Chapter 237: The battle for Konoha's spokesperson

Ps: As expected, speeding isn't my track. Just to prove A-Gin isn't a eunuch, I wrote a bit too much in the previous chapter, and it was blocked for a whole night. I finally had to delete and modify hundreds of words and find the editor to get it unlocked. Woo-woo-woo, I won't do HS again next time~

The above word count is not charged.

"Mm~ is this the taste of peace?"

In the early morning, a ray of dazzling sunlight passed through the gap in the curtains and sprinkled directly onto a handsome face in deep sleep. With the noisy human voices outside the window, Uchiha Gin, who had just had a "gut-twisting" battle last night, woke up from a short, strange dream.

After reaching out to block the scorching sunlight in front of his eyes, he slowly sat up, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and couldn't help but sigh at this happy, salted-fish time.

"Thud!!!"

After standing up and rubbing his still-fluffy curly hair, Uchiha Gin hadn't even had time to do his morning exercises when the fragile door of his bedroom was forcibly broken open by a huge force. For a time, wood chips filled the sky, and smoke and dust rose.

"How many times have I told you, can't you be a bit gentler when knocking? Even if this door can self-repair, you shouldn't be so unappreciative!"

Without even needing to look, Uchiha Gin, who knew who the visitor was, had his eyes, which had just gained a bit of spirit, instantly turn into dead fish eyes. Looking at the short-haired girl walking in from the smoke, his fists were about to harden.

"What did you do last night?"

Ignoring Uchiha Gin's nagging, Senju Itama, with squinted eyes, looked up and down at the strong-bodied man in front of her. Without caring that the other party's upper body was bare, she focused on his face and neck, carefully searching for traces of a crime. Finding them as clean as new, she frowned her delicate little eyebrows and questioned him, unwilling to give up.

"Ha~ I went out for a night run yesterday."

Fortunately, his constitution was different from ordinary people; the traces of his "ups-and-downs" with Uzumaki Mito yesterday had already recovered as new. Uchiha Gin, feeling settled in his heart, crossed his arms and answered righteously.

"Then why did you come back in the middle of the night panting so loudly?"

Looking suspiciously at Uchiha Gin, who had a normal expression, she had "passed by" Uchiha Gin's room when she got up in the middle of the night and found it empty. Not long after, a curly-haired guy sneaked out of the darkness. Before she could pursue the questioning, the other party had already fallen asleep panting heavily.

"So it was you last night~ I told you I was night running; it's very normal to pant loudly!"

No wonder, when he teleported back last night, he sensed someone peeping nearby, but since there was no malice, he didn't care.

"No, why is there a smell of sea oysters on you?"

The young girl's sense of smell was terrifying.

"Can't I eat a late-night snack during a night run?"

Subconsciously smelling himself, besides the smell of male hormones, there was indeed a fresh and sweet smell of sea oysters. Fortunately, the Konoha commercial street had been holding a night market recently, where all kinds of snacks were available. He immediately gave a very reasonable explanation.

"Don't steal food outside in the future. Go down and eat."

Senju Itama raised an eyebrow, staring at Uchiha Gin, who had a righteous face, with an inexplicable look until the other party felt a bit hairy, then she turned around and issued a warning. However, the pretty face she turned away was now as cold as frost, and her snow-white teeth were grinding with a creaking sound. Obviously, she had still sensed some clues.

"Alrighty~"

Uchiha Gin, who thought he had deceived everyone, smiled very happily. He had finally reached the good days where he had food to eat as soon as he opened his eyes~

"Hiccup~ your craftsmanship is getting better and better, it's just that there's too little sugar in this porridge. Give me three more big spoonfuls~"

Three spoonfuls of sugar?

Uchiha Gin, having changed into home clothes, was wolfing down the breakfast carefully prepared by Senju Itama. After taking a sip of the eight-treasure porridge filled with sugar in his hand, he couldn't help but praise Senju Itama in front of him.

"You eat more sugar than I eat rice. The doctor said last time that high blood sugar will affect your vision. You're a dojutsu ninja, after all, so pay more attention to your health."

