Chapter 159: A Step Away, the Great Name Envoy

What effect does Mizuto Mon En's attitude have on Shisui becoming Hokage?

After leaving the Mizuto clan's lands, Gongping kept pondering this question; he doesn't believe that such a wise clan head would do something meaningless.

But even when they escorted Shisui back, he still hadn't figured it out.

Shisui originally intended to send the others back, but seeing Gongping's absent‑minded expression, he kept him alone.

"It's just the two of us here; whatever doubts you have, just ask directly."

Gongping has helped Shisui a lot, and the two are already quite familiar; Shisui didn't beat around the bush but asked outright.

Gongping was startled, then smiled and said, "Nothing can be hidden from the clan head; I'm just curious why we risk a late‑night mission to win over Mizuto Mon En. Even without him, we can still hold the advantage at tomorrow's Jonin Council."

In Gongping's view, even if Mizuto Mon En suddenly defected to the Uchiha, it would merely be a garnish for the Uchiha; with over forty percent of Jonin backing them, Shisui has already secured victory.

Shisui heard this and slowly explained, "My grandfather once warned me not to underestimate anyone's role. Sometimes relying on them to achieve something is hard, but letting them cause trouble is all too easy."

In former years, Cao Shuang sought achievements in the campaigns against Shu, intending to rise in stature through military merit.

If one were wholeheartedly helping Cao Shuang succeed, it would be nearly impossible, but simply hindering him would be far too easy.

A hundred‑thousand Wei army marched to Shu, but soon suffered heavy losses for various reasons, causing Cao Shuang's bid for glory to fail, forcing him to retreat to Luoyang.

Sima Yi told Shisui about this, and Shisui has kept it in mind ever since.

"After all, he's a Hokage advisor; although the Mizuto clan isn't very powerful, over the years he must have amassed extensive connections. Even if I become Hokage later, should he intend wrongdoing, he'll cause us a lot of trouble. One more friend is always better than one more enemy."

"The clan head is wise!"

Gongping looked at Shisui, his eyes bright, increasingly convinced that the original choice was correct; the clan indeed needs someone as thoughtful as Shisui.

"Hehe, it's getting late; you should go rest too. Tomorrow is the Jonin Council; replenish your spirit, and when tomorrow's success arrives, the sea will be vast for fish to leap and the sky high for birds to fly!"

"Sss— the sea vast for fish to leap, the sky high for birds to fly!"

Gongping inhaled sharply, chewed over the words, and nodded repeatedly, "Truly worthy of the clan head; what you said makes sense. I'll go rest now."

After saying that, Gongping kept repeating the sentence as he leapt toward his own home.

When Gongping left, Shisui couldn't help but grin; after all, those words came from Sima Yi and Yan Shifan, and he was merely borrowing them. Being praised so much by Gongping made him a bit embarrassed.

After a brief reflection, Shisui returned home, told Yan Shifan about Mizuto Mon En's reaction, and discussed tomorrow's details.

"If he can agree, that's fine; a person with a blemish like that is reliable to use later. As for tomorrow's council, leave it to me; they can't compete with us head‑on."

Forget about fair competition; their candidate Nara Suzaku has already begun self‑sabotaging and fleeing. Now what they can do isn't put forward their own Hokage, but to prevent the Uchiha from succeeding.

"I trust the teacher."

Although Yan Shifan has various problems, his abilities are still trustworthy.

Of course, Shisui himself also made some preparations.

The night passed quickly, and early the next morning, within Muye Cun, families and clans gathered toward the Hokage Tower with mixed feelings.

However, this time the situation was completely different from the last.

Shisui, Yan Shifan, and Uchiha Inaho set out from the Uchiha lands, heading straight for the Hokage Tower.

Along the way, many Jonin preparing to go to the Hokage Tower waited quietly on the path the three must pass.

"Good morning, Clan Head Shisui."

People kept greeting the three; after Shisui responded one by one, they silently followed behind, eventually gathering together and arriving at the Hokage Tower.

Those whose locations were inconvenient arrived early and waited beneath the Hokage Tower.

Only when Shisui's party approached did they go up.

Such a massive show of force made the other Jonin exchange uneasy glances, their hearts trembling.

"Sigh, the Uchiha are becoming more terrifying; we'd better keep silent."

"Let's watch quietly and wait for the outcome."

Shisui doesn't know these people's thoughts, but when he meets them he still greets them gently.

Everyone responded in turn, then followed closely together into the meeting room.

