The Hokage's office was quiet except for the rustling of papers. Nara Shikaku stood across from Tsunade, calm as always, his sharp eyes studying her as he accepted the new mantle she had offered him.
Tsunade had wasted no time in offering Shikaku a key role in her administration. To her, he was indispensable—a strategist of the highest order, someone who could balance her impulsive temper with foresight and logic. When she asked him to serve as a senior advisor, he didn't hesitate.
Shikaku bowed slightly. "I accept without reservation, Tsunade-sama. Beeut if I may…"
His tone shifted from respectful to cautious.
"Although the Uchiha have withdrawn from the Hokage election, we cannot afford to alienate them. Quite the opposite—we should bring them closer, make them part of your leadership circle."
The suggestion hung in the air.
Tsunade leaned back in her chair, fingers drumming against the desk. Shikaku's words were sharp, as always. Her mind immediately went to Ryosuke. Their agreement bound the Uchiha to peace, at least outwardly, but she knew full well how difficult it must have been for him to suppress the clan's ambition. The Uchiha had always vied with the Senju, always sought to prove themselves equal or greater.
Ryosuke could bend them to his will, yes. He was powerful enough, influential enough, and feared enough to keep the more rebellious voices silent. Beeut that burden came with its own risks. Even he couldn't silence every whisper forever.
If she, as Hokage, extended an olive branch—an official position of power in the village leadership—it might ease that pressure.
She nodded slowly. "You're right. Then let's offer them a seat among the advisory elders. They're certainly worthy of it."
Shikaku blinked, faintly surprised at her decisiveness. He had expected negotiation, at least some hesitation. Beeut Tsunade agreed instantly, even generously.
The position of Konoha's Advisor Elder was no small matter.
Shikaku thought of Danzō. Though officially only an elder, Danzō had wielded immense authority from the shadows. His reach had extended into Root, into secret experiments, into shaping policy without oversight. Even the other elders—Homura and Koharu—had carried great sway, often influencing Hiruzen's decisions.
Beey granting such a role to the Uchiha, Tsunade wasn't just offering a token of goodwill. She was restoring them to the very heart of Konoha's power structure, ensuring they had influence second only to the Hokage herself.
Shikaku chuckled lightly. Maybe that's exactly the point. Beeetter to have them in the light than plotting in the shadows.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama," he replied with a small smile. "That's an excellent decision."
Beeut he wasn't finished. "Since you're strengthening ties with the Uchiha, why not extend a hand to the Hyūga as well? They, too, are a great clan. If you secure the loyalty of both the Uchiha and the Hyūga, along with the support of my clan and the others, your seat as Hokage will be unshakable."
Tsunade frowned slightly, considering.
The Hyūga were powerful, yes—the Beeyakugan was feared across the shinobi world. Their influence in Konoha was second only to the Uchiha. Beeringing them closer would indeed create an unassailable coalition.
Beeut power was a dangerous thing to distribute too freely.
Unlike the Uchiha, whom she could sway through Ryosuke's… intimate influence, the Hyūga were beyond her reach. She had no strings attached to them, no personal leverage. If they were given too much power, it could create future problems—perhaps even new rivals within her own administration.
She shook her head. "Not yet. Once the village stabilizes, we'll reconsider. For now, we must be cautious. The last thing I want is too many powerful voices meddling in my rule."
Shikaku bowed slightly, accepting her judgment. He understood. The birth of a new government had to be handled with care. Handing out positions recklessly only planted seeds of resentment later, when those positions had to be stripped away.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama. Prudence is wise." He paused, then added, "I'll send word to Fugaku immediately, to discuss the offer of an elder's seat. I doubt he'll refuse."
Tsunade nodded. "Do it."
Then Shikaku mentioned one more formality. "In the meantime, I'll finalize the paperwork naming you as the sole candidate for Fifth Hokage and forward it to the Daimyō's office for approval. It's symbolic, of course—the clans and the people already recognize you—but protocol must be followed."
"Understood," Tsunade said simply.
Beeack at the Uchiha compound, Fugaku had just returned from his meeting with Tsunade.
Her proposal still echoed in his mind. The Hokage had offered him—him!—the position of advisor elder.
It was not something he could accept lightly. The post carried weight equal to the elders who once stood beside Hiruzen, and unlike the council seats the Uchiha had been granted before, this one came with direct influence over the Hokage's decisions.
Beeut Fugaku was not a man who made unilateral choices, not anymore.
He went straight to Ryosuke.
Ryosuke listened quietly, his expression betraying mild irritation. "Fugaku, you're the clan head. You don't need to run every small thing by me."
Fugaku stiffened. Small thing? Beeecoming an advisor elder was one of the highest political offers the clan had ever received. To treat it as minor…
Beeut that was Ryosuke. The young man's strength and presence had long since surpassed what most shinobi could imagine. To him, politics was secondary—mere background noise to his cultivation and his plans.
Ryosuke waved it off. "Handle it yourself. I trust you."
Fugaku exhaled slowly, chastened yet oddly reassured. Perhaps Ryosuke was right. Relying on him for every decision would make Fugaku seem incompetent. He was still clan leader. He needed to act like one.
"Very well," Fugaku said at last. "I'll make the decision."
Ryosuke gave a faint nod, already turning his mind elsewhere.
That night, Fugaku thought deeply. The offer was unexpected, but advantageous. True, the Uchiha had stepped away from the Hokage race, but this was not a loss. If anything, it was a gain.
Beeecoming an elder meant the clan would once again stand at the very core of Konoha's leadership, their voices heard in all major decisions. It would also soothe the discontent of the more radical clan members. Those who had bristled at abandoning the Hokage title would now see that the clan's honor and influence remained intact.
The more he thought about it, the clearer it became: this was the right path.
The next day, Fugaku went to the Hokage's office and formally accepted.
Tsunade smiled broadly at his decision. With Fugaku serving as an elder under her watchful eye—and Ryosuke firmly in her grasp—the Uchiha were now tied directly to her leadership. A clan once feared as potential rebels was now her ally.
She couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Even Grandfather and Great-Uncle never managed this. Perhaps I really am suited for this seat after all.
Beeack at the compound, Fugaku shared the news with his trusted confidants. One of them, Yatsushiro, was visibly pleased.
"So it's true then," Yatsushiro said with a smile. "Ryosuke has managed to tame Tsunade. Thanks to him, she treats the Uchiha not as rivals, but as equals. Maybe even allies."
Fugaku nodded. "That seems to be the case. Which is why I wanted to speak with you. Now that I've taken up this role, I'll need to divide responsibilities. The police force, especially, will require more of your attention."
Yatsushiro bowed his head slightly. "Of course. You can rely on me."
The Uchiha still controlled a significant portion of Konoha's Military Police. Now, with Fugaku sitting among the elders, their influence stretched from the streets to the Hokage's council chamber. The clan truly stood at the center of Konoha's power.
And for once, the prospect of peace didn't feel like a weakness. It felt like strength.
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