The Uchiha clan did not accept any gifts from anyone. This matter quickly spread. Some people praised Uchiha Ryun for being just and honest. Some complained that he was falsely noble. Others were jealous of him, saying he obtained the position improperly.
This showed that no matter how well or excellently you perform, there will always be people who like you and people who are dissatisfied with you. We cannot achieve perfection. We can only do our best.
Danzo heard about these rumors. His face darkened. He wanted to take action, but then he suddenly remembered something. So he went to the Uchiha clan compound.
When the Uchiha clansmen saw Danzo arriving, they quickly invited him inside to meet with Uchiha Ryun.
Uchiha Ryun saw Danzo had come. He smiled slightly. "Sit. What is it? So urgent that it has made Lord Danzo's breathing uneven."
Danzo rolled his eyes. "Do you know what people are saying outside? Today is the day you succeed as Hokage. Letting them spread rumors there will greatly damage your reputation!"
"And then? Lord Danzo, just because of their few words, should we arrest them? Wouldn't that just tell everyone that we are exactly the kind of people they say we are, that we have a guilty conscience?" Uchiha Ryun narrowed his eyes and took a sip of tea.
Danzo was stunned. Uchiha Ryun made sense. If he really took action, forget about whether it could restore Uchiha Ryun's reputation, both of their reputations would probably be ruined.
"Then, what does Ryun think we should do?" Danzo calmed down, sat seiza style on the floor, and asked seriously.
Uchiha Ryun smiled. He unfolded the paper slip just recorded by the Security Team and handed it to Danzo. Then he slurped his tea.
Danzo looked at the names on the list. His mouth twitched. "Utatane Fūta, Mitokado Kiyoshi, Utatane Yūshin, Mitokado Ikusa, Ebimura Yoshi…"
Danzo's eyes widened. He didn't expect Uchiha Ryun to be so well connected. Without even showing himself, he had already obtained a list of so many names. And the Utatane and Mitokado families…
He narrowed his eyes. "Lord Hokage, what do you say we should do? The Shimura clan will actively cooperate! We obey only the orders of the Hokage!"
Danzo's form of address had changed. He realized Uchiha Ryun's mindset had already shifted from that of a high official to that of a Kage.
That list was a death warrant for their families. If he didn't correct his stance, perhaps one day, even his Shimura clan could be in trouble.
"Heh, Lord Danzo, you jest. The Uchiha clan and the Shimura clan are like close friends and relatives, beloved brothers. How could I let you handle such dirty work?" Uchiha Ryun said lightly.
"Destroying a clan doesn't necessarily require force. Force is the lowest form of solution." Uchiha Ryun smiled, then whispered in Danzo's ear.
Danzo's pupils constricted. He looked at Uchiha Ryun with fear in his eyes. So ruthless!
Uchiha Ryun said no more. He just patted Danzo's shoulder, then stood up, put on the Hokage haori, and pushed open the door. Sunlight streamed in, dazzling Danzo's eyes.
Danzo raised a hand to shield his eyes, slowly opening them. He saw Uchiha Ryun look back at him and smile. "Danzo, you will always support me, right?"
Danzo was stunned. He looked at Uchiha Ryun, his heart trembling. Uchiha Ryun was… He didn't answer immediately. Uchiha Ryun didn't seem rushed. He turned and walked out.
Danzo watched Uchiha Ryun's back, lost in thought. Remembering Uchiha Ryun's character, he finally sighed. "Fine. Let this old bone go crazy with you one more time, Lord Fourth Hokage."
Uchiha Ryun appeared before the crowd wearing the Hokage haori. The villagers, who had been noisy, immediately fell silent. They looked at Uchiha Ryun with respect and stepped back.
Although Uchiha Ryun was currently only the prospective Fourth Hokage, in a moment he would be the real Fourth Hokage. Even those who had secretly slandered Uchiha Ryun now shrank back, not daring to move.
This lord was the one who had killed over ten thousand enemies and was undefeated in battle!
"Good morning, everyone!" Uchiha Ryun's smile was warm. The villagers' tense moods were instantly soothed. "Lord Fourth Hokage!"
"Lord Fourth Hokage!"
…
Uchiha Ryun smiled. "Don't rush, everyone. Don't get excited yet. I hope everyone can make a path for me. The succession ceremony will begin soon, and I need to participate."
Hearing this, everyone stepped back, making a path to the succession platform that had been built overnight.
Then Uchiha Ryun walked along this small path surrounded by villagers, smiling as he advanced. Uchiha clansmen guarded Uchiha Ryun. The Konoha Security Team maintained order.
But the various clans had no dissatisfaction. Instead, they felt this was only right.
The high platform was not far away, allowing the entire village to observe the ceremony. Uchiha Ryun soon reached the base of the high platform. He looked up.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood there wearing the Hokage haori, with "Third Hokage" written on it. Unlike Uchiha Ryun, he also wore the Hokage hat.
He had come to the high platform early. Watching this scene, he felt endless emotion. Seeing Uchiha Ryun surrounded by the people reminded him of his own time back then.
Just then, a voice rang out. "The Daimyo of the Land of Fire decrees the appointment of Uchiha Ryun as the Fourth Hokage! Additionally, he bestows two billion ryo as a congratulatory gift!"
It was an envoy from the Land of Fire.
The villagers gasped. When the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi succeeded, there was no such event. Uchiha Ryun, however, understood.
Tsunade's father married the biological daughter of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. Therefore, Tsunade and the Daimyo were relatives. And Uchiha Ryun was Tsunade's fiancé. By extension, Uchiha Ryun was the Daimyo's relative.
For his own relative, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire would give full support and provide resources.
"Thank you, Daimyo! Uchiha Ryun will definitely lead Konoha to expand the territory for the Land of Fire and protect its security!" Uchiha Ryun's voice was loud, allowing everyone present to hear.
The Land of Fire envoy smiled and nodded. "This subject will definitely bring the Royal Consort's words to the Daimyo. May the Royal Consort continue to work hard in the future and protect the security of the Land of Fire!"
"Naturally!" Uchiha Ryun laughed. Then the Land of Fire envoy was escorted by Uchiha clan shinobi to the best viewing seat to sit and observe the ceremony.
Uchiha Ryun looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment, then smiled. "The succession ceremony begins! Please, the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Ryun, come to the platform for the succession ceremony!"
Uchiha Ryun threw a Flying Thunder God kunai. Then, in a flash, he appeared on the high platform. The shinobi from the major clans nodded. The Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique? And so proficient!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━