I Have a Bunch of Relatives Who Want to Be Hokage Chapter 25

Anger appeared on his chubby face. Turning back, he saw one of the envoys staring fixedly ahead.

Following the man's gaze, he looked over.

It was a young Leaf ninja, wearing an armband on his left arm emblazoned with a red-and-white fan.

He remembered that symbol. It was the crest of the Uchiha Clan.

But so what? They were not here to fight. What was he making such a fuss for?

"Is there a problem?" Suppressing his anger, Fuguki Suikazan fixed the man with a glare, murderous light filling his narrow eyes.

Nara Shikaku, standing before him, immediately confirmed it to himself—those little eyes had the right edge to them. He really was a Mist Ninja.

That made sense. For a moment just now, Shikaku had nearly thought he was looking at Akimichi Choza. People from the Bloody Mist had to feel like this.

"My apologies, Lord Suikazan." Sweat broke out on the Mist Ninja's forehead under Fuguki Suikazan's glare, and he hurriedly apologized.

"I'm asking whether there's a problem."

If this were not the Leaf, Fuguki Suikazan would not have been asking with his mouth.

He would have started by giving this fellow a resounding slap to knock some sense into him.

Though he trusted none of the people in this delegation, Fuguki Suikazan would not allow anyone in it to do anything that damaged the dignity of the Mist Hidden Village.

"I think it may be because of me." The young ninja from the Uchiha Clan stepped forward. "Seeing an enemy from the battlefield again, I have rather mixed feelings myself."

"Oh?" Fuguki Suikazan turned back, the ferocity fading from his eyes. "A genius of the Uchiha Clan? Mist has many talented users of bloodline limits as well, but we still cannot compare to the Uchiha Clan. What an enviable bloodline."

No one in the delegation found anything improper about Fuguki Suikazan's words.

The Mist Hidden Village was the ninja village in the current shinobi world that valued bloodlines most highly. It could be called the last paradise for ninja clans. Every single person in this delegation came from one of Mist's ninja clans, and more than half possessed bloodline limits.

"I am quite proud of my origins, but the strong are not bound by their origins. Lord Suikazan, you are being far too polite."

"Hahaha! They say the Uchiha Clan is exceedingly arrogant, but it seems that is not entirely true. Young man, could you tell this old man your name?"

"You flatter me. I am Uchiha Shingen. I was fortunate enough to engage your village's elites in many hard battles, and won by luck."

"Uchiha Shingen..." Fuguki Suikazan's smile abruptly froze.

He understood why that grandson in the delegation had lost his composure.

During the Third Shinobi World War, the Mist Ninja had paid a price of countless heads to raise a monster known as Shisui of the Body Flicker.

But Mist's bloodline clans remembered another monster even more clearly.

It was one thing for an Uchiha to make the Mist Ninja question their lives with Water Release alone. What truly shattered their understanding was that he had copied so many of the Mist Hidden Village's bloodline limits.

Not only the Snow Clan—even Terumi Mei, Mist's strongest rising talent today, had once been shamelessly plagiarized by him.

Detestable! Terrifying!

From then on, Mist's bloodline ninjas would never appear anywhere he was present. If they were unfortunate enough to encounter him, they would rather die than use their bloodline limits.

"So it was you." Fuguki Suikazan's emotions were complicated. The man before him posed a far greater threat to the Mist Hidden Village than Shisui of the Body Flicker. The Body Flicker only took lives, but this man wanted something far more important than life.

It was not that he lacked a title. Rather, that title circulated only within the Mist Hidden Village.

Better to meet the Body Flicker than to see the White Ghost.

Our Village Has a Nickname This Weird Too?

Led by Nara Shikaku, with the Leaf Military Police Force serving as escorts, the Mist Hidden Village delegation marched grandly into the main district of the Hidden Leaf Village and headed for the Hokage Building.

Along the way, the villagers of the Hidden Leaf Village watched these foreign ninjas in high-collared sweaters, their eyes filled with curiosity.

As the number one village in the shinobi world, the Leaf received foreign guests fairly often, at least a few times a year. But since its founding, seeing an envoy from the Mist Hidden Village had truly been no easy matter.

Although Mist had previously signed an agreement with the Leaf, it had been done by their higher-ups on the former battlefield. The Mist Ninja had never entered the Leaf, and the Leaf had not dared let these lunatics casually enter its village either. What if they launched a human bomb attack? It was not as if the Mist Ninja had never done such things. Ever since the era of the Second Mizukage, that village had diligently demonstrated to the entire shinobi world what it meant to never play by the rules.

