The launch of the Hokage selection process sent shockwaves through Konoha.
A new Hokage means new changes—and new opportunities. Few incoming Hokage keep the exact same team as their predecessor. Talented shinobi who want to advance stand to benefit, and the major clans will feel the impact too. The Uchiha among them.
"Clan Head!"
Uchiha Yashiro hurried into Uchiha Fugaku's office.
"What happened?" Fugaku frowned, noticing his expression.
"Anbu just came by to inform us. We should prepare for next week's jōnin vote," Yashiro said after taking a breath.
"The jōnin vote?" Fugaku rose to his feet at once. He knew exactly what that implied.
"Barring surprises, the new Hokage will be Tsunade," he said, relaxing a little. "It seems the Uchiha's long ordeal is finally ending."
With Sarutobi Hiruzen retiring and Shimura Danzō out of favor, the clan was looking at the best prospects it had seen in years.
"Given Tsunade-sama's temperament, there's no way Danzō gets brought back," Yashiro said with a grin. "He won't be able to target us anymore."
"I wonder if Tsunade will move against him," Fugaku mused, settling back into his chair. If she did, the Uchiha would naturally lend a hand.
"We can have Itachi keep a close eye on it," Yashiro suggested after a moment's thought.
"Good idea." Fugaku nodded. "Do you know what matters most for the Uchiha right now?"
"Putting forward our own Hokage candidate?" Yashiro ventured.
"That's important, but it can't be rushed," Fugaku said plainly. "What matters most is moving back to our original compound."
"Exactly!" Yashiro straightened, energized. "It's time we reclaimed our place."
After the Nine-Tails Incident, Danzō had forced the Uchiha out of their central district to the village's edge—easier for Root to watch them, and farther from Konoha's seat of power.
"So what's our play?" Yashiro asked, cooling down again.
"Once Tsunade becomes Hokage, she'll elevate a new cohort," Fugaku said. "We need to secure as many spots as we can."
"That could be tough," Yashiro said, thinking of the clan's reputation in Konoha.
"Restoring our standing won't be easy," Fugaku chuckled. "But we invested in Kitazawa early. We can ask him for help."
"Wise as ever, Clan Head," Yashiro said at once.
"I didn't do much," Fugaku sighed. "It's mainly that Kitazawa's strength and status have skyrocketed in the last two years. He's impossible to ignore."
"True," Yashiro agreed. "The last meteoric rise like his was the Fourth Hokage."
"Do you think the Sixth Hokage could be Kitazawa?" Fugaku's gaze sharpened. As much as the Uchiha wanted a Hokage from their own ranks, they had to be realistic. Right now Kitazawa was at his peak, and few of the younger generation could match his renown.
"I think the odds are high," Yashiro said after thinking it through. "Itachi's strong, but he's nowhere near Kitazawa's reputation."
"Then backing Kitazawa was the right call," Fugaku said with relief. If Kitazawa became Hokage, Uchiha Izumi would be the Hokage's student. And by the time Uchiha Sasuke graduated, he might end up as Kitazawa's student too. That would give the Uchiha two potential Hokage candidates. Izumi's chances were slimmer, but Sasuke only had to stand out among his peers—well within reach given his talent.
While the village buzzed about the next Hokage, Kitazawa was working overtime. They had to finish by Friday. The original schedule was five days—Wednesday through Sunday—but now only Wednesday and Thursday remained. To make the deadline, Kitazawa had five shadow clones helping.
At sunset, the clones dispelled. The mental whiplash hit Kitazawa hard. When a clone ends, it brings back not just memories and experience, but all the fatigue, too.
"Good work today. We'll continue tomorrow," Tsunade said, getting to her feet.
Nara Shikaku and Nara Suzaku said their goodbyes and left the office.
Tsunade looked at Kitazawa. Seeing his face, she reached out and pressed a palm to his forehead. He blinked and instinctively lifted his head, but standing this close, her presence filled his vision and he couldn't quite read her expression.
Soft green chakra flowed into him. A clear, refreshing sensation washed through his body.
"Go home and rest," Tsunade said, ruffling his hair.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama." Kitazawa allowed himself a rare moment of basking in her gentleness.
The three of them headed home.
"I'm back!" Kitazawa called as he opened the door.
Kurenai stopped her training at once. Barefoot, she padded over from the living room. Kitazawa closed the door, changed shoes, stepped in, and pulled her into a hug—giving her a playful pat on the butt while he was at it.
"Everyone was talking about the new Hokage this afternoon," Kurenai said, ignoring his cheekiness. "Do you know who it is?"
Hiruzen had only had Anbu announce next week's villagers' and jōnin votes. He hadn't declared Tsunade the successor yet—that had to wait for the process to conclude. Of course, most shinobi had already guessed, Kurenai included. She was asking for confirmation.
"Who else would it be?" Kitazawa chuckled. "Naturally, Tsunade-sama."
"I knew it!" Kurenai brightened. "That means you'll be the Hokage's student!"
She understood exactly what that title meant: become the Hokage's student, and you're automatically a Hokage candidate. With Kitazawa's current strength and reputation, he might very well take the mantle once Tsunade retired—and her own standing would rise with his.
