Chapter 580: The Old Era Shall Eventually Come to an End

At the dead of night, a faint candlelight flickered within a secret chamber in the Sarutobi clan grounds, where several weary-looking figures sat in a circle, whispering and speculating as to why a Ninja Clan Alliance meeting had been called in the middle of the night.

Sarutobi Sasuke, sitting in the center, had two large dark circles under his eyes, and it was clear his mental state was not very good.

His dull, gray pupils were filled with dense red bloodshot veins; he raised his head to look around the circle, and only after confirming that all members of the Ninja Clan Alliance had arrived did he speak slowly.

"Everyone, be quiet. What I am about to say will determine the future of our Ninja Clan Alliance."

"Sasuke, who is it this time? Forget it, whoever it is, I am absolutely not getting involved. The Shimura family really has no money left."

No sooner had Sarutobi Sasuke finished speaking than Shimura Kenichi, his face looking exceptionally dark, stood up to leave.

At the last meeting, he had paid out twenty billion, only to end up with nothing to show for it; he would not be fooled again this time.

All that talk about connections and backdoors was all complete BS!

"Kenichi, don't be in such a hurry. The source of this information is very reliable. It won't be too late to leave after you hear me out."

Raising a hand to stop Shimura Kenichi from leaving, Sarutobi Sasuke recounted the ins and outs of Uchiha Gin's visit in detail.

Upon hearing that Uchiha Gin was also involved, everyone present revealed very complex expressions; if the news came from the mouth of the Curly-Haired One, its credibility was significantly higher.

"Is it true? Is the Uchiha clan really willing to give up the position of Hokage?"

Yamanaka Minako frowned slightly.

A fire sale on the Hokage position?

This wouldn't be another one of those telemarketing scams targeting the elderly's pensions, would it?

"If anyone else had told me this, I would have beaten them out with a stick immediately, but the person who came was Gin-san. I believe he wouldn't lie to me."

That he was able to hold his grandson today was entirely thanks to Uchiha Gin's righteous intervention back then, which cured Hiruzen, who had been diagnosed by physicians as a eunuch; the deep friendship between the two was established from that time.

Since then, Uchiha Gin had been regarded by Sarutobi Sasuke as an honored guest, and no matter when he visited, he was received with the highest protocol.

"Then..."

No matter what the matter was, as long as it involved Uchiha Gin, it inevitably had to be linked to money. The members of the Ninja Clan Alliance, long accustomed to this operation, asked curiously,

"How much is it this time?"

This is what you call a reputation!

"One hundred billion."

Time was tight, and Sarutobi Sasuke did not beat around the bush.

"Hiss—"

Everyone gasped upon hearing this; one hundred billion was no small sum, and their Ninja Clan Alliance was not some great, wealthy family. Being able to scrape together ten billion in funds to pull strings before had already been their limit.

"Isn't this too expensive?!"

"Do you think the position of Hokage isn't worth one hundred billion?"

"But..."

Squinting at the member of the Ninja Clan Alliance who had raised the objection, Sarutobi Sasuke's bloodshot eyes gradually overflowed with the madness unique to a gambler.

Let's go all in, don't worry about too much!

"I'll ask you all one thing now: are you in or not!"

"Huh?"

Everyone was shocked; Sarutobi Sasuke was known for his caution in the past, so why was he so impulsive this time?

"Family, there is only one chance. If we can't scrape together one hundred billion before dawn, once the noble representatives enter the village for the meeting, the matter of Uchiha Izuna's succession will be beyond saving."

Is one hundred billion a lot?

If you say it's a lot, it could buy several cities; if converted into paper money and stacked up, it could build several houses.

But if you use it to trade for the position of Hokage, it would truly be a bargain; calling it a cabbage-price deal would not be an exaggeration.

"I'm in!"

The first to raise his hand was actually the pineapple-head of the Nara clan. As the person with the highest IQ and the longest-term vision among those present, he knew he could not let this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity slip by.

Even if they were truly being scammed, at most they would only lose some money, but once the deal succeeded, what awaited their Ninja Clan Alliance would be a class leap rarely seen in a century.

Whether the Ninja Clan Alliance, composed of second-rate families, could develop into a great clan like the Senju or Uchiha depended on the outcome of this high-stakes gamble.

"Our Nara clan is willing to sponsor ten billion!"

With frequent wars in foreign lands over the past few years, the Nara clan, holding medicinal resources, had made a fortune; even after following the trend and dumping several billion on Senju Himei, they still had reserves.

"Very good! Once my son succeeds to the position, the post of Jonin Commander will belong to the Nara."

Seeing someone respond so quickly, Sarutobi Sasuke's expression softened a bit, and he immediately chose to return the favor to the supportive Nara representative.

"Our Yamanaka clan is also willing to sponsor eight billion."

"The Akimichi clan sponsors..."

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio had always been a community of shared destiny; since the Nara representative, who acted as the brains, had already made a choice, the other two clans naturally gritted their teeth and followed suit.

"The Mitokado clan also..."

