Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

They could be certain that the Caged Bird Seal was an extremely sophisticated spell.

Don't think they don't know that old man Danzo once secretly tried to break the Caged Bird Seal, but unfortunately, this top expert in cursed seal techniques in Konoha ultimately failed in the face of the Caged Bird Seal.

Therefore, there is not a single Hyuga clan member in the Root.

"Hinata... her performance was really too pathetic. Actually, if Neji weren't from the branch family, with his talent, competing for the Seventh Hokage in the future would not be a fantasy at all." Hyuga Hiashi looked at his second daughter, who was diligently practicing Gentle Fist on the spot, and sighed softly.

It's such a pity.

Neji's talent is such that it would have been better if he had been born into the main family.

Ultimately, however, it was the rules of the main family and branch families that stifled countless geniuses of the Hyuga clan.

"If the goal is the Seventh Hokage... to be honest, I think Hanabi is quite good. Don't forget the age of our Hokage's assistant, just over twenty! If nothing unexpected happens, he might rule Konoha for longer than the Third Hokage!" Hyuga Masayuki thought that Hyuga Hiashi was planning to make the young Hanabi the main family member and the older Hinata the branch family member.

While this situation may not be entirely reasonable, it is still within the acceptable range for the clan elders, as long as it ensures that the main branch of this bloodline continues to be a single-line lineage!

"That's true."

Hiashi Hyuga nodded.

In the dojo,

A girl named Hinata Hanabi is diligently practicing her family's Gentle Fist to live up to her father's expectations, completely unaware that Hinata Hiashi is planning to find her a future Hokage as her teacher, perhaps using this opportunity to shake up the old and corrupt rules of the Hinata clan.

Even if we fail in the end,

At the very least, Hinata and Hanabi should be able to avoid having the Caged Bird Seal engraved on them.

As the head of the clan, Hiashi Hyuga strives to create a brighter future for the family while harboring a small selfish desire as a father. He tries to find a less cruel way out for his children. The death of his younger brother, Hizashi, is a wound in his heart that can never heal. He does not want his children to experience the heart-wrenching pain he went through!

The Sixth Hokage

I hope Uchiha Sogen can get what he wants!

······

Similar conversations took place in many parts of Konoha Village. Among the Aburame, Inuzuka, and Kurama clans, as well as the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the news that the Fifth Hokage was about to abdicate and that the selection of the Sixth Hokage had begun spread by word of mouth among many interested parties. In just over half a day, the news had almost reached every corner of the entire village.

[Chapter 323. What Madara Uchiha Couldn't Do]

The time is September.

After calming down the aftermath of Hiruko's attack, Konoha Village was once again rocked by a major news story: the Fifth Hokage, Akimichi Torifu, abdicated due to a serious illness. Under the watchful eyes of thousands of villagers, the Sixth Hokage received the Hokage hat and the cloak inscribed with "Sixth Hokage," and took over the Hokage Building that had stood for nearly sixty years.

The streets were filled with cheers that lasted for a long time, and Konoha Village was decorated with lanterns and streamers for three days to celebrate.

Once the news was released,

The ninja world was shaken.

after all,

The Sixth Hokage was the Uchiha.

That Uchiha Munen, known as the "Flame Demon"!

Honestly, most people don't know about the messy things that happened in Konoha Village in the past, but the leaders of the other four great ninja villages do know that after Madara Uchiha lost the competition for Hokage to Hashirama Senju, he first left in anger, and later, for some reason, returned to Konoha to fight Hashirama Senju in that legendary final battle, leaving behind the Valley of the End, a tourist attraction that has been passed down to this day.

From then onwards,

The Uchiha clan was suppressed so severely that they could not even dream of becoming Hokage; simply surviving was extremely difficult, and they even resorted to attempting a clan-wide coup at one point.

but,

All of this was reversed after Uchiha Munen succeeded Fugaku Uchiha, the "Evil Eye," as the new head of the Uchiha clan. He led the Uchiha clan out of the abyss step by step and reached the peak that Madara Uchiha had only been one step away from achieving.

What Madara Uchiha failed to do

It was done by Uchiha Sogen.

Such a matter naturally deserves the attention of many people.

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.

"The Sixth Hokage?"

Hidden Cloud Village

Sitting in his office, the Fourth Raikage had the latest intelligence on Konoha delivered by his subordinates laid out before him. He stared at a photo tucked among the documents—a picture of Uchiha Sogen standing on the rooftop of the Hokage Building, waving his Hokage hat to the villagers of Konoha below—and fell into a long silence.

After a long pause, he said, "They actually let this monster become the Sixth Hokage. Are all the so-called Hokage lineages in Konoha just useless trash?"

Such news,

This is an absolute disaster for the Cloud Ninja.

"I think that after the deaths of the Third Hokage and Danzo Shimura, the Hokage lineage probably no longer exists in Konoha." Tsuchida stood to the side and sighed softly. It was no wonder that the Raikage was so upset; he himself felt an indescribable sense of powerlessness when he saw such news.

probably,

In their lifetime, they will never see the day when Kumogakure surpasses Konoha to become the strongest ninja village in the ninja world.

"Tutai, what should we do now?"

The Fourth Raikage, who was always strong and seemed to know nothing about bowing his head, revealed a deep weariness at this moment.

He was very tired.

The troubles caused by the defeat of the Cloud Ninja five years ago have not yet been completely resolved. As the Raikage, he is like a pot mender, constantly tinkering and racking his brains to patch up the holes in the big pot that is the Cloud Village. The phrase "physically and mentally exhausted" can well describe his current state.

