Clansmen without awakened eyes and those with awakened eyes do not carry the same weight. Likewise, a two-tomoe clansman and a three-tomoe clansman are not the same.
Although, at the moment, the Uchiha have two hidden old foxes who have awakened the Mangekyō, on the surface three tomoe is still the peak.
Therefore, when Yorin spoke, Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku had to listen seriously—at least pretend to: "Spell it out. What's your view?"
"The Third Shinobi World War has ended, but a new crisis is right in front of us. Our Uchiha clan is already in danger, isn't it?"
Uchiha Yorin said calmly: "After all, the Senju clan has been destroyed. Next it should be the Uchiha's turn."
"Hey, Yorin, don't talk nonsense!"
Before Fugaku could speak, Uchiha Tekka at his side had already changed color and tried to stop Yorin from continuing.
Then the clan head stopped him.
Uchiha Fugaku waved a hand and said, "Tekka, step out for a bit. Yorin, go on."
Tekka let out a breath, but still hesitated. He looked like he wanted to listen yet didn't dare, and left, glancing back every few steps.
Uchiha Yorin nodded: "Yes, Clan Head. Although the Third War is over, the situation is actually more dangerous for the Uchiha.
We're too strong, too high-profile, and too unruly.
During the war, the village leadership could tolerate us to coax us into contributing. Now that peace has come, the Uchiha's power looks too glaring."
Here Yorin shook his head helplessly: "From Lord Madara's era to the Second Hokage's era, and then to the Third, our status has kept falling.
In the First's era, we stood side by side with the Senju as founders of Konoha.
In the Second's era, we still had Kagami bridging us with the Hokage's inner circle, earning trust and a voice.
But when Kagami died, by the Third's era, we lost everything.
The upper ranks look at the Uchiha with only vigilance, scrutiny, and suspicion.
I have no doubt that if they have the chance to weaken or even dismantle the Uchiha, they'll do it without hesitation."
"You're too biased, Yorin."
At this, Uchiha Fugaku spoke: "The Third is still quite friendly to the Uchiha. It was the Second who…"
Uchiha Yorin smiled:
"Right—'unfriendly' Second Hokage recruited Uchiha Kagami as a trusted guard, gave him full trust and promised him a future.
The 'friendly' Third Hokage placed us in the Police Force, a post that easily offends people, widening the rift between the Uchiha and the village again.
If he really favored us, you shouldn't be Police Chief right now—you should be a Hokage advisor.
At the very least, he should have followed the Second's example: recruit a guard from the Uchiha, or simply take an Uchiha disciple.
Did he?
He didn't.
To judge a person, don't look at what he says—look at what he does. Isn't that right, Clan Head?"
"There's some truth to that, but the Third's era has passed."
After a pause, Fugaku continued:
"Now it's the Fourth's era.
The Fourth is different from the Third. He's willing to draw close to the Uchiha and trust the Uchiha.
He does indeed have a disciple from the Uchiha… It's just a pity his luck was poor."
"Obito, Obito—Uchiha luck always falls short. Madara, Kagami, and then Obito." As he spoke, he lifted a hand, gesturing at a universe on his fingertip, then said:
"Who's next to be the unlucky Uchiha?"
"Enough, Yorin—what exactly are you getting at?" Fugaku's expression turned very solemn. He was the father of two children; what Yorin said easily led his thoughts elsewhere.
"My point is: don't place all our hopes on others, Clan Head.
To become Hokage, we can only rely on ourselves!"
"—You want a coup?!"
Hearing this, Fugaku's face changed sharply.
"Why would you say that?"
Yorin wore a very odd look:
"Then you…"
"Of course by becoming Hokage through legitimate means." Yorin smiled and said:
"Win military merit, court other shinobi clans, secure jōnin votes, gain the people's approval, splash mud on competitors, and best of all, slip into the Senju disciples' inner circle. Then become Hokage—properly and lawfully."
"Ah, that…"
Fugaku's expression wobbled. He'd seen plenty of Uchiha shouting to stage coups. But what Yorin was saying—he hadn't even heard of it, let alone seen it.
While he was at a loss for words, Yorin kept pressing:
"Your thinking is dangerous, Clan Head. How can you talk coup?
That said, if it were my choice, I'd probably still pick the Fifth. We Uchiha lag far behind 'them.'"
"'Them'?"
"The Senju."
"The Senju… Aren't they all dead?"
"Precisely because they're dead, you can't compare. After all, how do you beat the dead?
