Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha lacks motivation.

Several days have passed since Uchiha Gin completed his mission. During this time, nothing unusual has happened, and he can finally enjoy himself to the fullest. He spends his days lounging at home, living a life of leisure that everyone envies.

"Ugh, so boring! Kid, come dance for me to liven things up."

Lying sprawled on the sofa in a relaxed, reclining position, Uchiha Gin's dull, lifeless eyes caught sight of Senju Itama preparing lunch in the kitchen. Watching the little girl, dressed in a custom-made apron, standing on a small stool humming an unknown tune and operating with practiced ease, he picked his nose and gave orders in a very irritating manner.

"Whoosh~"

Unfortunately, daydreaming is futile. A flash of cold light appeared first, and a sharp kitchen knife flew over with lightning speed, grazing Uchiha Gin's nose before embedding itself in the living room wall. The entire blade, amplified by his monstrous strength, was embedded in the wall, leaving only the lonely hilt.

"Gulp~"

"Don't take it seriously, I was just joking."

Feeling as if several hairs on the tip of his nose had been shaved off, a terrified Uchiha Gin swallowed hard and straightened up, trembling.

"You don't go out to work and earn money every day, do you know how expensive rice is right now?"

Senju Itama, his face contorted with anger, emerged from the kitchen. He first glared irritably at the lifeless Uchiha Gin, then strode over to the wall and easily pulled the kitchen knife stuck in it.

"I'm also waiting for notification~"

It would have been better if the topic of work hadn't been brought up. The mere mention of work infuriated Gin Uchiha. He had given away his money and his time, only to be denied a job. How was Hashirama acting as Hokage? If the work efficiency remained at this level, he would have to consider replacing him.

"Bang Bang Bang~"

Just as Uchiha Gin was pondering this, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door. Puzzled, he looked at the sky. Who would visit someone's door in the middle of the day? Could it be a salesperson coming to sell something?

"Bang Bang Bang~"

"I still need to cook, you go open the door."

Holding a kitchen knife, Senju Itama glared at the unmoved Uchiha Gin, gesturing for him to open the door, while he continued his culinary endeavors with his chubby little legs.

This is so troublesome!

Uchiha Gin reluctantly stood up, ruffled his fluffy curly hair, yawned, and went to open the door.

Creak~

"Sorry, we don't need deodorizer."

Uchiha Gin opened the door without even looking at the newcomers, skillfully waving his hand to shoo them away. It was clear that quite a few people had been coming to his door to sell things recently.

"Brother Yin, it's me."

The ponytail-wearing man standing outside the door looked at Uchiha Gin, who didn't even bother to open his eyes, and helplessly revealed his identity.

"Huh? So this is the bottom of the Fire Core Prison, Sasipuri~"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Uchiha Gin finally lifted his droopy eyelids and greeted his former colleague warmly.

"Why did you come empty-handed?"

He glanced around and saw that the other person's hands were empty. His initial enthusiasm immediately waned, and his eyelids, which had just been lifted, returned to their original position.

"I won't go in. I'm just here to let you know, Brother Yin, please be on time for the clan meeting tomorrow morning."

Having grown accustomed to Uchiha Gin's unpredictable personality and used to his hot-and-cold attitude, Uchiha Hikaru shook his head, explained the purpose of his trip, then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and turned to leave.

"Oh, how about we stay for a simple meal?"

Seeing that Uchiha Kakuzuki had walked more than ten meters, Uchiha Gin suddenly "woke up from a dream" and loudly said politely,

"Great! I haven't eaten yet."

"Clang!"

"."

He quickly slammed the door shut to refuse visitors. Uchiha Gin stroked his chin thoughtfully. It had been so many years since the last clan meeting; he had thought the tradition had been abolished.

"I wonder what my older cousin is planning to do."

Normally, only the clan head can initiate a clan meeting of the Uchiha clan. In recent years, Madara Uchiha has focused his work on Konoha, entrusting all clan affairs, large and small, to his younger cousin Izuna. Therefore, the last time a clan meeting was held was before the founding of Konoha.