Senju Itama, resting her face on her hands, looked at Uchiha Gin, who was sweeping through the food, and a cute curve appeared on the corner of her mouth. Upon hearing the other party complain that there was too little sugar in the eight-treasure porridge, the young girl couldn't help but frown in worry. During their daily physical examination before, the doctor had instructed this hateful curly-haired guy to reduce sugar intake to avoid affecting his health.

"Uh... just add one small spoonful~"

Smacking his lips, Uchiha Gin held up a pinky finger, indicating to add just a little bit.

"No!"

Not wanting to be fooled by the other party's fake pitiful expression again, Senju Itama kept her original intention and held the sugar jar tightly.

"Hmph~"

Who are you looking down on? I, the dignified Otsutsuki of the Ninja World, could still lose to mere diabetes? Ridiculous!

"Knock, knock, knock~~"

Just as Uchiha Gin swallowed the last mouthful of eight-treasure porridge, a rhythmic knocking sound came from outside the door.

"Coming~"

Senju Itama responded, ran over to open the door very naturally, and after a while, a cold-faced black-haired man walked in behind her.

"Looking for you, I'm going to wash the pot~"

"Big cousin, what wind blew you here?"

Uchiha Gin, who was quite full, looked curiously at the cold, iceberg-like man in front of him. At this time, Uchiha Madara shouldn't be sticking to Senju Hashirama every day, the two inseparable?

"Cousin, there are some things I want to ask for your opinion."

As the saying goes, an elder brother is like a father. Since his father died unexpectedly, Uchiha Gin was the only elder in the family he could communicate with. Although this big cousin usually looked very unreliable, he really didn't know who else to find to discuss this matter.

"Did something happen in the clan?"

Uchiha Madara rarely came to visit. It must be that he had encountered some tricky matter. Uchiha Gin felt a tightness in his heart. Could it be that the "good deeds" he had done had been exposed, and his big cousin had come to hold him accountable?

"No, it's about Konoha."

Konoha? You, Uchiha Madara, still have Konoha in your heart? I always thought you only had wooden people in your heart.

"Let's hear it~"

This was quite curious. His big cousin, who usually only cared about his own family and never asked about worldly affairs, actually had questions about the village to ask him. It seemed Senju Hashirama's brainwashing skills were quite in place!

"Phew~ I want to be Hokage!"

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Madara seemed to have made up his mind. He raised his head, a fire of will burning in his cold pupils, and then said his thoughts word by word.

"Ha?"

Uchiha Gin, upon hearing this, was stunned at first, his old CPU failing to turn for a long time. Then he used his pinky to dig his ear, thinking he had misheard, and signaled for the other party to say it again.

"What kind of look is that? I said I want to be Hokage!"

From Uchiha Gin's confused look, Uchiha Madara keenly sensed a look that said "is this kid mentally retarded?" This instantly made his big cousin, who had finally mustered the courage to talk about his dream, feel suffocated, and he questioned him with slight annoyance.

"Did you take the wrong medicine?"

Hearing the other party repeat it again, he was sure he hadn't misheard. Uchiha Gin almost switched to Byakugan on the spot, then looked at Uchiha Madara, who had his eyebrows tightly furrowed, with concern and asked cautiously:

"Is it very ridiculous?"

Hokage is the spokesperson of this village. Hashirama is willing to push him to the stage, why can't he do it?

"Being Hokage isn't ridiculous, but coming out of your mouth, it makes people want to laugh a bit."

Looking at the original work, every kid in Konoha basically has a Hokage dream. Uchiha Gin thinks it's all quite normal, after all, they are red and upright. But you, the future greatest traitor of Konoha, actually want to be Hokage too, which is quite hard to handle.

"Hmph~ Hashirama has already designated me to be the spokesperson for Konoha, but I think it shouldn't be so rash. The selection of Hokage should be fair, open, and just."

Hearing the mockery in Uchiha Gin's tone, Uchiha Madara, whose self-confidence was swelling, immediately snorted coldly, his black pupils filled with arrogance, and told his big cousin that he had already been designated.

"No, no, no, I think you shouldn't be here right now, but on the roof, holding leaves and listening to how Senju Tobirama arranges you~"

Looking at the proud big cousin in front of him, Uchiha Gin finally reacted. Wasn't this the plot that happened in the original work?