The Second Mizukage had crossed mountains, rivers, and several countries just to perish together with the Second Tsuchikage, perfectly embodying what it meant to be a war maniac of the highest order.

The Third Mizukage's era had transformed them into the industry benchmark for terrorists in the shinobi world, creating one classic case after another. Any ninja aspiring to become a terrorist had to thoroughly study the Mist Hidden Village's special operations. They were the founding masters of the trade!

Now, the notorious Mist Ninja—known for their arrogance, brutality, bloodlust, and madness—had appeared in the Leaf for the first time. Naturally, they aroused the villagers' intense curiosity.

But the villagers were disappointed. Even Leaf ninjas who had once fought the Mist Ninja were baffled.

Because these people were genuinely so well-behaved. Arrogant and overbearing? Look at how enthusiastic Fuguki Suikazan was. How black-hearted did someone have to be to say that? Bloodthirsty and crazy? Their wives were fiercer when they discovered they had hidden money at home.

They possessed none of the traits of the Bloody Mist. Each of them looked like a noble minister who had stepped out of the Daimyo's Court—refined, courteous, and amiable. Faced with the surrounding villagers' arguably impolite stares, they even responded with smiles.

Good heavens, if the Mist Ninja did not want the title of this year's Model Village of Shinobi Civilization, then there was no need to hold the competition.

Whoever brought up the Bloody Mist again, he would slap them right across the face.

Nara Shikaku, however, felt that the reason he had guessed might be the truth. He had kept watching the young Uchiha Shingen along the way. After Shingen's conversation with Fuguki Suikazan at the entrance, the Mist Ninja had become like this.

It seemed the war between the Uchiha Clan and the Mist Ninja was not as the clan understood it.

At the very least, there was not only one Shisui of the Body Flicker.

Enduring the Leaf people's excessively enthusiastic gazes, the enormous group finally arrived at the Hokage Building.

Looking at the tall building before them, bearing a huge character for "Fire," the members of the Mist Hidden Village delegation also breathed a sigh of relief.

Walking alongside the White Ghost was seriously devastating to one's mental state. After this whole journey, they had nearly become depressed.

The ninja in the delegation who possessed bloodline limits had it the hardest. All along the way, they desperately suppressed their chakra. Who knew if letting it flow even a little more would turn their own bloodline limit into the White Ghost's private collection?

They could hardly wait to meet the current Hokage. Everyone knew the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage's faction did not get along, so the White Ghost would definitely have to leave during the upcoming meeting.

As they entered the Hokage Building, the first floor was already guarded by Leaf Village's ANBU. A passage had been specially cordoned off, extending all the way to the staircase for the group to pass through.

"You've worked hard. We'll take over from here," an ANBU ninja said to the leader of the security force.

The Uchiha ninja nodded and gestured for his clansmen to stand down. The security force ninjas dropped their guard and left in small groups.

Uchiha Shingen was about to leave as well. Seeing this, the Mist Ninja felt immensely relieved. If the setting had allowed it, they would have wanted to clap hands in celebration.

They could finally breathe again.

"Please wait a moment," Nara Shikaku suddenly said.

The ANBU and the security force all turned to look at him.

"Shingen, please represent the Uchiha Clan and attend this meeting as well." Nara Shikaku's words stunned everyone.

The Uchiha ninja were stunned because, ever since Senju Tobirama's time, the Uchiha had never attended any external negotiations held in the Hokage Building.

The Mist Ninja were stunned because they felt that Nara Shikaku was simply inhuman.

They had actually thought this guy was a good person. As expected, there was not a single good person in Leaf Village!

The ANBU were stunned as well.

As a ninja from the clan most trusted by the Third Hokage, how could he say something like that?

"I will personally report this matter to the elders," Nara Shikaku said to the ANBU captain. "Please carry it out for now. Also, please have someone notify the Hokage."

"Understood, Lord Nara." The ANBU captain knew this was no time to hesitate and made his decision at once. "Lord Shingen, please attend the meeting as well."

"Huh? Sure." Uchiha Shingen had no idea what the hell this was about, but he did not care.

Hm? Why did all the Mist Ninja look like they had just lost their families?

Giving the Mist Ninja, whose faces had completely fallen, a baffled glance, Uchiha Shingen followed the ANBU upstairs.

Led by Nara Shikaku and the ANBU ninja, the delegation entered the reception room on the third floor.

The reception room was spacious and specifically used for discussions with foreign guests. There was even a dedicated dining room next door.

