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

In the dead of night, a dim candlelight flickered in a secret chamber within the Sarutobi clan's territory. Several weary-looking figures sat huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, wondering why an alliance meeting was being held so late at night.

Sarutobi Sasuke, sitting in the very center, had large dark circles under his eyes, indicating that he wasn't in very good spirits.

His dull, lifeless pupils were filled with dense, red blood vessels. He raised his head and looked around to make sure all the members of the Ninja Alliance had arrived before slowly speaking.

"Quiet down, everyone. What I'm about to say will determine the future of our Ninja Clan Alliance."

"Sasuke, who is it this time? Never mind, whoever it is, I'm not getting involved. The Shimura family really is broke."

As soon as Sarutobi Sasuke finished speaking, Shimura Kenji, his face dark with rage, stood up to leave.

He paid 20 billion at the last meeting, but ended up getting nothing in return. He won't fall for it again this time.

What do you mean by "connections" or "backdoor deals"? It's all a complete lie!

"Kenichi, don't rush. This time the source of the information is very reliable. Let me finish speaking before you leave."

Raising his hand to stop Shimura Kenichi from leaving, Sarutobi Sasuke recounted in detail the whole story of Uchiha Gin's visit.

When they heard that Uchiha Gin was also involved, everyone present wore very complicated expressions. If the news came from Curly-haired Uchiha, it would be much more credible.

"Really? The Uchiha clan is willing to give up the Hokage position?"

Minako Yamamoto frowned slightly.

Naruto clearance sale?

Could this be another telecom fraud scheme targeting elderly people's retirement savings?

"If anyone else had told me this, I would have beaten them to a pulp immediately, but it was Gintoki, so I believe he wouldn't lie to me."

He was able to hold his grandson now entirely thanks to Uchiha Gin's chivalrous act back then, which cured Hiruzen, who had been diagnosed with congenital eunuch by the doctor. The deep friendship between the two was established from that moment.

From then on, Uchiha Gin was regarded as an honored guest by Sarutobi Sasuke, and was received with the highest honors whenever he visited.

"So."

No matter what it is, anything related to Uchiha Gin inevitably involves money. The members of the Ninja Alliance, already accustomed to this practice, inquired curiously.

"How much is it this time?"

That's what you call word-of-mouth!

"One hundred billion."

Time was of the essence, and Sarutobi Sasuke didn't keep anyone in suspense.

"hiss"

Everyone gasped upon hearing this. A hundred billion was no small sum, and their Ninja Alliance wasn't exactly a powerful clan. They had already pushed themselves to the limit by managing to scrape together a hundred billion to cultivate relationships.

"This is way too expensive!!"

"You think the Hokage position isn't worth a hundred billion?"

"But."

Glancing sideways at the ninja alliance member who raised an objection, Sarutobi Sasuke's bloodshot eyes gradually overflowed with the madness unique to a gambler.

Go for it! Don't overthink it!

"I'm just asking you one question now: are you getting on the bus or not!"

"what?"

Everyone was shocked to hear this. Sarutobi Sasuke was usually known for his caution, so why was he acting so impulsively this time?

"Family members, we only have one chance. If we can't raise 100 billion before dawn, once the noble representatives come to the village for a meeting, there will be no way to save Uchiha Izuna from succeeding to the throne."

More than 100 billion?

In terms of sheer quantity, it could buy several cities; if converted into paper money, it could build several houses.

However, if you could exchange it for the position of Hokage, that would be an incredibly good deal; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was dirt cheap.

"I'll go!"

The first person to raise his hand was surprisingly Nara, the pineapple-headed member of the Nara clan. As the most intelligent and far-sighted person present, he knew he couldn't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by.

Even if they were truly scammed, they would only lose some money at most. However, once the transaction was successful, what awaited the Ninja Alliance was a once-in-a-century leap in social class.

Whether the ninja clan alliance, composed of second-rate clans, can develop into a major clan like the Senju and Uchiha depends on the outcome of this high-stakes gamble.

"Our Nara clan is willing to sponsor 10 billion yen!"

With frequent wars abroad in recent years, the Nara clan, who control medicinal resources, has made a fortune. Even after blindly investing billions in Senju Hisama, they still have food reserves.

"Excellent! When my son takes over, the position of Jonin Squad Leader will undoubtedly belong to Nara."

Seeing that someone responded so quickly, Sarutobi Sasuke's expression softened a bit. He immediately chose to return the favor to the Nara representative who had shown such support.

"Our mountain tribe is also willing to sponsor eight billion."

"Sponsored by the Akimichi Clan."

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio have always shared a common destiny. Now that Nara, as the strategist, has made his choice, the other two tribes naturally grit their teeth and follow suit.

"The dorm-switching generation."

"The Mitomon Clan."

"The Inuzuka Clan."

"."

"Very good. After this is accomplished, our Sarutobi clan will certainly not treat you unfairly."

