Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

Akimichi Torifu said calmly.

"Yes."

Nara Shikaku agreed very quickly.

He understood what those words meant, but he dared not say them. If he angered Lady Tsunade, his body wouldn't be able to withstand that terrifying fist.

When the Anbu came looking for her again, Tsunade was still sitting in the tavern drinking. Since it was daytime, there weren't many customers in the tavern. It was evening when people were drinking. The reason Tsunade was drinking there was because she had lost all her money at the casino that morning.

With nowhere else to go, she came to the tavern to drown her sorrows and pass the time.

"What are you doing here again? Didn't I already say I wasn't going?" Tsunade shouted impatiently as she looked at the ANBU member wearing a bear-face mask who appeared in front of her.

"Lady Tsunade, the Hokage only asked me to convey a message: if you don't want your absence to cause more trouble, you'd better come." The ANBU member wearing a bear-face mask said meticulously.

Are you threatening me?

"I am only responsible for relaying messages. How you interpret them is up to you, Lady Tsunade."

"...More trouble? Damn it, I should have left with Jiraiya first." Thinking about the situation in the village, she immediately realized the hidden meaning behind Akimichi Torifu's words. Not long ago, she had mentioned to Jiraiya that the Uchiha clan was about to produce a Hokage.

Tsunade slammed her hand on the table.

"It's gone and I'm on silent."

"Yes."

Shizune, who had been quietly munching on squid legs, quickly stood up and glanced nervously at the owner standing behind the counter. She didn't have a single penny on her, and if the owner took it from her... that would be incredibly embarrassing for her hometown!

"Oh, right, you there, don't rush off. Pay for the drinks first, then go to Nara Shikaku for reimbursement."

Tsunade waved her hand.

He slammed the bill directly into the hand of the ANBU member wearing the bear-faced mask.

Then, with a silent voice, he walked straight out of the tavern, leaving behind the tavern owner, whose face looked like he was constipated, and the ANBU member wearing a bear-face mask whose expression was unreadable. The two stared at each other silently for three seconds before the ANBU member said in a deep voice, "How much?"

The boss subconsciously gave a number.

Then the ANBU member wearing the bear-face mask fell silent again, and after a full six seconds, he said, "Can you use explosive tags to settle the debt here?"

"what?"

seem,

This member of the secret service, wearing a bear-face mask, wasn't exactly flush with cash either.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Tsunade, it's been a long time!"

"Kung Fu Knife?"

"It's me. What? Don't you recognize me?"

"You've changed a lot."

At the Akimichi family's gate, Tsunade encountered an acquaintance, Koto Mokumo, one of the two current advisors of Konoha. He had been Tsunade's teammate and had teamed up with Tsunade, Dan Kato, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. He was a genuine powerhouse.

Tsunade looked at the thin, gray-haired Kōtō Mokume, and found that he was completely different from the burly, door-guard-like figure she remembered. If it weren't for the fact that her face still showed traces of the past, she honestly wouldn't have believed that the thin man in front of her was the comrade-in-arms who could once hit a 200-pound Iwa ninja like a baseball.

"How did you become like this?"

"Haha! Because we're old!"

Mokumu Kōdō laughed heartily.

He is older than Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the others; he is already fifty-eight years old this year.

"However... you look almost exactly the same as you did back then, still as beautiful as ever. To be honest, Jiraiya would probably drool over you." Kōdō Mokumei teased with a smile. He certainly wouldn't have said such a thing before, but he's fifty-eight years old this year, and his grandson has already been born.

When speaking,

Naturally, there were fewer restrictions.

"Why bring up that idiot?" Tsunade said irritably, but her mood had improved considerably since she was forced to attend this inexplicable event.

Seeing a friend you haven't seen for many years is a happy thing.

After returning to Konoha,

She didn't deliberately seek out her old friends. Apart from treating Akimichi Tokifu, she only went to the Hokage Building and the police department twice because of Hiruko's matter. The rest of the time she spent in the village's casinos and taverns.

To be honest, Kōdō and the others were not sure if it was appropriate for them to see Tsunade, since Tsunade had taken the initiative to cut off contact with them.

Therefore,

Even though Tsunade has been back in the village for some time now.

But this was the first time they had met again.

"Don't mention that annoying idiot, tell me about yourself! Kōtō, it seems you're doing quite well these days!" Tsunade looked at her former companion and noticed that Kōtō had aged and become much thinner, but his spirits were quite good.

"I never imagined that I would become an advisor elder one day," Mumu Gongdao sighed.

“You are worthy of the position of advisor elder.”

Tsunade didn't say much.

The more you talk about it, the more you'll inevitably mention Sarutobi-sensei. In the past, Sarutobi-sensei and his group firmly held power in the village. Positions like advisor and elder were occupied by Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu for decades. If they hadn't been overthrown, Kōto and his group would probably never have had a chance to rise to prominence.

"By the way, Gongdao, do you know why we've gathered so many people here?"

Tsunade changed the subject.