Yan Shifan gestured to Shisui, and the three took the central seats without hesitation.

Of course, the three middle seats remained reserved; the three advisors' status is ultimately above the others, and subordination violation is a ninja taboo.

Jonin friendly with the Uchiha sat in rows behind the three; even newcomers could tell they were a group.

The remaining ninja, though still the majority, could only sit silently on the sides upon seeing this scene.

Hyuga Hizashi also arrived with members of the Hyuga clan; seeing the Uchiha's overwhelming strength, he hesitated briefly but forced himself to sit in a central seat.

The second great house of Muye Cun cannot lose face.

Shisui smiled and took the initiative to greet Hyuga Hizashi, after which the meeting room fell into silence.

A moment later, two assistants arrived one after another; perhaps they had received the news early, or perhaps they had already given up, and they showed little reaction to the Uchiha's situation.

However, puzzlingly, Tuan Zang still did not appear.

Everyone suddenly realized they hadn't seen Tuan Zang appear for a long time.

"The Tuan Zang assistant can't be secretly doing something, can they?"

"Given his character, I think the possibility is high."

"Why do I feel he may have already been quietly dealt with by the other two assistants?"

"That's also possible; I heard Tuan Zang tried to attack those two last time, but failed and suffered heavy losses, perhaps they retaliated."

"I suspect it was the Uchiha's doing; everyone in the Village knows Tuan Zang has always opposed the Uchiha, and now the Uchiha are powerful, so of course they seek revenge."

The crowd murmured softly, but soon fell silent again.

This meeting had no third generation participants, yet it was more oppressive than before.

It wasn't until Jonin Squad Leader Nara Suzaku came forward to preside over the meeting that the room's atmosphere eased slightly.

The two advisors, who hadn't seen Nara Suzaku for a long time, also wore varied expressions.

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun snorted coldly; she had spent great effort trying to promote the other to Hokage, but the opponent feigned illness at crucial moments, sent people to spread rumors and self‑sabotage, directly back‑stabbing her.

If the timing were different, she would definitely make the Nara clan feel her wrath.

Nara Suzaku also truly felt Zhuan Qin Xiaochun's anger; he deliberately averted his gaze and steeled himself for the meeting.

Shisui, watching Nara Suzaku on the stage, felt a pang of sentiment; a year ago on this day, it was Sarutobi Yukki on the podium, and in just a year some people have completely departed.

"Time's up, the meeting begins," Nara Suzaku said, pausing briefly; seeing Tuan Zang still absent, he started the meeting.

Then Nara Suzaku began swapping the documents in his hand one by one, and everyone's hearts rose with each change.

Last year's focus was on the great lord's funding, but this year, although money remains important, it is no longer the main concern.

When a particular document was opened, Nara Suzaku froze, then after a brief pause said, "Since the Third Generation retired due to illness, the Village has been in a shadowless state for a long time. This meeting will select a Fifth Generation to lead the Village forward; the Hokage candidates are Shisui Uchiha and Shimura Tuan Zang."

By convention, Hokage candidates should be nominated by the high command, but the high command's nominee, Nara Suzaku, has already withdrawn himself.

As for Tuan Zang, he has always been a Hokage candidate.

And the Uchiha, because of their unique history, have been candidates since the First Generation.

"Only two this time? What about Nara Suzaku?"

Someone was puzzled, and Zhuan Qin Xiaochun turned pale, thinking the guy hadn't even put on a performance before giving up.

"Don't you get it? Nara Suzaku felt he had no chance and didn't want to offend the Uchiha, so he gave up long ago."

"Huh? And Tuan Zang never shows up, doesn't that mean Shisui Uchiha was directly nominated?"

"Still call him that? He should be called the Fifth Generation!"

Nara Suzaku had anticipated this, and facing everyone's gaze said, "If no one objects, let's proceed to vote."

The crowd exchanged glances; with Tuan Zang absent, even those who wished to block Shisui found it meaningless.

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun sighed helplessly; with all her nominees gone, she could only make a final plea, stating, "In theory, any villager of the Konoha could become Hokage.

But the Hokage is the core of the Konoha, the pillar in the villagers' hearts; if we let a member of a family that once inflicted massive damage on the Leaf become Hokage, how can we answer the other villagers, or the villagers who died back then?"

The crowd looked at Zhuan Qin Xiaochun; they all understood she meant the Nine-Tails.

This is an insurmountable hurdle for the Uchiha clan.