In the blink of an eye, they had already reached more than half of their target amount of funds. Sarutobi Sasuke felt a warmth in his heart, and his eyes filled with tears as he looked at everyone.

Kenichi Shimura lowered his head, his mind replaying every moment he shared with Sarutobi Sasuke from childhood to adulthood. After a long internal struggle, his deep friendship ultimately triumphed over his already low intelligence.

"Sasuke! I'll trust you one more time. The Shimura clan will sponsor 30 billion yen!"

"Kenichi, you..."

Sarutobi Sasuke's tears instantly welled up.

"This money is what I've saved up from raising pigs over the past few years. Don't let anyone else swindle it from you."

Kenichi Shimura was filled with mixed feelings; this whole ordeal had practically wiped out his life savings.

If he loses everything, he might really have to give up his favorite pork head meat and switch to eating thin porridge and pickled vegetables.

"I, Sarutobi Sasuke, swear here that I will never let everyone down."

Soon, the funds promised by each clan arrived in his account. Looking at the mountain of storage scrolls before him, Sarutobi Sasuke wiped away the tears of emotion from the corners of his eyes and made a promise with piercing eyes.

Uchiha Izuna's residence

Izuna, completely drunk at the family gathering, was unconscious. His wife, Mieko, could only helplessly help him get ready and put him to bed.

"Mieko, I finally have time to take you to plant lemons."

In a half-dreaming, half-awake state, Uchiha Izuna suddenly grabbed his wife's small hand and murmured softly.

"Honestly, he's so old, yet he still causes us so much worry."

Stroking her husband's slightly weathered, handsome face, Mihoko's eyes were full of doting affection. She loved this clumsy man more than anything.

"Mother, I must take my leave now."

Unable to bear his parents' public displays of affection, Uchiha Tomoyu immediately turned and ran away, fleeing the room that made him feel uncomfortable.

"Fuyu, you go sleep with Fugaku tonight, I'll stay here and take care of your father."

"Mother, keep it up! Fugaku has always said he wants a little sister."

"Get out of here!"

Uchiha Tomoyu, who had been kicked out of the room, rolled his eyes. Following his memory, he found his younger brother's room and dragged the fast-sleeping Fugaku out of bed.

"Huh? Who is it!?"

"I'm your brother."

Fugaku, still half-asleep, was startled awake. After a brief moment of confusion, he opened his small eyes, which naturally exuded a fierce aura, and asked in bewilderment,

"Huh? Rich guy, what are you doing?"

"I'm not doing anything, just letting you know that you can go back to sleep now."

Uchiha Yu shook his head expressionlessly, then tossed the still bewildered Fugaku back onto the bed.

As your older brother, I work so hard, how can I let you sleep peacefully?

Just as the family was chatting warmly, a furtive figure quietly approached the back door of Uchiha Izuna's residence.

"This should be the place."

Sarutobi Sasuke, carrying the hope of the Ninja Alliance in his heart, emerged from the darkness of the street corner. Looking at the magnificent mansion before him, he nervously knocked three times on the back door.

Bang bang bang——

Creak~

After a brief silence, the long-sealed back door slowly opened, and a slightly weathered, handsome face peeked out. By the bright moonlight, Sarutobi Sasuke recognized the person before him at a glance.

"Master Yingfu, you are fine."

"Chief Sarutobi, what brings you knocking so late?"

Uchiha Izuna, whose face remained expressionless, frowned slightly, seemingly unaware of Sarutobi Sasuke's purpose in coming.

"Gintoki introduced me to this place."

In a moment of panic, Sarutobi Sasuke immediately invoked the name of his introducer.

"Big brother? Pfft, what a worrying nonsense. It's just a small loss. Once I become Hokage, it won't be long before I make up for it."

"Uchiha Izuna" feigned anger, and Sarutobi Sasuke immediately stepped forward, deliberately lowering his voice.

"Lord Kagesuke, I really want to improve."

As he spoke, he pulled out a storage scroll that weighed as much as a thousand pounds from his pocket and stuffed it into Uchiha Izuna's hand.

"Chief Sarutobi, what is the meaning of this?"

The moment "Uchiha Izuna" touched the scroll, he scanned its contents, a glint of triumphant gleam in his eyes. He feigned refusal, pushing the scroll back from his grasp.

No, if you really don't want it, then let go.

Seeing that the storage scroll remained motionless no matter how hard he tried, Sarutobi Sasuke felt much more at ease, and his tone became more confident.

"Lord Shadow Assistant, time is running out. Let's be frank, just accept it. This is a win-win deal."

"Aren't you forcing veteran cadres to make mistakes?"

Now that things had come to this, "Uchiha Izuna" no longer maintained his composure, and shoved the heavy storage scroll into his robes, a deep sigh appearing on his face.

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Kagesuke!"

Sarutobi Sasuke was overjoyed. The fact that the other party had accepted the money meant that they had agreed to the deal.

