After reading the reasons for his nomination, Itachi first crossed out "the genius who saved his clan."
That was not a verifiable qualification for a position.
He then crossed out "a symbol of unity."
If one person had to be right forever to prove that the New Order worked, then that order still had not learned how to keep functioning after a mistake.
The Long-Term Development Seat offered many privileges.
Sitting in on high-level meetings in the Hokage Office.
Accessing interdepartmental security summaries.
Receiving training in command, diplomacy, and wartime decision-making.
Joining the interim candidate list when the serving Hokage was unable to perform their duties.
Yet the obligations amounted to just one sentence.
Obey the village's overall needs.
What those overall needs were, who determined them, and which orders could be refused were all left unwritten.
His nominator explained that the Development Seat was not the Anbu and would not require Itachi to secretly dispose of his own clansmen.
Itachi asked a simpler question.
"If someone decides in the future that secretly disposing of people would protect the village, can I refuse?"
The meeting offered no immediate answer.
Someone said that a true Hokage candidate could not rule out every difficult choice in advance.
Someone else said that Itachi had already proven his willingness to shoulder responsibilities others refused to bear.
Itachi did not accept that praise.
"The fact that I was willing once does not mean you can keep using me for that reason."
He laid his trial appointment record on the table.
The time-limited evidence verification had been completed.
He had not exceeded his authority during three safety training sessions.
In two sets of materials involving the Uchiha, he had recused himself from final confirmation as the rules required.
When a superior had asked to view unreleased