Chapter 4: Uchiha Yujiro — Watch Me Convince the Clan Head, and Win Support to Marry Lady Tsunade
Among the Uchiha, a clan member with awakened eyes weighed more than one without. A two-tomoe Sharingan held more clout than none—and a three-tomoe outweighed them both.
On paper, the clan still had two secret Mangekyō users lurking in the shadows, but in public, three tomoe was considered the peak.
Which meant Yujiro's words carried real weight now. Fugaku, as clan head, had no choice but to listen—or at least pretend to.
"Tell me," Fugaku said, "what's your view of the situation?"
"The Third Great Ninja War has ended," Yujiro answered calmly, "but a new crisis is already upon us. Our clan is in greater danger than ever."
He let the words hang, then added:
"The Senju are already extinct. That means the next clan on the chopping block… is us."
"Yujiro, watch your tongue!" Tekka hissed, paling at his words. But before he could continue, Fugaku silenced him with a gesture.
"Leave us," the clan head ordered.
Tekka froze, conflicted, then slunk out reluctantly, glancing back three times before vanishing.
Yujiro inclined his head. "As I was saying, Clan Head… in war, the Uchiha are tolerated. The village needs our power, so they swallow their dislike. But now peace has returned. And our strength—our pride—stands out like a blade in their eyes."
He shook his head with a bitter smile. "From Madara's time, to Tobirama's, and now Sarutobi's, our standing has only fallen.
With Hashirama, we were equals—founders of Konoha, shoulder to shoulder with the Senju.
Under Tobirama, we had Kagami, a trusted advisor, a bridge to power.
But after Kagami's death, in Hiruzen's era… we lost everything. Suspicion, doubt, surveillance—that is all the leadership sees when they look at us.
I have no doubt—if given the chance to weaken or even dismantle the Uchiha, they'll do it without hesitation."
"You're too harsh, Yujiro," Fugaku interjected. "The Third was always kind to us. Tobirama was the one who—"
Yujiro's laugh cut him off.
"Kind? Tobirama, who hated us, still recruited Kagami as his personal guard, entrusted him with power, and promised him a future.
Hiruzen, who was 'friendly'… shoved us into the Police Force, a thankless post that breeds resentment and isolates us further.
If he truly valued us, would you still be Police Commander instead of Hokage's advisor? At the very least, he'd have taken an Uchiha as a personal guard—or even a disciple.
Did he? No.
Words don't matter. Deeds do. And his deeds show exactly what we mean to him."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
After a silence, he spoke: "That was then. Now is the Fourth's era. Minato isn't like Hiruzen. He trusts us. He even took on an Uchiha disciple."
Yujiro's expression twisted in irony. "Obito. Yes, Obito… Our luck always falls short. Madara, Kagami, Obito—each a tragedy. Who's next, Clan Head? Who's next to bear the curse of Uchiha misfortune?"
"Enough, Yujiro!" Fugaku snapped, his tone sharp. He was a father of two, and Yujiro's words cut too close to fears he dared not voice.
Yujiro only smiled faintly. "My point is this: we cannot place our hopes in others. To be Hokage… we must rely on ourselves."
Fugaku stiffened. "Are you… suggesting a coup?"
Yujiro blinked in mock confusion. "Why jump to that conclusion?"
"Then what do you—"
"By legitimate means, of course." Yujiro's smile widened. "Accumulate merit on the battlefield, build alliances with other clans, win the jōnin council's votes, sway the public, smear your rivals, and if possible—slip into the inner circle of the Senju's disciples. That's how you win the Hokage seat."
Fugaku's face twitched. He had heard countless cries for revolution before. But this—this talk of electioneering, campaigning, political maneuvering—was utterly alien.
While he struggled to process, Yujiro pressed on:
"Clan Head, your thinking is dangerous. A coup? How reckless. No, if it were up to me, I'd bet on the Fifth Hokage already. And it won't be an Uchiha."
Fugaku frowned. "Then who?"
"The Senju, of course."
"The Senju? They're extinct."
