"Captain, that joke isn't funny."
Inabi crossed his arms, his tone blunt and unfiltered.
"The Hokage's guard exists to protect the Hokage with their lives. Even if the entire guard dies, the Hokage cannot."
"Since when does a Hokage sacrifice himself to save his guards?"
The room stirred with unease.
Tobirama's death alone was already shocking.
But this version of events?
It sounded absurd.
"Stories require logic," Ren said calmly. "Reality often doesn't."
The Uchiha present exchanged glances.
Their instincts told them this was nonsense.
But the man speaking was Uchiha Ren.
A captain of the Military Police.
A war hero.
Someone who didn't joke about matters like this.
So in the end—
They chose to believe him.
Tekka suddenly seemed to realize something.
A spark ignited in his eyes.
"Captain… if the Second Hokage has fallen…"
"Then the Third Hokage—has already been decided?"
A single sentence—
And the atmosphere ignited.
Like sparks landing on dry tinder.
Every Uchiha present felt it.
If Tobirama was dead…
Then who would become the Third Hokage?
Surely—
It couldn't still be the Senju.
The Uchiha were co-founders of Konoha.
Even if Uchiha Madara had defected, that legacy could never be erased.
The Senju had already produced two Hokage.
This time—
It should be the Uchiha's turn.
Breathing grew heavier.
Eyes sharpened.
And their gazes slowly shifted toward Ren.
He had called this meeting.
He had the information first.
Could it be—
He had ambitions for the Hokage seat?
After all—
Even above him stood only the clan head, Uchiha Raizen.
And in terms of strength…
There were those who believed Ren had already surpassed him.
In the Uchiha, strength spoke louder than titles.
The capable rose.
The weak stepped aside.
Simple.
Direct.
Brutal.
No matter what—
The position of Hokage should first be contested within the Uchiha.
"It's already decided."
Ren's four words fell—
Like cold water over blazing fire.
Silence.
Again.
If not the Uchiha…
Then who?
Within the Senju, only two had the authority:
Mito Uzumaki.
Or Senju Toma.
Either would be… acceptable.
Not ideal.
But acceptable.
At the very least, the Uchiha could negotiate for greater influence.
But if it was someone else—
Tekka's heart suddenly tightened.
A dangerous thought surfaced.
Could the captain be considering… a coup?
If so—
He had to stop him.
He couldn't let Ren throw his life away.
"Who is it?"
"Lady Mito? Or Lord Toma?"
"This is unfair. The Senju already had two Hokage. It should be our turn."
Voices rose again.
Then—
Ren spoke.
"Neither."
A pause.
"It's Sarutobi Hiruzen."
…
Silence.
Then—
A collective, unspoken thought:
The captain must be joking again.
"Who?"
"Captain… are you sure you're not messing with us?"
Inabi frowned, then blurted out without thinking:
"If not, maybe we should get you checked by the clan's medics. You're one of the pillars of the Uchiha—we can't have something wrong with your head."
The words landed.
And the room froze.
Ren's expression darkened.
So this was how it was?
He was speaking seriously about the clan's future—
And they thought he'd gone mad?
He scanned the room.
Disturbingly—
More than a few shared the same thought.
Some even looked at him with… sympathy.
Ren turned slowly.
Picked up his sword.
Then smiled.
"Inabi…"
"I think your skin's gotten a bit too comfortable lately."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"We're discussing matters that concern the future of the Uchiha."
"And you think I've lost my mind?"
He stepped forward slightly.
"After the meeting, we'll find a place."
"I'll personally beat you until you need the clan's medical ninja."
Inabi's face paled instantly.
He stumbled back a few steps, then nudged his brother frantically.
Help.
Now.
If the captain got serious—
He'd be bedridden for weeks.
Tekka sighed inwardly.
This idiot…
Why couldn't he think before speaking?
"Captain, please don't mind him. He's always like this."
Then he quickly steered the conversation back.
"You said… the Second Hokage appointed Sarutobi Hiruzen as his successor."
"Is that confirmed?"
Ren exhaled quietly.
"It's true."
"I've been serious this entire time."
Even he couldn't help it.
Tobirama's final decision was so outrageous—
That telling the truth sounded like telling a joke.
"…Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
Inabi blinked.
Then—
Exploded.
"Who the hell does he think he is?!"
"I can take him three-on-one!"
"He thinks he's qualified to be Hokage?!"
"If he becomes Hokage—I'm the first to refuse!"
This time—
Ren didn't stop him.
In fact—
He looked pleased.
Now that—
That was the kind of talk he wanted.
"If it were Lady Mito or Lord Toma, fine," Inabi continued angrily. "We could at least negotiate with the Senju and secure more benefits for the clan."
"But Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
"What is the Sarutobi clan, anyway?"
"Back in the Warring States, they were nothing more than a minor clan attached to the Senju!"
"If the Uchiha wanted, we could've wiped them out at any time!"
"And now he wants to sit above us?"
"That's already bad enough with the Senju—now we add the Sarutobi too?"
"How are we supposed to live with that?!"
The room erupted.
"That's right—we refuse!"
"The Senju won't accept this either!"
"A coward who couldn't even protect his Hokage—what right does he have to become Hokage?!"
"Exactly!"
Voices overlapped.
Anger spread like wildfire.
To the Uchiha—
There were only two clans worthy of producing a Hokage.
Senju.
Or Uchiha.
Everyone else—
Was unqualified.
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