The First Day of Missing Orochimaru

"If no one has any objections, we'll discuss this another day. And if someone else has the experience and strength to become Hokage, they can be considered too!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

The advisors continued to consider whether there was a better candidate than Kakashi.

But Orochimaru had defected, while Jiraiya and Tsunade were both away from the village. Given their personalities, neither would likely want the position anyway.

That left Shisui Uchiha as the only other person they could think of. But he was also a member of the Uchiha Clan, so appointing him would be no different from appointing Uchiha Itachi.

Afterward, some people began to wonder: if someone in their family was as talented as Itachi, and they had the support of the Two Advisors and Shimura Danzō, could they make a bid for the Hokage seat too?

Anyone could see that apart from Hiruzen Sarutobi, the sitting Hokage, no one wanted Uchiha Itachi to take the position.

With that thought in mind, the children of the various clans threw themselves into a frenzy of competition. If you could throw Kunai at five, I had to master the Three Basic Techniques at five—and a Secret Technique on top of that...

All of it was for the Hokage seat. No one had expected this affair to raise the younger generation's combat strength a notch.

Several members of the Uchiha Clan walked slowly down the street. Uchiha Yoru was deep in thought.

The Second Hokage's influence shaped everyone's view of the Uchiha Clan. Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi has no love for us, he wouldn't be this certain that Uchiha Itachi should become Hokage. It's almost like...

Brainwashing. Yes, that's it. He looks exactly like he's been brainwashed. If it were Genjutsu, someone would have noticed. Unless...

Uchiha Yoru glanced toward Shisui.

Shisui noticed and smiled at him.

Only Kotoamatsukami could do this. I never thought someone who looked so honest would pull a stunt like that!

The sight of Shisui's smile sent a shiver down Uchiha Yoru's spine. Both his eyes held Kotoamatsukami! Even if he had used one on Hiruzen Sarutobi, he still had the other. Yoru had better keep his distance.

Ninjutsu that could alter someone's will at a whim was terrifying.

What's Kotoamatsukami? Why does it feel like Yoru and Shisui know something I don't? And how did I end up a Hokage Candidate without a clue? Uchiha Itachi wondered.

That's Itachi for you! He led Sasuke around by the nose in the original story, and now he's doing the same to Danzo!

Uchiha Itachi: ???

The group said little as they walked back to the clan compound.

Uchiha Fugaku announced the news to everyone.

Today had shown them the gulf between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha. A sudden attack by Root alone had left them scrambling. Their chances of a successful coup were far too low.

No one in the Uchiha Clan brought up revenge, either. Acting beyond their strength without regard for the gap between them and their enemy was suicide! (A certain Uchiha Sasuke: ???)

Things have calmed down for now, but the conflict between the village and the Uchiha Clan hasn't eased. Sooner or later, another clash will happen!

Uchiha Itachi suddenly said, "Father, Yoru has something to say too!"

"Go on, Yoru! Tell the clan what's on your mind!" Uchiha Fugaku was in a good mood today. Even his second son looked rather pleasing to the eye, and his tone softened.

"I wanted to say..."

"Yes? What is it? Go ahead!" Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi fixed him with eager stares.

"I haven't had breakfast yet. Can I go get some Ichiraku Ramen now?"

Uchiha Itachi: (￣ω￣;)...

Uchiha Fugaku: (╬￣皿￣)=○

Uchiha Yoru: ლ(´ڡ`ლ)

"You're grounded!" Uchiha Fugaku snapped. He must have lost his mind to think Uchiha Yoru would have anything worthwhile to say!

Uchiha Yoru said nothing and quietly returned to his room. He had given his father a little face in front of everyone; then he promptly climbed over the wall and slipped out.

"Uncle Teuchi, one super-deluxe bowl of Ichiraku Ramen!"

"Ayame, you're looking prettier every day!"

"You sure know what to say, Little Yoru! Dad, give his ramen some extra toppings!"

"Don't you dare set your sights on my daughter, kid!" Teuchi said fiercely, though Uchiha Yoru's ramen arrived with a generous helping of toppings.

"I'd never!"

Slurp, slurp!

Uchiha Yoru savored the delicious ramen. After a busy morning, it tasted especially good!

What a life. No need to work hard or study. He could eat Chakra Fruits every day, watch the drama unfold, and let his Chakra grow on its own. What could be better?

Still, it was getting a little dull. He would have to wait decades for technology to reach the level it had in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations! He was already bored, even with the drama to watch, and the main plot had not begun yet.

He missed game consoles, computers, phones—and all those teachers!

What if he caught Orochimaru and made him invent a game console?

Sounds good to me!

It never occurred to Uchiha Yoru that this world did not even have the necessary software. How was Orochimaru supposed to invent one? Then again, he had managed to achieve immortality. How hard could this be?

For all the advances in technology in his previous life, no one had achieved immortality there. He could leave everything to Orochimaru!

Just as Uchiha Yoru's imagination was running wild—

"Uncle Teuchi, one bowl of ramen!"

"Itachi, what are you doing here? Shouldn't Fugaku be showing you around and spreading the word about you?" Uchiha Yoru asked as Uchiha Itachi sat down beside him.

"I'd rather talk to you, Little Yoru."

"About what? Ramen flavors? Or some other good food?" Uchiha Yoru played dumb.

Uchiha Itachi knew exactly what he was like. Ignoring the question, he said, "I somehow became a Hokage Candidate, but I don't know what I should do for the village."

"And the conflict between the clan and the villagers runs deep. I don't know how to ease it."

"The pressure is getting to me!"

Uchiha Yoru knew what worried him. Itachi was both the Uchiha Clan leader's eldest son and a Hokage Candidate. He could not simply wipe out the Uchiha Clan as he had in the original story.

He had to find a balance between the two, and that was far harder.

"No idea. Just take it one day at a time!"

Don't blame me for not helping, Itachi! I really don't want to lose any points. Let's talk after you catch Orochimaru and get him to make games for me!

As usual, Uchiha Itachi was left full of questions. But he had caught one name: Orochimaru. Did that mean Uchiha Yoru would help him come up with a plan if he brought Orochimaru here?

"All right. I understand!"

"What exactly did you understand?" Uchiha Yoru watched him leave, at a loss for words.

Somewhere underground.

"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"

A deathly pale man sneezed uncontrollably. On the examination table lay someone whose life or death was uncertain.

His serpentine instincts told him something bad was coming. He needed to leave at once.