"What's wrong? Another deodorant salesman?"

Senju Itama, who was cooking, poked her head out of the kitchen and asked with a puzzled look,

"No, the clan informed me that there will be a clan meeting tomorrow."

Lazily returning to the sofa, Uchiha Gin lay flat and answered truthfully.

"Oh! What will you wear then? You've gained weight and your old clothes don't fit anymore!"

Upon hearing that a clan meeting was to be held, Senju Itama came out in great surprise, looked Uchiha Gin up and down, and said a cruel reality in a somewhat troubled tone.

"I told you not to wash it! You've only worn it twice, and now it's shrunk and you can't wear it anymore. What are we going to do?"

Uchiha Gin, whose sore spot had been hit, immediately turned the tables and refused to admit that his obesity was caused by excessive sugar intake.

"Hmph! You're not allowed to eat today. You can barely fit into it if you go hungry."

Ignoring this unfounded accusation, Senju Itama snorted coldly and deprived Uchiha Gin of his dining privileges for the day.

"Born~ Born~"

The next day

"Gurgle~ gurgle~"

Uchiha Gin, forcibly inserted into the classic Konoha skin by Senju Itama, walked dejectedly down the streets of Konoha, rubbing his rumbling stomach.

"I've really suffered a lot!"

Along the way, Uchiha Gin saw many clansmen dressed like him, and everyone had excited expressions on their faces, seemingly looking forward to the long-awaited clan gathering.

"Why do you think the clan chief is calling a clan meeting?"

"Is that even a guess? They'll definitely reveal the date of the Hokage's inauguration so we can prepare in advance!"

"I think so too. The clan leader is diligent and conscientious, and from both a moral and logical standpoint, he is the only candidate for the Second Hokage."

"Haha, we Uchiha can finally stand tall in Konoha! Those arrogant Senju clans should bow down to us now!"

Hearing the passionate discussions of his clansmen, Uchiha Gin frowned slightly. It was only the second year of Konoha, and Hashirama was at the peak of his career. Asking him to step down now was probably unrealistic.

If another ten or eight years pass, the younger cousin will definitely be able to take over from him and become the rightful second-generation leader, while Hashirama can retire peacefully to the second line, take on a sinecure such as an honorary principal, hold his grandchildren and raise dogs, and enjoy the joys of family life.

"Phew~ Could they be planning a coup?"

The more Uchiha Gin thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. Suddenly, a terrifying thought flashed through his mind.

It's important to understand that every Uchiha who can awaken the Sharingan is somewhat obsessive and extreme, not to mention the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Could it be that the white-haired guy's workplace bullying caused the younger cousin to harbor resentment, and over time, his mentality underwent a dramatic change, preparing to skip the long wait and seize the Hokage position by force?

"Wait a minute, my younger cousin can't beat Hashirama in prison, isn't this just causing trouble?"

However, Uchiha Gin quickly dismissed the idea. Although Uchiha Madara was his cousin, he had to admit that his cousin was no match for Senju Hashirama. Even with the Nine-Tails by his side, he couldn't defeat the Sage Hashirama who had been given a power-up.

etc.

Nine-Tails!!!

"Brother Yin, over here!"

Just as Uchiha Gin was having a wild thought, a familiar voice rang out not far away. Looking up, he saw several familiar faces waving enthusiastically in front of the Uchiha clan's shrine. The one who had just spoken was Uchiha Jiro, who had joined the security team.

"Sasipuli~"

Thinking about it further was pointless; he'd better wait until the meeting to see. So, Uchiha Gin gave up on thinking and greeted the others.

"Brother Yin, what have you been up to lately?"

"Erlang's prison is a secret, it cannot be spoken of."

The honest and simple-minded Erlang, the Minion, has shed his previous impetuousness. Now in his thirties, he exudes a sense of composure and experience. However, the subtle slyness in the corner of his eye reveals that he is still a glue enthusiast.

Staying true to their original aspirations is commendable.

