The Pride of the Uchiha

The Uchiha clan did not want to return to Konoha.

This decision surprised both Danzo, Onoki, and others, as well as Kakashi and Yamato.

So, Kakashi became anxious, hoping he could persuade the Uchiha clan to change their minds.

Unfortunately, the Uchiha were unmoved.

"Kakashi, if the Uchiha were truly the masters of Konoha as you say, we wouldn't have been pushed to the outskirts of the village."

"The Uchiha have no obligation to save Konoha. Can't they save themselves?"

Tekka and Itachi spoke in turn, unimpressed by Kakashi and Yamato's bows.

Shisui remained silent, not expressing any stance. Once, he had seen protecting the village as his duty, but after dying once, he saw things clearly and no longer felt any attachment to Konoha.

"This..."

Kakashi and Yamato were dumbfounded.

They had joined the Uchiha's side to help them defeat the Allied Shinobi Forces and drive out Danzo, allowing the Uchiha to reclaim Konoha.

But now, the Uchiha looked down on Konoha and were disinclined to return.

Tsunade sighed at this scene and spoke to support Kakashi:

"I share Kakashi's view.

When Konoha was founded, Madara Uchiha named the village. My grandfather intended the title of Hokage for him because fire is the symbol of the Uchiha.

I believe it's time to restore the original meaning of the Hokage title by having a ninja from the Uchiha clan take the position. What do you think?"

Tsunade's words clearly had more impact than Kakashi's plea.

The title of Hokage was the dream of countless Konoha ninjas and had once been an unfulfilled obsession for the Uchiha clan.

Madara had left Konoha in anger for not being chosen as Hokage, and for decades after, the Uchiha grew further from the title.

Now, this once-coveted title was within reach.

Would the Uchiha return to Konoha and take up the mantle of Hokage?

Clan Leader Fugaku or Dan should answer this question, as the Hokage candidate would undoubtedly be one of them.

Thus, everyone's eyes turned to the two.

Fugaku had never aspired to be Hokage.

In his heart, the only one candidate for Hokage was his brother-in-law, Uchiha Dan.

No one was more qualified in terms of strength, reputation, or leadership.

Dan's monumental feats—suppressing the Four Kage and annihilating tens of thousands of Allied Shinobi Forces—ensured that if he became Hokage, he would be on par with the First Hokage.

Fugaku also remembered:

Dan had once jokingly said that if he became Hokage, he would first demolish the Hokage Tower and build a nine-story keep called Tenshukaku. Then, he would stand atop it with a fan, overseeing everyone, styling himself as a celestial being.

So:

"Dan, are you ready to become a celestial being? No matter when, the Uchiha clan will fully support you."

Fugaku looked at his brother-in-law with anticipation.

However, Dan seemed distracted. He stood up and said:

"When I left this morning, Samui said she wasn't feeling well. I need to go check on her. Clan Leader, you decide here."

With that, he walked away, leaving everyone astonished.

As he passed the Four Kage, they averted their eyes, displaying varying degrees of fear.

Especially Danzo, who felt a deep sense of dread and unease from Dan's playful gaze. 

However, hearing that Dan wasn't interested in being Hokage, Danzo breathed a sigh of relief.

Bang!

The conference room door closed as Dan left.

Tap, tap, tap.

Fugaku frowned, tapping his finger on the table, deep in thought for a while.

Then, he made a surprising decision.

Swish.

Fugaku stood up, looking at Kakashi with an even gaze, and said:

"Kakashi, as you can see, the Uchiha clan has no intention of returning to Konoha.

But, in gratitude for your contributions over the past year, we will help you become the Sixth Hokage!"

What?

Kakashi was stunned, his face full of surprise.

He quickly waved his hands, refusing:

"Clan Leader Fugaku, you overestimate me. How could I be qualified to be Hokage..."

Kakashi couldn't believe the Uchiha would be so generous as to offer him the position of Sixth Hokage.

When he took office, he was only 21, younger than his teacher, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze.

Moreover, Minato had earned his title through his exploits in the Third Great Ninja War and was known as the Yellow Flash, beloved by the people.

In contrast, Kakashi's foundation was weak, hardly enough to become Hokage.

However, there was one qualified person.

Thinking of this, Kakashi glanced at Tsunade and suggested:

"Why not make Lady Tsunade Hokage? Yamato and I can return to the ANBU to assist her in governing Konoha."

In Kakashi's mind, Fugaku was the best candidate for Hokage—mature, steady, and considerate of the big picture, better suited for leadership than the powerful but headstrong Dan.

But since the Uchiha wouldn't return, they had to settle for the next best.

Tsunade was the granddaughter of the First Hokage, a renowned Sannin with many achievements, a medical prodigy respected throughout the ninja world.

From any perspective, she was the right choice for the Sixth Hokage.

Unfortunately, Kakashi was a bit too hopeful.

"What nonsense! I don't want to be Hokage. Don't come to me!" Tsunade rejected outright, glaring at Kakashi, leaving him embarrassed.

If she wanted to be Hokage, she would have fought for it long ago instead of leaving Konoha and staying away for over a decade.

Especially under the Uchiha's support, becoming Hokage would be humiliating for Tsunade, who prided herself too much to accept.

Dan, Kakashi, and Tsunade now rejected the title of hokage, which countless people had fought for, as if it were worthless.

The situation reached a stalemate.

Danzo, noticing this, felt a wave of relief. Despite showing no emotion, he was secretly delighted.

