I Want to Become Hokage

Konoha's Council Chamber.

Three old men and an elderly woman entered and took their seats.

It was a request from Itachi and Shisui, after all. They had to take it seriously.

The two were their most important informants within the Uchiha Clan. They could not afford the slightest carelessness.

Uchiha Itachi and Shisui passed through layer after layer of security before entering.

Shimura Danzō spoke first. "Why did you call us here?"

"We've found a way to calm the Uchiha Clan!"

"What way?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked at once. This was the issue that concerned him most. If they could resolve it without bloodshed, so much the better.

"If Shisui or I become the Next Hokage, and Lord Hokage is willing to make that promise, I believe the Uchiha Clan will no longer want to rebel!"

Shimura Danzō laughed in disbelief. How could he hand over the position he had dreamed of simply to quell an Uchiha rebellion?

"We cannot give up the position of Hokage because the Uchiha threaten rebellion," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "The villagers' safety depends on it!"

Itachi and Shisui's proposal stunned him. They actually wanted to use the threat of rebellion to force him to give them the Hokage position.

Shimura Danzō said with disdain, "You must be dreaming. A clan as evil as yours could never hold the position of Hokage!"

"We reject this proposal. We'll pretend today never happened. Itachi, Shisui, go home," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, trying to smooth things over.

After all, he still needed them to keep watch on the Uchiha Clan.

"Then we want to be considered as Hokage Candidates!"

"The Uchiha Clan helped found Konoha. Surely we've earned the right to at least one candidacy!" Shisui Uchiha declared.

His tone no longer held the respect it had before.

The Uchiha did plenty in the wars, didn't we? With all our military achievements, how can we not even earn a chance to stand as Hokage Candidates?

Itachi was still young, so that was understandable. But were they unwilling to give even Shisui a chance?

Itachi was already a Jonin. Given time, he might well reach Kage Level.

"I said no, and I mean no. Get out!" Shimura Danzō snapped.

He would not have reacted so strongly to anything else. But Hokage was the position he had longed for all his life! How dare the Uchiha reach for it? How could he not be furious?

"Itachi, go. We'll give it more thought!"

Uchiha Itachi and Shisui Uchiha obeyed and left. They had barely gone when a furious shout rang out from inside.

"How dare they!"

"Itachi, go home first. I'll find another way to deal with the Hokage issue!" Shisui Uchiha told him, then vanished in a series of flickers.

Dusk approached, and the sky gradually darkened. Beneath the setting sun, Uchiha Itachi's lone figure looked unbearably forlorn.

After what had happened today, they had seen the village leadership's true colors. It left them chilled to the bone.

Uchiha Itachi walked into his home and immediately found his father waiting with a stern expression.

"Itachi, what did you do today? I heard you and Shisui demanded the Hokage position for our clan from Danzo and Sarutobi, and they threw you out!"

Word always got around. News of Uchiha Itachi's foolish act had reached the Uchiha Clan.

His actions might have been foolish, but they had stirred outrage throughout the clan.

Why couldn't an Uchiha become Hokage? After all these years, wasn't it the Uchiha's turn?

"Yes."

"You did well today. Don't do it again."

"The Uchiha must take back what rightfully belongs to us ourselves!" Uchiha Fugaku praised his son. Itachi's approach had been clumsy, but given his age, it was no surprise he had not thought everything through.

It also showed that his heart was with the Uchiha Clan, a tremendous boost to the planned coup.

Uchiha Itachi said nothing. He only felt exhausted. Why couldn't the village and the Uchiha coexist? Did one of them have to disappear?

"Sarutobi, after what happened today, the Uchiha Clan clearly won't abandon its plans for a coup. It's time we acted!"

"Danzo, you were too rash today!"

To Hiruzen Sarutobi, this meant losing his two most important informants within the Uchiha Clan. The conflict with the clan was now on the verge of erupting.

"We need to settle on a plan quickly, then wipe out the Uchiha Clan for good. That will eliminate every hidden danger!"

"But..." Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have more to say.

"Let my Root Ninja handle it!" Shimura Danzō cut him off immediately, then added, "The other advisers agree!"

He knew his old friend's nature. Someone still had to make the decision for him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing. That was as good as consent.

"Shisui, what are you doing here?"

"I came to apologize to Lord Hokage for Uchiha Itachi's behavior!"

Neither of them had noticed someone enter the Council Chamber. They had no idea how long he had been there. A chill ran through them. If he had chosen to attack, they would have been gravely wounded, if not killed outright.

"You entered the Council Chamber without permission! What are you trying to do, Shisui?" Shimura Danzō demanded.

"I only came to apologize to Lord Hokage. We overstepped!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi reassured him softly. "It's all right. You didn't know any better. You wanted to become Hokage for the village's sake. You may go."

Once Shisui Uchiha had left completely...

"Sarutobi, should we...?" Shimura Danzō drew a finger across his throat.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

They did not know whether Shisui had overheard their conversation. Killing him would remove that risk and weaken the Uchiha Clan at the same time.

Body Flicker Shisui. That name was frightening indeed!

After discussing a few details, Shimura Danzō left satisfied. He did not notice the strange glint that flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.

At Shimura Danzō's signal, several Root Ninja followed Shisui, intending to find a secluded spot and kill him.

"Where's Shisui?"

The Root Ninja realized they had lost him.

"Looking for me?"

The Root Ninja turned. All they saw was a long blade wreathed in dazzling flames sweeping toward them. They had no time to react.

Their vision went black as their heads parted from their bodies.

"Konoha... so this is how you treat me!"

Everyone knew what Root Ninja had come to do.

"Then I have nothing to feel guilty about!"