What Happened? / A Chance Encounter at the Night Market

Fortunately, he didn't do anything unnecessary in the end.

"Fourth Generation, I think we should start the vote."

What happened in Chapter Twenty?

Upon seeing the gate of Hidden Leaf Village under the night sky once again, Uchiha Shingen, who had traveled across most of the Land of Fire, sighed from the bottom of his heart.

"Damn it, I'm exhausted!"

The patriarch with the stoic expression should have finished the first round of voting by now, and his vote count shouldn't be too bad.

Let's not even talk about Shimura Feilian, who's always a runner-up. Nara Shikaku and Sarutobi Saizo will be vying for votes, so the Hyuga Clan will probably vote for the Uchiha Clan a bit more. The Uchiha Clan's vote count definitely won't be as bad as it used to be.

He hadn't considered the possibility that the Uchiha Clan received the most votes.

The Hokage lineage couldn't possibly be that bad.

The Uchiha Clan is incompetent in politics, so they can only focus on making money. The Hokage faction has both power and money; all they need to do is centralize what needs to be centralized, delegate what needs to be delegated, and then negotiate civil rights with the villagers. Their votes will definitely be secure.

Uchiha Shingen knew he wasn't good at this kind of thing, and he couldn't offer any meaningful suggestions, since he was ultimately a fighter.

Although there were positions in the first playthrough, there was no politics back then. Big Fool was incredibly popular wherever he went, and Er Gouzi was lucky if he didn't cause trouble for others. Who else was expected to stick by him?

Working under those two, there's hardly any chance to gain experience.

While pondering his next move, Uchiha Shingen walked to the door.

"Shingen." The gatekeeper ninja's enthusiasm startled Uchiha Shingen.

"Oh, hello." He wondered if he had taken out a red envelope either.

Wait a minute, he's already back in the village, what kind of red envelope is he going to give me?

"Lord Shingen, are you returning to the village?"

If I don't go back to the village, does that mean I'm going elsewhere?

Uchiha Shingen gave a very polite smile.

"Yes, I just got back, just need to register."

"Hey, why do you need to register when you're home? Just go straight in."

"Are you trying to scam me? I want to register! Hurry up!"

Good heavens! They're completely disregarding Leaf Village's rules and regulations!

Which department's talent is this?

Uchiha Shingen noticed something very familiar on the other person's right arm.

Hmm... the Police Force's armband.

It turns out it's from the Police Force.

Why the Police Force!?

Such rapid expansion?

Has the patriarch with facial paralysis gotten carried away with his calligraphy? He's taking such big steps!

Do you want to get completely thrashed in the second round?

Sighing inwardly at how troublesome this boss was, Uchiha Shingen finished registering and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to his clan's territory.

Upon first glance at the territory, he thought he had come to the wrong place.

It would be no exaggeration to describe the area as now brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers.

Beams of dazzling light shot into the sky, and huge fireworks burst in the air, petals raining down.

One by one, the clansmen were overjoyed. Suddenly, someone spotted Uchiha Shingen and shouted. The clansmen rushed in from all directions, picked up the bewildered Uchiha Shingen, and threw him to the ground.

He was inexplicably thrown into the sky by his clansmen; at that moment, Uchiha Shingen had only one thought.

Holy crap! What happened!?

Who can tell him!

As they landed again, sensing that everyone was about to exert force once more, Uchiha Shingen quickly waved his hands and shouted, "Wait! Wait! What's going on!?"

"Shingen, didn't you know?" a clansman chuckled, "Clan Chief Fugaku has become the Hokage's assistant!"

Um?

Uchiha Shingen turned his head and found a familiar middle-aged man.

"Uncle Fujibayashi? Didn't the voting just start?"

"We're not voting anymore, everyone else has abstained." Uchiha Fujibayashi was overjoyed. "You haven't been in the village these past few days, so you don't know, but the clan head, with your manuscript, has won over everyone."

Nonsense, what do you mean, my manuscript!

I've never written a manuscript before!

"I don't have any manuscripts." Uchiha Shingen forced himself to process this information. "That was written by the clan leader himself, not... did they really all abstain?"

"Yes."

"Sarutobi Saizo the first to abstain."

Sarutobi Saizo that useless?

Why did Nara Shikaku also abstain?

What the Hokage lineage is up to?

I haven't even used my ultimate move yet, and you guys are already giving up?

Do you know how I spent these past few days in Daimyo's Court?

That Grand Councilor actually dragged him out for tea!

However, the tea in Daimyo's Court is quite good...

No, that's not it. Sarutobi Saizo, are you an idiot? How could you waste my cards!?

Seeing Uchiha Shingen's stunned expression, the clansmen assumed he had "received" the message and cheered again, starting to make fun of him.

Uchiha Shingen, one of only two ninjas of his generation capable of using the Flying Thunder God Technique, was actually left dizzy from being thrown around by them.

