The tales of the Uchiha clan's bravery on the battlefield—their valor in combat and their unwavering protection of comrades—had begun to spread like wildfire. Public opinion in Konoha had taken a decisive turn in their favor.
The Konoha Military Police Force, once the object of distrust and disdain, were now gradually being seen with warmth and admiration. This novel sense of acceptance, never before experienced, brought genuine smiles to the faces of the Uchiha. Moved by this change, many members of the clan even began performing good deeds around the village on their own initiative.
Helping elderly grandmothers cross the road, watching over pets or children for busy villagers—such acts were now commonplace.
Many members of the Uchiha even began setting up stalls to distribute rice, flour, and cooking oil to the villagers for free!
Don't underestimate the impact of this.
Konoha, after suffering multiple rounds of warfare—the Third Great Ninja War, the Nine-Tails' attack, the Fire-Lightning War—was now a shadow of its former glory, a village nearly brought to its knees.
Setting aside the enormous number of fallen shinobi, the reparations to Kirigakure from the Third Shinobi War were still being paid in installments!
Konoha could now be summed up in one word:
Broke.
The village was broke.
The village's fiscal deficit was sky-high. Debts owed to the Daimyō and major noble clans had long since surpassed hundreds of millions. The compensation for fallen or injured soldiers, as well as the reparations to Kirigakure, still hadn't been fully delivered.
The people were broke.
With wars to fight, taxes had increased. Every household with a shinobi had someone drafted to the frontlines, and if that person died, the family lost its pillar of support. Naturally, their income would plummet.
With the village bankrupt and compensations delayed, many families in Konoha were already unable to even put food on the table.
What? You're wondering about savings?
This is still the ninja world. If your house is destroyed, so be it. You might not have savings, but at least with a bit of ninjutsu, you could rebuild.
But if this were the modern world? One Tailed Beast Bomb from the Nine-Tails, and not only would your house and car be gone—you'd still be stuck paying your mortgage and car loan!
Given the desperate circumstances, the Uchiha's free distribution of rice and oil was practically a game-changer for the villagers!
And with the Uchiha clan's prestige skyrocketing, murmurs began to ripple throughout the village: it was time to hold elections for the Fifth Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi was aging, unfit for prolonged work, and talk of his retirement spread like wildfire—especially in bars, clubs, and entertainment halls.
"Thank you, Clan Head Fugaku! Thank you, Uchiha!"
"The Uchiha are good people—really, I must've been blinded by pork grease before to think otherwise."
"As long as the Uchiha are here, Konoha will endure! When the Uchiha thrive, so does the village!"
At a relief station handing out rice and grain, Uchiha Fugaku stood in the back, quietly listening to the enthusiastic voices of the common folk. His smile deepened.
By his side, however, Uchiha Inabi looked puzzled.
"Clan Head, our own situation isn't all that great. Is it really necessary to help these civilians like this? If we're looking to rally support, wouldn't it be better to win over the shinobi?"
The election of the Fourth Hokage had been determined by votes from all Konoha shinobi. Namikaze Minato had defeated both Shimura Danzō and Fugaku himself in a landslide, even surpassing one of the Legendary Sannin—Orochimaru—to become Hokage.
Given the Uchiha's current popularity, if they focused on winning over a few jōnin, the Fifth Hokage position would be practically secured. So what was the point of wooing civilians?
"You don't understand."
Fugaku shook his head. "Among the shinobi of Konoha, excluding the major clans, nearly seventy percent actually come from civilian families."
"To win over the elite jōnin, we'd have to offer immense resources and political leverage—an enormous cost. In contrast, rallying the civilian population is far cheaper. And if we can win over the civilians, then those civilian-born shinobi will naturally side with us."
"Inabi, your perspective is still too narrow!"
"I understand now, Clan Head!" Inabi bowed his head in shame.
Fugaku didn't elaborate further. He simply looked out at the cheering crowd with a deeper smile on his lips.
Truth be told, Fugaku had never really paid attention to the common folk before. In his view, with his strength and influence already at their peak, the Hokage seat was within reach.
But a casual conversation with his son Itachi had changed everything.
Itachi had been deeply curious about the Fourth Hokage election. He even asked: Why had someone like Orochimaru—one of the Sannin—lost to a younger shinobi like Namikaze Minato?
