Chapter 171: The United Uchiha

Chapter 171: The United Uchiha

As Haneda finished speaking, silence filled the shrine.

In the basement, many members of the Uchiha clan looked at Haneda with eyes that were filled with surprise, excitement, or complex emotions.

The elders were also silent, with the head elder watching those Mangekyou Sharingan eyes and recalling the powerful Uchiha who had once wielded them.

Every person who bore these eyes would eventually make a name in the ninja world.

Madara, Izuna, now Haneda…

The head elder sighed quietly in his heart. With Haneda's support, the Uchiha clan leader must be shown respect, regardless of his abilities.

He stood and said:

"We shall follow the words of Lord Haneda and the clan leader."

When the head elder finished speaking, everyone realized that he had acknowledged Haneda's authority as surpassing his own.

With Haneda's backing, the clan leader was one with real power.

No one could go against it!

The second and third elders quickly agreed, praising Fugaku for his wisdom and foresight.

Their words constantly conveyed respect for both Haneda and the clan leader.

The discussion on whether to support Orochimaru or Minato ended, with the Uchiha upper echelon having determined their future leader.

That leader was Fugaku, with Haneda's backing!

After the meeting ended, Haneda and Fugaku left the shrine.

Only then did the elders depart, with the other Uchiha jonin following suit.

Fugaku looked back at the scene before him.

The elder council that once paid him lip service had been straightened out by Haneda.

He himself had also earned the respect of many Uchiha members.

With a smile, Fugaku thanked Haneda, saying:

"Thank you for everything this time, Haneda."

"You helped me draft the speech and stood by me."

Haneda smiled and said:

"Big brother Fugaku still has many potential supporters."

"All those loyal to the previous clan leader are backing you."

"My father…" Fugaku thought of shinobi like Hachidai, Inabi, and Tekka, falling silent.

These were all people his father had personally trained and left behind for him.

Perhaps his father had anticipated today long ago and had prepared for him?

Haneda stood silently beside Fugaku and comforted him, saying:

"The previous clan leader will watch you from the other world, carrying on the Uchiha legacy."

Hearing this, Fugaku remembered the words he had used to comfort Haneda the previous day and nodded, saying, "Yes, I will."

"With Haneda around, the Uchiha will never fall," Fugaku added in his mind.

…

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, the discussion between the Third Hokage and Minato had fallen apart.

The Third Hokage initially wanted to persuade Minato to withdraw from the Fourth Hokage election and promised him the Fifth Hokage position.

But Minato insisted on fair competition with Orochimaru.

His dream was to become Hokage, and he wouldn't give it up.

News of this soon reached the Root base.

Upon hearing it, Danzo took the report and went to Orochimaru's lab.

*Ding ding ding*

The sharp sound of the bell echoed outside the lab door.

Sensing the familiar chakra, Orochimaru frowned, putting down his scalpel.

Root had long supported his experiments in secret.

Whether it was funding or experimental materials, Danzo had provided him with too much, so Orochimaru had no choice but to pause his work.

"What is it?"

Opening the lab door, Orochimaru saw Danzo and went straight to the point.

"Jiraiya's student Namikaze Minato wants to compete for the Hokage position. Hiruzen tried to convince him to withdraw last night, but he refused."

As he spoke, Danzo handed the intelligence scroll to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru took the scroll and quickly scanned it before putting it down.

Orochimaru smiled sinisterly, saying:

"Are you worried he'll take my place?"

Danzo shook his head:

"With your achievements, experience, and status, it's impossible for him to win in the jonin vote."

"In short, with Ino-Shika-Cho and Hiruzen's support, the advantage is ours!"

Hearing such confidence, Orochimaru chuckled and said:

"Perhaps."

"If I remember correctly, in a few days, Sensei will announce his retirement, and then it will be up to the candidates to be voted on."

Recalling his arrangements in the Land of Rice Fields, Orochimaru smiled mysteriously and said:

"We'll see when the time comes."

…

The next morning, at dawn.

Haneda got up early, planning to visit Kakashi.

He had lost many things in the Third Shinobi World War, and so had Kakashi.

Understanding Kakashi's feelings, Haneda wanted to keep him company.

Kakashi's home was close to the Uchiha clan grounds, all near the heart of Konoha.

After walking for about ten minutes, Haneda arrived at Kakashi's doorstep.

Initially, he planned to enter immediately, but he saw Guy by chance and instinctively hid.

"Kakashi! Why have you become so distant lately?!"

"Have you forgotten our friendship?!"

"Life is short!"

Guy, waving his hands energetically, looked at Kakashi with sincere concern.

Kakashi smiled bitterly and said:

"Alright, Guy, I'm fine, really."

"Really?!"

Guy asked excitedly, and as Kakashi nodded, he immediately gave a thumbs-up with a radiant smile.

"Alright! In that case, let's have a youth showdown!"

"It's been six months since our last duel!"

Upon hearing his usual words, Kakashi's eyes turned lifeless as he refused:

"Let me rest for a bit, or...you could go find Haneda?"

Haneda, eavesdropping nearby, couldn't help but smile. He peeked at Guy, who was eager for action, and quickly climbed through the window, saying:

"Guy! Did you forget our agreement?"

"To live youthfully means to keep moving forward step by step!"

Guy was briefly surprised by Haneda's sudden appearance, but on hearing this, he immediately got excited:

"Yes, that's the spirit of youth!"

"Kakashi! Accept my challenge!"

Seeing this, Kakashi looked at Guy and then at Haneda, his face darkening.

He recalled some less-than-pleasant memories.

Trying to change the topic, Kakashi asked:

"Guy, I heard your teacher, Lord Orochimaru, is running for the Fourth Hokage. Is that true?"

"What? Hokage, so soon?"

Guy, busy with his youth training, hadn't been paying much attention to the village's major political changes.

The last time he visited Orochimaru-sensei, there had been a hint…

In a low voice, Guy asked:

"Is the Hokage stepping down?"

Haneda and Kakashi exchanged glances and, aware of Guy's obliviousness, both replied, "Yes."

Thinking about his teacher, Guy cheerfully said:

"Lord Orochimaru running? Could it be? I'll be the Hokage's student?"

"Not necessarily," Kakashi shook his head. "Minato-sensei is also running."

Haneda added, "Yes, Minato-senpai stands a fair chance."

"As long as Orochimaru doesn't insist on becoming Hokage…" Haneda silently added to himself.