"Lord Yin, do you know the purpose of today's clan gathering?"

"If even Elder Lü Cha doesn't know, how could we, mere mortals, possibly know?"

The middle-aged man who was asking the questions was none other than Uchiha Ryuzaki, who had been promoted by Uchiha Gin. This jailer, who had served as his tool for more than ten years, had finally been promoted to Grand Elder not long ago, making him a figure second only to the two in the clan.

"Lord Yin, what kind of elder are you talking about? You're being too kind to me."

Uchiha Lucha touched his bald head, which had turned into a receding hairline from working day and night, and shook his head with a wry smile.

The Mediterranean elder is very dignified!

"Oh my~ isn't this Kosana? Don't always have that long face, give Uncle a smile~"

Passing by Uchiha Ryuzashi, Uchiha Gin's gaze fell on the evasive figure behind them. Looking at the stiff-faced Uchiha Setsuna, he raised an eyebrow mockingly and greeted him.

"snort!"

Even though he was already an adult, when Uchiha Setsuna, who was known for his cold arrogance, saw Uchiha Gin's devilish face, he still subconsciously squeezed his legs together and looked away from his sinister eyes to avoid meeting Gin's gaze.

That's rude; you'll definitely end up in jail.

"Big cousin! Why are you still outside? Come in quickly, the meeting is about to start!"

Before he could exchange more pleasantries with the others, Uchiha Izuna came out from inside and, upon seeing Uchiha Gin, quickly went up to pull him inside.

"See you later, my fans~"

With no other option, Uchiha Gin waved goodbye to the others and followed Uchiha Izuna into the inner shrine of the shrine.

On the way, Uchiha Gin-haired noticed that his younger cousin seemed a little off, as if he had something on his mind, so he asked him...

"Little cousin, what trouble are you causing this time, big cousin?"

Only Madara Uchiha could make him show that kind of expression.

"Sigh...it's a long story."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Izuna, who was walking ahead, sighed, turned to look at Uchiha Gin, and said,

"It's all your fault, cousin, for spoiling him too much. That's why he's always doing whatever he wants."

Ha! Why did you hand me a pot right away?

"What exactly happened?"

Uchiha Gin already had a bad feeling. Could it be that Uchiha Madara was planning to cause a big stir?

"Big Brother"

"Big cousin! You're finally here! Sit behind me later to give me some courage~"

Before Uchiha Izuna could finish speaking, Uchiha Madara's delighted voice rang in their ears. Their older cousin, dressed in a brand-new high-collared robe, emerged from the inner hall and immediately approached Uchiha Gin upon seeing him.

"Is it inappropriate for me to sit behind you?"

There was another reason why Madara Uchiha was unwilling to hold the clan meeting: Tajima Uchiha, who used to sit behind him, had passed away. Feeling empty behind him, he was no longer the passionate orator he once was.

"My eldest brother is like a father to me; I can only feel at ease when you are behind me."

In Madara Uchiha's mind, there were only two people he could trust to entrust his back to: his younger brother Izuna and his older cousin Gin Uchiha.

"All right."

Since his younger cousin had already said so, it would be a bit awkward for Uchiha Gin to refuse again, so he didn't stand on ceremony and nodded in agreement.

"Izuna, what happened to the draft I asked you to prepare?"

After arranging for Uchiha Gin, Uchiha Madara turned to ask Uchiha Izuna, whose expression had darkened slightly.

"Brother, are you really sure about this? This is no child's play!"

Uchiha Izuna, who always obeyed Uchiha Madara, surprisingly questioned his older brother.

"Just let me be willful this once, Izuna."

Faced with his younger brother's questioning, Madara Uchiha did not answer directly. With a look of guilt on his face, he gently shook his head.

"No! How could I possibly write a speech like that? As the Uchiha clan head and a Hokage candidate, abandoning your post? That's treason!"

Uchiha Izuna's expression turned cold, and he spoke in an almost roaring voice.

"ha?"

