"Who ended up being Fourth Hokage."
"We Senju Faction will support anyone."
These words did not contain any fireworks, but they were like two invisible slaps on the faces of Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
In the reception room, the air seemed to have solidified into ice cubes.
Mitokado Homura's hand holding the tea cup stopped in mid-air. The iconic pair of sunglasses could not completely conceal the stiff muscles at the corners of his mouth. Utatane Koharu's face, which had always been shrewd and scrutinized, showed obvious surprise and anger for the first time. The corners of his well-maintained eyes had fine wrinkles due to violent fluctuations in emotions.
Neutral?
Support the eventual winner?
What is this? Political speculation! This is the most naked political speculation!
They originally thought that Tsunade was not here, and the ten-year-old boy in front of them was just a puppet that could be manipulated at will. They condescended to visit the door in person, pretending to be elders, just to "notify" him and ask him to represent Senju and stand obediently on the side of the person they selected.
But they never expected that what was waiting for them would be such words that would drain the fire from under the cauldron.
"Little Chen, you... do you know what you are talking about?" Utatane Koharu's voice is no longer as gentle as before, and has become dry and sharp, "This is Tsunade, that girl... is fooling around! The future of the village is nothing but child's play that can be used as a bet!"
"Elder Koharu is exaggerating." Senju Chen looked directly at the two consultants and said in a neither humble nor condescending manner, "My sister is unwilling to take sides easily because she feels that the matter is very important. She said that Senju Clan, as the founder of Konoha, should respect the choice of the majority of the people in the village and not rely on his own influence to interfere in Hokage's election."
"Whether it is Teacher Orochimaru or Minato Namikaze, they are all heroes of Konoha. No matter who is finally elected, it will be a blessing for Konoha. What we, Senju Clan, have to do is to support the new Hokage and maintain the unity of the village, rather than create division before the election results come out."
What he said was high-sounding and watertight.
"Political speculation" is disguised as "respecting public opinion", and "watching the fire from the other side" is described as "maintaining unity".
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were speechless, their faces turning blue and white. They couldn't say, "We don't want to unite, we have to support our own people," right?
"Good... what a 'maintaining unity'!" Mitokado Homura slowly put down the teacup and made a soft noise. He took off his sunglasses and stared at Senju Chen with his eyes that had been in Konoha's political arena for decades.
The young man in front of him has clear eyes and a respectful posture, as if he is really just relaying his sister's words. He is a good boy who does not understand politics but is extremely obedient.
But it was this "goodness" that chilled them the most.
They suddenly realized that they might have been wrong from the beginning. The "puppet" in their eyes was not a ball of soft mud that could be kneaded at will, but a piece of fine steel wrapped in cotton!
"Since that's what Tsunade means, we understand." Mitokado Homura put on his sunglasses again, stood up, and said in a cold tone, "I hope you, brother and sister, will not regret today's decision."
Putting down these words, which were half threats and half vents of anger, he walked away.
Utatane Koharu also stood up with a cold face and took a deep look at Senju Chen. The look in his eyes was extremely complex, including anger, disappointment, and more importantly, annoyance that his plan had been disrupted.
"You take care of yourself."
She left four words and followed Mitokado Homura and left without looking back.
Senju Chen stood up, walked the two of them to the door, and watched them disappear at the end of the courtyard with their angry backs. The respectful smile on their faces slowly faded away, turning into a touch of mockery.
Regret?
It's you who should regret it.
Do you really think that without Hiruzen Sarutobi, you two consultants and elders can still control the situation as before? Danzo That old dog, once it gains power, will be the first to bite Third's old team members like you.
He actually wants to pull Senju Clan to carry the sedan for Danzo. It's simply unreasonable.
"Young Master Chen..." Maruboshi Kosuke didn't know when he appeared behind him, with a bit of worry on his old face, "I'm afraid I've offended the two consultant elders..."
"It doesn't matter." Senju Chen turned around, his expression calm, "Grandpa Kosuke, a ship, if the captain and the pilot want to drive it into the iceberg, then what we can do is not help them speed up, but jump to the small boat next to it and watch them hit it."
He patted Maruboshi Kosuke on the shoulder and said softly, "Go and prepare a door-to-door gift, be more decent. I'm going to visit Uncle Fugaku."
"Yes." Although Maruboshi Kosuke didn't fully understand, he understood what Senju Chen meant. He responded respectfully and turned around to prepare.
Uchiha Clan Compound.
Different from the tense and tense atmosphere during the last visit, this time, when Senju Chen appeared at the gate of the tribe with a gift, the Uchiha tribesman in charge of the guard still had a stern expression, but after seeing him, he took the initiative to bow and salute, and immediately sent someone in to report.
The change in attitude is obvious.
Soon, Uchiha Fugaku came out in person.
"Chen-kun, you're back." Uchiha Fugaku's face was filled with joy from the bottom of his heart. He strode forward and patted Senju Chen's shoulder enthusiastically, "I heard that you were back. I thought I would visit you in the next two days, but I didn't expect you to come here first. Come on, please come inside!"
The two walked side by side on the streets of Uchiha Clan Compound. When the tribesmen around them saw this scene, their eyes showed curiosity and awe.
They all heard their elders whispering that it was the Senju Clan boy in front of them who made them Police Force and the whole Uchiha change their appearance in the village. Now they will no longer be feared and ridiculed by the villagers.
When entering Fugaku's mansion, he did not go to the serious living room last time, but was led directly to the tea room at home.
Uchiha Mikoto personally served the refreshments, and she smiled tenderly at Senju Chen: "Chen-kun, you've had a hard journey. That kid, Itachi, still talks about you all the time."
"Aunt Mikoto You're welcome, I miss Itachi very much too." Senju Chen responded with a smile.
After Mikoto left and the door of the tea room was gently closed, the smile on Fugaku's face subsided slightly and became serious.
"Chen-kun, I believe you already know everything about the village." He Gate of Opening came to the point, with a trace of imperceptible eagerness in his tone.
"Well, I heard about it when I came back." Senju Chen nodded, picked up the teacup, and blew the hot air gently.
"Then you... you Senju Clan, who are you going to support this time?" This is the question that Uchiha Fugaku is most concerned about.