The thought that she might become the Hokage's wife made Kurenai want to celebrate in… vigorous fashion. But she knew the difference in strength between them, so she tamped down the impulse.
"I'll cook tonight!" she said, rising on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "We should celebrate!"
"If it's a celebration, how about black stockings tonight instead?" Kitazawa said with a wink.
"I'm being serious," Kurenai said, rolling her eyes.
"So am I," he said, face straight.
"Then look forward to my mercy," she huffed, turning for the kitchen.
After dinner, Kitazawa went back to studying his limb-regeneration medical ninjutsu. Night deepened, the moonlight pale at the window.
Footsteps approached. Kitazawa turned—and saw a pair of long legs sheathed in black stockings.
"Like what you see?" Kurenai stepped in close. Before he could answer, she planted one foot on his thigh, hopped up to sit on the desk, and smiled at him, eyes bright with mischief.
"Very much," Kitazawa said, standing to lift and cradle those black-silk legs.
The night passed without further words.
The next day, same routine: work at the Hokage Building.
"Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa asked suddenly, "once you become Hokage, are you moving?"
"I'm used to where I am. Too lazy to move," she said, a little surprised by the question. "Besides, mooching your dinners isn't bad."
She did have a home—the Senju compound. It held many good memories, but a lot of painful ones too. Mostly it was empty now, and lonely.
"In that case, great," Kitazawa smiled. "If you and Shizune move out, the place won't be nearly as fun."
"Just come over to eat more often," Tsunade said, giving him a look.
"No problem," Kitazawa answered immediately.
"…?" Shizune blinked. If Kitazawa was cooking and Tsunade was inviting herself over, what did that leave for her? Was there still a place in this household for Shizune?
"Tomorrow's Friday," Tsunade thought aloud. "We'll head to the Land of Fire's Capital at nine in the morning."
"Got it," Kitazawa and Shizune said in unison.
"Shizune, you're staying home," Tsunade added with a wave.
"Eh?" Shizune widened her eyes. It was the first time Tsunade was going out without her. Oh no—was Kitazawa replacing her?
"This trip could be dangerous," Tsunade explained. "You're a medical-nin. There's no need for you to come."
"Dangerous? Is it… Danzō?" Shizune asked, startled by her own thought.
Kitazawa burst out laughing.
"What's so funny? Am I wrong?" Shizune asked, puzzled.
"No, you guessed it," Kitazawa said, shaking his head. "Danzō's reputation precedes him."
"He brought it on himself," Shizune said. "Everything he's done follows him around. It's hard not to think of him. Are just the two of you going? Shouldn't you bring more people?"
"Anbu will be shadowing us. Don't worry," Kitazawa said. "We'll be fine."
"Okay." Shizune relaxed a little. She wanted to go, but Tsunade was right—her combat ability was limited. She could handle ordinary shinobi, but if they ran into Root diehards, she'd be outmatched and become a liability.
Another full day of work. By six in the evening, the project was 99% done. The remaining 1% was deciding rewards for a handful of shinobi with major battlefield merit.
"Shikaku, distribute the rewards for these people over the next two days," Tsunade instructed. "We'll discuss the remaining few next week."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Shikaku said, and left with Nara Suzaku, arms full of files. They'd pull jutsu, tools, and ryo from Konoha's stores and contact the shinobi who'd fought in the war to deliver the rewards.
"I'm not even Hokage yet and there's already this much work. Once I am, I'll be drowning," Tsunade sighed, rubbing her brow. The office everyone coveted looked like a grind to her.
"You could do what the Fourth Raikage does—appoint secretaries," Kitazawa suggested.
"Hokage secretaries? Not bad," Tsunade said, eyes lighting up. "If I appoint enough, I won't have to do anything."
"You can't be that lazy," Kitazawa laughed.
"Can't I?" Tsunade shot him a look, then mock-threatened, "I'll just make you my only secretary—work you to the bone with no days off."
"You make an excellent point, Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa said solemnly. "Let's appoint several secretaries. Shared workload, stronger Konoha."
Shizune couldn't help but laugh.
"Your personality really suits being a Hokage secretary," Tsunade smirked. "Shameless."
"How is that shameless?" Kitazawa protested. "It's called being adaptable."
"But would the two Hokage Advisors agree to so many secretaries?" Shizune asked, sobering. Konoha had no secretaries, but it did have Hokage Advisors—who, in some ways, did a secretary's job with higher status.
"Those two are a headache," Tsunade muttered. Before her hemophobia, she'd dealt with them often. Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane were old foxes—slick, smoothing everything over, talking without acting. They always had an opinion, never a solution.
"Tsunade-sama's the Hokage. Even if they object, it won't matter," Kitazawa said.
"We'll cross that bridge later," Tsunade said, tired of the topic. She stood. "Let's go home."
"By the way, Kitazawa, you contributed the most this time. What reward do you want?" Shizune asked as they walked.
"That's the problem," Kitazawa frowned lightly. "I don't actually know."