It seemed the Uchiha definitely wouldn't return to Konoha, and with Tsunade unwilling and Kakashi incapable of being Hokage, Danzo remained the Fifth Hokage, controlling Konoha.

Indeed.

"Then, this meeting is adjourned."

Fugaku turned to the Four Kage, his gaze sharp, "You may take your armies and leave. But remember, as per the defeat agreement, all reparations must be paid within a month. Otherwise, the Uchiha clan won't hesitate to visit you personally."

The four turned pale and quickly left.

Watching them leave, Itachi, barely containing his anger, asked:

"Father, are we just letting Danzo go back to Konoha?"

Itachi had long wanted to kill Danzo to avenge Shisui but had never succeeded.

Despite the Uchiha's victory, Danzo was allowed to return to Konoha and continue as Hokage, which Itachi couldn't accept.

Fugaku frowned, then sternly warned Itachi:

"This is your uncle's decision. Don't pursue Danzo anymore."

Uncle's decision?

Itachi was stunned, puzzled.

Fugaku shook his head, unable to understand why Dan kept letting Danzo go, but trusted there must be a reason.

The meeting ended, and the council members dispersed.

Outside, Yamato asked, bewildered:

"Senpai, what should we do next?"

Deep in thought, Kakashi pondered whether he should reluctantly become the Sixth Hokage. Even then, he doubted he could change Konoha's situation.

At that moment, Tsunade's voice came from behind:

"Why not ask the villagers of Konoha what they think?"

Kakashi bowed respectfully, asking sincerely:

"Lady Tsunade, please guide us."

Slap!

Tsunade stepped forward, patting Kakashi's shoulder, and revealed the key:

"The Uchiha clan's pride won't let them return to Konoha unless the villagers apologize for their past attitude and collectively petition, or even send representatives to the Mountain Graveyard to personally request their return. Then, there might be a chance."

I see...

Kakashi's eyes widened, finally understanding.

No one knew the Uchiha better than Lady Tsunade.

"Lady Tsunade, I understand."

Kakashi nodded and instructed Yamato, "Let's go back to Konoha!"

...

The remnants of the Four Great Ninja Villages retreated from the Mountain Graveyard in disgrace.

They had come with great momentum but returned defeated and humiliated. The survivors bore lifelong psychological scars from the war.

Konoha's forces suffered the most, with only 6,000 of their 20,000 troops surviving.

Over a year of continuous war had nearly exhausted Konoha's ninja ranks.

For instance, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio suffered heavy losses. The heads of the three clans: Inoichi Yamanaka was dead, Shikaku Nara was comatose, and Choza Akimichi was severely injured.

Additionally, Hiashi Hyuga lost an arm and a leg, becoming disabled.

Other smaller clans suffered even worse, with some entirely wiped out.

On the way back to Konoha, another thousand ninjas died from severe injuries.

Less than 5,000 made it back.

These were almost all of Konoha's remaining combat forces, including many elderly, sick, and disabled.

Danzo didn't care about these.

As soon as he returned, he ordered the ANBU to gather money, aiming to raise the war reparations as quickly as possible.

Of the ten billion ryo demanded by the Uchiha, Konoha's share was three billion, a significant sum for the village.

Danzo would lose his position as Hokage if they couldn't pay within a month.

So, he used any means necessary, even raiding clan lands or confiscating villagers' properties, to gather the funds.

Discontent spread among the villagers.

Worse, besides the hefty reparations, Danzo still oppressed the villagers as Hokage.

Since the Uchiha had not ordered otherwise, the occupying forces from the other villages remained in Konoha.

Thus, the unequal agreements previously signed with the villages still stood, adding to Konoha's woes.

The new world order was clear.

The Uchiha were at the top, followed by the Four Great Ninja Villages, with Konoha at the bottom.

Realizing this harsh reality, despair and anger spread throughout Konoha.

The villagers' deepest resentment was not towards the Four Great Ninja Villages or the Uchiha but towards Danzo.

Danzo had led Konoha to its current state, guiding it step by step toward ruin.

In this situation, Konoha's ninja and villagers could no longer tolerate Danzo's rule.

Despite the massacre of the Sarutobi clan as a warning, if they didn't resist Danzo, they would all eventually share the same fate.

A storm was brewing within Konoha.

Late at night, with clouds obscuring the moonlight, the village was pitch dark.

In the Hyuga clan's residence, the head of the Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Cho, Inuzuka, Aburame, Fuma, Ise, and Mimura clans gathered, plotting a coup.

"Everyone, Danzo will do anything to keep his Hokage position. If we continue like this, it's a slow death. We must unite and fight him!"

Hiashi Hyuga declared, exuding a tragic and determined aura despite his injuries, making it clear he was ready to risk everything.

The Hyuga clan was particularly vengeful, with over a hundred members having their Byakugan forcibly removed by Danzo, rendering them blind.

"Our chances of success?" someone asked, worried.

"Ah-hem."

Shikaku Nara, pale and coughing, explained, "Over the past year, we've been planning in secret, replacing most of the explosive tags with fakes. 

Despite the tight ANBU guard on the Hokage Rock, my analysis suggests Danzo and Hyou's threats are bluffs. Even if they collapse it, it won't bury all of Konoha. 

Danzo is just bluffing. Ah-hem..."

Finishing, Shikaku coughed again.

Despite his words, some were still hesitant, knowing there was no turning back once they launched the coup.

Seeing this, Hiashi knew only one thing could convince them.

He turned to the darkness and said:

"You two, show yourselves."