289. Election

In the bustling Hokage office, members of various familiar ninja clans were huddled together, whispering among themselves. Standing apart from the group, Uchiha Izuna crossed his arms, choosing not to join the conversation. Meanwhile, Uchiha Gin, who was supposed to be by his side, was nowhere to be seen.

Just as Izuna was looking around in confusion, a voice that didn't fit the current atmosphere suddenly rang out from the crowd. Recognizing the familiar voice, Izuna felt a mix of embarrassment and anger, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

"Beer, drinks, mineral water~ Peanuts, melon seeds, eight-treasure porridge~"

"Make way, make way~"

It was Uchiha Gin, who had just vanished, now pushing a small cart he had somehow acquired, energetically hawking snacks. The cart was piled high with an assortment of treats, offering something for everyone.

Most of the people present were old acquaintances, and they seemed unfazed by Gin's eccentric behavior. Instead of causing a commotion, some were even carefully selecting snacks to munch on.

Akimichi Shinji, a staunch member of the Akimichi clan, lived by the principle of never being without snacks.

"Gin-san, how much for this?"

Seeing the snacks Gin was selling, Shinji couldn't resist. After browsing for a while, he pointed to a bag of chips and asked.

"That'll be 1000 ryo~"

"What? That expensive?"

Shinji was taken aback by the price. The same bag of chips would cost at most 100 ryo outside, but here, it was ten times the price.

"Expensive? These are snacks sold in the Hokage office. Taxes are included."

Gin, now fully embracing his role as a vendor, gave Shinji a knowing look and quietly explained the reason for the high price.

"I see~ Give me a bag then!"

Understanding the hidden meaning, Shinji didn't argue further and simply pulled out the money to buy the chips. The long wait had been tedious, and with his snack in hand, he immediately started munching away.

"Crunch~ Crunch~"

"Give me a bag of melon seeds~"

"Do you have bananas?"

"Cola! Cola! I want ice-cold cola!"

Inspired by Shinji's munching, others also pulled out their wallets to buy their favorite snacks. The scene quickly became lively, with some even scrambling to get their hands on the treats.

"Tsk, this is such easy money. I should've stocked up more~"

The discounted, near-expiry snacks were quickly sold out. Gin, with a smug expression, counted the money in his hands, regretting not having brought more goods.

"Cousin, how could you do something like this? It's a disgrace to our family!"

A slightly flushed Izuna pulled Gin aside, scolding him with a tone of disappointment.

"Making money isn't shameful~"

Gin brushed off his younger cousin's criticism. After all, family honor couldn't put food on the table.

"Gin-san, have you heard? The Hokage called this meeting to select another village leader."

As the two cousins argued, Sarutobi Sasuke squeezed his way over to Gin and whispered, holding a slightly blackened banana that he was eating with relish.

"Really? For real?"

"Would I lie to you? Bro!"

It seemed the news had already spread among the clans. Despite Hashirama's earlier assurance that the information wouldn't leak until the Daimyo's appointment letter arrived, it had clearly reached the ears of the clans.

"Cousin, what is Hashirama up to?"

Unaware of the details, Izuna frowned as he looked at the empty Hokage desk in the distance, quietly asking his older cousin.

"Whether it's a cure or a poison, we'll just have to wait and see."

Stuffing the money into his pocket, Gin stretched lazily, showing little interest. He glanced around, found no place to rest, and then pulled out a small folding stool from his bag, plopping down on it.

To be honest, although this plan was Gin's idea, its purpose was indeed to secure a legitimate position for his younger cousin. Otherwise, waiting for the Second Hokage's position would take too long. But given a certain white-haired individual's nature, he would definitely interfere. That guy was born to be a troublemaker, a truly despicable Senju brat~

Just as Gin was deep in thought, Hashirama, clad in his Hokage robe, pushed open the door and entered, followed by Tobirama and Madara. His initially serious expression nearly broke when he saw the chaotic scene in the office.

Almost everyone in the office was holding snacks or drinks, and a group of female ninjas were sitting together, cracking melon seeds and gossiping, with occasional laughter filling the room. What was supposed to be a serious meeting had turned into a New Year's tea party.