"Obviously, because the Fourth was more youthful and received the support of the younger generation," Fugaku had replied, ruffling Itachi's hair with a smile. "The future belongs to your generation. You're my son, Itachi. Your talent, your potential… they're bound to—"
"Wait a moment… the younger generation's support?!"
Fugaku's praise came to an abrupt halt. His eyes widened, and he even involuntarily activated his Sharingan.
In that instant, a realization struck him like lightning.
From that moment on, everything changed. His strategies began to shift rapidly.
"With my prodigy son Itachi, the Uchiha need fear nothing!"
As Fugaku watched the lively scene in front of him, his thoughts naturally drifted to Itachi.
What's that little rascal up to now? Training? Or maybe watching over little Sasuke?
Elsewhere…
"Kirigakure is here?"
The ANBU's report made everyone in the Hokage's office tense up.
Since the Third Great Ninja War, Kirigakure's rise had been unstoppable. They were now arguably the strongest village in the ninja world. Under Yuki Yoru, the Shinigami from the Soul Society had stunned even Sarutobi Hiruzen with their performance during the Nine-Tails' attack.
The mere mention of a delegation from Kirigakure was enough to make everyone instinctively nervous.
"Wait… they're probably here to discuss the Tri-Nation Super Project between the Land of Wind, Fire, and Lightning."
Sarutobi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Still, he glanced at the ANBU with a nervous look.
"Who's leading the delegation?"
"The prodigy of the Hōzuki Clan—Deputy Commander of Kirigakure's ANBU, Hōzuki Mangetsu!"
Just as expected.
The moment he heard the name, Sarutobi exhaled in relief.
Mangetsu had been the point of contact for Kirigakure in all matters concerning the super project. If he was here, then it was likely about that and nothing else.
Sarutobi waved a hand, dismissing the ANBU.
Once they were gone, he looked at Shimura Danzō and the two elders, Homura and Koharu, and spoke in a low, serious voice:
"You're right. We all know how dangerous the Uchiha are. We cannot let Konoha fall into their hands. But with their current momentum, we can't stop them through normal means. We need to take the long view."
"Take the long view?" Danzō scoffed. "Hiruzen, let me remind you: we have neither public support nor military advantage. If you keep stalling, you'll regret it when things truly spiral out of control!"
"I'm well aware."
Sarutobi puffed slowly on his pipe, eyes dark and contemplative.
After the Third War, the Nine-Tails' incident, and the decimation of Konoha's forces, only the Uchiha, long marginalized, had emerged as the village's strongest faction.
Now, with Fugaku returning triumphant, even if they wanted to suppress the Uchiha, they couldn't afford to act rashly.
"You all go prepare to receive the Kirigakure delegation. I'll handle this situation myself."
"You'd better," Danzō grunted before storming off.
Koharu and Homura exchanged weary glances and sighed.
"Hiruzen… everything depends on you now."
"I know."
The two elders departed, leaving Sarutobi alone in his office.
He focused his chakra, causing the crystal ball on his desk to display a live image of the village. The screen showed smiling Uchiha and villagers interacting happily.
Seeing this, Sarutobi felt his blood pressure spike. Still, he knew he couldn't stop it. Grimacing, he changed the image.
The crystal ball flickered through various parts of Konoha, and Sarutobi's expression shifted with each frame.
If the village he'd governed for decades fell into Uchiha hands, how could he face his two teachers in the afterlife?
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Sarutobi's gaze sharpened.
The image settled on a clearing, where a black-haired boy leaned against a tree, breathing heavily after a training session. He pulled out a scroll and retrieved a book to read.
It wasn't a ninjutsu manual, nor a training handbook—
It was titled: "Inheritors of the Will of Fire" — By Hiruzen Sarutobi!
That's right. This was one of Sarutobi's personal works, written during his time as Hokage.
"Even with the Uchiha rising, the future of this village still holds a place for me, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
Even Sarutobi himself was momentarily stunned to see the book. Then, a warm smile crept onto his face.
This book was one of his proudest creations—a spiritual cornerstone during the Second and Third Wars, one he believed had helped Konoha endure.
"What a fine young man… Wait—why does this kid look so familiar?"
His old eyes lit up.