The strong, unruly Uchiha burdened with Lord Madara's original sin—how can we beat the Senju who gave everything to Konoha?
How hard did the Senju fight?
They fought with their lives—literally. The Second gave his life, and so did other clansmen.
They were a clan on par with the Uchiha.
They bled Konoha dry with their blood. So Konoha chose the Senju as Hokage, and the people of Konoha cannot accept anyone but the Senju as Hokage.
Now that the Senju bloodline is cut off, that vast political legacy passes to the Senju disciples.
First the Third, then the Fourth…
Guess who's most likely to be the Fifth?"
"…"
"Hatake… Kakashi?"
Fugaku was no fool. Following Yorin's logic, the more he thought, the more convincing it sounded; the more he thought, the more disappointed—despairing—even.
Yes, no matter how well the living perform, they can't compare to a dead first love.
No matter how the living Uchiha strive, in Konoha shinobi's hearts, they can't surpass the Senju.
If the price of becoming Hokage is the Uchiha bleeding out to the last for Konoha, what's the point of that Hokage?
But if we don't go that far, how do we persuade Konoha shinobi to accept the Uchiha replacing the Senju to claim the Hokage seat?
"Right. Barring surprises, the Sixth should be Hatake Kakashi."
Uchiha Yorin nodded:
"If I'm right, the Third, Fourth, and other members of the Senju-disciples faction will arrange for their children and grandchildren to study under Kakashi, ensuring the Hokage seat forever belongs to the Senju disciples' line.
Most likely the Third— that old fox—will arrange it.
If he keeps a shred of shame, the pick should be the Fourth's son, a boy surnamed Uzumaki.
If he's completely shameless, it'll be his own grandson or grandnephew—someone surnamed Sarutobi.
In any case, it won't be us Uchiha."
Gritting his teeth, Fugaku couldn't help cursing: "Shameless!"
After venting, he looked to Yorin with hope:
"Yorin, you speak so well—there must be a solution, right? And you have a very good relationship with Kakashi—did you see all this coming and plan ahead?"
"Don't put it that way—Kakashi is my sworn brother, dear friend."
Uchiha Yorin said: "There is a way—since we know Kakashi's potential, we can arrange for our younger generation to apprentice under him too.
We may have little chance at Hokage, but becoming high-influence Hokage advisors like Lady Mito and Elder Koharu is no problem."
"That's too slow. Is there a faster way?"
Yorin's plan was a plan—but waiting for Kakashi to become Hokage, then for his disciples to grow up, would take ages. Fugaku couldn't wait that long.
"There's a quick way.
We find a chance to take out Uzumaki Kushina; while the Fourth is grieving, we send a fine Uchiha girl to slip in and become the Hokage's wife. Then squeeze the Fourth for all he's worth.
Within a year, our Uchiha Hokage candidate would be born."
"That certainly is fast… but it's outrageous!
And the Red-Hot Habanero isn't easy to mess with—what I mean is, how can we strike a comrade of the village? No, absolutely not."
Seeing his posture, Yorin secretly curled his lip. He'd clearly seen the look in Fugaku's eyes—he was tempted. He just feared exposure, getting no benefit, and being found out by the Fourth, so he refused.
With all that hesitating, how can you do big things?
But then again, precisely a clan head who hesitates like this will support Yorin's real plan.
Like all strategists, Yorin liked to offer three plans—top, middle, bottom—for someone to choose. It looks like three strategies, but only one is truly viable. That one is the real plan.
This time, however, Fugaku didn't play by the script.
He shook his head helplessly and said to Yorin:
"Forget it. You look tired. Go rest. What we discussed today—let's pretend it never—"
"—Hold it! I actually have Plan C!"
Seeing Fugaku miss the cue, Yorin spoke up at once. He didn't string him along; he laid out his plan directly: "—The Senju disciples rose because they inherited the Senju political legacy.
But what everyone truly recognizes is the Senju, not the Sarutobi.
Senju's lingering prestige—the Sarutobi can benefit, and so can we Uchiha!
Don't forget—there's still one Senju alive."
Uchiha Fugaku: "Oh, Tsunade."
Uchiha Yorin: "Yes, Tsunade."
Uchiha Fugaku: "So—you want to study under Tsunade?"
Uchiha Yorin: "No, I want to marry Tsunade."
Uchiha Fugaku: "…"
Uchiha Fugaku: "Wait, my guy…"