"The Utatane clan..."

"The Inuzuka clan..."

"..."

"Very good. Once this is accomplished, our Sarutobi clan will never treat you all poorly."

In the blink of an eye, more than half of the target funds had been reached. Sarutobi Sasuke felt a warmth in his heart, his eyes filled with tears as he looked at everyone.

Shimura Kenichi hung his head, his mind replaying the bits and pieces of his life with Sarutobi Sasuke from childhood to adulthood like a carousel. After several seconds of internal struggle, his deep friendship ultimately triumphed over his already low intelligence.

"Sasuke! I'll trust you one more time. The Shimura clan sponsors thirty billion!"

"Kenichi, you..."

Sarutobi Sasuke's tears instantly welled up and spilled over.

"This money is what I've saved up from raising pigs these past few years; don't let yourself be scammed by others again."

Shimura Kenichi felt a mix of emotions; this move had wiped out his own coffin money.

If he lost everything, he might really have to give up his favorite pork and switch to thin porridge and salted vegetables.

"I, Sarutobi Sasuke, swear here that I will never let everyone's expectations down."

Soon, the funds promised by each clan arrived. Looking at the mountain of storage scrolls piled up before him, Sarutobi Sasuke wiped away the tears of emotion from the corners of his eyes and promised with a burning gaze.

Uchiha Izuna's residence,

Izuna, who had gotten dead drunk at the family gathering, was already unconscious. As his wife, Mieko, could only helplessly help him tidy up and send him to bed to rest.

"Mieko, I finally have time to take you to plant lemons..."

In a half-dreaming, half-waking state, Uchiha Izuna suddenly grabbed his wife's small hand, murmuring in his sleep.

"Honestly, you're at this age and still so worrying."

Stroking her husband's slightly weathered, handsome face, the corners of Mieko's eyes were full of doting affection; she loved this clumsy man more than anything.

"Mother, I shall take my leave now."

Unable to stand his parents' public display of affection, Uchiha Fuya immediately turned to run away, fleeing the room that made him feel uncomfortable.

"Fuya, go sleep with Fugaku tonight. I'll stay here to take care of your father."

"Mother, good luck. Fugaku has been saying he wants a little sister."

"Get lost!"

Kicked out of the room, Uchiha Fuya rolled his eyes. Following his memory, he found his younger brother's room and hauled up Fugaku, who was already fast asleep.

"Ugh... who is it!?"

"I'm your brother."

Sleepy-eyed Fugaku was startled awake. After a brief moment of confusion, he opened his small eyes, which naturally carried a fierce aura, and asked suspiciously,

"Huh? Brother Fuya, what are you doing?"

"Nothing much, just notifying you. Now you can go back to sleep."

Uchiha Fuya shook his head expressionlessly, then tossed the still-confused Fugaku back onto the bed.

As the older brother, I'm working so hard, how could I let you brat sleep peacefully?

Just as this family was having their intimate exchange, a sneaky figure quietly approached the back door of Uchiha Izuna's mansion.

"This should be the right place."

Carrying the spark of hope for the Ninja Clan Alliance, Sarutobi Sasuke emerged from the darkness of the street corner. Looking at the grand mansion before him, he knocked on the back door three times with a nervous heart.

Bang, bang, bang—

Creak~

After a brief silence, the long-sealed back door slowly opened. A slightly weathered, handsome face poked out. By the bright moonlight, Sarutobi Sasuke recognized the person before him at a glance.

"Lord Eisu, I hope you have been well."

"Clan Leader Sarutobi, what brings you to knock on my door so late at night?"

The expressionless "Uchiha Izuna" frowned slightly, as if he did not know Sarutobi Sasuke's intentions.

"Gin-san introduced me."

Sarutobi Sasuke felt anxious and immediately brought up his introducer.

"Cousin? Phew... what a busybody. It's just a bit of a loss; once I become Hokage, it won't take long to fill that gap."

"Uchiha Izuna" feigned annoyance. Upon hearing this, Sarutobi Sasuke immediately stepped forward and deliberately lowered his voice.

"Lord Eisu, I want to advance so badly."

As he spoke, he took out a heavy storage scroll from his bosom and stuffed it into "Uchiha Izuna's" hand.

"Clan Leader Sarutobi, what is the meaning of this?"

The moment he touched the scroll, "Uchiha Izuna" scanned everything stored inside. A flash of cunning triumph flickered in his eyes, yet he feigned refusal and pushed the tightly gripped scroll back.

No, if you really don't want it, then let go, okay?

Watching the storage scroll remain completely motionless no matter how much force he used, Sasuke Sarutobi felt his heart settle, and his tone grew a bit more confident.

"Lord Shadow Aide, time is running out. Let's speak plainly; you should just accept it. This is a win-win deal."

"Aren't you forcing an old cadre to commit an error?"

At this point, "Izuna Uchiha" no longer feigned modesty; he backhanded the heavy storage scroll into his robes, a look of deep emotion appearing on his face.

"Many thanks for your cooperation, Lord Shadow Aide!"

