The Night Before the Vote / Uchiha's Friends
"Alright, that's all I had to say. We'll leave once you become Hokage." Senju Tobirama gestured to Senju Hashirama beside him and said to Uchiha Shingen, "It's getting late. Didn't you have an appointment with the Uchiha Clan and Hyuga Clan groups tonight? Go ahead and get busy. Leave this to me. From now on, we'll still be careful to address you Shingen."
These words saddened Uchiha Shingen considerably.
But Senju Tobirama is a man of his word; once he's said something, there's no going back.
This will be the last time he spends with these two brothers as "brothers".
From this day forward, even among them, he will be Uchiha Shingen, not Senju Kite.
"Big brother, second brother, I'm leaving."
"Yes, go, don't look back."
The last sentence was spoken by Senju Hashirama, and his tone was quite serious.
Uchiha Shingen took one last look at the two of them before leaving using the Flying Thunder God.
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama watched him leave, then looked towards the direction of Hidden Leaf Village. The two brothers stood by the lake for a long time until night completely fell, causing their figures to disappear into the darkness.
Chapter Forty-Seven: The Night Before the Election
Hidden Leaf Village at night is as bustling as ever.
However, the ubiquitous Hokage election posters on the streets prove that the village is undergoing a new round of power transition.
Uchiha Shingen walked down the street, the surrounding noise didn't bother him.
Even the flow of people passing by seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding lights at this moment, in his eyes.
It seems that at this moment, he and Leaf Village are two different pictures.
The once simple and primitive little village has left no trace in the metropolis before us.
Even the Hokage Rock.
Back then, Hokage Rock was a proper mountain wall, with nothing carved out of it.
The people of Leaf Village began carving things out of the ground to create shelters, a practice that began during the Third's era.
Before that, there simply wasn't enough manpower to do such a thing.
Uchiha Shingen looked up. In the dark night sky, even the starlight seemed dimmed by the lights on the ground.
Suddenly, a hand slapped him on the shoulder.
"Brother Shingen!" Tekka jumped out from behind him. "Haha, I knew it was you."
Uchiha Shingen looked at his other hand.
He was carrying a large basket.
It's all alcohol.
This guy, does he not want to spend tonight?
Tekka noticed Uchiha Shingen's gaze and immediately felt smug.
"This is fine wine; I've had it stored at home for many years."
"You're not planning to go back tonight?" Uchiha Shingen was speechless.
As we all know, the purpose of urging others to drink is to get them to drink while you yourself don't drink or drink less.
However, Tekka's drinking skills were terrible.
Even when urged to drink, he would drink more than others.
Unfortunately, he's not a very good drinker.
Uchiha Tekka's drinking ability is entirely dependent on his drinking prowess.
"Go back? What do you mean go back? I already told Jia Gangli that the future fifth generation is treating everyone to dinner today, and we're staying at a restaurant tonight."
Uchiha Tekka looked excited.
This is also a true reflection of every Uchiha Clan today.
The Uchiha Clan ninjas had absolutely no interest in humility.
"You're getting too cocky," Uchiha Shingen reminded him. "And this 'future Fifth Hokage' thing? Are you trying to get yourself killed? They're shouting about it in the streets, there are several nominees."
"Huh? But isn't that how it is?" Uchiha Tekka was taken aback.
He only yelled a couple of times in the street, Brother Shingen is being too cautious.
Uchiha Itachi even awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, wasn't that way way more exaggerated than him?
What is this? The Will of Fire awakening technique?
Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Itachi didn't get along well because he was annoyed by Uchiha Itachi's arrogant attitude all the time.
And he keeps talking about the Will of Fire.
On the night that Uchiha Itachi was nominated for Hokage Uchiha Shingen awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. This caused quite a stir within the clan, but it was kept secret from outsiders for the time being.
The fact that a group of the Uchiha Clan members, whose primary duty was to show off, were able to keep this matter a secret was also due to the fact that their perspectives had broadened after Uchiha Shingen awakened the Rinnegan, and the prestige of the Mangekyō Sharingan had decreased within the clan. Even Uchiha Itachi himself thought it was just so-so.
Uchiha Itachi can be considered the most low-key Mangekyo Sharingan user in the history of the Uchiha Clan —he genuinely didn't think it was anything special.
In Uchiha Tekka's opinion, he only felt that Uchiha Itachi was more arrogant.
In his view, this meant that Uchiha Itachi was more concerned about Uchiha Shingen becoming Hokage than he was about it.
This is so strange. He's clearly closer to Shingen- hyun, right? Why didn't he open it?
There must be something wrong!
"Alright, control yourself tonight, don't go too crazy." Uchiha Shingen was unaware of Uchiha Tekka's overly complex inner thoughts, but out of friendship, he still gave him a reminder, "You should be more low-key. Besides, it's not even the end yet. If it doesn't work out, it'll be a slap in the face. You're Jonin, you need to be more careful with your words."
"Understood." Uchiha Tekka didn't refute, nor did he care.
After all, the Shingen he knew was like that—he loved to put on an act.
They're probably secretly very happy.
"Don't want to be Hokage? That's definitely something Shingen said on purpose, just being polite."
Believing he knew everything, Uchiha Tekka patted his chest and assured Uchiha Shingen, "Brother Shingen, don't worry, I'm very tight-lipped. Whether you tell me or not, I promise I won't."
Uchiha Shingen wasn't really sure he believed it, but since his little brother had said so, he had to pretend to believe him.
To be fair, Uchiha Tekka was a very capable ninja; his weakness lay in his interpersonal relationships.
To put it more bluntly, their social skills are extremely low.
The two finally arrived at the hotel they had booked.