"Ahem, ahem~ Everyone, quiet down!"

Clearing his throat, Hashirama infused chakra into his voice, his deep tone carrying a strong penetrating force that made everyone's eardrums vibrate. The chatter immediately stopped, and all eyes turned to him.

"Hokage-sama, what is the urgent matter that you've called us here for?"

An elderly man who exuded an air of respectability stepped forward and asked, though his tone lacked much deference. Gin craned his neck to see the clan emblem behind the old man and immediately understood.

This must be the Senju elder Tobirama had mentioned. He certainly didn't look like a good guy~

"Elder, please remain calm."

Despite being the Hokage, Hashirama maintained a humble demeanor given the elder's seniority.

"Today, I've called everyone here to announce something."

Hashirama's gaze swept past the Senju elder and across the room as he spoke in a loud, clear voice.

Those who already knew the news wore eager expressions, as it hadn't been specified that they couldn't run for the other leadership position. Those unaware of the news frowned, unsure of what Hashirama was about to announce.

"Because I alone cannot handle all of Konoha's affairs, I've decided to create a new position with authority equal to the Hokage. This has already been approved by the Daimyo, and here is the official appointment letter."

Hashirama held up a scroll and announced.

"What?"

"Huh?"

The moment the news was announced, the Hokage office erupted in chaos. The surprised crowd began whispering among themselves, and the Senju elder who had just spoken wore a dark expression.

"Hokage-sama, why wasn't the clan informed of this?"

The elder's wrinkled face trembled slightly as he gritted his few remaining teeth, his voice filled with resentment.

"Elder, watch your words!"

Standing behind Hashirama, Tobirama stepped forward and warned, showing no regard for the elder's age.

"Elder, the Hokage is the Hokage of Konoha, not just the Senju. I don't want to hear such words again."

It was rare to see Hashirama angry, but this time, the elder's words had crossed a line, and he was clearly upset.

"What exactly are the responsibilities of this new position?"

At this point, a representative from one of the clans, unable to hold back, raised his hand and asked.

"The new position is called Village Secretary, with authority equal to mine as the Village Head. We will divide responsibilities based on our abilities, overseeing either civilian affairs or military matters. As for civilian affairs..."

Hashirama was happy to explain, and he proceeded to outline the plan that Tobirama had previously refined. Everyone listened intently, afraid to miss any details.

"Such immense power... This is no ordinary position that our clan can compete for."

After hearing Hashirama's explanation, Sarutobi Sasuke, who had been enthusiastic earlier, suddenly deflated like a frostbitten eggplant, his fighting spirit gone. Even the banana he was eating tasted like wax.

"Oh? Sasuke, aren't you going to give it a shot? As the saying goes, 'Take a risk, and a bicycle might turn into a motorcycle.'"

Ever the instigator, Gin couldn't resist egging him on.

"No, our Sarutobi clan can't afford to stir up trouble."

Knowing Gin's mischievous nature, Sasuke quickly waved his hands, signaling his withdrawal.

"Sigh, how boring."

Gin sighed and turned his gaze to Hyuga Tenya nearby, his eyes filled with sincerity.

"Tenya, you're young and capable. What do you think..."

"No, thanks, not interested, goodbye!"

True to the Hyuga clan's reputation for avoiding trouble, Tenya swiftly delivered a triple rejection, leaving Gin disappointed.

"Cousin! Big brother has made it!"

"Made what? Be careful, or I'll sue you for slander~"

You only dare to talk big when Madara isn't around.

"You misunderstood. I meant that big brother has finally become a leader!"

In Izuna's eyes, the position of Village Secretary was undoubtedly meant for Madara. There was no one else in the room more suitable.

"I think it's not that simple~"

Gin couldn't agree with his younger cousin's assessment. He glanced at the white-haired figure behind Hashirama and noticed a sly smile on his face as he looked at the crowd below.

There's a conspiracy brewing. That white-haired guy is definitely up to no good!

"Quiet! The reason I've called everyone here is to vote for the best candidate for Village Secretary. Whether by recommendation or self-nomination, feel free to speak your minds."

Seeing that the atmosphere was ripe, Hashirama's deep voice rang out again, and the chatter quickly died down.

