Zecun's face flushed with anger as he stepped forward, his voice sharp and accusing. "Do you even know who he is? How dare you speak like that about Hokage-sama! It's unforgivable!"
Izumi smiled calmly, her gaze unwavering. "Of course I know who he is. You've said it enough times already. He is the Hokage-sama of Konoha Ninja Village. So what if I do?"
Zecun blinked, disbelief and outrage mingling on his face. "You know she is the Hokage-sama, and yet you still—"
Izumi's smile twisted into a sneer. "So what if he's the Hokage? He's still old, isn't he? Even the God of Shinobi himself, Senju Hashirama—the First Hokage—died. How much more so the Third Hokage, who was the disciple of the Second Hokage, Hashirama's younger brother?"
Her words cut deeper than any blade.
Zecun's hand shot out, drawing a Kunai in a blur. "You— you don't have an ounce of respect for the Hokage!"
The crowd that had gathered tensed instantly, their eyes darting between the two, anticipating a fight. Whispers rippled through the masses: "Are they really going to fight?" "This will be interesting..." But no one dared step forward to intervene.
The Third Hokage watched quietly, expression calm but unreadable, before finally speaking to Izumi.
"After the Fourth Hokage's death, no one has been able to shoulder the great responsibility he left behind. That is why I have continued to serve. Do you have any objections, Uchiha Izumi?"
Izumi tilted her head with a playful smile. "Haha, no objections. But surely, there are many capable people in Konoha who could be Hokage now. Have you never considered abdicating to let a worthy successor take your place?"
The crowd gasped audibly, eyes wide with shock and disbelief at her audacity. Several bystanders took a step back, as if to create distance between themselves and Izumi—fearful that she might be struck down for her bold words.
Uchiha Cang Kong, who had just regained some composure from the earlier chaos, suddenly collapsed again. This time, the Uchiha clansmen behind him hesitated to catch him, and though others nearby helped, his body remained limp and weak.
The Third Hokage's voice darkened with displeasure. "Oh? You want to be Hokage, do you?"
Izumi's smile deepened, her eyes gleaming. "That's right. I want to be Hokage. What do you think, Third Hokage-sama?"
The Third Hokage shook his head slowly. "Impossible. Being Hokage isn't just about raw strength. You need the respect and prestige to unite the entire ninja village."
"Then who do you consider fit for the role?" Izumi pressed, curious.
The Third Hokage's mouth tightened, silence stretching.
Izumi continued, undeterred. "Hmm... no candidates, then? How is it that after all these years leading the village, you have no one in mind to succeed you?"
She narrowed her eyes and added pointedly, "Why did Jiraiya-sama, Orochimaru-sama, and Lady Tsunade—all powerful ninja—leave Konoha? Perhaps, Hokage-sama, it is your own leadership that drove them away."
The Third Hokage's expression darkened further. He understood she was humiliating him deliberately. Anger flared within him, but he forced himself to remain composed. "Uchiha Izumi, how far do you intend to go with this insolence?"
Izumi pressed on, her voice cool and clear. "What about Danzo Shimura-sama? He is strong and intelligent, and recently he has acquired new power that few can rival."
The name Danzo struck the crowd like a thunderclap. Several whispered to one another in disbelief.
"Wait, didn't they say Danzo and the Uchiha have a terrible history? How could she support him?"
"I don't know what's going on."
The Third Hokage listened quietly, deep in thought. Was Izumi attempting to sow distrust among them, or had she truly sided with Danzo Shimura? But that seemed impossible — she knew full well that Danzo was responsible for the harm done to her mother.
Or could there be other motives at play? Danzo's recent rise in power, with Shisui's Sharingan in his possession, was alarming. Had Danzo performed some hidden act that Izumi was hinting at?
"No," the Third Hokage told himself firmly. "I must remain calm. This could be a trap."
He looked directly at Izumi. "Although Danzo has contributed much to the Village and holds a certain prestige, his methods are dark and unscrupulous. He is not the right choice to lead Konoha."
Izumi's hand rested lightly on her chest, and she spoke confidently. "Hokage-sama, then let me be Hokage!"
Zecun, standing rigidly in front of the Third Hokage, shot a furious glare at Izumi. "Presumptuous! Hokage-sama! You cannot allow her to continue this reckless behavior! The cursed Uchiha Clan—"
Before Zecun could finish, a sudden crackle of lightning enveloped Izumi. In an instant, she appeared directly in front of Zecun, a confident smile gracing her lips.
She raised a finger to her mouth in a "shush" gesture, whispering, "You are the Hokage's guard. You cannot speak ill of the ninja families in the Village he rules. You're older than me, so how could you not understand that? You must have been promoted through connections, huh?"
The Third Hokage and everyone present stared at her in disbelief. When did she become this powerful? The thought struck them all at once.
One of the ninja whispered, "She's become so strong... if someone like her rises in the Uchiha Clan, it could spell trouble. Which side is she on now? Uchiha? Konoha? Or is she just too arrogant because she fears nothing?"
The Third Hokage's mind raced with these questions, weighing every possibility.
Trying to defuse the tension, the Third Hokage clapped his hands lightly and smiled. "I didn't expect Uchiha Izumi to have grown this powerful. That is quite impressive."
Izumi returned the smile, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. That was just a joke. Any child my age dreams of being Hokage. Everyone says they want to be Hokage at some point, right?"
The Third Hokage nodded knowingly. "Indeed. Children your age all harbor that dream. As long as you work hard, you might one day achieve it."
Izumi beamed. "Thank you, Hokage-sama! I will do my best!"
Relieved murmurs rippled through the crowd as the atmosphere lightened.
Meanwhile, Izumi resumed dragging the two instigators by their hair. "Now, Hokage-sama, you should get to work. You may be skilled at governing the village, but when it comes to handling those who tarnish its reputation, you're no match for us professionals."
The Third Hokage gave a faint nod. "Yes, the professionals will interrogate them." Though his face remained calm, his fists clenched tightly beneath his sleeves.
After years of leading Konoha, the Third Hokage had never been so thoroughly challenged—especially not by a young girl who dared insult his age and capability openly. The humiliation stung deep.
As the anguished screams of the instigators echoed behind him, the Third Hokage turned to retreat to his office, already contemplating how to counter Izumi's speed and unpredictable nature.
Moments later, a knock sounded at his door. "Come in!" he called.
A ninja entered with a report, bowing respectfully. "Hokage-sama, the intelligence unit's investigation indicates a high probability that the woman was a ninja from either Iwagakure or the Hidden Cloud Village."
The Third Hokage exhaled slowly, nodding. "That makes sense. Although she shouted that the Hidden Cloud Village would avenge her, it could be a ploy to mislead us."
"We must root out this spy network completely and prevent any further harm to Konoha."
The ninja bowed again and left to carry out orders.
As he watched the door close, the Third Hokage slammed his palm onto his desk, voice resolute. "Call the other two advisors. I have urgent matters to discuss."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" the ninja replied before disappearing.
---
The tension within Konoha grew heavier by the day. Izumi's boldness, her swift rise in power, and her daring challenges to authority were unsettling for many. Yet beneath her audacity burned a fierce determination—to protect her village, her clan, and to carve her own path in a world ruled by tradition and politics.
Would the old guard withstand her fire? Or would the winds of change usher in a new era under Uchiha Izumi?
Only time would tell.
---
Full book àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)