As the leader of the Uchiha , Fugaku didn't have many personal hobbies.

  First and foremost, he wasn't particurly ied in power. What he cared about was gaining honor. His decision to take on the role of leader urely driven by personal i.

  After all, the position represented not power but prestige.

  Even if the Uchiha leader wao build ara bathroom in the pound, he'd have to vene a meeting for a vote.

  Moreover, the leader bore the primary responsibility. If there was anything wrong with the new bathroom, he'd be the oo take the bme.

  When Fugaku inally ran for leader, it urely because he wao do something for the family while basking in the admiration of his members. At that time, the was in a bad spot, and the previous leader's decisions had left him speechless.

  But after taking on the role, he realized that being the Uchiha leader was a thankless job.

  He regretted it long ago.

  Unfortunately, the sly younger members of the had a knack for blog his escape. Every time he hi stepping down, a rge crowd would jump out and procim, "The Uchiha ot do without Fugaku-sama as our leader!"

  And they say it with such ear faces too. What a bunch of brats!

  But they weren't the worst. The worst was the one who directly stripped him of his greatest joy in life.

  If my handwriting is ugly, just tell me directly! Why did you have to gossip about it publicly?

  And why are you so afraid of me pig up the calligraphy brush again? You've barely been back a few days, and now everyone ireets of Konoha knows: The Uchiha leader is ued but loves to py!

  Today, Fugaku felt the time was right. That troublemaker had been diligently training and attending csses for jonin didates for several days now—quite sistently, too. After careful observation, Fugaku was certain that the troublemaker wouldn't suddenly barge into his house.

  Even Mikoto was out, taking Sasuke to meet with her friends. No witnesses, no interruptions.

  He decided to secretly write something. His hands had been itg fes.

  The only uain variable left was his eldest son, who had decided to give himself an unauthorized day off.

  Sorry, Itachi, but some sacrifices must be made for art. "Itachi, your training schedule has been g tely. I expect better from my heir."

  After sending a bewildered Itachi out of the house with a sterure, he walked briskly into his study.

  Onside, Fugaku looked tenderly at the slightly dusty desk. He fetched a basin of water and gave it a good ing, watg the wood grain emerge under his careful attention.

  Therieved his treasured writing tools.

  Uo hold back, he sighed deeply.

  "I'm sorry to keep you waiting for so long!"

  Setting up his brush, inkstone, paper, and inkstick, Fugaku felt as though even his Sharingan was stirring with excitement. The familiar st of ink brought back memories of peaceful afternoons spent in quiet creation.

  He slowly reached for the brush, taking a deep breath of the air around him.

  Ah, the rich smell of ink!

  Yes! This is the st!

  "Eh? Fugaku-sama, practig calligraphy today?"

  The hand that was just about to write froze.

  A drop of ink fell onto the paper, spreading rapidly across the surface, f an unsightly blotch.

  He silently stared at the growing stain.

  Indeed, one could gaze into the abyss, but the huma remained unfathomable.

  "What are you doing here? Why didn't you knock?"

  "I did knock, Fugaku-sama. No one answered, but I sensed your chakra here," Masashi said, his eyes filled with fusion as he stared at the motionless leader. "What's wrong? Why don't you write? The ink's already dripping onto the paper…"

  "Write what?" Fugaku calmly set the brush down. "I don't practice calligraphy anymore. I was just cheg if the paper is still usable—it would be a waste otherwise."

  Seeing Masashi's expression of "Oh, so that's the trick," Fugaku suddenly felt an overwhelming it his hand. Keep calm. Must maintain dignity.

  Using Susanoo ihe house—is that overkill? Maybe I should hold back. Rebuilding the house would require a meeting again for stru approval.

  "Why are you here all of a sudden? Is there something you need?" Fugaku asked, his tone carefully trolled.

  He was an elder; he o maintain posure. Even if certain youested that posure daily.

  "Oh, it's like this," Masashi began, only faku to cut him off with a gesture to take the versation outside.

  He had no choice but to follow the leader out of the study.

  "Masashi, let me ask you something."

  "Of course, Fugaku-sama."

  "After your return, there have been some unpleasant rumors spreading in the vilge again. Do you know anything about this?"

  "Huh? What kind of rumors?"

  "Things about the Uchiha leader. Personally, I don't mind, but sudden rumors like these are damaging to the 's reputation…" And my personal dignity.

  Oh dear, the rumors have spread to the vilge already? Sigh... Konoha residents really are gossip enthusiasts... Masashi was moved. He was just about to offer some f words wheiced Fugaku staring at him with a meaningful expression.

  Wait a sed! He's suspeg me?

  "Fugaku-sama, you know me!" Masashi excimed indignantly. "I despise rumors the most. I'll thhly iigate this, and when I find the culprit, I'll leave their punishment to you!"

  "Fet it…" Fugaku sighed, retrag his gaze. "People will always talk. Why betting angry?" Though a small Susanoo punch might be therapeutic.

