A Candidate for Hokage?

"I could sense the village leadership's wariness toward the Uchiha, but I never thought they would plan to move our compound elsewhere."

Uchiha Fugaku looked melancholy.

When the Nine-Tails Incident first broke out, he had taken the initiative to lead his people out to help the village, only to be stopped and even ordered not to leave the compound.

That alone would have been tolerable.

After all, the Nine-Tails had indeed been in a strange state.

Those Sharingan in its eyes were difficult to explain.

And once the attack ended.

Uchiha Fugaku felt he had fulfilled his duty as a member of the village, leading the clan's ninja in rescue efforts everywhere.

But what had he received in return?

A rumor had been allowed to run rampant throughout the village.

The Uchiha were attempting a coup?!

It was utterly ridiculous!

Although the Uchiha were dissatisfied with their current standing in the village, Uchiha Fugaku, as clan leader, had never considered staging a coup.

Yet that rumor had spread across all of Konoha in an extremely short time, reaching the ears of most villagers.

Fortunately, there was one saving grace.

The Third, who had stepped forward to take charge, had not allowed the rumor to spread further.

Even so.

The matter had become a thorn in the hearts of most Uchiha ninja.

After all this, Uchiha Fugaku had thought things would settle down. He only needed to keep working to convince the village that the Uchiha Clan had absolutely no intention of rebelling or staging a coup. Presumably, once a new Hokage took office, the Uchiha would gradually emerge from the shadows of the past.

But reality was always cruel.

Earlier that day.

Uchiha Fugaku had attended a major meeting of the village leadership at the Hokage Building.

During the meeting.

Shimura Danzō had stepped forward in his capacity as an elder.

He proposed reorganizing the compounds of the village's major ninja clans. In particular, the Uchiha Clan, which occupied a central location in the village, needed to make a contribution to Konoha's upcoming reconstruction.

Uchiha Fugaku found that unacceptable.

Ever since the village's founding.

The Uchiha Clan had put down roots in its current compound. It held the history of their clan's growth and was the birthplace of the Uchiha of the new era.

And so.

At the meeting.

Uchiha Fugaku had voiced his opposition.

The proposal did not seem to gain much support from the other ninja clans either. Most remained silent, and even the Third offered no opinion in the end.

Thus.

Elder Shimura had not continued pressing the matter.

But for some reason.

Uchiha Fugaku had a feeling.

This was not over. It had only just begun.

As for Shimura Danzō.

Uchiha Fugaku did not know much about him.

Except for one thing.

He took a hard line toward the Uchiha Clan and controlled a ninja unit that nominally belonged to the Anbu. His subordinates also frequently appeared near the Uchiha Clan Compound.

This had become even more noticeable since the Nine-Tails' Rampage, almost as though they no longer bothered hiding it.

Shimura Danzō did not seem like someone who would give up easily, either.

And so.

As soon as Uchiha Fugaku returned to the compound, he sought out Uchiha Setsuna to discuss it.

The two quickly concluded that the leadership had probably already discussed relocating the Uchiha Clan Compound at length. Bringing it up at the meeting that day had merely been a way to test the Uchiha's response.

In the end.

Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Setsuna reached a basic agreement: they would not consent to relocating the compound.

Stall!

For now, a new Hokage had yet to be selected.

But Uchiha Fugaku had several candidates in mind. One was Shikaku Nara, the Jonin Commander, and another was Jiraiya, one of the Sannin and the Fourth Hokage's teacher.

Those two.

Uchiha Fugaku had dealt with both of them. While he could not claim to know them well, neither seemed the obstinate type, judging by their personalities and other qualities.

So he felt that if the Uchiha could just endure a little longer.

Their situation would improve considerably.

"So the village hasn't actually made a decision yet?"

Uchiha Hui could not help interrupting Uchiha Fugaku's thoughts.

He propped up his chin, looking unconcerned, as though he were speaking as a bystander.

"You're not even angry. It seems you really have gotten better at hiding your thoughts, Hui!"

Surprised by Uchiha Hui's indifferent reaction, Uchiha Fugaku praised him again.

"Don't tell me you're planning to wait for the next Hokage?"

For some reason.

