An Anbu ninja appeared at the doorway.
"Uchiha Clan Head, the Hokage requests that you come to the Hokage's office immediately."
Chiya raised an eyebrow slightly. Being called over at this hour?
He already had a guess in his heart.
He nodded.
"Understood."
The Anbu ninja vanished in a flash, and Chiya straightened his robes, his gaze deep and calm.
'It seems the Third is finally going to fulfill his promise.'
He rose and left the Security Force, walking toward the Hokage Building.
Along the way, villagers bowed to him one after another, their eyes carrying respect.
Chiya's expression remained calm, but inwardly he was thinking over what arrangements Hiruzen Sarutobi might have made.
'Hiruzen himself is a seasoned political operator. The promise he made before was surely something he had already planned for and prepared in advance.'
Chiya did not hold high hopes for this promise.
'There were too many places where things could be manipulated.'
While deep in thought, he arrived at the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen sat behind his desk, thin wisps of smoke drifting from his pipe.
His face carried a warm smile, as if he had been waiting for some time.
"Chiya, you're here."
Chiya gave a slight nod.
"Hokage."
"Sit."
Hiruzen gestured to the chair across from him, his tone gentle.
"No need to stand on ceremony."
Chiya took his seat and looked at the Third Hokage with a calm gaze.
'The more friendly this old man acts, the more he is scheming.'
"I called you here mainly to fulfill the promise from before."
Hiruzen said with a smile.
"Regarding the three Anbu slots, and the advisor position."
Chiya nodded.
Hiruzen waved his hand, took a scroll from the drawer, and pushed it across to Chiya.
"These are the three candidates for the Anbu. Take a look."
Chiya took the scroll and slowly opened it.
Three names were written clearly on the scroll.
Uchiha Aoki. Uchiha Masaki. Uchiha Kamiaki.
Chiya narrowed his eyes slightly.
These three names.
Chiya knew them well. They were all from among the most firm believers in the "Will of Fire" within the Uchiha Clan.
'Ha.'
A cold laugh rose in his heart.
'No wonder Hiruzen was willing to make this promise before. He had already dug the pit in advance.'
'Placing them into the Anbu, rather than calling it infiltration by Uchiha forces, it was better described as the Hokage faction planting informants inside the Uchiha Clan.'
"So, Clan Head Chiya, are you satisfied with these three candidates?"
Hiruzen asked with a smiling look.
Chiya closed the scroll, his expression unchanged.
'It seems like a test.'
"The people the Hokage chose are naturally all elite."
Hiruzen gave a satisfied nod.
"Then it is settled?"
"However."
Chiya paused briefly.
"Kamiaki is still young. I am afraid he is not quite suited for the Anbu."
"Oh?"
Hiruzen feigned surprise.
"Then does Clan Head Chiya have a recommendation?"
Chiya said plainly.
"Uchiha Yashiro. His strength is sufficient, his experience is rich, and he is better suited for Anbu work."
A flicker of thought passed through Hiruzen's eyes, but he smiled quickly.
"Very well. Then as Clan Head Chiya wishes, we will replace him with Uchiha Yashiro."
Chiya nodded.
Yashiro was an elite of the Security Force, with extremely high loyalty. Placing him in the Anbu was far more reliable than those two clansmen with their "Will of Fire."
'This way, the Anbu would at least have his own person inside.'
'Due to the political balance that had been reached, they would not move against Yashiro either.'
"As for the advisor position."
Hiruzen spoke slowly.
"I intend to have the Uchiha Clan nominate one person to join the advisory council."
Chiya's gaze shifted slightly.
"Does the Hokage have a recommendation?"
Hiruzen shook his head.
"This is a matter for the Uchiha Clan. Naturally it is for Clan Head Chiya to decide."
'A cold laugh rose in Chiya's heart.'
'On the surface it looked like respect for the Uchiha's choice. In reality it was a test of his attitude.'
'If he nominated a moderate Uchiha, the Hokage faction would conclude that the Uchiha were still controllable.'
'If he nominated a hardliner, the Hokage faction would certainly guard against them in secret.'
"In that case."
