feng's voice was like a devil's whisper, pressing closer and closer.

Fugaku suddenly lowered his head, contemplating for a long time. Finally, he raised his head, his eyes no longer holding their previous confusion, but replaced by a determined light.

"I understand, Lord Madara," Fugaku bowed, his posture even more respectful this time. "Fugaku is willing to follow your arrangements and strive for the position of Hokage Assistant!"

Lin Feng smiled with satisfaction.

"Very good. A wise choice." He stood up, his figure beginning to blur. "Remember, this is not compromise, it is strategy. What I am giving you is not just the assistant position, but the infinite possibilities for the Uchiha clan's future."

"Additionally, you will soon receive some 'surprises' regarding the two village elders. They will help you secure this position."

Lin Feng's figure completely vanished into the distorted space.

In the room, only Fugaku remained, his face filled with unprecedented fighting spirit and ambition.

"Hokage Assistant... haha, Assistant!" Fugaku laughed softly, his laughter filled with long-suppressed madness.

He knew that the sky of Konoha was about to change. And he, Fugaku Uchiha, would personally drive this change, striving for the brightest, and also the darkest, future for the Uchiha clan!

At this moment, Fugaku did not know that his choice was merely a step in Lin Feng's grand scheme. Even less did he know that far beyond Konoha, another Uchiha youth was sharpening his blade, preparing to unleash the "Nine-Tails Incident" that he believed he could control.

Lin Feng returned to Kirigakure Village, observing everything in Konoha through the Water Mirror.

"Obito, your stage will not have only you as an actor," he murmured softly, his eyes deep.

"Soon, you will discover that this Ninja World... is far more complex than you imagine."

At the same time, in a secret corner of Konoha, a familiar figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

"The Fourth Hokage's succession ceremony... Heh, it will certainly be interesting then."

His voice was low, filled with an indescribable excitement. He thought he was the director of this grand play, unaware that everything he had arranged was merely a prelude for someone else.

The air was filled with an eerie calm before a great battle.

And in Lin Feng's eyes, he could already see the grand show about to unfold, and the other "Uchiha Madara" hiding in the shadows, deluded into thinking he was in control.