"If it weren't for my cousin's sake, I wouldn't have given you this special treatment at all."

"Uchiha Izuna" gently shook his head, but his eyes revealed another layer of implication. Sarutobi Sasuke was overjoyed at the moment, but he wasn't blind to the truth. He immediately took out another scroll from his pocket.

"This is the tea money I prepared for Gintoki. Please pass it on to me, Lord Kagesuke."

After examining the scroll, a satisfied smile appeared on Uchiha Izuna's face.

"I will personally deliver this to my older cousin. Go back and wait for my letter. Remember, do not let a third person know about our meeting tonight."

"I understand the rules, Lord Kagesuke, get some rest~"

Watching Sarutobi Sasuke's cheerful steps disappear at the end of the street, Uchiha Izuna, after confirming that no one was around, suddenly flashed a signature sly smile on his expressionless face.

"Hehe~ Money is so easy to make these days, another 10 billion."

As he spoke, the skin on his face began to twitch rapidly, and after a few breaths, it transformed into a smug, dead fish-like eye.

Weighing the two scrolls in his hands, Uchiha Gin, now back to his original appearance, narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Hey, I can't spend it all, I simply can't spend it all~"

the next day,

Uchiha Izuna woke up early in the morning with a deathly pale face, and shakily walked out of the house, supporting his aching back.

"Darling~ Come home early!"

Behind him, Uchiha Mieko, with a rosy complexion and a radiant smile, stood at the doorway, softly offering her instructions.

"I have a lot to do today, so you go to sleep first tonight. I'll just find somewhere to sleep."

Feeling the weakness within his body, Uchiha Izuna replied, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"It's alright, I still have some amazing medicine that my older cousin gave me during the New Year. Try it when you get back."

Thump!

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Izuna nearly stumbled and fell, but fortunately, he was agile enough to avoid embarrassing himself in front of his own house. After regaining his balance, he immediately fled in panic.

His first stop was the Nakagawa Shrine in the Uchiha clan's territory. The clan members, who had received notice of the meeting, had been waiting there for a long time. After last night's revelry, everyone's faces still showed signs of fatigue.

"I've met Izuna-sama!"

Upon seeing Uchiha Izuna appear, all the clansmen immediately rose excitedly to pay their respects; the scene was incredibly enthusiastic.

"I've called this meeting today to inform you of one thing."

Under the expectant gazes of his clansmen, Uchiha Izuna decided to cut to the chase and reveal his intention to relinquish the Hokage position.

"ah!?"

All the clansmen present were caught off guard by the news. They all flipped through their calendars to check if today was April 1st. Lord Izuna's joke had gone far too far.

"My elder brother is still missing, how can I possibly have the mind to manage the village?"

The reason why Uchiha Izuna was unwilling to take the Hokage position was not only because he didn't have a white-haired man to command, but also because of another, more important reason: his long-lost older brother, Uchiha Madara.

Seeing Uchiha Izuna's genuine emotions, the clansmen's commotion gradually subsided, and their eyes were filled with extremely complex emotions.

The position of village chief is certainly valuable, but compared to Madara Uchiha, an outstanding clan leader, the title of Hokage becomes insignificant in the eyes of the Uchiha clan.

"That's right, that's right. What could be more important than finding the clan chief right now?"

Thank you for your understanding.

Looking at his clansmen whom he had persuaded, Uchiha Izuna was deeply moved. His gaze then fell on Uchiha Kagami, who was kneeling respectfully in the first row, and a gratified smile appeared on his lips.

"But don't be disappointed, everyone, we still have Jing, right?"

"That's right, our Uchiha clan still has our Party Secretary!"

"Mirror! Don't let us down."

The tribesmen, who were initially somewhat disappointed, suddenly remembered that they had another outstanding representative, and their gloom vanished.

"Forehead"

The pressure on Jing, who was being placed on high hopes by his people, increased dramatically. However, he quickly transformed that pressure into a continuous source of motivation, his handsome face filled with determination.

"Leave it to me!"

Looking at Kagami, who was surrounded by his clansmen, Uchiha Izuna smiled and left the stage, leaving it to the promising young people.

Uchiha Izuna's second stop was the notary office where the previous election had taken place. Facing the respectful staff, he truthfully informed them that he had given up the Hokage position.

"Lord Kagefusa, this joke is not funny."

The notary office staff stared wide-eyed in disbelief. This was the position of Hokage, a position of immense power. You just want to quit?

Uchiha Izuna shook his head and, under the watchful eyes of many staff members, tore the employment agreement he had signed after his victory the previous day into pieces.

Watching the white snowflakes slip through his fingers, a strange sense of emotion welled up in his eyes.

Those who once walked alongside him, whether friends or foes, have all left in various ways; now it's his turn.

"I am a remnant of the old era; the new era has no vessel capable of carrying me." (End of Chapter)