The delegation's accommodations had already been arranged as well, at the finest hotel in the northern district. The outer perimeter would be guarded by the security force, while the Mist Ninja would handle internal security themselves.

Otherwise, it would be imprisonment rather than hospitality.

When they entered the reception room, the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, sat in the seat of honor. Four elderly men sat to his left and right, while more than ten others stood nearby.

As always, there were no members of the Uchiha Clan.

This was the political rule of Leaf Village personally forged by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen: the Uchiha had the final say within the Police Force, but outside the Police Force, there were no Uchiha.

Now, that old man sat to Namikaze Minato's left.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was now in his fifties. This hero of the ninja world had entered the decline of his ninja career, though he was not yet frail with age.

When Uchiha Shingen's gaze fell on him, he looked back at Uchiha Shingen as well.

Three people stood behind him. With their distinctive attire, appearances, and bearing, they could only be the now-renowned Legendary Sannin of Leaf Village.

Uchiha Shingen examined these three ninja who had already become legends of the ninja world.

They were also the pillars of the Third Hokage's faction.

The Senju princess who had once complained that he cheated at cards had grown into a stunning beauty compared to her childhood self. Yet she did not look well now, and none of her former liveliness remained.

Orochimaru, with his long hair draped over his shoulders and deathly pale skin, truly gave off a cold and sinister air.

And the broad-shouldered man with the square face had to be Jiraiya. Of the three, he was the only one who looked somewhat pleasant.

"Shingen, come with me." Nara Shikaku led Uchiha Shingen toward the other side, where a group of people stood.

Uchiha Shingen took a look. Of Leaf Village's eight great ninja clans, seven clan heads were present, counting Nara Shikaku beside him.

Hm, and there were two youths about the same age as Uchiha Shisui.

The white-haired one was Hatake Kakashi, still dressed in ANBU uniform.

The other wore an all-green outfit. He could only be the future Emperor Guy.

Just as he was about to walk over, Uchiha Shingen suddenly heard a long, sharp intake of breath behind him.

It was loud enough that he was far from the only one who heard it.

Everyone turned toward the sound.

It was Fuguki Suikazan. His expression looked as though he had seen a ghost.

"Green..." he forced out through clenched teeth.

Everyone was puzzled. Green what?

"Leaf Village's... green-clad monster..."

Everyone: "???"

Why was he suddenly insulting people?

Besides, who was "Green Beast" supposed to be a nickname for? Couldn't they pick something more intimidating?

Negotiations Begin

Fuguki Suikazan's lapse did not last long. After that momentary loss of composure, he quickly regained control.

"My apologies. I lost my composure." He openly acknowledged his improper behavior, which instead earned him some goodwill from the Leaf Village side.

"Lord Suikazan, there is no need for that." Namikaze Minato spoke gently. "The wars of the past were tragedies for both sides. As someone who personally took part in them, it is only natural to have reservations and feel upset over them."

"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Hokage."

Of course, Fuguki Suikazan was not upset by the war. The familiar attire had merely stirred up shadows from his past. But since the Leaf Village had offered him a way out, he was not about to refuse it.

He gave the green-skinned youth a deep look and tried to compose himself...

He couldn't compose himself at all! The big green monster was gone, but there was a smaller one now!

Forget it. He probably would not live to see the day the Leaf Village raised another fully grown green monster. No point dwelling on it.

Casting aside those meaningless thoughts, Fuguki Suikazan said, "Lord Hokage, I may begin."

"Very well, Lord Suikazan. Please."

After a round of superficial pleasantries, both sides took their seats.

In accordance with rank and status, the Hokage naturally occupied the main seat on the Leaf Village side. Seated to his left and right were the four members of the previous Hokage's administration, followed by key officials from various departments, as well as clan heads without official posts, Uchiha Shingen, Hatake Kakashi, and Might Guy.

The future Emperor Guy was still rather inexperienced. At this time, he was only a chunin, attending as the son of a hero.

In the Leaf Village, "son of a hero" was an extremely prestigious title. It represented not only the highest honor, but also a formidable political asset. Yet earning that honor was no easy matter. Though the Hokage Building's slogan was that everyone was a hero, in practice, only particularly exceptional heroes could allow their children to receive such treatment.

Might Duy was a typical example.

The origins of the Formation of Eight Gates were a mystery, but one thing was certain: before the Third Shinobi World War, this ninjutsu had been an obscure existence in the Leaf Village. It was not until Might Duy pulled off something massive that the Leaf Village higher-ups realized just how terrifying the Formation of Eight Gates was.