  In truth, he was furious. Not about the rumors, but because…

  This brat has grown so shameless—why wouldn't he run for leader?

  Does he think I'm unwilling to step aside for the younger geion!?

  Don't you realize how much the younger members of the idolize you? Hurry up and tell me you want to be leader already!

  "You're truly admirable, Fugaku-sama." Masashi gave a thumbs up. "You're the only leader I respe our ! Just say the word, and I'll take down whoever you point to!"

  Take yourself down? That works too. Fugaku smirked inwardly.

  "Spit it out already."

  "Well, Fugaku-sama, I just heard about something…"

  "Is it about the position of Hokage's advisor? I won't pete for it. Didn't you often say to wait for the right opportunity? I don't think the timing is right now—there's no hope of winning." Fugaku waved it off.

  He genuinely wasn't ied.

  In fact, he was quite tent with the current state of things.

  Minato's leadership as Hokage was increasingly to his liking. The Uchiha 's reputation in Konoha was steadily improving, aions with the Hokage's office were much more amicable.

  Even the ow had members willing to speak up for the Uchiha.

  The 's tributions to the vilge had not gone unnoticed. This brought him great satisfa.

  "No, Fugaku-sama, you misuood," Masashi corrected him.

  "Oh?" Fugaku uzzled. This wasn't the kind of response he expected from Masashi, who had always been aiming for the Hokage advisor position.

  "It's precisely because the ces are slim that we o run for it."

  "Ridiculous." Fugaku frowned. "Stay away from underhanded schemes." We've worked too hard for this peace.

  "This is a great opportunity," Masashi persisted, ign Fugaku's subtle warning. "Earlier today, Shikaku told me that some people hope our won't participate."

  "Shikaku…" Fugaku's demeanrew serious. He couldn't ighat name "Did he say that ht?"

  "Yes, and he made sure to distahe Nara from it. I preteo be very upset."

  "I see. This matter will be discussed at the meeting," Fugaku decided. "If the requires it, I'll participate." And perhaps betweeings, I still find time for calligraphy.

  ---

  After leaving Fugaku's house, Masashi left in high spirits.

  The ever-posed and stoi leader was finally ready to step forward and take a. Talks about a cil vote?

  Froup like the Uchiha, who hadn't had a seat in the deaking process for decades, just showiraint and not overreag would already be a dispy of tact.

  This position—Hokage Advisor—was another of Tobirama's creations.

  With the explosive bination of the Senju and Uchiha at Konoha's iion, followed by the addition of other powerful ninja s, the structure of the vilge was ily plex. From the very beginning, Konoha had been posed of various fas with hidden tensions lurking underh.

  These tensions were only cealed by the sheer strength and authority of Hashirama and Madara.

  As the de fainistrator of the vilge, Tobirama grew increasingly uneasy over time, feeling as though he was sitting atop a p. He wasn't worried about his own geion but about the .

  Thus, the position of Hokage Advisor was born.

  From its iion, the role of Hokage Advisor was designed as someone who would "assist the Hokage in exerg authority." This implicitly included the responsibility of ensuring that the vilge did not bee a dictatorship uhe Hokage's sole rule.

  The Hokage and the Advisor, ag as primary and sedary leaders, were meant to jointly govern Konoha. The position was also created to prevent the various i groups within the vilge from tearing themselves apart over the Hokage's seat, potentially causing the vilge to colpse from within.

  Such flicts were not unong ninja.

  To ehat the Hokage Advisor had suffit authority and standing to mediate dissatisfa with the Hokage, the position was also subject to eles. The process mirrored that of eleg the Hokage, with votes cast by the jonin corps and final approval by the daimyō.

  Additionally, the Hokage could not directly dismiss the Advisor. Instead, they could only nominate a new didate, prompting a re-ele in which the incumbent Advisor could still participate.

  Danzō, for example, only stepped down because Hiruzen, the leader of his fa, pressured him to do so.

  The news of Fugaku running for Hokage Advisor spread through the Uchiha like wildfire that very same day.

  The entire was in uproar. Many people couldn't believe it.

  As a result, when a meeting was called that evening, not a single member was te. Everyone arrived early at the main hall, the usual Uchiha posure crag uhe weight of anticipation.

  This meeting was extraordinarily formal, held in the rgest hall in the pound, with attendees seated in strict order.

  The head and the elders sat oage, following tradition.

  The front row was reserved for the 's jonin, followed by in and genin in desding order of rank.

  Hundreds of Uchiha filled the hall, with many standing due to a ck of seating. Even those without Sharingan—those not actively serving as ninja—attended or waited anxiously for news at home.

  These civilians were just as aware of the Uchiha's precarious standing in Konoha and the ret ges within their .

  The shift from a tense and lifeless enviroo one filled with ughter and hope was something no one wao lose.

  Yet beh this positivity was ay: as long as the Uchiha had no representation in the Hokage's administration, their current stability could disappear in an instant.