"Sasuke, we're planning to recommend you. You'd better seize this opportunity!"

In the crowd, Shimura Kenichi approached Sarutobi Sasuke and excitedly shared the good news with his friend, waiting for his gratitude for this brilliant decision.

"Get lost!" Are you trying to get me killed?

"I recommend Tobirama!"

The Senju elder, who had just been publicly reprimanded by Tobirama, slowly raised his withered hand and declared in a deep voice.

In the elder's eyes, Konoha was the Senju clan's domain. Despite some minor conflicts with Tobirama, he still recommended the white-haired young man for the leadership position, determined to keep Konoha's highest authority within the clan.

"!!!"

Uchiha Izuna, who had been envisioning a bright future for the Uchiha clan, was furious when he heard someone recommend Tobirama. He immediately made up his mind and raised his hand, shouting,

"I recommend my brother!"

Madara, standing behind Hashirama, smiled faintly upon hearing his brother's voice. He glanced at Tobirama nearby, his eyes filled with unmistakable challenge.

"Two candidates. Does anyone else wish to recommend or nominate themselves?"

As Hashirama had expected, since the tailed beast capture competition, he had noticed that the newly joined clans were still biding their time, unwilling to get involved in power struggles.

"..."

"Crunch~"

The room fell silent, except for the crisp sound of a shell cracking, drawing everyone's attention.

"Why are you looking at me? Watch the show!"

Having just popped a melon seed into his mouth, Gin looked at the crowd's strange gazes and scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Since no one else is stepping forward, the candidates for Village Secretary are Tobirama and Madara."

With a dark expression, Hashirama announced the end of the nomination phase and turned his attention to the two men beside him.

This was a difficult decision. Both were dear to him, and choosing either would be agonizing. Hashirama decided to leave the choice to the assembled crowd.

"To ensure fairness, let everyone here decide who will be the Village Secretary."

"Sasuke, who are you going to choose?"

The members of the clan alliance had been united since the day they formed their alliance. Thus, the other clan members immediately sought out Sarutobi Sasuke, their de facto leader, for his opinion.

"Uh..."

Caught off guard, Sasuke glanced at the composed Gin beside him. He was now in a dilemma.

Tobirama was his son's teacher, but Gin had saved his son's life. A sense of conflict grew within him, making this usually decisive man hesitate for the first time.

"Gin-san, I..."

"It's fine, Sasuke. Don't worry about my feelings. Make the choice you think is right."

Gin understood the clan alliance's predicament. After all, their sons were under Tobirama's tutelage, and offending him could have dire consequences.

Besides, the Uchiha clan had made quite a few enemies over the years.

"Who are you going to choose?"

"Who else? Tobirama, of course! The other day, I went out for drinks and got caught by the Uchiha clan's vice squad. They locked me up for a whole day before letting me go. Who would vote for someone with a face like that?"

An anonymous old lecher grumbled through clenched teeth.

"The Uchiha? No way! The security team often acts without regard for right or wrong. If someone from the Uchiha clan gets elected, they'll have even more power, and we'll have to tread even more carefully."

Some saw even deeper implications.

"Think about it. Tobirama is the Hokage's brother. Of course, he'd want his own brother to take the position. This is a rare opportunity to show where you stand. Don't miss it!"

The lively discussions around him didn't escape Gin's sharp ears. He subtly smirked and turned to the silent Hyuga Tenya, curious.

"Tenya, who are you going to choose?"

If the Hyuga clan openly supported Madara, it might sway some of the fence-sitters.

"Gin-san, no matter who takes the position, it won't greatly affect the Hyuga clan. But given our personal friendship, I'll vote for Clan Leader Uchiha."

Tenya's words surprised Gin. He hadn't expected this seemingly upright man to be so loyal. While touched, he couldn't help but feel a bit wistful.

After all, Tenya was voting for Madara out of personal friendship with Gin. This showed that Madara hadn't built much of a network, focusing instead on his own pursuits, leaving the Uchiha clan without allies.

A big "L" was written all over his face~

"Young Master, a message from the Clan Leader!"