"Think it over," Tsunade said. "As long as it's not excessive, Konoha will grant it."
"Mm." Kitazawa nodded. There were plenty of things he lacked—but not many that Konoha could realistically give. He suddenly thought of Wood Release. Could he ask for wood-style techniques and then pretend he'd combined Earth and Water to create them?
"Remember to notify Itachi," Tsunade reminded him.
"I'll go now," Kitazawa said, glancing at the sky. "He should be off duty and home by this hour."
They split up. Kitazawa headed for the Uchiha compound. He'd been there before and knew the way, but this time felt different—the clan members were almost too enthusiastic. All along the street, people greeted him. The smiles on many faces were stiff with unfamiliarity, which made it its own kind of awkward.
"Kitazawa," Fugaku said, waiting at the door. Word of his visit had reached him already. Itachi stood beside him.
"Kitazawa-sama," Itachi said, changing how he addressed him. He used to follow Sasuke's lead and call him "Sensei," but that wouldn't do anymore. With Tsunade about to be the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade's student stood much higher—and Itachi, as Anbu, found "-sama" appropriate.
"Clan Head Fugaku," Kitazawa said without preamble, "I'm here to ask Itachi for help."
"Name it," Fugaku said generously. "The Uchiha will see it done."
"This is sensitive," Kitazawa said, voice low. "Please don't share it with anyone."
Fugaku and Itachi traded a look. Surprised. Was the clan being entrusted with something even before Tsunade took office?
"Of course," Fugaku said gravely. "No one else will hear a word of this conversation."
"Tsunade-sama departs for the Land of Fire's Capital tomorrow morning," Kitazawa said. "Itachi, I want you to lead a team and guard her from the shadows."
"Yes," Itachi replied immediately. But like Fugaku, his mind was racing. If Kitazawa was this cautious, did he know someone planned to attack Tsunade? There was only one candidate: Shimura Danzō.
A spark flared in Itachi's chest—an opportunity. A chance to avenge Shisui.
Fugaku felt the same surge of joy. If Danzō died, no one in Konoha could target the Uchiha again.
"We leave at nine," Kitazawa said with a smile. "See you then."
He didn't linger. With the message delivered, he took his leave.
"Itachi, our chance is here. Don't waste it," Fugaku said, watching Kitazawa's back recede.
"I understand," Itachi said, face solemn.
"If Danzō really tries to assassinate Tsunade, do your utmost to take him down," Fugaku said quietly, worried Tsunade might spare Danzō out of consideration for Hiruzen.
"Tsunade-sama won't be soft-hearted," Itachi said. He'd done a few missions with her and knew: she despised Danzō.
"Good," Fugaku said, letting it drop. He couldn't hide his smile. If Danzō weren't still alive, he would've called the clan together for a celebration already. No one knew better than they how relentlessly Danzō had targeted them.
The most humiliating moment of Fugaku's life was being driven out of the Uchiha's ancestral quarter—a district that had been theirs since Konoha's founding. He'd lost it on his watch. Now that they had a chance, he would restore the Uchiha's honor and move them back, or he'd have no face to meet the Clan Heads of ages past.
Kitazawa returned home, unaware of how much he'd altered Fugaku from his "original" counterpart. But that was normal—decisions are shaped by countless factors. In the original line, Fugaku had no chance to kill Danzō and never lived to see Tsunade as Hokage.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. Kitazawa and Tsunade ate breakfast and set out for the Fire Capital.
At the Shimura compound:
"Danzō-sama," a Root shinobi in Anbu gear said, kneeling on one knee. "They've departed."
"How many?" Danzō asked flatly.
"Two," the Root operative said after a beat. "With an Anbu squad tailing them."
"Follow them," Danzō said, standing. "Do not act. Wait for my command."
Even if it was a trap set by Tsunade and Kitazawa, he had to step into it. If he let this chance slip, there might never be another.
"Yes, Danzō-sama."
Danzō left the room and lifted his gaze to the rising sun.
"Hiruzen, if you're heartless, don't blame me for being ruthless," he murmured, drawing a long breath. He'd prepared thoroughly to assassinate Tsunade, bringing every Sharingan he had. The only regret was that he couldn't use Hashirama's cells or Wood Release.
The surviving wood-style users had been taken into Anbu by Hiruzen. He'd contacted Orochimaru to balance the Hashirama cells for him, but there wasn't time—and he didn't trust Orochimaru anyway.
Once he became Hokage, he'd put the entire village's resources into researching Hashirama cells and Wood Release. With Mangekyō Sharingan and Wood Release together, he'd be unbeatable.
As for Tsunade, he figured Mangekyō plus the Sharingan he kept for "revival" would be more than enough. He even believed he could stand against Hiruzen himself.
"Hiruzen, this time I'll make you truly regret it," Danzō said, tightening his grip on his staff. He'd traded countless lines of "You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" for "You're fired, Danzō. Bang." And he knew those threats had been empty.
But this time was different. Tsunade was Hiruzen's student and his chosen successor. If she died, Hiruzen would regret it for the rest of his life—and Danzō would finally, truly, win.