How Could It Be Him?

Uchiha Setsuna's eyes suddenly lit up.

Through a gap in the crowd, a lean, agile figure was walking over from the distance...

That familiar figure was none other than Uchiha Gōka.

At Uchiha Gōka's side was a voluptuous, dignified woman—Tsunade.

The moment he saw Uchiha Gōka, the grim tension on Uchiha Setsuna's sinister face immediately eased considerably.

Just moments ago, Uchiha Setsuna had stood alone against the elder, Uchiha Fugaku, trading barbs with him in a fierce confrontation.

Countless questioning gazes around them had been fixed tightly on Uchiha Setsuna.

Under such intense pressure, even the ever-cunning and scheming Uchiha Setsuna had been forced into a numb-scalped, red-faced fury...

At that moment, the aged Grand Elder, Uchiha Hōka, wore a dark expression, his face looking extremely unpleasant.

The grand Uchiha Clan chief election had drawn immense attention throughout Konoha Village. Even people from other villages had come to observe.

Scattered throughout the venue were merchants and ninja dressed in the attire of other villages.

Originally, with the Grand Elder—Uchiha Hōka—presiding over it, everything had been orderly.

Yet unexpectedly, Uchiha Setsuna had emerged halfway through, like a turd-stirring stick, throwing the Uchiha Clan's election assembly into chaos.

The elderly Grand Elder Uchiha Hōka was so furious that his old face had turned red. He glared resentfully at the sinister Uchiha Setsuna, bewilderment filling his heart. "Setsuna, this fellow is usually calculating, crafty, and treacherous. He's a clever man."

"Did he leave a screw loose in his head today?"

"Since he can't become clan chief himself, he's making a scene at the Uchiha Clan's chief election assembly!"

"This is utterly outrageous! I'm furious!"

In the blink of an eye, two guards stepped onto the platform to carry out Grand Elder Uchiha Hōka's orders.

They intended to escort Uchiha Setsuna off the platform.

The two Police Force members came before Uchiha Setsuna. Rather than immediately seizing him, they first glanced at the Grand Elder.

The guards and the Grand Elder exchanged looks.

It seemed they were once again asking the Grand Elder whether he truly wanted Uchiha Setsuna escorted away.

Although Uchiha Setsuna's political views differed from Uchiha Fugaku's, leading to his exclusion and marginalization by the clan...

Among his generation of Uchiha clansmen, Uchiha Setsuna was still an extraordinary genius. Not only was he formidable in battle, but his personality was also ruthless and vicious.

Under normal circumstances, the two guards truly would not have dared to arrest Uchiha Setsuna so casually.

The elderly Grand Elder Uchiha Hōka was beside himself with anger. Staring blankly at Setsuna with eyes widened round, he swept his hand through the air. "Hurry up and take Setsuna off the platform!"

"I will now announce the results of this clan chief election..."

Even his tone as he announced the election results carried a trace of anger.

Grand Elder Uchiha Hōka's good mood appeared to have been thoroughly ruined by Uchiha Setsuna, that turd-stirring stick.

Having received Grand Elder Uchiha Hōka's order again...

The two guards no longer hesitated. They stepped forward, intending to escort Uchiha Setsuna away.

Watching the two guards move to seize him...

How could the scheming Uchiha Setsuna simply wait to be captured? He suddenly raised a hand toward them and shouted, "Wait!"

The elderly Grand Elder Uchiha Hōka panted in rage. "Setsuna! What else are you trying to do?!"

The gloomy frustration on Uchiha Setsuna's face instantly vanished, replaced by utter confidence. The corner of his lips curled up into a wicked, crafty smile.

"The person I spoke of has arrived!"

"Hm? Who is he? Where is he?"

The Grand Elder's old face sagged as he looked around...

A wave of commotion immediately rose from below the platform.

Uchiha Fugaku's gaze narrowed, and he lightly clenched his fists, seemingly growing impatient. "Setsuna! Who exactly is this person?!"

