Chapter 23: Celebrations and Concerns
The war ended with Konoha's decisive victory over Kirigakure. The Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, had broken the Mist's forces with unrivaled speed and power, driving the last of their troops from the Land of Fire. Even the Third Mizukage had been bested and forced to retreat in humiliation with what remained of his army.
While the large-scale conflict was over, true peace was not yet secured. Formal treaties with the defeated Iwagakure and Kumogakure were still pending; both villages, though beaten back, continued sporadic, low-intensity skirmishes with Konoha, particularly within the contested borders of the Land of Rain.
Nevertheless, Konoha's main force was coming home. Only a skeletal garrison remained on the frontlines. The village erupted in spontaneous celebration as the heroes returned.
Uchiha Akira joined the crowds, standing among his clansmen as the procession entered through the main gates. At the forefront stood the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, flanked by his advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. Behind them were the legendary Sannin Jiraiya and the enigmatic, stern-faced Orochimaru.
Leading the returning troops was Minato Namikaze, a bright, confident smile on his face as he waved to the roaring crowds. Behind him marched Uchiha Fugaku, Nara Shikaku, and other commanders. The air thrummed with relief and triumph.
That night, after the public festivities died down, a more private gathering took place.
Deep within the basement of the Uchiha clan shrine, many of the clansmen who had returned from the war assembled. This was not a treasonous plot—the Uchiha's discontent with the village leadership, while real, had not yet festered into rebellion. Meeting in the shrine's basement was simply an old, ingrained tradition.
"Clan Head!" one excited Uchiha called out, his voice echoing in the stone chamber. "Will you stand for election as the Fourth Hokage? With our full support, you have a real chance! Our clan's glory on the battlefield, our contributions—they must be recognized!"
"That's right!" another added. "The Hokage line has passed through the Senju for three generations. Isn't it time for an Uchiha to take the seat? Our ancestors built this village alongside theirs!"
"Enough." Uchiha Fugaku raised a hand, his voice firm, silencing the chatter. "I will not be a candidate. Compared to the Yellow Flash or the Sannin, my achievements and reputation… fall short."
The hopeful clamor died instantly. The titles 'Sannin' and 'Yellow Flash' carried a weight that Fugaku's 'Wicked Eye' epithet could not match.
A disappointed murmur rippled through the room. "I suppose… we must look to the Fifth Hokage, then."
"The Fifth must be one of ours! We have Shisui, only twelve and already a legend! By the time of the next succession, he'll be perfect!"
"Akira, what's your take?" The question came from Uchiha Tetsuka, a clansman Akira considered a casual friend, pulling him from his private thoughts about sealing formulae.
Akira looked up. He shrugged. "I think we should focus on what's tangible: strength. If our clan grows collectively stronger, everything else will follow. Power is the ultimate currency. If an Uchiha possessed strength rivaling the First Hokage himself, would we need to campaign for the title? It would be offered."
Tetsuka's face twisted into an awkward expression. "Well, yes, of course strength is the foundation. But in all these years, there's only been one Hashirama Senju. Even Uchiha Madara with the Nine-Tails couldn't match him. Reaching that level… it's a dream."
Akira shook his head, faintly amused by the clan's sometimes binary thinking. "My point is, by steadily elevating the clan's overall power, we naturally increase our influence. Patience is key."
"Ah! You mean as long as we keep producing powerful shinobi, the village will have to consider us for leadership eventually!" Tetsuka said, his expression brightening with a slightly misguided but enthusiastic understanding.
"Something like that," Akira replied, patting his shoulder.
After the venting session, the shrine gradually emptied. Soon, only Akira, Fugaku, and Fugaku's wife, Uchiha Mikoto, remained.
"Clan Head. Sister Mikoto," Akira greeted them formally. Now came the real business.
"Akira," Fugaku began, cutting straight to the point. "The Six-Tails… its trail has gone cold. It has vanished."
"Vanished?" Akira was genuinely taken aback.
"Completely," Fugaku confirmed, his expression grave. "Our trackers found its last known location deep in the forest. It appears it was… taken. Without a struggle."
'Obito,' Akira thought immediately. With White Zetsu's tracking and Kamui's intangibility, it was the only explanation that fit.
"There were no signs of combat. The beast offered no resistance," Fugaku added, watching Akira's reaction closely. "You've deduced something, haven't you?"
Akira nodded. "The one who slaughtered the Kiri Anbu pursuing Kakashi and Rin… he didn't just wield Wood Release. He also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Wood Release and the Mangekyō? In one person?" Mikoto breathed, her face a mask of shock and disbelief.
Fugaku gave a grim nod. "It sounds impossible, but the evidence points to it. The Konoha leadership… it seems they've not only reclaimed Wood Release but also secured a Mangekyō wielder."
"For both legendary powers to reside in a single shinobi…" Mikoto murmured, a frown of deep concern on her face. "How formidable would such an enemy be?"
Fugaku let out a heavy sigh, his gaze settling intently on Akira. The unspoken pressure in the room grew tangible.
"It seems," Fugaku stated, his voice low and decisive, "we can no longer afford to delay. The research into transplanting the cells of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama… must begin in earnest."
(End of Chapter)
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