Chapter 167: Your Hokage's Assistant Has Returned!

"I... I must be seeing things."

Darui rubbed his eyes, staring at the distant Uchiha Dan in disbelief.

The Uchiha clan had broken away from Konoha, causing a civil war that ended with the clan leaving the village. The Uchiha and Konoha had become mortal enemies, a fact known to all in the ninja world.

Under such circumstances, the leader of the Uchiha, Dan had returned to Konoha alone. What was he planning to do?

Was he representing the Uchiha in negotiations with Konoha, seeking reconciliation?

Unlikely. Or was it that the war between the Uchiha and Konoha had not ended, and Dan had returned to continue his revenge on Konoha?

At this moment, Heki and Darui held their breath, watching anxiously, their minds racing as they tried to guess Dan's intentions for returning to Konoha.

Suddenly, Dan stopped in his tracks, seemingly aware of their gaze. He turned his head and looked in their direction.

His eyes were a startling red, with a yin-yang fish pattern. His eyes emitted a strange light.

The Mangekyō Sharingan.

Heki and Darui's faces changed instantly, instinctively wanting to avoid Dan's gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.

But it turned out they were overly nervous.

Because Dan just smiled from afar, waved at them, and then turned his head and walked into the village.

"Uh..." Heki and Darui let out a sigh of relief, then looked at each other, dumbfounded.

Dan strode towards the southern gate of Konoha Village.

His return was not for reconciliation with Konoha, nor for a fight with Konoha, he was merely a spectator.

A spectator witnessing the destruction of Konoha.

So, why not sneak back into Konoha?

Because sneaking around was not Dan's style, and his transformation and disguise techniques were a mess, easily detected by Konoha's ninjas.

In that case, he might as well return openly.

The guards at the south gate were two Konoha chūnin - Shingetsu Izumo and Kotetsu Hagane.

"Uchiha Dan?!"

They recognized Dan immediately, exclaiming in surprise, their faces showing expressions of seeing a ghost.

Faced with the approaching Dan, they trembled all over, unable to move due to fear.

In the end, they could only stand in place, watching as Dan walked through them and entered Konoha grandly.

Ichiraku Street.

Dan walked on the main street of Konoha, looking around. Konoha seemed to be gradually recovering from the chaos two days ago. The streets were full of busy villagers, enthusiastically rebuilding.

However, upon seeing Dan, all the Konoha ninjas and villagers widened their eyes, frozen in place.

"Run!"

Someone snapped back to reality and shouted.

The next second, everyone scattered in fear, screams filled the street, and chaos ensued.

Uchiha Dan had returned!

This nightmarish news spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, quickly spreading throughout Konoha Village.

"Do I really seem that scary?" Dan looked at the chaotic crowd in front of him and shook his head, then, he walked towards the end of Ichiraku Street.

The Hokage Building.

This landmark building, which had stood in Konoha for more than fifty years, was severely damaged in the previous war, teetering on the brink of collapse, almost becoming a ruin.

Fortunately, after two days of emergency repairs, the Hokage Building finally avoided the fate of collapse and resumed normal use.

At this moment.

Inside the building, in the large conference room, it was crowded with people.

The higher-ups of Konoha, the heads of all clans, and all the jōnin, over a hundred people gathered together, holding a major meeting.

The Third Hokage could not escape blame for the recent internal strife, and the people below were almost intolerant of him.

The Third Hokage was a smart man.

Taking advantage of not being ousted, he voluntarily announced his retirement, no longer serving as the village head, thus preserving some dignity for himself.

However, before stepping down from the position of Hokage, the Third Hokage did one last thing.

That was to deal with the assets of the Uchiha clan.

When the Uchiha hastily fled Konoha, they took a lot of things and wealth, but they couldn't take a large amount of land and industry.

The Third Hokage planned to distribute these things as compensation to the major families of Konoha, to appease the people.

Perhaps because of this, despite just experiencing a painful civil strife, the atmosphere in the conference room was not as heavy as imagined, but rather relaxed and cheerful.

"It's been so many years, those annoying Uchiha finally rolled out of Konoha, it's really satisfying."

"Although we paid a painful price this time, it's totally worth it! Konoha will be better without the Uchiha."

