To pay off the debt, become Hokage!

Uchiha Zhaoping's funeral has begun.

Uchiha Fugaku read the eulogy with a heavy face, recalling his father's life and deeds.

When it came to the touching part, Uchiha Fugaku burst into tears, his eyes turned red and hot tears flowed.

"Woooooooo..."

Uchiha Zhaoping's relatives and friends were infected by it and cried quietly.

There was a sad atmosphere in the room.

After Uchiha Fugaku finished reading the eulogy and ended the memorial service, a monk from the Fire Temple struck a wooden fish and chanted sutras for the afterlife.

The little novice monk he brought with him was dancing nearby and dipping a willow branch in clear water and throwing it to everyone.

Uchiha Shigeka was sitting nearby, and a few drops of water were splashed on his face. He did not move, but felt strange.

——As the person who secretly planned the murder of Uchiha Zhaoping, he was splashed with water that symbolized the blessing of the dead to the living... Isn't this a bit of a joke from hell?

Uchiha Shigeka closed his eyes with a look of sorrow.

No matter what, he still has to accept this blessing.

After the monk's ceremony was over, it was time for those who had a close relationship with Uchiha Zhaoping to come forward to pay their respects.

Uchiha Shigeka came to Uchiha Zhaoping's coffin holding a bouquet of white chrysanthemums and looked at the black and white photo.

Uchiha Shigeka put Baiju down, and the tears in his eyes finally couldn't hold back and burst out.

He looked at Uchiha Fugaku standing beside the coffin, his lips trembling as he wanted to say something, but in the end he only said one sentence:

"Brother Fugaku, I'm sorry."

Uchiha Fugaku looked a little haggard, and looking at Uchiha Shigeka's equally haggard and sad face, his eyes were complicated.

"Zhonghua, father treated you well when he was alive." Uchiha Fugaku looked at his father's black and white photo and murmured, "Father struggled for half his life and made so much effort to become the head of the Qian clan. I understand the hardship, and I don't want my father's efforts to be in vain."

"During that time, you were always by your father's side, and you knew how difficult it was for him to be the clan leader."

Uchiha Fugaku said in a deep voice: "Zhonghua, you are a child of destiny and a hero who ended the war. You have great ambitions, just like an eagle flying in the sky. You have a vast world to explore."

"The goshawk should not be confined to the limited living territory of birds. My world is very small. My father's expectations and wishes, as a son, I want to satisfy my father and continue to fulfill his ambitions."

"Shigeka, your dream is to become Hokage. On the road to becoming Hokage, some obstacles are unnecessary and may even become stumbling blocks to hinder you."

"The things we are fighting for are stumbling blocks to you, but not to me."

Uchiha Fugaku patted Uchiha Shigeka on the shoulder and said softly: "Shigeka, as a friend, I want to advise you to think about it."

"Does this position mean anything to you? Don't forget, your goal has always been to become the Hokage!"

Uchiha Fugaku stopped talking here and passed by to meet another person who was mourning his father.

Uchiha Shigeka still maintained a sad expression, but his heart was calm and without any ripples.

——This talk...is intended to make him feel guilty and give up the competition voluntarily?

......

Chapter 177: Sarutobi Hiruzen: I Believe in Chonghua

After everyone who had a close relationship with Uchiha Zhaoping paid their respects.

Uchiha Hezo raised his hand to signal, and the Uchiha member standing at the door nodded and opened the door.

The Uchiha people came in holding white chrysanthemums and began to mourn.

Uchiha Shigeka looked up and saw Uchiha Obito following an old lady.

Uchiha Obito noticed Uchiha Shigeka's gaze and waved his left hand slightly to greet him.

Uchiha Shigeka nodded at him, then looked away and looked at the others.

In addition to the Uchiha people, there are also representatives from the major clans of Konoha Village.

Some people from Konoha's high-ranking officials also came.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mito Kado En, and Utane Koharu have all arrived.

"Sandaime."

Uchiha Fugaku went to meet him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen placed the white chrysanthemum in front of Uchiha Zhaoping's coffin and sighed.

"My condolences, Fugaku. Your father was an excellent Konoha ninja. He died for Konoha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Uchiha Fugaku on the shoulder.

"It is because of people like your father who risked their lives to protect the village that Konoha was able to repel foreign enemies and safeguard the hard-earned peace."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said with emotion: "Where the wood dances, the fire will also continue. Your father burned himself to protect you, and this is not in vain."

"Fugaku, you must follow your father's example. I look forward to you becoming a Konoha ninja as good as your father and caring for the village!"

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and clenched his fists.

"Yes, I will keep the words of the Sandaime in mind." Uchiha Fugaku said in a low voice: "The Uchiha are part of Konoha, and protecting Konoha is what the Uchiha clan should do."

"I will inherit my father's legacy and lead the Uchiha to continue protecting Konoha!"

Uchiha Fugaku said humbly: "I am still young and don't understand many things. In the future, I still need the Sandaime to teach me more."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked deeply at Uchiha Fugaku.