Yan Shifan locked eyes with Shisui, then loudly replied, "My Uchiha have endured three Great Ninja Wars, earning countless battle honors; I don't know how many of our clan died for the Leaf, nor how many here survived the battlefield thanks to the Uchiha."

Such gratitude you never mention, yet you keep harassing a traitor's deeds; what is your true intention in this reckless behavior?

"Traitor? Are you implying the Nine-Tails incident wasn't caused by my Uchiha?"

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun retorted sharply, while Mizuto Monen frowned silently.

"Hmph, what does the Nine-Tails affair have to do with my Uchiha? Should defectors from the Leaf also be counted on our heads?"

"Do you claim the Uchiha were unaware? Who here doesn't know the Nine-Tails was released by one of your Uchiha? Even if he is a traitor, it's the Uchiha's fault; you Uchiha betrayed the Leaf!"

Yan Shifan stood, laughing wildly, "Hahaha, the traitor has already jumped out; Zhuan Qin Xiaochun is one, and Sarutobi Rizhan!"

"What?"

The crowd was stunned; the banter had been entertaining, but Yan Shifan's sudden outburst shocked them.

"How audacious, to slander me is one thing, but to defame the Third Generation! Truly a wolf's ambition, you shall not remain!"

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun's face darkened; someone daring to call her a traitor was utterly outrageous.

"How, you think you're not a traitor?"

"Enough, stop the mad talk here; Shisui Uchiha, you know what crime slandering the Hokage is, right?"

Shisui smiled gently and whispered, "The Police Department will handle it impartially."

"Hmm?"

"I'm not like those who can fabricate things out of thin air with just a mouth."

Yan Shifan sneered, then waved his hand, drawing everyone's attention.

"The Uchiha produced a traitor, yet the Zhuan Qin advisor blames the entire Uchiha clan; I must ask, whose fault is Orochimaru's defection?"

*Tap tap tap*—the crowd inhaled sharply, eyes lingering on the two.

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun's lips turned white, unsure how to defend herself.

"Orochimaru used villagers for human experiments, a heinous act; he was the Third Generation's disciple. According to the Zhuan Qin advisor, should his defection implicate the Third Generation and the Sarutobi clan? Is his defection a betrayal by the Third Generation, a Sarutobi betrayal?"

"?"

The new Sarutobi clan head snapped his head up, staring bewildered at Yan Shifan; he had tried to keep a low profile, yet the Uchiha wouldn't let him go? Yan Shifan, oblivious to the clan head's reaction, continued, "Our Uchiha once partnered with the Senju clan to found the Konoha, inviting all clans to create peace together; our bonds were like kin, such achievements.

And you, however, ignore this, repeatedly incite, sow discord among blood relatives, and even attempt to seize the Hokage. If you're not a traitor, then who is?"

"Ugh, shameless!"

Hyuga Hizasoku, seated beside Shisui, wore a blank expression but felt deep disdain inside.

No one present besides the Uchiha knew better than Hyuga about what happened with the Uchiha back then.

Yan Shifan's words were nothing but flattery.

However, he glanced at the people behind him and chose to remain aloof and neutral.

As for other ninja, the Nine-Tails incident indeed harmed many, but the Jonin remained rational; judging from the Uchiha's reaction after the Nine-Tails turmoil, they were likely victims as well.

The resentment simply needed an outlet, and that person was indeed an Uchiha, plus the high command's stance, so no one was willing to speak for the Uchiha then.

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun's breathing quickened at the words; she opened her mouth, then glanced back at Mizuto Monen.

The two exchanged a look; Mizuto Monen merely sighed, doing nothing else.

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun stared at Mizuto Monen in disbelief, her face turning ashen, and finally sat down, saying no more.

Seeing this, Nara Suzaku realized the situation was set, stopped feigning death, and continued, "Since no one objects, let's begin the vote."

When the words fell, many exhaled in relief.

According to tradition, once a candidate is confirmed, the great lord is informed in advance; the great lord will then endorse the pre‑selected Leaf candidate, which now appears to be Shisui. Once the procedure is complete, Shisui will be the rightful Fifth Generation Hokage.

"How could the meeting start before I arrived?"

*Tap tap tap*—at that moment, the sound of a cane striking the ground approached from afar, Shisui raised an eyebrow, and Yan Shifan glanced sideways and sneered.

The two stared at each other, exchanged information, then slowly nodded.

Everyone turned to look; they saw Tuan Zang walking calmly, with a wealthy‑looking elder standing beside him.

"Grand Envoy?"

(End of Chapter)