It's just that in that timeline, Old Uncle died early, the little cousin died miserably, and Uchiha Madara, who had nowhere to rely on, could only go to Senju Hashirama to stick together when he had nothing to do. Just when he was about to push the window and enter to give the other party a surprise, he accidentally heard Senju Tobirama's heart-piercing words, and from then on, he let go of his obsession with Hokage and walked all the way to the dark.

"What kind of messy things are you saying? I'm serious."

Listening to Uchiha Gin's nonsense, Uchiha Madara was so angry that he couldn't get up. He had finally decided to share this secret with his big cousin, but he didn't expect to get ridicule in return, so he said indignantly.

"I'm also serious~"

Big cousin, fortunately, there's me, otherwise you'd really walk the old path and go all the way to the dark~

"Susanoo..."

"Stop! Do you want to destroy my house!"

Uchiha Gin, who had wanted to tease him a few more times, saw the four-armed phantom condensing behind Uchiha Madara and immediately shouted to stop him.

"Can we talk properly now?"

"You got it, little brother!"

After a farce, the two brothers moved to the reception hall. Senju Itama, wearing black and white home clothes, brought tea at the right time. Smelling the faint tea fragrance in his hand, Uchiha Gin took a small sip, and his eyes lit up.

"Big cousin, hurry and taste this. This is green tea I ordered at a high price from the Land of Tea. The annual output is less than a catty~"

Good things, naturally, should be shared with the younger brother.

"Phew... it's indeed not bad."

Uchiha Madara, who liked tea, also couldn't help but pick it up and taste it after hearing Uchiha Gin's introduction. His eyes also lit up. Just as he was savoring it, he suddenly saw his big cousin in front of him take out a large jar from the drawer.

"What are you doing!"

Still wondering what the other party was doing, he saw Uchiha Gin smiling and taking out a large piece of crystal-clear rock sugar from the jar, throwing it into the freshly brewed green tea without even looking. This kind of wasteful practice made his eyeballs almost pop out.

"Ah? Do you want to add sugar too? I find it quite bitter~"

If it weren't for showing off, why would he drink such bitter stuff? Next time, he'll just bring up the strawberry milk from the refrigerator; it's convenient and delicious.

"You..."

Uchiha Madara, whose heart ached to the point of trembling, had a look of wanting to say something but stopping.

"It's fine, you'll like it when you're older~"

After fully stirring the tea and rock sugar, Uchiha Gin drank it in one gulp and then revealed a satisfied expression, saying to Uchiha Madara:

"Hehe, absolutely impossible!"

I hope your mouth can be this hard when you're intubated~

"Talk about your Hokage dream~"

Uchiha Gin, having absorbed the sugar, felt much more energetic and then discussed the serious matter.

"Actually, I didn't want to be it at first, but Hashirama said let me do it first..."

Discussing the serious matter, Uchiha Madara immediately changed to another expression, answering with deep eyes.

"Do you think Hashirama's word counts?"

"Isn't it? Konoha was founded by both of us. Don't we even have this little privilege?"

Uchiha Madara tilted his head in confusion. This Konoha is half surnamed Senju and half surnamed Uchiha. The Hokage position shouldn't just be a matter of left hand to right hand.

"Big cousin, times have changed~"

Seeing Uchiha Madara still having the thinking of the old era, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but sigh and reminded him.

"Now it's about complying with public opinion, not the one-man show of the clan in the past. Even if Hashirama gives up the Hokage position, I guess you won't be able to get up there~"

"How is that possible!"

"First of all, you definitely won't pass the white-haired guy's level. If you want to be Hokage, he'll be the first to jump up and oppose it~"

Uchiha Gin held up a finger, shook it, and said.

"Hmph! I haven't even settled the old score with him yet. If he dares to oppose, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Speaking of Senju Tobirama, Uchiha Madara's mind was full of the tragic state of his father's death. This scene always appeared involuntarily when he was comprehending the stone tablet, allowing his hatred to grow slowly.

"Also, the Daimyo's side should have already set their sights on Hashirama alone. If it were changed to you, whether the One Country, One Village agreement could be retained is an unknown."