Looking at Uchiha Fugaku, who did not seem particularly worried, a thought flashed through Uchiha Hui's mind, and he blurted it out.

"Just what I'd expect from you. You guessed my plan right away."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded despite himself, gaining an even deeper appreciation of Uchiha Hui's insight and foresight.

How had I never noticed my younger brother's abilities before?

I thought he was just a dreamer who couldn't become a ninja but was obsessed with 'revitalizing the clan.'

Upon hearing Uchiha Fugaku's answer.

Uchiha Hui's expression became rather interesting.

You really were thinking that?!

Now this should be fun.

Because...

There won't be a new Hokage!

"Have you considered the possibility that there won't be a candidate for Fifth Hokage for the time being, so the Third will take office again?"

Almost reluctant to shatter Uchiha Fugaku's hopes, Uchiha Hui offered the reminder softly.

Uchiha Fugaku frowned.

He looked at Uchiha Hui, not quite understanding why he would say such a thing.

Although the Nine-Tails' Rampage had inflicted enormous losses on the village.

Ninja like Jiraiya and Shikaku Nara were still around.

How could there be no candidates for Fifth Hokage?!

"Wouldn't Jiraiya become the Fifth Hokage?"

Uchiha Fugaku could not help asking.

If asked who he thought would make the best new Hokage, Jiraiya of the Sannin was the one he most hoped for among the candidates.

For one simple reason.

Jiraiya had no ninja clan behind him.

His situation was almost identical to the Fourth Hokage's. That meant his taking office would be the best outcome for clans like theirs, with no need to redistribute all the various interests.

Someone like Shikaku Nara.

Had the Nara Clan behind him, or even the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans plus the Sarutobi.

The resulting impact would certainly be substantial.

"If he wanted to become Hokage, he might already have been the Fourth Hokage instead of his student, Minato Namikaze."

Uchiha Hui answered with a clear head.

Even later, after the Third died, Jiraiya had shown absolutely no desire to become Hokage.

Perhaps he truly felt he was not capable enough.

Or perhaps he simply thought it would be too much trouble.

Either way.

Jiraiya would not become the new Hokage, no matter what.

Come to think of it.

"Wasn't that last selection because another member of the Sannin was running? Jiraiya didn't want to compete against his companion, so he withdrew voluntarily..."

Uchiha Fugaku could not help arguing.

At those words, Uchiha Hui's eyes suddenly lit up.

Orochimaru?!

As he remembered it, Orochimaru had watched Itachi demonstrate his throwing skills. That was when he first set his sights on the Sharingan, laying the groundwork for his later interest in Sasuke.

And at this point, Uchiha Itachi had not even enrolled in school.

So.

Following that line of thought.

At this point in time, this member of the Sannin hadn't actually left the village yet?!

Uchiha Hui scratched his head.

Come to think of it, the manga and anime timelines were both confusing, with plenty of contradictions. For instance, before the Third died, there had not even been any mention of someone called Danzo, and Jiraiya had not known that the Fourth Hokage was his own student, Minato Namikaze...

"What about Orochimaru?"

Uchiha Hui voiced the question on his mind.

He was a little curious whether "Auntie Snake" was still in Konoha at this point.

"Him? There's been little news of him since the Fourth Hokage took office. Supposedly, he's already left the village, much like another member of the Sannin."

After some thought, Uchiha Fugaku answered with some uncertainty.

Because he had lost the selection.

And because of certain matters that could not be made public.

Orochimaru had already lost any chance of becoming Hokage in the future.

Uchiha Fugaku did not know Orochimaru very well. They had crossed paths in the past, but he had changed so drastically afterward that Fugaku had become reluctant to approach him.

"Then it looks like we really do have a problem!"

Uchiha Hui could not help grumbling.

It seemed Auntie Snake was not far from defecting. It might even happen soon.

Besides.

At this stage, he had probably all but extinguished his humanity, becoming more like a snake, pursuing nothing but so-called immortality and truth.

He wouldn't make a good partner!

"Hui, what exactly do you mean?"

Unable to figure out what his younger brother was thinking, Uchiha Fugaku finally asked him outright.

After a moment of contemplation.

Uchiha Hui abruptly raised his head.

"Do you want to become Hokage, big brother?!"