Chiya smiled slightly.
"I recommend Uchiha Fugaku."
"Fugaku?"
Hiruzen did not seem surprised. He nodded.
"He is indeed a suitable candidate."
Fugaku had a steady temperament, acted with fairness, and held considerable prestige within the Uchiha Clan.
More importantly, he was not an extremist, and would not be easily drawn over by the Hokage faction.
"Good. Then it is settled."
Hiruzen said with a smile.
"Fugaku will serve as the Uchiha advisor and participate in the village's decision making."
Chiya stood up.
"Thank you, Hokage."
Hiruzen waved his hand.
"This is what the Uchiha deserve."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then Chiya took his leave.
Walking out of the Hokage Building, the corner of Chiya's mouth curved slightly with a cold edge.
'Old fox.'
On the surface, the Uchiha appeared to have gained three Anbu slots and one advisor seat. In reality, only the advisor Fugaku and the Anbu member Yashiro were truly theirs.
But political maneuvering had always been this way.
What appeared to be a concession was, in fact, all part of the plan.
'This was Hiruzen's bottom line. And this was no less Chiya's bottom line as well.'
'Still, the advisor position could be put to good use.'
With Fugaku entering the advisory council, it meant the Uchiha had officially stepped into the center of Konoha's power.
What came next was for Hiruzen to see how he would respond.
Inside the Hokage's office.
After Chiya left, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado entered through the side door.
"Hiruzen, you just let him swap the candidate like that?"
Koharu frowned.
Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and said plainly.
"Although Yashiro is loyal to the Uchiha, he is at least easier to manage than those two who believe in the Will of Fire."
Homura pushed up his glasses.
"Giving the advisor seat to Fugaku. That was expected."
"Fugaku has a steady personality. He will not act rashly."
Hiruzen said slowly.
"As long as the Uchiha do not cause trouble, letting them enter the center of power is fine."
Koharu let out a cold snort.
"What I fear is that they will push for more once they get a foothold."
Hiruzen's gaze grew deep.
"That is why we must be prepared."
He looked out the window. The carvings of the First and Second on the Hokage Rock stood especially imposing in the sunlight.
"The ambitions of the Uchiha must be kept within a controllable range."
Uchiha Clan grounds.
Chiya returned to the clan and found Fugaku.
"Clan Head, how did things go with the Hokage?"
Chiya gave a brief account of the Anbu list and the advisor matter. Fugaku listened, his brow tightening.
"Aoki and Masaki, those two are."
"The Hokage's people."
Chiya said with a cold laugh.
"So I swapped the last slot for Yashiro."
Fugaku let out a breath of relief.
"Good thing the Clan Head reacted quickly."
"By the way, the advisor position. I recommended you."
Chiya looked at Fugaku.
Fugaku was taken aback.
"Me?"
"Your temperament is steady. You are the most suited for this position."
Chiya said plainly.
"Your task from here on is to keep a close eye on the movements of the Hokage faction."
Fugaku gave a solemn nod.
"Since you will become a Hokage advisor, there will no doubt be representatives from other clans joining this council as well."
"Using political standing to gain real, tangible benefits is what they do."
"One more thing. From now on, when taking part in village matters, as long as it does not concern our Uchiha Clan, be warm, be polite, but know nothing about anything."
"Get a firm footing first before anything else."
Fugaku was momentarily stunned.
He understood being warm and polite.
But why had knowing nothing about anything appeared here?
A look of thought entered Fugaku's eyes.
Then it seemed as though something became clear to him, and he spoke solemnly.
"I understand."
Chiya stood up.
"The rise of the Uchiha has only just begun."
"What we must do from here on is step by step."
"Enter the core of Konoha's power."
"Until the day comes when our Uchiha can truly represent Konoha."
It is not only those who become Hokage who earn the recognition of the people.
It is only those who have already earned the recognition of the people who can become Hokage.
Achieve your goals through strategy and within the rules.
A grand, open scheme, as bright as the blazing sun. Any ice and snow will melt in the end.
The Senju Clan could sit in the Hokage's chair. So why can't our Uchiha?!