Sasuke Sarutobi was overjoyed; since the other party had taken the money, didn't that mean he had agreed to this deal?

"If it weren't for the sake of my eldest cousin, I wouldn't have opened this back door for you at all."

"Izuna Uchiha" shook his head lightly, though his eyes held another layer of implication. Sasuke Sarutobi was ecstatic, but he wasn't blind; he immediately fished another scroll out from his robes.

"This is the tea money I prepared for Gin-san. Please, Lord Shadow Aide, pass it on for me."

After taking the scroll and checking it, a satisfied smile appeared on the face of "Izuna Uchiha."

"I will hand it to my eldest cousin personally. Go back and wait for word. Remember, do not let a third person know about our meeting tonight."

"I know the rules. Rest well, Lord Shadow Aide~"

Watching Sasuke Sarutobi disappear at the end of the street with a jaunty step, "Izuna Uchiha" confirmed no one was around, and suddenly, a signature smirk of someone else appeared on his expressionless face.

"Hehe~ Money is so easy to earn these days. Another ten billion."

As he spoke, the skin on his face began to ripple rapidly, and after a few breaths, it turned into a punchable dead-fish-eyed face.

Weighing the two scrolls in his hands, Uchiha Gin, having restored his original appearance, narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Sigh, can't spend it all, simply can't spend it all~"

The next day,

Waking up early, Izuna Uchiha looked deathly pale, trembling as he supported his sore, aching kidneys while walking out the door.

"Darling~ Come home early!"

Behind him, a rosy-cheeked Mieko Uchiha stood at the door with a radiant smile, whispering softly as she gave her instructions.

"I have quite a lot to do today. You go to sleep by yourself tonight; I'll just find somewhere to make do."

Feeling the weakness in his body, Izuna Uchiha replied with cold sweat covering his forehead.

"It's fine, I still have that peerless medicine my eldest cousin gave me during the New Year. Try it when you get back."

Thump! —

Hearing this, Izuna Uchiha nearly stumbled and fell. Fortunately, he was still agile enough to avoid making a fool of himself at his own doorstep, and after steadying his form, he immediately fled in a panic.

His first stop was the Naka Shrine in the Uchiha clan grounds. The clansmen who had received the meeting notice had already been waiting there for a long time. After last night's revelry, everyone's faces still carried more or less a trace of fatigue.

"Greetings, Lord Izuna!"

Seeing Izuna Uchiha appear, all the clansmen immediately stood up to salute him excitedly; the scene was incredibly fervent.

"I have gathered everyone for a meeting today for only one reason."

Facing the expectant gazes of the clansmen, Izuna Uchiha decided to make a clean break and reveal his plan to give up the position of Hokage.

"Ah!?"

Every clansman present was caught off guard by this news. They scrambled to check their calendars to see if today was April Fool's Day; this joke by Lord Izuna was simply too big.

"Big Brother's whereabouts are still unknown; how could I have the heart to manage the village?"

The reason Izuna Uchiha was unwilling to serve as Hokage, besides not having a white-haired person to boss around, was another more important reason: his long-missing eldest brother, Madara Uchiha.

Watching the genuine emotion of Izuna Uchiha, the clamor of the clansmen gradually quieted, and each of their eyes held extremely complex emotions.

The position of village leader was certainly precious, but compared to their excellent clan leader Madara Uchiha, the title of Hokage became insignificant in the eyes of the Uchiha clansmen.

"That's right, that's right. What could be more important than finding the Clan Leader right now?"

"Thank you all for your understanding."

Looking at the clansmen he had persuaded, Izuna Uchiha was deeply moved. His gaze shifted to Kagami Uchiha, who was kneeling respectfully in the front row, and a gratified smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"However, everyone shouldn't be disappointed. Don't we still have Kagami?"

"That's right! We Uchiha still have our Branch Secretary!"

"Kagami! You must not let us down."

The clansmen, who had been somewhat dejected, suddenly remembered they had another excellent representative, and the gloom in their hearts was swept away.

"Uh..."

Kagami, bearing the high hopes of the clansmen, felt his pressure increase, but soon he converted that pressure into an endless source of motivation. His handsome face was filled with determination.

"Leave it to me!"

Watching Kagami surrounded by the clansmen, Izuna Uchiha left the scene with a smile, leaving the stage to the young man with a promising future.

Izuna Uchiha's second stop was the notary office where the election had taken place. Facing the respectful staff, he truthfully informed them of his decision to give up the position of Hokage.

"Lord Shadow Aide, this joke is not funny."

The notary staff widened their eyes in disbelief. This was the all-powerful position of Hokage; you're just going to quit just like that?

Izuna Uchiha shook his head. Under the gaze of the many staff members, he tore the employment agreement he had signed after winning yesterday into shreds.

Watching the white snowflakes slip through his fingers, his eyes held a bit of inexplicable emotion.

The people who had walked with him, whether friend or foe, had all exited the stage in various ways. Now, it was his turn.

"I am a remnant of the old era; there is no ship in the new era that can carry me."