Uchiha Clan Chief Election

Before long, Uchiha Gōka followed Uchiha Setsuna to Nanga Shrine.

The moment they entered Nanga Shrine, a dense sea of people filled their view.

Uchiha Gōka and Uchiha Setsuna were probably late.

The elders on the stage had already begun presiding over the meeting and giving their speeches.

The Grand Elder—aged and frail Uchiha Hōka—looked over the many clan members below and spoke:

"The position of Uchiha Clan Chief has remained vacant."

"At Konoha's high-level meetings, the Uchiha Clan's authority within the village has been continually infringed upon."

"Konoha's upper ranks are gradually distancing and isolating the Uchiha Clan. The clan's development is weakening by the day."

"Without a clan chief, the Uchiha Clan is like a scattered mass, left to be weakened at the mercy of Konoha's upper ranks."

"Today's meeting has only one purpose—to choose from among all Uchiha clan members a clan chief who can truly lead the Uchiha Clan to revival."

As soon as he finished, waves of commotion rose within Nanga Shrine...

Inside the venue, clan members whispered among themselves:

"The Uchiha Clan Chief position has been vacant for so long. With no one leading our clan, it's long past time we chose a chief."

"The Uchiha Clan's previous two chiefs—Uchiha Tajima and Madara Uchiha—were both godlike figures!"

"I wonder what kind of outstanding ninja this generation will choose?"

"Ah...! Our Uchiha Clan will never again produce ninja as exceptional as Uchiha Tajima and Madara Uchiha."

"Our generation doesn't seem to have any ninja capable of bearing the responsibility of clan chief."

"This clan chief election is just picking the best of a bad lot!"

At once, many clan ninja shook their heads and sighed, their faces carrying traces of loneliness and disappointment.

The clan members hoped for an exceptional heroic figure who could lead the Uchiha Clan toward revival.

But in this generation, the Uchiha Clan seemed to be running out of talent.

Still, although there was no ninja within the clan as outstanding as Madara Uchiha and the clan members' faces showed some disappointment,

many people in the venue still turned their gazes toward Uchiha Fugaku.

This year, seventeen-year-old Uchiha Fugaku possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan, was a Konoha elite jōnin, and had outstanding combat strength.

Though he was not qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as Madara Uchiha,

among the younger generation, none could surpass Uchiha Fugaku.

Many clan members believed that Uchiha Fugaku had the potential to "awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."

In the competition for clan chief, seventeen-year-old Uchiha Fugaku had also become the most favored candidate.

The aged and frail Grand Elder Uchiha Hōka naturally heard every whisper from the clan members below.

Uchiha Hōka glanced at the seventeen-year-old Uchiha Fugaku below the stage.

In the face of Konoha's upper ranks encroaching upon and neglecting the Uchiha Clan, the clan urgently needed an outstanding chief to contend against them.

In Uchiha Hōka's eyes, this term's clan chief seemed destined to be Uchiha Fugaku.

Because they had arrived late, Uchiha Setsuna and Uchiha Gōka stood at the very back of the venue.

After glancing from afar at the highly favored Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Setsuna wore a disdainful expression and muttered resentfully to himself:

"Uchiha Fugaku is close to Konoha's upper ranks and holds an optimistic view of the future of the Uchiha Clan and Konoha Village."

"He believes the Uchiha Clan and Konoha Village can find a way to coexist peacefully."

"Humph! How can someone like that lead the Uchiha Clan!"

As he muttered, Uchiha Setsuna clenched his fists tightly, unwilling to let someone like Uchiha Fugaku lead the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Setsuna belonged to the hawkish faction of the Uchiha Clan. He was deeply dissatisfied with Konoha's upper ranks and had always longed for a hero like Madara Uchiha to lead the Uchiha clan members in reclaiming sovereignty over the village.

Standing beside Uchiha Setsuna, Uchiha Gōka thought of the future night of the clan's extermination. Uchiha Fugaku cannot be allowed to become clan chief.

"Uchiha Fugaku will ultimately lead the Uchiha Clan to extermination!"

Since he had been reborn into the Uchiha Clan in this life, Uchiha Gōka naturally considered matters from the Uchiha Clan's perspective.

Harming the Uchiha Clan's interests was equivalent to harming Uchiha Gōka's interests.

Grand Elder Uchiha Hōka raised a hand, stopping the commotion and clamor among the clan members below.

The venue immediately fell silent.

Grand Elder Uchiha Hōka announced:

"The method of selecting the Uchiha Clan Chief is simple. It mainly depends on two points."

"First, the highest combat strength; second, the support of the greatest number of clan members."

"The clan chief election will be conducted fairly and openly. Any member of the Uchiha Clan may participate."

"Three days from now, the clan chief election will be held at the training grounds behind Konoha!"

After announcing the time and rules for the clan chief election and discussing several other matters, the Uchiha clan meeting gradually dispersed...

Early the next morning, Yehuo Snack Shop opened as usual.

Uchiha Gōka had just opened the shop doors when Tsunade walked over from not far away.

"Hey! Is that resurrection technique you mentioned yesterday real?"

"Mm."

Uchiha Gōka nodded lightly at Tsunade.

Then, after hanging a sign reading "Open" at the entrance, he went inside.

The moment she entered the shop, Tsunade impatiently wanted to ask how the "resurrection technique" had specifically been developed...

Suddenly, a figure entered the shop:

"A morning of youth begins with a bowl of Pissing Beef Balls!"

The newcomer was Might Guy's father—the Azure Beast, Might Duy.

At that moment, Might Duy was dressed in a green youthful tracksuit, drenched in sweat. Having just finished exercising, he came straight to Yehuo Snack Shop.

"Oh? Tsunade is here too!"

Might Duy spotted Tsunade as soon as he entered.

Seeing Might Duy come in, Tsunade stopped asking about the "resurrection technique."

Might Duy gave Tsunade a bright, youthful smile, flashing a mouthful of white teeth.

Tsunade could not be bothered to respond to Might Duy.

Uchiha Gōka said nothing and simply got busy preparing Soul-Stirring Rice and Pissing Beef Balls.

Before long, Yuhi Kurenai's father—Yuhi Yuanqiu, White Fang—Hatake Sakumo, Gekkō Hayate's father—Gekkō Yoru, Mitarashi Anko's uncle—Mitarashi Zixiao, Sarutobi Asuma's older brother—Sarutobi Shinnosuke, the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama's grandson—Senju Chengshui... all arrived at Yehuo Snack Shop one after another.

Besides them, there were also other ninja and civilian customers.

Yehuo Snack Shop was one of Konoha's most popular establishments.

But there were obviously far more customers than usual today.

The shop was packed with customers early in the morning.

Tsunade still wanted to ask Uchiha Gōka privately about the resurrection technique.

But seeing the shop crammed with customers, Tsunade's face darkened with frustration.

So many customers had arrived in such a short time that Uchiha Gōka became busy at once.

The shop was lively, and everyone was gossiping about Konoha's recent hot topics.

News of the "Uchiha Clan Chief Election" had spread without wings.

It had also become the village's hottest recent topic.