Uchiha Gin, who was enjoying some melon seeds, was so startled by his younger cousin's words that he dropped them all. Looking at his older cousin's bitter expression, he tremblingly raised his hand.

"Did I hear that right? My cousin, you're going to defect?"

How did things come full circle, back to the original plot? I've paved the way for you, cousin. You're guaranteed success if you walk this path smoothly. Why did you have to betray the village?

Did you secretly awaken some kind of defection system?

"Big cousin, don't listen to his nonsense. I'm just leaving the village for a while, a few days at the shortest, a few months at the longest."

"Leave the village? Do you even know your current status?"

As a legitimate Hokage candidate, even disappearing for a single day could lead to him being labeled a rogue ninja by some white-haired guy. Let alone the fact that the date is unknown, wouldn't that be used by Tobirama Senju to make a big deal out of it?

"I know, but I want to win at least once."

Knowing the gravity of the situation, Uchiha Madara nodded grimly. He was being watched by Senju Tobirama every day at work; if he went to the bathroom for more than five minutes, Tobirama would come back and knock on the door to urge him on, let alone suddenly disappearing for several days.

"You, do you really think a temporary victory or defeat is that important? The one who laughs last laughs best!"

Faced with the stubborn Madara Uchiha, Gin Uchiha was almost driven to the brink of fainting with anger. He had painstakingly removed the biggest obstacle on Madara's path to becoming Hokage.

Now look what's happened! Instead of appreciating the fruits of victory that were handed to him, he insists on jumping up and grabbing them himself. When he falls flat on his face and loses everything, I'll see who he complains to then.

"I understand the logic, but I just want to win this time based on my own abilities!"

The Uchiha clan's stubborn nature was on full display at this moment. No matter how much Uchiha Gin said, he was stubborn and single-mindedly focused on defeating Senju Hashirama to prove himself. Even the ten tailed beasts couldn't sway him.

"Then you could just report it to Hashirama in prison."

"I just wanted to surprise him!"

Previously, Uchiha Gin had said he wanted to give Hasi's mother a surprise, so Uchiha Madara didn't want Senju Hashirama to know that the reason he left was to capture the Nine-Tails and bring it back to Konoha to protect it.

"But if you do this, you might miss out on the Hokage position."

"As long as I beat Hasi Hot Mom, the Hokage position will still be mine!"

With a confident clenched fist, Madara Uchiha appeared determined to win.

"But."

"Chief! It's time for a meeting!"

Just as Uchiha Gin was organizing his thoughts and preparing to reason with him, an Uchiha clansman knocked on the inner hall door and said respectfully.

"I see."

Madara Uchiha replied in a deep voice, glanced at his brothers, and walked out without looking back.

"Big cousin! You have to think of something!"

Uchiha Izuna was getting anxious. If Uchiha Madara really abandoned his post, he would definitely be labeled a rogue ninja by his nemesis.

"Don't be in a hurry."

With his brows furrowed, Uchiha Gin reassured his younger cousin with a hint of helplessness.

Being a candidate for Hokage is a very sensitive position, much like being the crown prince in ancient times. You don't have much real power and you have to be careful in everything you do, for fear of being caught doing something wrong.

"Sigh~ Never mind, let's go to the meeting first and see what my older cousin is going to say."

Inside the shrine hall

The Uchiha clan members, dressed in uniform, sat cross-legged, their expressions solemn as they awaited the start of the meeting. As Madara Uchiha pushed open the door and entered, a look of fervent worship appeared on everyone's faces.

Uchiha Gin and Uchiha Izuna followed closely behind. Uchiha Madara glanced at the two of them but did not make any further expression. He then sat down directly next to the enshrined stone tablet.

"Let's go, don't embarrass him."

Uchiha Gin and Uchiha Izuna exchanged a glance. He took the lead and sat down behind Uchiha Madara amidst the surprised gazes of his clansmen, while his younger cousin sat down beside him.

"Do you know why I suddenly called this clan meeting today?"

