The Uchiha's Path to the Top, Starting from Konoha

Chapter 26 Mito Uzumaki begins to hesitate.

The next morning, Uchiha Setsuna found Uchiha Takehiro. After having breakfast, the two met with the vassal ninja clan who were waiting in the reception hall.

There are a total of six ninja clan leaders, all of whom are standard Jonin of Konoha, but their strength is unremarkable.

Although he only valued their Jonin voting rights, Uchiha Muan did not adopt the same cold attitude as Uchiha Setsuna, but instead wore a gentle smile.

This reassured the ninja clan leaders considerably, as at least the future head of the Uchiha clan held a friendly attitude towards them.

"Thank you for taking the time to meet me, Young Master."

After a brief meeting, the six ninja clan leaders made a promise on the spot, guaranteeing with their clans as collateral, that their clan heirs would serve as attendants to Uchiha Takeo, showing their utmost sincerity.

Watching their departing figures, Uchiha Takeo's gaze also left Nohara Clan Chief.

"Is the young lord interested in the Nohara family?"

Uchiha Setsuna, playing the stern face—a natural performance for him—sipped his tea, feeling very satisfied with Uchiha Takeo's performance at the meeting.

Although some aspects are not yet mature, that's due to a lack of experience. We'll get used to it after a few more meetings.

"I am somewhat interested, but not now."

Uchiha Muan still remembered a line from his previous life: "Kamui cannot hide his tears; all he sees is Rin."

【Kamui】 refers to another traitor from the Uchiha clan, and 【Rin】 refers to Nohara Rin. Together they wrote a poignant story of a man pursuing a woman, creating one tragedy after another.

Using the Mangekyou Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails directly led to the death of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who held all the hopes of the Uchiha clan, leaving the Uchiha completely isolated and helpless, and making him one of the main culprits in the massacre of the clan.

Just as Uchiha Yomo said, if the Uchiha clan had worked together, there really wouldn't have been so many messy and ridiculous things happening.

"It would be good to give the young lord of the vassal ninja clan a warning."

Uchiha Setsuna casually remarked something and then pulled Uchiha Takeo towards the clan's training ground. As an elder of the martial arts faction, he was quite enthusiastic about fighting.

Uchiha Takeo was naturally happy to learn combat techniques and skills for free.

The Sharingan possesses three fundamental abilities: observation, copying, and hypnosis.

The ability to observe and copy is combined to quickly learn the opponent's non-blood-stained ninja, body, and illusion techniques.

In short—what's yours is mine, and what's mine is still mine.

Once the Sharingan is awakened, with a little fighting, one can quickly rise from genin to chunin, qualifying to become the captain of a ninja squad.

This is also the fundamental reason why the Uchiha clan has remained dominant, with more Chunin than Genin and the highest number of Jonin in the ninja world.

………………

At the Hokage Building, Uchiha Yomo and Uchiha Kagami arrived to find nothing. They then learned from the building's staff that Uzumaki Mito had led a group of people to visit the wounded ninja.

This attempt to win people over made the two men frown and they went straight there.

Konoha can be roughly divided into three main areas. The innermost core area houses the Hokage Building and other important buildings, in addition to the massive mansions of the Uchiha and Senju clans.

The central area further out is mainly occupied by powerful ninja clans with Kage-level shinobi, while some vacant areas are inhabited by scattered weaker ninja clans and commoner Jonin.

The outermost area is where ordinary villagers and merchants live.

Meanwhile, in the residential area where the commoner Jonin lived in the central district, Uchiha Yomo and Uchiha Hikko were surrounded by a crowd, with Uzumaki Mito looking grim.

"Thank you, Mito-sama! I will definitely support you in becoming the Third Hokage!"

Observing this scene silently, the two did not approach. They knew they were unwelcome, and if they went over, it would likely cause even worse negative impacts on others.

"[Inarakacho], Hinata, Sarutobi, Shimura..."

"As expected of the Thousand Hands of the Forest, where countless trees form a dense forest."

As each of the Uchiha Fire Cores was called out, their expressions grew increasingly somber.

Those who followed Mito Uzumaki were all powerful figures from the Senju clan who were close to her, or even the head of the clan. Compared to Senju Moriki, Mito Uzumaki was far superior in both methods and prestige.

Given a valid reason, no ninja clan would refuse to unite under the banner of the Thousand Hands of the Forest.

"The only one missing is our Uchiha lineage."

Uchiha Yomo sighed, then his expression turned serious. "Since it's difficult for us to stand out in open elections, we should consider increasing the importance of the Flying Thunder God Technique."

"Perhaps we can use the Hokage election as a bargaining chip."

"Retreat to advance, and take a gamble!"

The opinions put forward by the Uchiha Yomo were unacceptable to the Uchiha Hikaru.

As a conservative elder, Uchiha Hikaru undoubtedly considered more factors, so he hoped to obtain the clan's rightful status through peaceful means and cherished the hard-won opportunity to become Hokage.

If the Senju of the Forest are stronger than the Uchiha, the Uchiha Fire Core can continue to endure.

However, the already weakened Senju clan relied on the false sense of superiority created by the outsiders, forcing the Uchiha clan to give up. In the eyes of this conservative elder, a hint of killing intent flickered uncontrollably, which was instantly noticed by Mito Uzumaki.

A mature and beautiful noblewoman, exuding both dignity and grace, smiled at the two from afar. Her sweet and elegant smile infuriated them, and they turned and left.

(These two guys are already planning to make a move.)

Mito Uzumaki's eyes flickered, recalling the conversation she had with Moriki Senju the previous night.

(To negotiate peace with the Uchiha?)

With the Senju clan returning from the front lines, there are no more than thirty Jonin who can continue fighting. Add the Anbu to the mix, and the chances of winning against the well-equipped Uchiha are very low, unless Mito Uzumaki brings people from the Land of Whirlpools, but that's not realistic.

Strictly speaking, Mito Uzumaki is also Mito Senju.

The other ninja clans' stance is at most to cheer and urge others on; it's not in their interest to personally engage in battle with the Uchiha.

The most likely scenario is that they will step in to mediate, gain benefits from the situation, and gradually detach themselves from the Senju clan, becoming a new ninja alliance formed by third parties in Konoha.

(The only one who might be eliminated is Hinata.)

The grudges between the Hyuga and Uchiha clans have a long history. However, if they want to persuade Hyuga Ashizashi, that shameless old fox, the Senju of the Forest will have to pay a heavy price.

Therefore, Mito Uzumaki does not want to fight as much as possible.

But after discovering that even the conservative Uchiha Higanbana was filled with murderous intent, she was suddenly awakened and couldn't help but consider whether to give the Uchiha a chance to enter the upper echelons of Konoha.

The Uchiha clan has Uchiha Takeoshi, but the Senju clan has no one who can match him. When Mito Uzumaki realizes that she will be old and bedridden, what will happen to the Uchiha clan?

To watch helplessly as the Senju of the Forest slowly dies?

"Lord Mito, it's almost time."

The attendant beside her estimated the time and respectfully addressed Mito Uzumaki.

"Okay, I understand."

Looking at the civilian Jonin behind him, whose legs were broken and who was waving to him in thanks, and who was about to retire, Mito Uzumaki remained silent.

If they were to engage in a decisive battle with the Uchiha, even if the Senju clan won, they would be teetering on the brink of extermination. How would they then face the numerous ninja clans of Konoha?

When faced with the combined forces of the Uchiha conservatives, compromisers, and fighters, Mito Uzumaki began to hesitate—the position of Hokage was not to be relinquished, but should the high-level decision-making elders give it to the Uchiha?

(End of this chapter)