"If you want to become Hokage, the greatest resistance you'll face comes from Konoha's shinobi clans. And the first among them is the Uchiha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.
The news of his teacher's death had indeed been leaked by the Uchiha. He trusted that Uchiha Kagami wasn't the one who did it, which only meant one thing—the Uchiha possessed their own intelligence channels.
It was even possible that Tobirama-sensei's ambush during the negotiations had been known to them in advance.
The Uchiha's desire for the Hokage's seat had never been hidden. Even during Tobirama's tenure, extreme rhetoric advocating the overthrow of the Second Hokage had continued to surface within the clan.
Of course, people who voiced such ideas always seemed to die reasonably—during missions or on the battlefield. And without exception, the Uchiha clan could never find even the slightest shred of evidence tying their deaths back to Tobirama.
After several such "coincidental" deaths, the Uchiha grew wary and noticeably quieter.
Moreover, Tobirama governed with fairness. The benefits owed to the Uchiha were never reduced, and the other clans of Konoha flourished under his rule. Over the years, most clans had come to fully acknowledge Tobirama as Hokage.
Unfortunately, his unexpected death during the negotiations had handed the Uchiha a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—an opening to lay hands on the Hokage's seat.
"As for the Uchiha, I'm actually not too worried," Uzumaki Mito continued calmly.
"They've always been the same—might makes right. Whoever has the bigger fist gets their obedience."
"Back then, Hashirama defeated Madara. Madara left Konoha, but the Uchiha clan did not follow him."
"And now, within Konoha, there isn't a single Uchiha who can defeat me."
"Unless they've gone completely mad and are willing to throw away their entire elite force just for a chance to kill me."
"But they don't have that kind of courage."
Mito's tone shifted, brimming with confidence.
At present, there was no one in Konoha who could stand against her. Already terrifying in her own right, combined with the Nine-Tails sealed within her, she was nothing short of a walking calamity.
Hiruzen watched her, his heart stirred.
This was the bearing of the older generation—the true giants of the shinobi world.
He had already experienced her power firsthand earlier. It was overwhelming, suffocating.
"The Uchiha can be dealt with," Mito went on.
"But the clans blocking your path to becoming Hokage aren't limited to them."
"The Senju clan is no more willing to see you become Hokage."
She let out a soft sigh.
The true danger didn't come from the Uchiha outside—
It came from her own clan.
Hiruzen's eyes widened. He had subconsciously assumed that since Mito supported him, the Senju clan would naturally stand with him as well.
"You wouldn't seriously think that I can represent the entire Senju clan, would you?" Mito said slowly, watching his reaction.
"In normal times, my status lets me act freely within the Senju—even Tobirama gave me face."
"But now Tobirama is dead, and the position you're fighting for is the Third Hokage of Konoha."
"Two Hokage have already come from the Senju. The clan has grown accustomed to that honor—and to the benefits that come with it."
"In their eyes, the Third Hokage being Senju has already become an unquestioned future."
She spoke slowly, deliberately, giving Hiruzen time to digest each word.
Convincing the Senju clan to accept Hiruzen—that was what truly gave her a headache.
The Senju had founded Konoha. Two Hokage had come from their ranks—and both had died as Hokage. That legacy carried enormous prestige.
More than that, during the First Shinobi World War, the Senju clan had contributed more than anyone else in Konoha.
Why?
Because their clan head was the Hokage.
The most dangerous battlefields always had the most Senju blood spilled upon them.
The Senju had never hesitated to give their lives for Konoha. Almost the entire clan believed that the Third Hokage would naturally come from the Senju as well.
Some extremists even believed—
The Senju clan was Konoha.
Now the war was nearing its end. Victory was in sight. Senju blood had nearly been drained dry.
And at this moment, to let a Sarutobi—
a clan that had once followed behind them, picking up scraps—
step forward and reap the rewards?
Mito didn't even want to imagine the resentment that would cause.
Many of those Senju elders from the Warring States Era were still alive. Each and every one of them valued the clan's future more than their own lives.
Some were older than Hashirama himself. Some outranked him by two or three generations.
They had devoted their entire lives to the Senju.
Slap Hashirama in the face, and he'd still smile and say,
"Grandfather, did your hand hurt? I won't do it again."
Mito could already picture it—
The moment she announced that Tobirama had passed the Hokage's seat to Sarutobi Hiruzen, those old men would explode in rage.
Even if Tobirama were still alive, they'd curse him into the dirt—let alone her.
One sentence would be enough to shut her down completely:
You're an Uzumaki—what right do you have to meddle in Senju family affairs?
Those old men, once pushed to the edge, would say anything. No matter how overwhelming her strength was, she couldn't raise a hand against them.
They weren't afraid of death.
They'd stretch out their necks and let her cut them down—
as long as she could guarantee that the Third Hokage remained a Senju.
"Lady Mito… this…"
Hiruzen found himself at a loss for words.
If the Senju opposed him, what could he possibly do?
Fight them? Impossible.
Reason with them? He had no standing.
"The elders within the Senju have already settled on a candidate for the Third Hokage," Mito said quietly.
"That candidate is Senju Taomu."
"Hashirama's son. One of the strongest within the Senju."
"In this war, he's earned tremendous merit. As a frontline commander, he held back Iwagakure's forces."
"He's already on his way back to Konoha. He'll arrive soon."
Mito studied Hiruzen closely.
She could help him shoulder the pressure coming from the Uchiha.
But pressure from the Senju?
That, she could not help with.
At best, she could remain neutral.
And besides—Taomu was her son.
From childhood, he had idolized his father Hashirama, dreaming of becoming Hokage and protecting Konoha.
Helping an outsider defeat her own son?
She wasn't that selfless.
"If you want to become Hokage," Mito said at last,
"then you must defeat Taomu."
"Defeat him openly and fairly, in front of the Senju clan."
"Only then will I have a chance to persuade them."
This was the absolute limit of what she could do.
She had seen how much Taomu had sacrificed for this dream.
Tobirama, you bastard…
You're even worse than your brother.
Always leaving me with impossible problems.
Mito felt an urge to drag Senju Tobirama back from the afterlife and beat him senseless.
"Lady Mito," Hiruzen said sincerely, "I understand. You've already done more than enough."
He was filled with gratitude.
Taomu was her son—yet she had deliberately avoided that fact in their discussion.
She had been fair. More than fair.
And for that, Hiruzen could only bow his head in thanks.
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