If memory served him right… this child was none other than Uchiha Itachi, son of Fugaku!
"Incredible… the heir of the Uchiha clan, reading my book with such admiration… Is this real?!"
He stared intently at the image, then nodded to himself.
Yes—it was real!
That passionate gaze, that fervent devotion—this was no different from the mindless academy students who shouted "I want to be Hokage!" while clutching the Will of Fire to their hearts.
"If I could use this boy… could he be the key to exploiting Fugaku's weakness?"
"Yes… yes, this could work!"
Sarutobi glanced at the crystal ball, confirmed that Fugaku was still busy rallying support, and vanished from the Hokage's office in a flash.
In the clearing…
Uchiha Itachi sat with stars in his eyes, reading the book with complete reverence. His heart resonated with the philosophy of the Third Hokage.
To sacrifice oneself, and pass the will to the future.
That… was what it meant to be a Konoha shinobi.
"Where the leaves dance, the fire will burn. The shadow of the fire will illuminate the village, and new leaves will bud and grow…"
"That means the Will of Fire lives wherever the leaves dance—fire will always burn, lighting the village and nurturing the new leaves…" a voice suddenly echoed.
Itachi looked up, startled.
From behind the bushes, emerged none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage robes.
With a gentle smile, Sarutobi looked no more dangerous than a kind old grandfather from next door.
"You're Itachi, right? Look at you, already grown into a fine young man. I remember holding you when you were born."
"Lo-Lord Third?!"
Itachi's eyes widened with awe. Though his Sharingan wasn't activated, his eyes gleamed brighter than any dojutsu—as if he were gazing upon his idol.
And honestly, who could blame him?
It was like a fangirl daydreaming over her idol, only to have that idol suddenly appear in front of her and greet her personally.
A weaker-willed person might have fainted from sheer excitement.
Sarutobi chuckled gently.
"Don't call me Lord Third. I'm just the acting Hokage now. Just call me Grandpa Hiruzen."
"Grandpa… Hiruzen…" Itachi's face turned red with excitement, and he started to stammer.
Admiration—such distance between awe and understanding. And because of that distance, it's the easiest thing to manipulate.
With just a few kind words, Sarutobi had drastically shortened the emotional distance between them. At this point, Itachi felt closer to Sarutobi than to his own father.
Sarutobi smiled kindly, even patting Itachi's head.
"The Will of Fire is our village's greatest treasure. For someone your age to read this book—what a remarkable thing."
"It's nothing…" Itachi replied, a little shyly. "My father wouldn't let me read this. He only wanted me to train and grow stronger. I borrowed the book from a classmate."
"You sought it out yourself?" Sarutobi looked amazed.
The Uchiha clan really did produce some unexpected gems!
He had thought the last Uchiha oddball was the one who helped old ladies cross the street and shouted about becoming Hokage. But now there was an even bigger anomaly.
Truly, heaven did not abandon Konoha. If he played this right, this kid could cause massive headaches for the Uchiha.
The two continued chatting about the Will of Fire, almost like old friends.
Sarutobi spoke with elegant ease. Itachi listened with a heart full of passion. Talking to Grandpa Hiruzen was like discovering a soulmate.
"Who truly understands me? Grandpa Hiruzen understands me!"
"Unfortunately, the village has endured endless wars these past years. Konoha is no longer what it once was. And recently… we have something very important to deal with."
"Something important?" Itachi perked up, curious. Then his expression grew serious. "I—I'm sorry, Grandpa Hiruzen! That must be classified. I wasn't trying to pry!"
"Haha, it's alright. With you, I can finally talk freely like an ordinary person."
Sarutobi waved dismissively, his tone casual. But as he continued, his expression turned solemn.
"You may not know this, but Sunagakure and Kirigakure have a joint project. This Super Project has to pass through the Land of Fire. Not only will it severely damage our environment and economy, but it could also allow enemy spies to infiltrate us…"
"Then can't we just reject it?!" Itachi asked urgently.
"Indeed, we originally could have. But because…" Sarutobi trailed off, then sighed deeply. "A Hokage does not serve himself alone—he must consider the entire village. And this negotiation… was one your father helped conduct with the Fourth Hokage, in the Land of Iron."
"Father?!" Itachi's face paled in shock.