Holding up the second finger, Uchiha Gin's eyes flickered with light. The words he spoke gave Uchiha Madara's somewhat irritable heart a trace of coolness and also made him start to reflect on the chain reaction after becoming Hokage.

"The nobles can be talked to..."

Uchiha Madara lowered his head and thought for a while, then raised his head and answered. In his view, the Daimyo wouldn't really care who was Hokage; what they wanted was just the stability of the Land of Fire. Then what Senju Hashirama could do, he, Uchiha Madara, could also do!

"Alright, alright, then I'll talk about the third one, which is also the most important one."

Seeing that his big cousin still wouldn't give up, Uchiha Gin sighed in his heart. A good young man, how did he get obsessed with the Will of Fire? Isn't it good to be a clan leader at home? So he squinted his eyes, held up the third finger, and said:

"What is it?"

"Public opinion. Compared to prestige, you and Senju Hashirama are too far apart. In the minds of the Konoha ninja clans, it is Senju Hashirama who worked diligently to build Konoha, while you, Uchiha Madara, have never made any substantial contributions."

"Do I need to look at the faces of those ants to be Hokage?"

Uchiha Madara felt some anger in his heart. Uchiha Gin's words were like sharp knives, piercing his last line of defense.

"If you treat them as ants, then I advise you to give up the idea of being Hokage as soon as possible."

He knew Uchiha Madara's pride. In the entire Ninja World, the only one who could enter his eyes was Senju Hashirama. After chasing for many years, he finally had a chance to suppress the other party, so his big cousin definitely couldn't let it go.

"..."

Uchiha Madara was silent upon hearing this.

"Actually, you don't really want to be Hokage; you just want to win against Hashirama once~"

Uchiha Gin's words hit the nail on the head, making Uchiha Madara, who was already silent, become even more silent.

"Knock, knock, knock~"

Suddenly, another knock sounded at the door, breaking the solidified silence between the two brothers.

"Who is it~"

Senju Itama's voice sounded again, accompanied by a cheerful thumping sound, and Uchiha Gin's front door was opened once again.

"Uh... what are you doing here?"

After the door opened, there was a brief silence, and then Senju Itama's suspicious voice sounded. It was clear that the visitor must be a rare guest.

"Haha, sister... nothing, we heard Madara was here. May I ask if he is still here?"

A familiar voice sounded outside the door. The hearty laughter made Uchiha Madara, who was in front of him, raise an eyebrow.

"In the reception hall, go yourself."

Uh... so cold? Isn't he your big brother?

Oh~ it must be because the other party didn't recognize him, so he's sulking~

Only villains and women are hard to raise~

"Madara, I've been looking for you so hard!"

Just hearing a rush of footsteps, a hearty black-haired man rushed in, followed by a white-haired tail, who was looking at Uchiha Madara with an unhappy expression.

"Hashirama, what's the matter?"

Seeing Senju Hashirama arrive, Uchiha Madara finally regained some spirit. He glanced at Senju Tobirama, who was glaring at him, and asked.

"Actually..."

Seeing Uchiha Madara with a gloomy face, Senju Hashirama had a belly full of words, but no matter what, he couldn't open his mouth.

"Regret it?"

Through Uchiha Gin's previous pointing, Uchiha Madara, who had just woken up like a dream, probably guessed what Senju Hashirama couldn't say.

"Haha, I said it, Madara is very smart and can definitely handle it~"

Hearing Uchiha Madara's words, Senju Hashirama touched his head in embarrassment, turned to his younger brother, and said with a smile.

"Hmph~ still have some self-knowledge, knowing that your virtue doesn't match your position."

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm still here, how can you spray my child in front of the parent?"

Uchiha Gin, who had been holding a "watching the fun" attitude, became unhappy instantly upon hearing Senju Tobirama's words.

As expected, you are the sharp-tongued Senju diva~

"Uchiha Gin, this matter has nothing to do with you."

Senju Tobirama's gaze shifted slightly. After his scarlet eyes looked at the indignant Uchiha Gin, he said.

"How does it have nothing to do with me? If my big cousin becomes the spokesperson, wouldn't I, as the older brother, be able to bully the villagers~"

Uchiha Gin put his hands on his hips and retorted.