Feeling the burning gazes of his clansmen, Madara Uchiha couldn't help but feel a little heavy-hearted, and the words that were about to come out of his mouth turned into a rhetorical question.

"It must be that the clan leader is about to succeed as Hokage and wants to tell everyone this good news in advance!"

An older member of the tribe raised his hand and said excitedly,

"That's right!"

"Long live the clan leader! Long live the Uchiha clan!"

This answer instantly ignited the entire meeting. Many clan members who had followed Madara Uchiha for many years raised their hands, their faces filled with fervor, and shouted "Long live Madara!"

Seeing this scene, Madara Uchiha's heart grew even heavier. He knew that these clansmen who had followed him for many years longed to see Konoha produce a Hokage from the Uchiha clan in their lifetime.

However, because he was repeatedly defeated by Hasi Hot Mom, he lost his position as the first generation leader, making these people unable to hold their heads high in front of the Senju clan.

"Clan leader, just give us a date, and we'll go to the Hokage Rock to put on a fireworks show for the whole village. Let them know who is the most magnificent clan in Konoha. Those bumpkins can't even match our art."

The people below the stage were already enthusiastically discussing the fireworks display program.

"My Phoenix Fire Technique is so magnificent that it has been praised by the old patriarch. Let me set a good example for everyone!"

An elderly man with white hair, clearly in his twilight years, stood up shakily, opened his toothless mouth, and volunteered with a strong voice.

"I've mastered my Explosive Fire Dance technique; I'm going to surprise everyone!"

"My Great Fireball"

"Get out of the way, what are you doing with the Fireball Jutsu?"

The atmosphere instantly became even more heated than before, making it difficult for Madara Uchiha, who was about to announce his departure from the village, to speak. He then turned his gaze to Izuna beside him, hoping to get his help.

"Hmph~"

Uchiha Izuna ignored his elder brother, wanting to see if Uchiha Madara could bear to pour cold water on such an enthusiastic clansman.

"Big Cousin"

Having failed to get help, Madara Uchiha could only turn his gaze to Gin Uchiha behind him, the pleading in his eyes clearly visible.

"Fine, fine, say what you want to say."

If Madara Uchiha keeps this energy bottled up inside, he'll eventually get sick from it. It's better to let him release it so that when he leaves, he won't have too much of a burden.

I have to clean up after my younger cousin again; I'm just born to be a workaholic!

"Quiet!"

After hearing Uchiha Gin's words, Uchiha Madara felt reassured. He then adopted a serious expression and spoke loudly to the chaotic meeting hall.

The once bustling meeting place fell silent instantly, with all the clansmen craning their necks, eager to hear what Uchiha Madara was going to announce.

"I am determined to become Hokage, but how can our Uchiha clan accept handouts?"

"Chieftain, what do you mean by that?"

The clansmen, who had been incredibly excited just moments before, were now filled with doubt. Looking at the stern-faced Uchiha Madara, they cautiously asked,

"I plan to leave Konoha for a while to seek new strength."

Without hiding anything, Madara Uchiha revealed his thoughts to the public, leaving all the clansmen present speechless.

"Snapped!"

Uchiha Izuna, standing beside him, slapped his forehead in exasperation. He hadn't expected his older brother to be so stubborn, cruelly announcing his departure to the clansmen who were filled with expectation.

"What?"

"Is the clan leader leaving Konoha?"

"Why did you leave when you could have just waited?"

"Did the Thousand Hands brothers give you a hard time? If so, blink!"

After a brief silence, a barrage of questions came from his clansmen. Madara Uchiha silently closed his eyes and did not answer.

"Clan leader, are you giving up your candidacy for Hokage?"

A clansman stood up, his voice filled with deep disappointment. In his view, leaving Konoha was tantamount to giving up the position of Hokage candidate.

"That's right, my goal has never been just a minor reserve position."

Slowly opening his eyes, Madara Uchiha's eyes had inexplicably turned crimson. He coldly looked at his clansmen below the stage and spoke.

"I'm not asking for your permission, I'm just informing you." (End of Chapter)