"Fugaku favors his disciple Minato. Does that mean he wants Minato to take over? Minato's strength has grown rapidly over the years, and he's completed plenty of High-Difficulty Missions, but he has few battlefield achievements to his name.
"During the war in the Land of Rain, he was still just a child," Homura said.
The Third Hokage took a drag on his pipe. "We don't know whom Fugaku supports. Don't forget that Orochimaru has remained neutral all these years and has no feud with the Uchiha.
"If Minato wants to take the position, a war that engulfs the entire Shinobi World would have to break out before I step down, and he would have to be the one to turn the tide.
"When Fugaku returns to Konoha in a few days, I'll sound him out. Perhaps he won't oppose Orochimaru succeeding me as Hokage."
Homura nodded in silence. Hiruzen had changed so much over the years that Homura found it hard to adjust.
Ever since Danzo defected and Fugaku rose to prominence, Hiruzen's way of handling matters had changed. Homura couldn't say whether it was for better or worse, and there was no one left in Konoha he could discuss it with.
A wave of weariness washed over Homura. So much of what happened in Konoha had slipped beyond his control, and his voice as Hokage Assistant carried less and less weight in the village.
An assistant was only an assistant, nothing like an Advisor. He had seniority, but the older Clan Heads of Konoha's Great Families were no less experienced than he was.
Looking back, they had all fallen for Fugaku's scheme. The abolition of the Advisory Council had probably been carefully planned by Fugaku Uchiha to weaken the Hokage Faction's core of power.
"Hiruzen, I plan to retire