Uchiha Setsuna turned to look at Uchiha Fugaku. Beyond the coldness and cunning in his eyes, there was now an inexplicable confidence. "The Uchiha Clan's chief election is not truly over yet."

His tone seemed to carry a hint of mockery.

Uchiha Setsuna shouted loudly and abruptly pointed down from the platform...

"The Uchiha commoner I spoke of is Uchiha Gōka!!!"

His shout rang through the heavens!

Perhaps because he had endured the oppressive atmosphere alone moments ago, Uchiha Setsuna had been bottling up a stomachful of frustration. As he spoke those words, he released it all at once.

Upon hearing Uchiha Setsuna's words, the vast crowd of spectators was shaken to the core!

Countless eyes turned in unison toward the direction Uchiha Setsuna pointed...

Under everyone's gaze...

Uchiha Gōka could be seen holding Tsunade's hand as he pushed through the packed crowd toward the platform.

"What?!"

The venue erupted into an uproar.

Beside the training ground...

Danzo Shimura twisted his old face. "Tch! I was wondering who it was!"

"After all that commotion, it's just this kid?"

"Uchiha Gōka, the chef of Yehuo Snack Shop?"

"I've had his brewed liquor, his Pissing Beef Balls, and his Melancholy Soul-Numbing Rice several times!"

"This chef is a hidden master of the Uchiha Clan...?"

No matter how much Danzo Shimura frowned, he could not make sense of it.

Koharu Utatane said, "Absurd. This is utterly absurd!"

Homura Mitokado said, "How could a chef possibly be some hidden master of the Uchiha Clan?!"

Danzo Shimura said, "Damn it! According to my intelligence, this Uchiha Setsuna has always been crafty and sinister."

"Could he be playing all of us for fools today?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from the pipe in his mouth, then exhaled smoke. "Uchiha Gōka..."

"Could there be something extraordinary about him?"

Outside the training ground, the noise was deafening.

Uchiha Yashiro said, "This is utter nonsense... How could Karmic Fire possibly know ninjutsu?!"

Tekka, Inabi, Yakumi, and many other Uchiha clansmen all believed Uchiha Setsuna's words were complete nonsense.

Mikoto Uchiha's beautiful eyes flickered. "Eh! Uchiha Gōka, that very handsome man."

"Could he truly be that strong?"

Hatake Sakumo said, "Uchiha Gōka is a hidden master? How could that be possible?"

Yūhi Shinku said, "Exactly! We often visit Yehuo Snack Shop, but we've never seen anything remarkable about Uchiha Gōka."

Kato Dan said, "Even now, I can't see what he has going for him besides being able to cook."

The Azure Beast, Might Duy, flashed a brilliant smile, revealing his gleaming white teeth. "Not necessarily!"

"You must know that youth holds infinite possibilities!"

Senju Chengshui watched Uchiha Gōka holding Tsunade's hand. His brows furrowed as his gaze sharpened.

"Why is Uchiha Gōka holding Tsunade's hand? What is going on?"

"How can this commoner brat... how can he possibly be worthy of Tsunade?"

A crafty glint flashed through Orochimaru's eyes.

"I wonder how you'll resolve this, Uchiha Gōka?"

"You're facing the captain of the Konoha Police Force, Uchiha Fugaku!"

Hyūga Hiashi said, "Uchiha Gōka? He seems to be nothing more than a snack shop chef."

"Why would Uchiha Setsuna boast about a chef?"

Hyūga Hiashi said, "We'll know the answer soon enough."

Kushina said, "Could this man—Uchiha Gōka—really be as formidable as Uchiha Setsuna claims?"

Besides the Uchiha clansmen, Konoha's higher-ups, and members of Konoha's other clans...

There were also merchants and ninja from other shinobi villages who had come to trade, travel, or sightsee.

Among those merchants and ninja from other villages, there were inevitably spies and agents specifically tasked with gathering intelligence on Konoha.

At that moment, those foreign merchants, ninja, spies, and agents also developed an intense interest in Uchiha Gōka.

They all wanted to see for themselves what kind of person this Uchiha Gōka, so fervently praised by Uchiha Setsuna, truly was.