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Akio walked slowly through the streets of Konoha, his mind filled with countless thoughts.
From Uchiha Izma, Akio had learned about the events of the past month.
In Konoha, everyone only knew that a month ago, Akio and Tobirama had been ambushed by elite shinobi from the Hidden Cloud Village. A fierce battle ensued, and in the end, only the former Raikage's aideânow the current Third Raikage, Aâmanaged to escape with serious injuries, later announcing that the Hidden Cloud would close itself off for recuperation.
With both Akio and Tobirama missing, the Hidden Sand Village launched an aggressive offensive, plunging Konoha into unrest. At a critical moment, Mito stepped forward, forcefully deterring the surrounding shinobi villages and stabilizing the situation.
The First Great Ninja War had only just begun, yet the fighting mysteriously came to a halt. Except for the Stone and Mist villages, the others had oddly quieted down.
"Probably because they heard about Mito's strength⊠Looks like the era of Tailed Beast wars is approachingâŠ"
However, with no external threats, internal conflict in Konoha began to surface. With Akio and Tobirama missing for a whole month, the selection of the Third Hokage was brought to the forefront.
"Konoha's new event: 'Everyone Competes for Hokage' has officially begun..." Akio muttered.
The current frontrunner for Hokage was Uzumaki Genkai, followed by a few of Tobirama's students. Besides them, the Inuzuka and Hyƫga clans were also making moves.
"Konoha doesn't need a Third Hokage right now since Tobirama isn't dead... but it seems we do need an acting Hokage."
Akio felt a headache coming on. If Tobirama needed a long time to recoverânearly a yearâthen without someone to take charge, serious problems could arise.
Take the Sand Village, for example. After Mito crushed them, no one from Konoha even went to collect "protection fees." That was a misstep.
"And the Hidden Cloud⊠If they don't give Konoha an explanation after all this, it's not going to sit well." Akio frowned, conveniently forgetting that he had instigated the conflict in the first place.
"Who should serve as acting Hokage?"
His first thought was Sarutobi Hiruzen. Becoming acting Hokage would likely lead to him becoming the official Third Hokage one day. Tobirama, after all, was nearly fiftyâwithin ten years, he might retire. But it was still only Year 13 of Konoha, and Hiruzen was just 22âstill too young, and not yet an S-rank ninja.
"GenkaiâŠ" Akio sighed. In truth, he didn't want someone from the Uzumaki clan to become Hokage. There were simply too many of them. If the clan leader became Hokage, Konoha might change beyond recognition. Perhaps it was just a sentimental bias in his heart.
"None of Tobirama's other students are suitable either. As for the HyĆ«ga and Inuzuka clansâŠ" Akio shook his headâthey didn't seem reliable.
"So in the end⊠it still has to be Hiruzen?" Akio ran through all the possibilities, but reached no conclusion.
"What am I even thinking?" Akio shook his head. "There's someone in Konoha whose prestige is higher than mine right now."
After a few turns, Akio arrived at a house he hadn't visited in a long timeâthe home of Hashirama.
Ever since the battle at the Valley of the End, it had always been Hashirama coming to see him. Akio rarely visited, and when he did, it was usually just to check on Mito.
Just as he was about to knock, the door opened. A familiar face greeted him with a smile.
"Granduncle, you're backâŠ"
Akio stepped inside, letting out a sigh. "Looks like you've really mastered control over the Nine-Tails. I bet you sensed me the moment I entered the village."
Mito nodded. Akio asked curiously, "Aren't you in a hurry to ask about Tobirama?"
"With your strength, if you were gone this long, it had to be because of Tobirama. He's probably recovering somewhere by now, no longer in danger."
Akio gave a wry smile. "Being that smart is going to make you unpopular."
"No amount of intelligence helps me understand your strange comments. You've been like that since I was little."
Akio's expression stiffened. In front of Mito, he always felt like she could see right through him, so he quickly changed the subject.
"Tobirama still needs a long time to recover, so Konoha needs an acting Hokage. Do you think Hiruzen is suitable?"
Mito shook her head. "Little Monkey is still too youngâŠ"
Akio's mouth twitched. Little Monkey, seriouslyâŠ
"By the way, I noticed no one from the Senju clan is competing for Hokage this time. Kenji's strength and seniority should be enough. Was that your decision?"
Mito nodded. "The Senju have already held the position for two generations. Competing for a third would be inappropriate."
Akio understood. Konoha belonged to everyone. Because of Hashirama, the Senju had been in power for two generations. If a third Hokage came from the same clan, people would grow resentful, no matter how fair it seemed.
"What about the Uzumaki clan then? Why didn't you and my grandnephew stop this? You can't possibly not realize that if Genkai becomes Hokage, it would go against Hashirama's original vision. Konoha would become a village ruled by the Uzumaki."
At that, Mito's expression darkened. Akio felt a chill in his chest.
"My father returned to the Uzumaki homeland... and as for me, it's not that I didn't want to stop itâI couldn't."
"Granduncle, war brings pain and loss. In this war, aside from your two disciples, eight other Uzumaki clan members joined the battle. One of them died."
"Who was it?" Akio asked urgently, a bad feeling rising within him.
"A young man named Uzumaki Ashina."
The familiar yet distant name stunned Akio. He couldn't remember where he had heard it before.
"Judging by your face, you don't remember who he was⊠He was your disciple. Izuko's husband."
Akio stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.
"Izuko's⊠husband?"
"So now, with Genkai competing for Hokage, everyone thinks it's Nanako leading the charge, but in truth, it's Izuko who pushed for it. And IâŠ"
Akio barely heard what Mito said next. He was overcome with an overwhelming sense of guilt.
"I got him killedâŠ" he muttered, filled with remorse.
Though Akio had stirred up quite a storm recently, making a simple matter far more chaotic, he had ultimately achieved his goalâTobirama had been successfully rescued. Akio had felt a bit smug⊠until now.
Hearing this news made him realize that every move he made could have wide-reaching consequences. At the very least, the war between Konoha and the Sand Village had already deviated completely from the original history.
"He might not have had to dieâŠ" Akio murmured. He looked up at Mito. "Who did it?"
"It was an elder from the Sand Village. I've already killed him. If it weren't for that incident, I wouldn't have gone to the front lines myself. After allâŠ"
Akio nodded. He had already thought it strange that Mito would personally go to the battlefield, especially while pregnant. Konoha wasn't in such dire straits. Now it all made sense.
"I understand. I'll go see IzukoâŠ"
For once, the usually carefree Akio was filled with genuine guilt.
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