As Gin and Tenya were talking, a middle-aged man with pale eyes approached, whispered a few words, and then left.

Tenya expression shifted from calm to slightly green, then slightly red. He turned to Gin, who looked puzzled, and awkwardly said,

"Gin-san, I'm really sorry, but I must follow my father's orders."

Gin raised an eyebrow, his gaze filled not with blame but with sympathy.

Being controlled by your parents at this age? Poor guy~

"It's fine. One more or one less vote won't make a difference. I appreciate your sentiment."

Gin shook his head gently, showing no anger.

"Cousin, things aren't looking good!"

Izuna, who had been listening to the nearby representatives' conversations, had also heard the criticisms of the Uchiha clan. His earlier confidence was now shaken.

"See? I told you to have the clan build better relationships with others, but you didn't listen. Now we have no friends."

You reap what you sow. The Uchiha clan's aloof nature had never been popular, let alone conducive to making friends. Only Gin's cheerful and humble personality had somewhat salvaged the Uchiha's reputation.

Huh? You're not going to mention the scam, are you? Shimura Kenichi dreams of biting you, you curly-haired rascal.

Madara, standing on the stage, was also suffering. He had thought that once Gin's plan was approved, his position as leader was secure. Even if it wasn't the Hokage position he longed for, being Village Secretary wasn't bad.

Moreover, he wouldn't have to wait for Hashirama to retire to work alongside him daily, no longer just a paid intern with an uncertain future. Such an opportunity was something Madara had never dared to dream of before.

But he hadn't expected Tobirama to pull a strategic move, stepping back to let others elevate him to the position of Village Secretary. It was truly despicable!

"Madara..."

Hashirama, caught off guard by the overwhelming support for Tobirama, looked at Madara with a mix of panic and apology.

"Don't say anything. I was too naive."

Feeling the position of Village Secretary slipping away, Madara's earlier anxiety faded. Learning from failure was his usual approach. He knew where he had gone wrong and wasn't overly disheartened.

"Brother, I didn't expect this either. Who knew so many people would..."

Beside him, Tobirama wore a conflicted expression, looking at Hashirama with an air of innocence, as if he too was surprised by the support.

But the corners of his mouth were twitching, threatening to break into a grin.

"Hmph!"

Madara was ashamed to be associated with such a deceitful person.

He had lost fair and square. Tobirama was just too good at manipulating people.

"Heh."

Tobirama appeared innocent, but inside, he was laughing like a madman. To secure the Village Secretary position, he had leaked the plan's details during his visit to the Daimyo's capital, while also pressuring the neutral clans.

As for the clan alliance led by Sarutobi, he wasn't worried. His intention in taking on students had always been to control the clans' key figures, ensuring they would act in his favor when needed.

And the Hyuga clan, though difficult to influence, was led by a cautious elder. A hint of the situation would lead him to make the "right" choice.

Furthermore, it was Tobirama who had proposed that the Uchiha handle security, knowing their natural arrogance and eccentricity would lead to conflicts during enforcement, tarnishing their reputation—exactly as he had planned.

Hmph~ From top to bottom, Konoha is filled with my pawns. I had planned to use them during the Second Hokage election, but they came in handy earlier than expected.

"Sigh~"

With Hashirama's sigh, the clan representatives submitted their choices.

As expected, Tobirama won by a landslide, securing the position of Village Secretary.

"Cousin! Are you just going to stand by and watch?"

Seeing Tobirama's smug face, Izuna was seething with anger, wishing he could summon a giant susanoo to slap the guy twice to vent his frustration.

"What else can we do? When it comes to scheming, the entire Uchiha clan combined isn't a match for him."

This village was the fruit of their joint efforts. In Gin's vision, Hashirama would have pushed through the opposition and directly appointed Madara as Village Secretary, allowing him to share in leading Konoha and satisfy his leadership aspirations, no longer yearning for the Hokage position. As for Tobirama, he could continue waiting to become the Second Hokage.

But no one expected that this white-haired man would not play by the rules. Instead of being the future second-generation leader, he insisted on competing with Uchiha Madara right now. He really has no foresight at all!

"But it's good this way. My cousin's dream of becoming a Hokage is becoming more and more promising~"