This is the most luxurious venue in all of Leaf Village; those who dine here are from the Bureau of Commerce.
Today, it has a group of very important guests.
Because even its owners and shareholders are among them.
As the de facto controller of this hotel and the current head of the Police Force, Hyuga Hiashi is waiting at the hotel entrance.
Currently, Leaf Village has two major ninja alliances: the Ino -Ino-Shika-Cho and the Uchiha Clan Hyuga Clan.
From the Third to the Fourth Hokage era, the Ino-Shika-Cho were all considered die-hard Hokage supporters.
However, during the Fifth Hokage's era, Hyuga Hiashi believed that this title should be given way to the alliance between the Hyuga Clan and Uchiha Clan.
Seeing Uchiha Shingen walking towards them from across the street, Hyuga Hiashi smiled.
Although there was a hint of bitterness in his smile.
But this has nothing to do with Uchiha Shingen; it's related to the ancestor he brought back over half a year ago.
Honestly, they're incredibly difficult to please.
"Shingen- kun." Hyuga Hiashi greeted him.
"Hiashi." Uchiha Shingen quickened his pace upon seeing Hyuga Hiashi. "Why did you personally wait for me? I'm truly sorry, something came up and I was delayed for a while."
"Haha, it's nothing, it's nothing." Hyuga Hiashi's laughter and expression were equally hearty. "After all, they are two Lord Hokage, it's only right that we spend some more time together."
As the head of the Police Force, Hyuga Hiashi would naturally be fully aware of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama's whereabouts unless they made a special effort to conceal themselves.
"I'm ashamed to say that the two seniors only briefly discussed some work-related matters with me." Uchiha Shingen didn't linger on the topic. He took Hyuga Hiashi's arm. "Please go first."
"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony." Hiashi Hyuga Hiashi n't refuse and walked into the hotel with Uchiha Shingen. "Lord Fugaku has already arrived and is waiting for you, Shingen -kun. Tomorrow is the first round of the village referendum, and everyone is ready."
Uchiha Tekka, left unattended, watched the two seemingly inseparable lovers ahead and inwardly scorned them, but he didn't hesitate and quickly followed, carrying his wine basket.
Chapter 48 Uchiha Clan's Friends
When Uchiha Shingen, Hyuga Hiashi, and Uchiha Tekka entered the reserved private room, it was already packed with people.
This is a private room that can accommodate more than forty people, and the people who come here are all prominent figures in Leaf Village.
From the perspective of those representing the ninja clans, aside from the two clan leaders Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi, there are elders from the Aburame Clan and Inuzuka Clan, and representatives from the Ino -Ino-Shika-Cho are also present—the three current clan leaders, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chōza, and Yamanaka Inoichi.
Leaf Village has now restored its original system of nine major ninja clans, and seven of them are in this private room.
This has become the norm for Uchiha Shingen these days, especially at night.
Either he's treating others to dinner, or others are inviting him for drinks, or Uchiha Fugaku organizes a gathering and calls him over.
Truly flexible working hours.
It's specifically for playing at night.
If it weren't for the large crowd, Uchiha Shingen wouldn't have chosen to come here today.
Because the bigwigs of Leaf Village now prefer "club-style" hospitality.
There's no privacy in places like this.
Many people stood up when they saw Uchiha Shingen enter.
Uchiha Fugaku was an exception; he didn't need to stand, as he was the elder in terms of personal relationship.
They're elders who live right next door, and the two families often get together for meals.
Upon entering the private room, Uchiha Shingen apologized to everyone for being late, and the atmosphere inside was completely harmonious.
Uchiha Shisui was also present; he had been smiling at everyone he met lately, clearly in a very good mood.
He felt ashamed when he thought that he had once doubted Uchiha Shingen's lack of the Will of Fire.
The Will of Fire, acknowledged even by the First and Second Hokage, speaks volumes about its purity.
Being nominated as Hokage candidate is actually nothing new for the Uchiha Clan.
Wasn't Uchiha Fugaku also a candidate for Hokage during the Fourth Hokage election?
Not only the Fourth Hokage, but also Uchiha Madara was a candidate for Hokage during the First Hokage's time, and Uchiha Uchiha was nominated Second.
The reason he wasn't nominated for the Third is because Sarutobi Hiruzen was appointed to that position during a wartime emergency, which was a special case.
In short, the Uchiha Clan's constant nominations are just that—they're always just there to make up the numbers.
But this time the situation is completely different; it's someone else running alongside Uchiha Shingen.
The Fifth Hokage was decided the moment Uchiha Shingen was nominated; he was just going through the motions, like the First and Second before him.
After exchanging pleasantries, everyone sat down again.
Uchiha Shingen sat to the right of Uchiha Fugaku, while at the other end, Uchiha Tekka had already handed the sake basket to the waiter.
But there are still two empty seats on the table.
"Where's Itachi?" Uchiha Fugaku asked immediately when he noticed that only Tekka had entered.
He clearly remembered telling his son that it would be delivered tonight.
Uchiha Shingen was quite satisfied with the arrangements made for Uchiha Itachi. To be honest, although he thought Itachi had the potential to Hokage back then, he no longer thought so.
With the eldest son's personality, he'd be unfit to be either Hokage or clan leader, let alone clan leader.
I don't know how he learned that Will of Fire, but he's got a strong sense of cremation.
Let's keep him as the head of the ANBU. That would be perfect. He could help Uchiha Shingen a lot and strengthen the connection between the Hokage Building and the clan.
Uchiha Shingen, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Itachi formed the "iron triangle" of this generation of the Uchiha Clan, ensuring the clan's continued prosperity.