"The Uchiha had a lot of industries in the village, I wonder how much we can get."

"..." The clan heads and jōnin were either discussing loudly or whispering.

"Cough, cough."

The Third Hokage coughed twice, cleared his throat, and attracted everyone's attention, quieting the conference room.

Under the expectant eyes of everyone, he was about to preside over this division meeting.

~Whoosh~A member of the Anbu suddenly appeared in the conference room, sweating profusely, and reported to the Third Hokage: "Hokage-sama, Uchiha Dan has returned to the village and is heading towards the Hokage Building!"

What?!

Hearing this news, everyone in the conference room was as if struck by lightning, their faces changed drastically, and they stood up from their seats.

Just then.

With a bang.

The door of the conference room was pushed open, and under the gaze of hundreds of shocked eyes, Uchiha Dan strode in.

"Yo, everyone is here for a meeting." Dan looked around, greeted everyone, and casually asked, "What were you just discussing? I seem to have heard someone say that they want to divide the assets left by the Uchiha clan?"

Upon hearing this, everyone, whether out of guilt or fear, began to sweat.

"I don't care about the rest, but the Body Modification Department is my hard work. Whoever dares to step into the gym, I'll kill his entire clan." Dan calmly issued a terrifying warning, then walked through the entire conference room, went to the Third Hokage's side, and pulled over a chair.

He sat down with a swagger.

His actions left everyone dumbfounded.

"Protect the Hokage!" A group of Anbu were the first to react, pulling out their ninja blades and surrounding Dan.

"What's the meaning of this?" Dan frowned, asking with an unhappy expression.

What's the meaning? Shouldn't that question be asked by us?

Everyone in the conference room was internally grumbling, but not a single person dared to voice their complaints in front of Dan.

The Third Hokage looked surprised, his gaze flickering for a moment before he finally spoke:

"Dan, I thought... you wouldn't come back."

Upon hearing this, Dan responded in confusion: "I am the Hokage's assistant. How could I abandon the village during such a crisis?"

His words left the Third Hokage speechless, unsure of how to respond.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd, indignantly shouting at Dan: "The Uchiha clan has committed treason, and you bear an undeniable responsibility. Do you still have the audacity to call yourself the Hokage's assistant?"

Oh? Dan turned to look, but everyone was avoiding his gaze, so he couldn't tell who had spoken.

Unfazed by the accusation, he calmly retorted: "What does the Uchiha's break with Konoha have to do with me?

I ask you, did I participate in the battle between the Uchiha clan and the Anbu? Did I kill even a single Konoha ninja?"

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this.

Dan continued: "As the Hokage's assistant, I not only deflected the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb, knocking it to the ground, but also drove away Konoha's enemy, Uchiha Madara. Aren't these my achievements?"

"Uh..." Everyone was stunned. Upon reflection, they realized he was right.

However, many quickly regained their composure and questioned Dan again:

"Stop pretending, Uchiha Dan. Everyone knows that you are the true leader of the Uchiha clan. How could the Uchiha's coup have nothing to do with you?"

Dan shook his head and sighed deeply.

He slowly stood up and said with a pained expression: "The Uchiha clan has fallen into narrow-minded clanism, prioritizing the interests of the clan over the village. It's truly detestable.

These guys, just because of one Uchiha Shisui, they're willing to fight to the death with Konoha. They lack vision!

The great Will of Fire tells us: If the village requires someone to die, then they should die.

If the village requires Shisui to give up his Mangekyō Sharingan, shouldn't he be overjoyed to offer his eyes? He should know that it's his honor, his opportunity to contribute to Konoha.

Many people would love to have such an opportunity but can't get it.

The people of the Uchiha clan are too unenlightened. And I, Uchiha Dan, am someone who has transcended narrow-minded clanism.

As the Hokage's assistant, I always believe in the Will of Fire, always considering the village's interests. Anyone who lumps me in with the Uchiha is insulting me.

For Konoha, I will continue to fulfill my duties as the Hokage's assistant, vowing to dedicate myself to Konoha until the last drop of blood in my body."

No one expected Dan to pull such a "righteous cut", trying to distance himself from the Uchiha clan, speaking as if he were sincere.