These tribespeople were so excited, and more importantly, they attracted even more tribespeople who were willing to embarrass themselves and endure hardship.

Fortunately, they were somewhat restrained. After throwing the toys for a while longer, and after everyone had had their fill, they put Uchiha Shingen down.

Uchiha Shingen once again stood firmly on the ground, feeling incredibly at ease.

Then, he noticed Pakura leaning against his doorway, looking at him with a half-smile.

Uchiha Shingen looked back and realized that he had been abandoned all the way to his doorstep.

Instead of always wearing her tight-fitting combat suit, Pakura wore loose-fitting casual clothes similar to a Japanese yukata, and upon closer inspection, she was also wearing light makeup.

It looks pretty good.

That would be embarrassing for me.

The image of a strongman that he had cultivated before is gone!

"Sigh, that's how the Uchiha Clan is. We're all one family, so we don't stand on ceremony." The Uchiha Clan explained to the other person while straightening his clothes. "This outfit is quite nice. Where did you buy it?"

"Yes, Uchiha Mikoto gave it to me." Pakura looked at Uchiha Shingen, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Even the White Ghost can look this disheveled?"

"What 'White Ghost'?" Uchiha Shingen was taken aback.

Your name has already spread far and wide.

Uchiha Shingen was stunned.

His infamous reputation in Hidden Mist Village has spread?

Once he realized what was happening, he was immediately disheartened.

So, does he not deserve a cool title in this playthrough?

What a waste! This generation of ninjas has such idiotic names.

"Well, let it be, it's already spread." He sighed. "But I really didn't expect this development."

"That's not what your clan says," Pakura laughed. "They say you're a great hero."

"How could I have such great abilities? It's all thanks to the group." Uchiha Shingen shook his head.

There are indeed examples where the individual effect of a ninja can outweigh the group effect. For instance, Senju Hashirama won over a large number of people with his personal charisma and established Hidden Leaf Village.

However, this special case is not representative of the general trend.

The second special case that appeared in the original timeline of Hidden Leaf Village was Naruto Uzumaki.

This Ninja World is a playground for the Six Paths family; everyone else is a bit lacking.

"Would you like to come for a walk with me?" Pakura suddenly asked.

"Oh? Sure, I'll go change my clothes," said Uchiha Shingen, preparing to go home to change out of his current outfit.

However, when he was pulled back, Pakura took his arm, Uchiha Shingen felt the elasticity very strongly.

"It seems things have indeed developed beyond your expectations," Pakura said, tightening his grip slightly. "You should go out and see for yourself now."

Chapter Twenty-One: Encounter at the Night Market

In Uchiha Shingen's memory, the nights in Hidden Leaf Village were originally very quiet.

As more people arrived, it gradually became more lively, but the liveliness remained limited.

The original commercial street was just a place filled with small stalls.

When I came back for the second playthrough, wow, the shopping street had everything!

As a regular visitor to the shopping street, Uchiha Shingen sensed something different as soon as he stepped onto the street.

The people of Leaf Village walking on the commercial street all wore smiles that Uchiha Shingen once knew so well.

That was an expression full of anticipation.

They were all talking about the Hokage's assistance.

From their conversation, Uchiha Shingen confirmed it.

Uchiha Fugaku did indeed become the assistant to the Hokage.

That's ridiculous.

Uchiha Shingen realized that Leaf Village's financial crisis was coming sooner than he had anticipated.

"How do you feel now, as a major contributor?"

"What great contributor..." Uchiha Shingen turned to look at Pakura, "You're quite the teaser now, huh? Where's your aloofness?"

"This isn't Sand Village." Pakura's answer seemed quite insightful; her expression was relaxed. "I also hope to live an easy life."

"That's true," sighed Uchiha Shingen. "I also want to live an easy life..."

"You have this thought too?"

"Why can't I have one? You've been in Leaf Village for quite a while now, you should be able to tell, right?"

"No, in my opinion, the Uchiha Clan's situation isn't actually that bad." Pakura suddenly pulled Uchiha Shingen and led him toward a shop on the side.

This is a shoe store.

Uchiha Shingen was pulled inside, Pakura released him and began looking at the shoes.

"In Sand Village, the Uchiha Clan's life is something even the most powerful ninja clans would envy," she said, picking out a pair of shoes to try on.

When she bent down to try it on, the dress didn't quite cover her up.

"That's really tragic..." Uchiha Shingen couldn't help but complain, "Sunagakure is in such a state, and they haven't rebelled?"

"The Land of Wind is a barren country," Pakura said, taking off her shoes and asking the shop assistant, "Could you please exchange them for a size larger?"

"Okay." The shop assistant was very perceptive; seeing Pakura enter arm in arm with Uchiha Shingen, she didn't go up and say anything from the start.

One important factor in this was Uchiha Shingen's travel-worn Konoha Ninja attire.