  This was why the Uchiha's obsession with the Hokage position persisted. The oppressive atmosphere that had once driven a wedge between the d the vilge was still fresh in everyone's memory.

  Even the expansion of the Police Force was only accepted because most of the had e to embrace Masashi's philosophy: "You have to give something to gain something."

  If Fugaku could successfully campaign and win the role of Hokage Advisor, it would finally give the the peaind they desperately needed.

  They would no longer be the vilge's "outsiders."

  Thunk... thunk...

  The sound of footsteps echoed from the entrance.

  Everyone—whether kneeling oami or standing—turheir gaze toward the door.

  Fugaku and the elders appeared in the doorway, their presenanding immediate respect.

  The kneeling atteood and parted to create a path.

  As a senior jonin, Masashi sat in the front row. He rose with the others, watg as Fugaku and the elders walked through the crowd and asded the stage.

  The elders walked slowly, carefully the expressions of ea member as they passed. Both sides maintained a solemn demeanor.

  When Fugaku passed by Masashi and Shisui, he briefly smiled at them before stepping onto the stage and kneeling in his designated spot.

  The st elder, Setsuna, paused to pat both Shisui and Masashi on the shoulder, saying, "Well done," before taking his seat.

  With the elders settled, the rest of the attendees followed suit, sitting down one by one.

  "Let's begin," Fugaku announced, his gaze sweeping over the hall filled with passionate eyes. He nodded slightly. "As you all know, we are here to discuss whether our should participate in the ele for Hokage Advisor, and, if so, who our didate should be. That is the sole agenda for today."

  "Speak freely," Setsuna added. "This matter is of immense importao the . Let's put aside rank distins for now."

  As soon as he finished speaking, discussioed across the hall.

  "Shisui," a in called out from two rows back. "You're close to the Fourth, right? What's his stan all this?"

  Before Shisui could answer, another voice cut in. "The Fourth's not the only one who ominate. What about the Advisory Elders?"

  "The elders?" A bitter ugh came from somewhere in the crowd. "I heard they 't even agree on lunch orders these days. Last week, their argument about mission assigs was so loud, the ANBU thought someone was being attacked."

  "Then the Hokage Advisor is our best shot," someone else added. "Has anyone spoken with—"

  "Masashi." A firm voice cut through the chatter. It was Inoka. His eyes were fixed on Masashi with an iy that drew others' attention. "You're in and out of the Hokage's office more than most of us. What's the real situation with the jonin corps?"

  Here we go. Masashi met Inoka's gaze. "You want the horuth?"

  "No, I want you to lie to make us feel better," Inoka said dryly. Several others chuckled, the tension easing slightly.

  "The Sarutobi 's already positioning themselves against us," Masashi began. "They've been—"

  "Of course they are," Yatsushiro interrupted from Masashi's left. "They've always—"

  "Let him finish," Tetsuka snapped. "Some of us actually want to hear the analysis."

  Masashi tinued, "The Sarutobi have the Ino-Shika-Chō alliance bag them. Usually."

  "Then we're doomed to lose!" an ed jonin interrupted, his Sharingan briefly fshing to life. "This kind of ba deal is despicable!"

  "Let me finish," Masashi sighed. "I said they usually side with the Sarutobi, but not always."

  "What does that mean?" Inoka asked.

  "It means," a new voice joined in—it was Yaku, "that the alliance isn't as solid as everyohinks. Right, Masashi?"

  Sharp as ever, Yaku. Masashi nodded. "Earlier today, Shikaku suggested our should abstain from running."

  "What?" Several voices excimed at once. Sharingan fred across the room in fshes of red.

  "Shikaku? He's the jonin ander!" someone excimed, visibly shocked. "Does that meaill have no allies in the corps?"

  "That snake," another one hissed. "First they shut us out, now they want us to—"

  "Think," Masashi cut in sharply. "Why would the jonin ander, who could easily pressure us through official els, make a mere suggestion?"

  "If Shikaku truly didn't want us to run, he would have approached the Akimichi to persuade Fugaku-sama directly"

  A moment of silence fell as people sidered this. Yaku's eyes widened slightly. "He wants the Fourth to nominate Fugaku-sama."

  "Exactly." Masashi watched uanding dawn on some faces. "If the Fourth nominates us..."

  "The civilian jonin bloc," Inoka breathed. "They'd support the Fourth's choice."

  "And if the Fourth doesn't nominate us?" Another voice joined in, tension evident ione.

  "He will. Fugaku-sama is the only pusible didate among the s for the Fourth Hokage to nominate," Masashi said fidently.

  "And who will Shikaku vote for?" Tetsuka asked, scratg his head.

  "Isn't it obvious?" Masashi said. "You're fetting that the Third Hokage also make nominations. He'll never nominate someone from the Sarutobi . His pick will be Shikaku himself."

  It's going to be a bit more political, but I did warn you about that at the beginning.