"Captain, that joke isn't funny."
"The duty of the Hokage Guard is to protect the Hokage with their lives. Even if the entire guard dies, the Hokage must not."
"There's no logic in a Hokage sacrificing himself to protect his guards."
Uchiha Inaho wasn't as steady as his older brother. He spoke his mind without restraint. Tobirama's death alone already felt surreal—this way of dying was downright horrifying.
"Inaho," Nan said calmly, "you need to understand something."
"Stories require logic. Reality often doesn't."
Everyone present looked at Uchiha Nan's solemn expression. Instinctively, they felt he had to be messing with them—spinning nonsense out of boredom.
And yet, in the end, they chose to believe him.
Nan's position didn't allow him to casually fabricate a Hokage's death inside the Military Police Force.
Suddenly, Uchiha Tetsuka recalled something. A nameless flame ignited in his chest.
"Captain," he asked slowly, "since the Second Hokage has fallen… has the Third Hokage already been decided?"
That single sentence was like a spark landing on dry tinder.
Every Uchiha in the room felt their blood heat up.
The Second Hokage was dead.
So who would be the Third?
Surely… not another Senju?
The Uchiha were co-founders of Konoha. Even if their ancestor Uchiha Madara had defected, no one could erase the Uchiha's contribution to the village's founding.
The Senju had already produced two Hokage.
No matter what—this time, it should be the Uchiha's turn.
Breathing grew heavier throughout the room.
Their captain had been the first to receive news of the Hokage's death. He'd immediately summoned them all.
Did that mean…
Did Captain Nan have thoughts about the Hokage's seat?
After all, above Nan there was still the clan head, Uchiha Tomita.
But Nan's strength was unquestionable—proven on the battlefield.
Even Clan Head Tomita might not be able to defeat him.
Skipping over the clan head to contend for Hokage wasn't unthinkable. What young man in Konoha didn't dream of that position?
Besides, Uchiha customs were simple.
The strong rose.
The weak stepped aside.
Whoever's fist was harder spoke louder.
No matter what, the Third Hokage's position should first fall into the Uchiha's hands.
"It's already been decided."
Nan's four words were like a bucket of ice water, dousing the flames in everyone's hearts.
…Another Senju?
Among the Senju, there were only two figures who could command universal respect.
One was Uzumaki Mito, the First Hokage's widow—low-key, never flaunting her presence, yet feared by no one.
The other was Senju Tōma, the First Hokage's son—legitimate by bloodline, powerful enough to rank among Konoha's elite.
This is bad.
A terrifying thought crossed Tetsuka's mind.
Could the captain be planning a coup?
If Nan truly intended to rebel, Tetsuka knew he had to stop him—he couldn't let the captain throw his life away.
"Who is it?"
"Lady Mito… or Lord Tōma?"
"This is completely unfair. The Senju already had two Hokage—it's our turn!"
While Tetsuka was still weighing Nan's intentions, Inaho had already started complaining loudly.
"Neither," Nan said flatly.
"It's Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"…Huh?"
For a split second, everyone had the same thought.
The captain is joking again.
"Who?"
"Captain, I'm starting to think you've been messing with us from the very beginning. If it's really that bad, I'll walk you to the clan's medical unit myself."
"You're the Uchiha's main pillar—you can't afford to have something wrong with your head."
Inaho spoke without thinking. The words spilled out instantly.
Nan felt a twitch in his temple.
I'm having a serious discussion about the future of the Uchiha,
and you think my brain's broken?
Have I been smiling too much lately? Has this kid forgotten what pain feels like?
Nan scanned the room.
To his annoyance, many of the Uchiha seemed to agree with Inaho. One or two even looked at Nan with pity.
Nan turned, reached for the ninja blade he used in battle, and smiled warmly at Inaho.
"Inaho, I see your skin's getting tight again."
"I'm discussing matters of the Uchiha's future with complete seriousness—and you think I'm sick in the head?"
"After this meeting, we'll find a place and spar."
"I guarantee I'll beat you so badly you'll have to visit the clan's medical-nin."
Inaho took several steps back in terror, then elbowed his brother frantically, begging for help with his eyes.
If the captain really beat him up, he'd be bedridden for half a month.
Tetsuka could only sigh at his idiot brother.
Does he really have to say everything that pops into his head?
"Captain, don't take it personally. He's always like that."
Then, more seriously, Tetsuka asked again,
"Captain… The Second Hokage personally named Sarutobi Hiruzen as his successor. Is that true?"
"Of course it's true," Nan replied. "I've been serious this entire meeting."
Nan sighed inwardly.
Tobirama's final act had been so outrageous that telling the truth sounded like delivering a bad joke.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen—what is he, exactly?!"
"I could beat three of them by myself!"
"And he thinks he's qualified to be Hokage?"
"If he becomes Hokage, I'll be the first to refuse!"
Inaho was the first to step forward.
If Tobirama had appointed Lady Mito or Lord Tōma as the Third Hokage, the Uchiha could bargain with the Senju—secure more benefits for the clan—and reluctantly accept it.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen?
Who did he think he was?
And the Sarutobi clan behind him—what were they worth?
Back in the Warring States Era, they were nothing more than a small clan clinging to the Senju. If the Uchiha had wanted to, they could have wiped them out with ease.
Now they wanted to climb over the Uchiha's heads?
One Senju on top was already infuriating enough. Add a Sarutobi?
How were the Uchiha supposed to live?
The Uchiha were not some insignificant backwater clan.
They were a great shinobi clan with a thousand-year legacy.
They cared about their faces.
Nan glanced at Inaho and nodded slightly, satisfied.
This time, you're finally saying something human.
"Yes! The Uchiha refuse!"
"I don't believe the Senju will accept a coward like Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage either!"
"A Hokage Guard that couldn't even protect the Hokage—what right does he have to become Hokage?!"
The room erupted.
The once-quiet Uchiha were boiling over.
In the eyes of the Uchiha—
Only the Senju or the Uchiha were qualified to stand at the top of Konoha.
Anyone else?
Unworthy.
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