I Want to Be Clan Leader

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three agile figures appeared on the tree trunk ahead of Shinji Uchiha. The leader wore a striking fox mask.

Silver hair danced in the Wind Release.

"Shinji, Lord Hokage requests your presence!"

At the same time,

lines of tiny text floated before Shinji Uchiha's eyes—

Challenge One: Remove Kakashi's mask and see his face! Challenge Two: Find out how much chakra Kakashi has and how many Lightning Blades he can use. Challenge Three: Defeat Kakashi once and free him from the embarrassing reputation of always fighting to a draw! Challenge Four: Make Kakashi see Konoha's true face! Challenge Five: Make Kakashi understand the evil of the Shinobi World behind White Fang's death. Challenge Six...

"...So it's you, Kakashi."

Shinji raised an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, this is Uchiha Clan territory. While I was away, did the Anbu start coming and going as they pleased?"

"What has Clan Leader Fugaku been doing?"

Disappointment filled Shinji's face. “Well, never mind. But instead of looking after your teacher's poor unborn child, you have time to watch me in the middle of the night?”

"..."

Kakashi flinched on the tree trunk.

The two ANBU members glanced instinctively at their captain.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Please come with me."

"Hey, Kakashi. We fought in the same war. We're comrades. Is that how you treat one?"

Shinji looked displeased.

Then he clapped his hands, as if something had just dawned on him. "Oh! I nearly forgot. This is how Konohagakure has always treated heroes returning from the battlefield: coldly, without a shred of compassion. Heroes suffer, honored veterans kill themselves, subordinates turn on their superiors, students betray their teachers, teammates murder teammates..."

"Enough. Don't waste our time." Kakashi's voice remained calm, but what he felt inside was anyone's guess.

"Tch. What a shame."

Regret colored Shinji's voice. “I thought I might have the honor of testing my skills against Konoha's famous prodigy tonight.”

With that, Shinji walked on.

"Where are you going?"

“The Third Hokage summoned me, so I'm going to the Hokage Building. Where else would I go at this hour? Sneak off to the cemetery to leave flowers for a teammate?”

"...You!"

Kakashi's pupils contracted. His fists clenched.

How could he...

"Hm?"

Sensing the chakra spilling into the air, Shinji's eyes opened slightly. Maybe there's hope?

Unfortunately,

Kakashi's ability to let things slide left Shinji dumbfounded. The brief surge of chakra vanished as quickly as it had come.

"Fine. Let's go."

Shinji sighed.

Beyond the lure of those ridiculous challenges, he genuinely wanted to test himself against Kakashi... while Kakashi still had a Three Tomoe Sharingan. Later, he might never get the chance.

This guy!

Nothing gets through to him!

Ten minutes later, Kakashi watched Shinji enter the Hokage's office. The energy he had shown moments ago drained away as he leaned against the corridor wall, shoulders slumping.

"A few years ago..."

“He was just an Uchiha brat, not even ten. Has he really grown this much?”

"Well, what's it to me?" He shook his head, quietly took out a book, and opened it. Four ornate words adorned its cover: Icha Icha Paradise.

“Third Hokage, you wanted to see me?” Shinji pushed the door open and bowed slightly.

“Oh... Shinji, you're here!”

The old man behind the desk had a pipe in his mouth and was staring into space. At the sound of Shinji's voice, he promptly put it out.

“Haha. I'm getting old. Asuma keeps telling me to smoke less, but I can never help myself. Forgive me, forgive me... Have a seat, Shinji.”

Shinji readily took the advice, pulled out a chair, and sat. "Asuma only cares about your health. He's a devoted son."

Shinji studied the old man before him—Hiruzen Sarutobi, once a mighty leader.

Now he looked like an old man nearing the end of his days. His desk was a mess, his Hokage hat tossed aside.

The broad ceremonial robe hung from his short, aged frame. Nothing remained of the Shinobi Hero's old bearing.

He looked like a hero past his prime.

Shinji remembered that he had not been like this a few years ago. He really has grown old. Shinji narrowed his eyes, his smile growing warmer.

Old is good. The older he gets, the less clearly he'll think and the more he'll cling to what he has. That will make him hesitate. And once he hesitates, he'll think of all the things he can't bear to lose...

And that will make him waver.

When he wavers...

He'll lose.

"Where did I put it? Ah, here it is!"

After rummaging through his desk for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "These are your battle reports from the border outpost over the past few years."

"In three years, you killed thirteen Kumogakure Jonin, thirty-nine Chunin, and more than seventy Genin. You even crossed the border to strike at the enemy and claimed over a hundred heads. Kumogakure calls you the Uchiha's Fire Demon..."

"And you're only seventeen. Remarkable!"

"At your age, Asuma was just a boy who knew nothing. You're already capable of shouldering the defense of a nation's border. Ah..."

Shinji lowered his head slightly. "You're too kind. Asuma is an excellent shinobi—mature and capable of taking on great responsibilities."

"Ah!" Hiruzen waved a hand with a smile.

"As for the border..."

Shinji said earnestly, "Third Hokage, when the Hyuga Clan was humiliated, Konoha was humiliated. For a place like Kumogakure to act so arrogantly, showing no respect for Lord Hokage—I merely taught them a small lesson at the border!"

"..."

The mention of the Hyuga Clan affair soured Hiruzen's mood.

He sighed.

"I'm not flattering you, and you needn't worry about starting a war. I've blamed myself all these years. Before I could stop them, the Hyuga had already made their decision. No matter how difficult things became for the village, I never intended to abandon anyone."

"I believe you," Shinji said sincerely.

"Let's leave that aside."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head forlornly. "Let's talk about you, Shinji. I've had my eye on you for a long time. You distinguished yourself on the Kirigakure front, then guarded the Land of Lightning Border. You've hardly had a chance to return to the village... I've wanted to talk with you for years, but never had the opportunity. Now we can finally sit down together. You always remind me of Minato. He shone just as brightly and struck such fear into his enemies that they called him Konoha's Yellow Flash..."

Shinji lowered his head modestly. "I wouldn't dare compare myself to the Fourth Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused.

After a long silence, he said quietly, "Shinji, now that you're finally back in the village, have you given any thought to what you'd like to do? Any... work in particular?"

Shinji was surprised. Was he offering me a position?

Could it be...

The ANBU?

He failed to win over Shisui years ago. Now, even with Uchiha Itachi on his side, does he still feel insecure?

"Third Hokage, I haven't made any plans for work yet. I'd like to rest for a while. As for what I want to do... does becoming clan leader count?"

"Mm... Good, good! Wait—what?! Cough, cough, cough!"

Hiruzen had been smiling and nodding as he listened, but he suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit.

He stared at Shinji in astonishment.

Were young people really this bold these days?!

You're only seventeen!

"Shinji, Clan Head... isn't that a little soon? You're still young, and Fugaku is still..." Hiruzen Sarutobi had a whole lot to say, but no idea where to start.

He had only intended

to win over the most outstanding young Uchiha of the new generation.

He would offer Shinji a small reward:

a post as an ANBU captain, perhaps, or captain of his personal Hokage Shadow Guard.

Publicly, he could say Shinji was studying at his side. It would give the Uchiha hope and send them a message:

it was not impossible for a member of the Uchiha Clan to become Hokage.

That might steady things for now!

After all, the Uchiha had grown increasingly restless this year. With only the still-young Itachi to rely on, Hiruzen could hardly rest easy.

But...

*Clan Head?

You must be joking!