"Uh... big cousin, didn't you just say I couldn't be it?"

Uchiha Madara, with a strange expression, elbowed his cousin and asked in a low voice.

After hearing Uchiha Gin speak up for him, Uchiha Madara felt a warmth in his heart. He wasn't alone and could let this white-haired guy bully him.

"Hmph~ whether he can be it or not isn't up to this white-haired guy!"

Uchiha Gin, who couldn't bear to see his younger brother being wronged, waved his hand indignantly and said righteously.

"Brother Gin, don't be angry first. Tobirama has always been straightforward; don't take it to heart~"

Sensing that Uchiha Gin was a bit angry, Senju Hashirama immediately came out to smooth things over. He first glared at his younger brother and then said with a smile:

"I came this time just to tell Madara that although I can't directly appoint him as Hokage, he is still one of the Hokage candidates."

Hashirama is still the one who knows how to behave. Even if he knew that his big cousin probably had no chance with the Hokage position, he still gave him enough face.

"Candidate? Who else is there?"

Uchiha Gin raised an eyebrow. Could it be that there were other cats and dogs coveting the position of Konoha's spokesperson?

"Cough, cough, cough... each ninja clan sends one representative, and these representatives are all qualified to run for the Hokage position~"

The original candidates were only him and Uchiha Madara, but after Senju Tobirama's analysis, Senju Hashirama was shocked in his heart. If it were according to what his younger brother said, wouldn't he be 100% Hokage, letting Madara run for him?

This won't do. Must pull a few more cushions, and let Madara enjoy it too~

"Uh... so many people?"

Hearing Senju Hashirama's explanation, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but mutter in his heart. How was this different from what he had seen? Those people from the Ninja Clan Alliance could also run for spokesperson?

"That's natural. The selection of Hokage strives for fairness, openness, and justice."

Why does this sound a bit familiar? Don't tell me you two don't have a thing; you're already of one mind!

"Hashirama, so you thought so too!"

Uchiha Madara, who was on the side, upon hearing the same philosophy as his own, instantly had his eyes turn red with excitement. Looking at the resolute Senju Hashirama, he shouted loudly.

"Ah?"

"Me too!"

The two, who cherished each other, instantly had tears in their eyes. With their arms spread, they hugged each other.

"Then, what are your standards for running for Hokage?"

Speechless, looking at the two hugging and crying, Uchiha Gin had no choice but to put down the mustard in his heart and ask the white-haired guy beside him.

"... Standards? Nothing more than strength and wisdom."

Senju Tobirama, who was examining the display cabinet in the reception hall, only came back to his senses after hearing the voice in his ear. Turning to look at the confused Uchiha Gin, he also answered somewhat uncertainly.

After all, letting all ninja clan representatives participate in the Hokage election was also something his big brother proposed. The time was a bit rushed, and he hadn't had time to make a plan, but it should be like an ordinary competition, just some comprehensive assessment items.

"It's an official event, after all, can you guys be more attentive?"

Not expecting Senju Tobirama to be so ambiguous, Uchiha Gin, as a melon-eating crowd, was a bit unhappy and immediately criticized him.

"What are you in such a hurry for? You can't participate anyway. By the way, what are these strange dolls?"

Hearing Uchiha Gin's groundless accusation, Senju Tobirama rolled his eyes in anger. After complaining, he pointed his finger at the several dolls lined up in the display cabinet and asked in confusion.

"Tsk! You white-haired guy, do you know whose territory this is? How dare you raise your voice at me?"

If the tiger doesn't show its power, you treat me as Hello Kitty? Believe it or not, with one order, I'll call your sister to beat you up?

Senju Tobirama sneered at Uchiha Gin's threat. Just as he was about to ignore him, he suddenly sensed that he was being tightly locked by a gaze. In surprise, he looked in the direction of the gaze.

He found Senju Itama, who was warming up behind the indignant Uchiha Gin. The threatening look in her eyes made him sweat instantly. Weighing the pros and cons, he had no choice but to apologize in a low voice:

"Uh... sorry, I admit my voice was a bit loud just now."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 238 =====