Everyone was left dumbfounded.

Everyone knew he was spouting nonsense, but they were helpless against him.

No one dared to ask Dan to donate his Sharingan, or even his life, to Konoha as he had suggested.

Whoever dared to make such a request, Dan would surely "donate" them first.

In the end it was all about power.

The reason Uchiha Dan dared to return to Konoha alone and swagger into this conference room was that he was confident.

What he relied on was his unfathomable strength.

Up to this point Uchiha Dan had never been defeated, no matter who his enemy was, whether he was facing one enemy or a group of enemies.

His terrifying muscles and those eerie, crimson Mangekyō Sharingan constantly exuded a powerful pressure that instilled fear in everyone present.

Although they didn't want to admit it, this man was an undefeated legend.

Even if everyone present were to gang up on him, could they really defeat Dan?

Even if they could really defeat Dan, how many lives would Konoha have to sacrifice? Who would be willing to be the first to rush forward and die?

In the end, everyone unanimously turned their gaze to the Third Hokage.

After all, he was still the Hokage, at least nominally, the only one who could suppress Dan, this "Hokage's assistant."

The Third Hokage looked troubled, very much so.

After careful consideration, he braced himself and said to Dan:

"Dan, you continuing as the Hokage's assistant might not be quite appropriate..."

"Is that so?" Dan interrupted the Third Hokage, raising an eyebrow as he asked, "Are you suggesting that I should take a step further and become the Fifth Hokage?"

Obviously, Dan had twisted the Third Hokage's words. His statement immediately shocked everyone in the conference room.

However, Dan immediately laughed and said: "No, I have no ambition to become the Hokage, and I know my limitations. Therefore, I just want to diligently assist the Hokage. By the way, I wonder who will be the Fifth Hokage of Konoha. It's really exciting."

At this point.

Koharu and Homura Mitokado, who had been silent on the side, suddenly took over Dan's words, coldly saying:

"We have already nominated Jiraiya to the Daimyō of the Land of Fire to become the Fifth Hokage. We believe the Daimyō will make the official appointment soon."

This was a warning to Dan, not to harbor any foolish hopes about the position of Hokage.

The Third Hokage immediately echoed in a serious tone: "I, like Koharu and Homura, have also nominated Jiraiya. I believe he is the most suitable candidate."

Jiraiya was not present because he was injured in the battle with the Nine-Tails and was recuperating in the Konoha hospital.

However, due to Dan's sudden appearance, the Third Hokage had secretly ordered his subordinates to notify Jiraiya.

In today's Konoha if there was anyone who could counter Uchiha Dan, it seemed to be only Jiraiya left.

Upon hearing that Jiraiya would become the new Hokage.

Everyone in the conference room was not surprised, apparently having guessed it already.

"Hmm."

Even Dan nodded, seeming to approve of Jiraiya as a good choice, but he still asked, "By the way, I have the right to nominate the Fifth Hokage, right?"

"Of course, but you can't nominate yourself." Koharu stared at Dan, speaking sternly.

"Alright, I nominate... Danzo."

Dan's eyes flashed, making a startling statement.

Danzo?

What a joke!

When everyone heard Danzo's name from Dan's mouth, their expressions became incredibly colorful.

Dan didn't pay attention to their reactions, but seriously stated his reasons for nominating Danzo:

"Danzo is the former assistant to the Hokage, who has dedicated himself to Konoha for decades. Apart from the Third Hokage, he is the one who has made the greatest contribution to Konoha.

Over the years the Third Hokage trusted and valued Danzo the most, which is why he released Danzo from the Anbu prison, allowing Danzo to take Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, and even entrusted the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to Danzo.

Although Danzo accidentally caused the Nine-Tails' rampage, killing so many Konoha ninjas, no one can deny that his intentions were good, that he was wholeheartedly for Konoha.

Doesn't such a person deserve at least a nomination for Hokage?

Lord Hokage, what do you say?" As Dan spoke, he turned to the Third Hokage.

Everyone could tell that his words, seemingly nominating Danzo, were actually a veiled criticism of the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage's face darkened.

He could feel that after Dan's sarcastic remarks, the resentment of the Konoha people in the conference room towards him, the Hokage, had intensified.