"Lord Raikage, the future is full of uncertainties. My teacher once told me that his generation always believed that the entire ninja world would always be subservient to the First Hokage, and that everyone would have to bow down and kiss the ground in front of the First Hokage."

"No one expected the First Hokage to pass away at that time. Although he was already quite old, to be honest, everyone who met the First Hokage thought that he could live to be a hundred years old without any illness or pain. Life is full of uncertainties and surprises."

"Are you hoping for Uchiha Mugen to die unexpectedly?"

The Fourth Raikage couldn't help but laugh.

As soon as he said it, he felt like he'd lost his mind.

Rather than hoping for Uchiha Munen to die unexpectedly, it would be better to hope for a meteorite to fall from the sky and raze Konoha to the ground!

"Of course not. To place your hopes on the enemy collapsing without a fight is something that would only make you a laughing stock."

Tsuchikage didn't laugh. He said seriously, "What I want to say is that we are not Konoha's enemy now. Although there is some competition, it's not to the point of life and death. Since Konoha is no match for us now, we might as well humble ourselves. Back when the First Hokage was alive, no one could stand up straight in front of Konoha. Bowing your head is not shameful."

"...Living by the graces of others? Such a future is truly awful."

"Isn't that what life is all about? Good news always comes alone, but bad guys come in droves."

"Regarding the matter of the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai, Konoha still needs to give us an explanation..."

"Hasn't Konoha already given an explanation? It was the Konoha traitor Hiruko, it has nothing to do with Konoha. Just summon the envoy back." Tsuchida was speaking without any politeness at this point. He couldn't let the Raikage continue to act unilaterally.

Continue to oppose Konoha

It's not a good thing.

"If Konoha were to master Storm Release..."

"Then let Konoha take it. If we're not as skilled, there's nothing to say. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Raikage, you should know that this Sixth Hokage is no longer the old, decrepit ninja who has long lost his ambition. Konoha now is not to be trifled with."

Tu Tai raised his voice by eight octaves.

"...Was it because I was less skilled?" The Fourth Raikage sighed deeply, looking dejected. "That's right! I was less skilled, so I deserved to be beaten... But I still can't help thinking how wonderful it would be if that ninja hero were still alive!"

Tu Tai looked somber.

Five years ago, they were first defeated by Konoha on the main battlefield, and then their weak point was exploited by Iwa ninja. This unprecedented defeat dealt a heavy blow to Kumogakure. Even the Raikage was disheartened and pinned his hopes on the enemy's own collapse. Such thoughts...

Looking out the window, Tu Tai sees mountains bathed in sunlight.

But he couldn't feel any warmth at all.

I just feel a little cold!

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.

Hidden Mist Village.

The most heavily guarded place here is not the Mizukage Building, nor the headquarters of the Anbu, but the residence of the Master. This old man is the most precious treasure of Kirigakure. It is because of his existence that Kirigakure has been able to survive one crisis after another and not be the first to fall behind the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

“Master, Uchiha Munen is already the Sixth Hokage.”

The beautiful Shuiying knelt on the tatami mat. Opposite her at the low table sat Yuan Shi, who had no hair or beard and whose head was as smooth as a peeled egg.

"So, the Uchiha clan has finally produced a Hokage?"

Master Yuan was carefully reading the intelligence brought by the Water Shadow.

Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage, may not be considered exceptionally talented, but she possesses above-average abilities. Under her leadership over the past five years, Kirigakure has gradually recovered from the losses inflicted during those turmoil, proving through her actions that she is indeed a qualified Mizukage.

then,

Gradually, Yuan Shi subtly transferred the power and authority he held to Terumi Mei. Perhaps many people in the village regarded him as an immortal monster, but he knew very well that he was just a mortal. Even if he could hold on for a few more years, he would eventually have to leave this world.

Furthermore,

He has never been one to cling to power.

The reason he holds power that can rival the previous Mizukage is that the previous Mizukage were not very reliable. If they had been even a little more reliable, they wouldn't have been so unreliable, causing him to toil his whole life without ever having a few days of peace.

"This is a good thing!"

After reviewing the information brought by Mei Terumi, Genji expressed a completely different opinion from the Cloud Ninja.

"The stronger Konoha is, the better. As long as Konoha can stand firm, the ninja world will not be too turbulent, and a stable environment is exactly what we need." Unlike the Cloud Ninja, who were still ambitious even after suffering a crushing defeat, the Mist Ninja were, to be honest, almost completely ruined by Obito Uchiha.

To say that it has severely damaged their vitality is an understatement.

If it weren't for Master Yuan, Kirigakure might have been wiped out by Obito Uchiha.

Furthermore,

The master, who is about to turn eighty-seven, has long lost the desire to fight and compete. Even if Kirigakure may challenge Konoha's hegemonic position in the future, that is a matter for the younger generation. His only pursuit is for Kirigakure to exist peacefully while he is alive.

"I see."

Mei Terumi responded softly.

"Before I came here, I was already thinking about whether to send someone to Konoha to help Mangetsu. According to the information revealed by Konoha, when Hiruko attacked Konoha not long ago, that guy who claimed to be Uchiha Madara also appeared. It can be confirmed that Hiruko and Kazuma are related to that person, and there seems to be an even larger force behind him."

"What are your thoughts? Are you inclined to send someone? Or maintain the status quo?"

Instead of answering Terumi Mei's question, Genshi returned the question with a new one.