As they were speaking,

Led by members of the Akimichi family, they arrived at the courtyard where Akimichi was recuperating. There, they saw several familiar and unfamiliar figures gathered in the open, six-square-meter room. Uchiha Sogen was sitting on the tatami mat, holding a teacup and leisurely drinking tea.

"The Anbu who sent the message didn't specify, but... after thinking about it, it can only be one thing. Speaking of which, Tsunade, you..."

Mokume Kōdō hadn't finished speaking.

Then it was interrupted.

"Tsunade, Kōtō, come quick! We're just waiting for you two." Akimichi Torifu, sitting in the middle of the room, heard Tsunade and Kōtō's voices; his hearing had become increasingly sharp.

"Is everyone here?"

Kimeki Kōdō surveyed the area.

Upon discovering that the Hokage's assistant, another advisor elder, and the heads of various departments had all arrived, he didn't say anything more. He simply quickened his pace and sat down with Tsunade in the empty space in the room.

Once the two of them were seated,

Akimichi Torifu cleared his throat. "Everyone, I am truly sorry, but I am currently unable to walk properly and can only meet with you here. In fact, 'meet' is not quite accurate, as I cannot see your faces right now. However... this meeting must be held."

"I am preparing to abdicate."

Before anyone could speak, Akimichi Torifu cut straight to the point and stated the purpose of gathering everyone there.

"I can't see anything anymore. Konoha can't let a blind person become Hokage. If word gets out, it will damage the village's reputation. So we need to elect a Sixth Hokage. Everyone, please speak up! If you have a suitable candidate, please say so."

"...Lord Hokage, what about your health?"

The head of the secret service, Masakazu Yamanaka, didn't finish his sentence.

"There's no need to waste time discussing my affairs anymore. Even if my eyesight were restored, to be honest, I'm already feeling increasingly powerless when handling official duties. It's time for Konoha to replace me with a young and capable leader to continue guiding the village forward."

"Now we need to discuss the selection of the Sixth Hokage. After I officially announce my abdication, we will immediately organize an election to select the Sixth Hokage."

Akimichi Torifu's resolute tone demonstrated his determination to abdicate.

Upon hearing this, Masakazu Yamanaka fell silent.

but,

No one spoke for a moment.

"What? You can't even nominate a single candidate?"

Seeing that no one spoke, Akimichi Torifu urged them on.

“Since the Hokage is determined to leave, then… I recommend that the Hokage assist him, and that Uchiha Munen succeed him as the Sixth Hokage.” The one who spoke was one of the two advisor elders, Hyuga Masayuki, who had already received the clan head’s authorization before he came.

Or rather, the Hyuga and Uchiha are so close they're practically inseparable.

To be honest, Hyuga isn't entirely without ambition for the Hokage position. If the Uchiha clan produces a Hokage, Hyuga might have that opportunity in the future. All of this depends on breaking the unspoken rule of passing down the Hokage position within the Hokage master-disciple lineage.

The Third Hokage was a disciple taught by the First and Second Hokage, the Fourth Hokage was the Third Hokage's grand-disciple, and the Fifth Hokage, Akimichi Torifu, was also considered a disciple of the Second Hokage. If you look closely, you'll find that all five Hokage were within the same framework, while the Uchiha and Hyuga, the two top clans of Konoha, didn't even come close.

but,

Then again.

There shouldn't be anyone in Konoha who can compete with Uchiha Sogen in the present day, right? Jiraiya's departure from the village is tantamount to him declaring that he has no interest in the Hokage position. Right now, it seems that only Tsunade can pose a threat to Uchiha Sogen in the village? Could it be that...? Thinking of this, Hyuga Masayuki's expression changed slightly.

If Tsunade were to step forward and compete for the Sixth Hokage position, she would pose a greater threat than Jiraiya!

At this moment,

"I recommend Tsunade to succeed as the Sixth Hokage."

Mokume Kōdō recommended Tsunade.

[Chapter 322 The Only Candidate]

The fact that Tsunade was recommended didn't surprise anyone. When they saw Tsunade there, everyone was already wondering if she was going to compete for the Sixth Hokage position. Koto's words were entirely expected.

Even Tsunade herself was not surprised.

only--

Not unexpected, but still a real headache!

Akimichi Torifu's message wasn't really a threat, but rather a description of reality. These former comrades were genuinely plotting to push her into the Hokage position. Fortunately, she came in person. If she hadn't come and had been forcibly pushed into the position of Sixth Hokage candidate, it would have been very troublesome for her to withdraw later.

"The Knife!"

Tsunade looked over and said, "I'm sorry, I have no interest in succeeding the Sixth Hokage. You should choose someone else who is more capable."

"But······"

"No buts. I already said, I'm not interested. The only reason I stayed in the village was out of a sense of responsibility as a medical ninja. Otherwise, I would have left long ago. The Sixth Hokage... let someone who truly has the ambition do it!"

Tsunade stated her attitude and determination simply and directly.