"Exactly. Which means we can't compete. How do you beat the dead?
The Uchiha are strong, defiant, cursed by Madara's shadow. The Senju bled themselves dry for Konoha. Literally. Tobirama gave his life. The entire clan gave their lives.
They were as great as we are—but their sacrifice sealed the people's loyalty. The village chose the Senju once, and the people will never accept anyone else in that seat.
Now that their bloodline is gone, their disciples inherit their legacy.
First the Third. Then the Fourth.
And next… who's the likeliest Fifth?"
Fugaku was silent.
Yujiro leaned closer. "Kakashi Hatake."
The clan head stiffened. The more he thought, the more it made sense—and the more despair pressed in.
How could the living Uchiha ever compete with the dead Senju?
If becoming Hokage required the Uchiha to bleed their clan dry, was the title even worth it?
And if they didn't, how could they ever convince Konoha to let an Uchiha take the seat?
"Yes," Yujiro said, nodding. "If nothing unexpected happens, the Sixth Hokage will be Kakashi. And mark me, Sarutobi and his lot will ensure their children and grandchildren study under him—keeping the Hokage seat forever in the Senju's disciple line.
If Sarutobi has any shame, it'll be the Fourth's son—a boy of the Uzumaki line.
If he's shameless, it'll be his own grandson—a Sarutobi.
One way or another, it will never be us."
Fugaku ground his teeth until his jaw ached, spitting:
"Damn them. Shameless bastards!"
After cursing under his breath, Fugaku turned back to Yujiro with an expectant look.
"Yujiro, you speak with such conviction—you must have a solution. Ah! You're close with Kakashi, aren't you? Did you foresee all this long ago and set up a plan in advance?"
"Don't say it like that," Yujiro replied smoothly. "Kakashi is my brother-in-arms, my closest friend."
He continued: "But yes, there's a path. Since we know Kakashi's potential, why not arrange for some of our younger clan members to study under him? We may not seize the Hokage's chair directly, but, like Mitokado and Koharu, we can secure enough influence to hold an advisor's seat."
Fugaku frowned. "Too slow. Isn't there a faster way?"
Yujiro did not hesitate. "Faster? Sure. We… remove Uzumaki Kushina. While the Fourth drowns in grief, we slide a good Uchiha woman into his life, and she ascends to First Lady of the Hokage. Then we squeeze him for all he's worth. Within a year, we'd have an Uchiha heir in line for the Hokage seat."
Fugaku's eyes widened. "That's… fast, yes. But utterly insane! And the Red-Hot Habanero is no easy prey—no, no, no! How could we even consider striking down one of Konoha's own comrades? Absolutely not!"
Yujiro almost rolled his eyes. He had seen the flicker in Fugaku's gaze—interest, temptation. The man wasn't rejecting the idea on principle, only out of fear. If it failed, the clan would gain nothing and lose everything.
This is why he'll never achieve greatness, Yujiro thought. But… this is exactly the kind of cautious clan head who will back my real plan.
Like any strategist worth his salt, Yujiro offered three plans: upper, middle, and lower. But only one was ever truly viable. The others were bait—designed to make the real answer shine.
This time, though, Fugaku refused to play the script. He sighed, shook his head, and said, "Enough. You've had a long day. Go rest. As for today's talk—let's pretend none of it happened."
"—Wait!" Yujiro cut in sharply, eyes gleaming. "I still have Plan C!"
Without preamble, he laid his real strategy bare:
"The Senju's disciples inherited their political capital—that's why they ascended. But let's be clear: what people revere is the Senju, not the Sarutobi.
If the Sarutobi can feast on the Senju's legacy, why can't the Uchiha?
Don't forget—one Senju still lives."
Fugaku blinked. "…Lady Tsunade."
Yujiro smiled. "Exactly. Lady Tsunade."
Fugaku tilted his head. "So—you want to take her as your teacher?"
Yujiro shook his head, eyes glittering. "No. I intend to take her as my wife."
"…."
Fugaku stared, utterly dumbfounded.
"…You've got to be kidding me, bro..."