Young people never admit defeat.

How could Uchiha Fugaku still be capable of leading the Uchiha clan?

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Uchiha Shigeka who was having a lively conversation with representatives of other clans.

Then look at the deserted Uchiha Fugaku and the extremists.

The clan representatives came only to present white chrysanthemums and exchange a few polite words, but it was Chonghua who was really going to heat up the situation.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was satisfied. The situation was obvious, wasn't it?

"As long as you don't mind the old man being so long-winded."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked embarrassed and said, "Let's stop here. It would be bad if we delay everyone's time to pay respects."

"I don't have much time..."

Uchiha Fugaku quickly said: "I'll see the Sandaime off."

"No need." Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped him and said, "You are the master. How can we do this without the master?"

"Don't bother, just let Chonghua take me there."

Uchiha Fugaku withdrew his raised hand and ordered his servants to inform Uchiha Shigeka.

"Excuse me, Sandaime."

"Your father's funeral is more important."

Uchiha Fugaku watched the Third Hokage and Uchiha Shigeka leave, and he glanced at the clan representatives.

After Uchiha Shigeka left, they turned to talk to Uchiha Tadao and Uchiha Muneyuki.

"Humph."

Uchiha Fugaku snorted coldly.

Two advisors, Mitomon En and Utane Koharu, were met.

Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu looked at each other and were even more displeased with Uchiha Fugaku.

Although I didn't have a good impression before.

——He was so humble to Hiruzen, but he put on a sour face when facing the two of them.

The two advisors had no intention of talking to Uchiha Fugaku. They simply handed over the white chrysanthemum and turned away.

Uchiha Fugaku was left with his mouth closed in embarrassment, with anger flashing in his eyes.

......

"Chonghua, are you nervous?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Uchiha Shigeka with a faint smile.

Uchiha Shigeka shook his head and smiled confidently, "I'm not nervous at all."

"Master, we have done what we should do. With the support I have now, if you can help me, I will be able to help you!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and said, "It's good to have a certain amount of self-confidence, but you still have to be cautious and not blindly believe too much. Before it is confirmed that you will become the clan leader, any accidents may happen."

What he said to Uchiha Fugaku made Sarutobi Hiruzen even more convinced.

"It's impossible for nothing to happen unexpectedly. Your opponents will not give up. They will definitely make things difficult for you and prevent you from becoming the clan leader."

After seeing Mitomon En and Utatane Koharu coming out, Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Uchiha Shigeka's arm and encouraged him: "Go, Shigeka, that's all I have to say, you have to be careful."

"there is always a solution to a problem."

Uchiha Shigeka patted his chest, feeling confident.

"Master, just wait for my good news!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Uchiha Shigeka leave. On the way, Uchiha Shigeka bowed to Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu.

The two nodded calmly in response.

"Huruzen, is it really okay to let Uchiha Shigeka become the clan leader?"

Mitomon En said worriedly: "Danzo has said more than once that Uchiha Shigeka is hypocritical and treacherous. His outward behavior is all acting..."

"You believe it?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him.

"No, I didn't believe Danzo's words. His views on the Uchiha are more extreme than you and I. His level of suspicion and trust is not high."

“But you can’t disbelieve it.”

Mitomon En saw Sarutobi Hiruzen's doubtful look and said, "Huruzen, you have to be careful. You can't believe Danzo's suspicion, but you can't trust Uchiha Shigeka completely either."

"Is he an Uchiha, or an Uchiha who has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

"You know more about the Mangekyō Sharingan than I do."

Utatane Koharu answered from the side, "Teacher once said that once a member of the Uchiha clan awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan, their temperament and emotions will undergo a great change."

"Just like Uchiha Madara."

Mitomon En said: "Based on the teacher's research, this change is mostly negative."

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't comment. He mentioned a name: "There are exceptions, right? For example, Uchiha Jiri."

"With the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, she stopped the Uchiha from killing each other, didn't she? That's a positive influence."

"Now that things have come to this, it seems that the Uchiha clan would have been better off destroying themselves in the first place. How can this be called a positive move?"

"Xiaochun, you!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened, his face solemn: "Koharu, I will pretend that I didn't hear what you just said. Put away your thoughts. I have told you many times that the Uchiha clan is a member of Konoha, and you must put aside your prejudice and look at them!"

"Huruzen, we can do this, but what do the Uchiha think of us?"

Mizuto Menyan held up his glasses as a ray of light flashed by.

"Want me to tell you what most people in the Uchiha clan think of the Hokage?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen responded sharply.

"I believe in Shigeka. He will change the Uchiha clan and then change the views you mentioned."

......

Chapter 178: Who has the final say in Uchiha!

After the funeral, Uchiha Zhaoping's coffin was buried in the Uchiha clan's cemetery.

It was getting dark, and everyone did not disperse, but walked together towards the outside of Konoha Village.

Outside the village is the ancestral land of their Uchiha clan.

Uchiha Shigeka crossed a river and looked back.