After returning home, as Senju Mori was silently reviewing what he had seen and heard that day, a rhythmic knock sounded from outside.
Opening the study door, it was Senju Tao waiting outside.
"Big Brother Mori, the Jonin from Hatake, Gekko, Sarutobi Clan, Kurama, Kato... have come to pay their respects."
Hearing this, Senju Mori couldn't help but smile.
"Taozi, please take them to the tearoom and entertain them. Ask them to wait a moment, I'll be there shortly."
After Senju Tao left as instructed, Senju Mori first tidied his clothes slightly in front of the mirror, then casually took a haori from the hanger and put it on.
He then took out a hair tie and re-tied his loose hair, before calmly walking away.
Soon, Senju Mori met the Jonin Senju Tao had mentioned in the tearoom.
"Oboro, Shuuichi, Genbou, Shugaku, Aida... Long time no see."
Senju Mori walked in leisurely. These individuals were from smaller Ninja Clans who had either received favors from Senju Hashirama or had deep ties with the Senju Clan.
After dealing with the main Senju Clan, they were a stable voting bloc that no longer required him to actively lobby them.
"Lord Mori," Hatake Shuuichi, dressed like a samurai, spoke first, his voice steady and strong, "I heard you are striving for the Hokage position."
"In those days, Shodai(1st)-sama rescued the Gekko Clan from exile. We have never forgotten that kindness," the middle-aged man, Gekko Oboro, said firmly.
Kurama Shugaku stepped forward slowly, his expression equally solemn as he spoke.
"The Kurama Clan will always remember who extended a helping hand to us."
"Although we are small, we are willing to do our part," Sarutobi Genbou followed closely.
Kato Aida, who was last, saw that the previous four had said everything there was to say, so he simply stepped forward decisively and loudly echoed, "The Kato Clan too!"
Looking at the several people who knelt before him without hesitation, openly expressing their loyalty, Senju Mori couldn't help but show a bright smile.
The seeds that Clan Head Hashirama unintentionally sowed back then have now grown into towering trees... The next day,
it was also the last day before Konoha's Third Hokage election and the Jonin confidence vote.
With a mindset of at least giving it a try, Senju Mori finally arrived at the Uchiha Clan's territory.
The Uchiha Clan, of course, would not prepare any special welcoming ceremony for Senju Mori.
However, since they had accepted Senju Mori's calling card, out of the rules and etiquette of a major clan, they still dispatched two clan members to act as greeters and guides.
It wasn't until Senju Mori reached the gates of the Uchiha territory that these two welcoming Uchiha suddenly appeared like ghosts.
"Senju-dono."
Only one of them spoke, a greeting devoid of emotion, fulfilling the customary salutation. The other remained silent, making a 'please' gesture.
Just like the intellect and political wisdom of this clan, the layout within the Uchiha territory was also quite simple.
A straight main road ran through the entire Uchiha Clan territory, with neatly spaced utility poles and numerous Uchiha Clan members' residences lining both sides of the road.
And the Clan Head's residence was at the end of this path.
If the Nara Clan was merely a little cold, then the Uchiha Clan's attitude towards Senju Mori could be described as full of vigilance, caution, and even openly displaying hostility.
As Senju Mori gradually walked further into the Uchiha Clan territory, Uchiha Clan members along the road on both sides stopped their original activities.
Uchiha who were moving through the territory, preparing to go home or leave, all stopped. Those who were talking to each other just a second ago all turned their heads... They looked at Senju Mori and the particularly prominent Senju Clan crest on his chest with cold eyes.
Pairs of terrifying eyes with jet-black tomoe quietly opened, revealing their crimson Sharingan directly.
And when Senju Mori finally met the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Isshin, the first thing he said made Senju Mori almost lose his composure and nearly burst out laughing on the spot.
"Is Senju-kun here to persuade me to give up competing with you for the Hokage position?"
Besides that, Uchiha Isshin's way of addressing Senju Mori was very interesting.
Unlike Hyuga Sogo's polite "-dono," and different from Nara Shikatsune's initial business-like "Jonin Mori."
The suffix "-kun," besides being used between very close friends, is more often used when elders guide juniors, or seniors look after their juniors.
Spoken by Uchiha Isshin at this moment, it certainly couldn't be an intimate address between friends; it clearly implied meanings like "that Senju kid."
It was merely to maintain a semblance of superficial decorum.
Senju Mori wasn't particularly surprised by this veiled provocation, as expecting these Uchiha madmen to speak politely like the Hyuga Clan was undoubtedly a pipe dream.
However... you're still thinking of competing for Hokage?
Senju Mori really didn't know where the Uchiha got their confidence from.
But after seeing Uchiha Isshin's serious face with a hint of arrogance, Senju Mori realized that this was indeed the other party's true thought, so he suppressed his laughter and responded:
"Oh? It seems I am ill-informed. So Clan Head Isshin also wishes to run for Hokage?"
"Why does Senju-dono ask when he already knows?"
Seeing Senju Mori's composed demeanor, completely unfazed by his provocation.
Perhaps Uchiha Isshin also felt a bit embarrassed to use such petty tactics, so he secretly switched back his form of address.
However, he still maintained an unconcerned facade, looking directly at Senju Mori, and continued:
"Now that the Second Hokage has unfortunately fallen in battle, and the barbarians of Kumogakure are still eyeing our Konohagakure covetously, it is a time when the Village needs to be led by a true strongman."
"You were able to assist the Second Hokage in killing Kinkaku and Ginkaku, which indeed shows considerable strength, but our Uchiha Clan will never retreat because of that."
"Instead of coming to lobby today, attempting to persuade me to withdraw from the competition with mere words, you would do better to go back and prepare diligently, and compete fairly with me in tomorrow's Jonin meeting."
Hearing this, Senju Mori couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, the last trace of his interest in conversing with the other party completely vanishing from his eyes.
"Clan Head Isshin truly has, well... truly has his own unique insights, which are quite refreshing."
Senju Mori's words carried a hint of amusement, "It seems I have intruded today."
He turned to leave, but then, as if suddenly remembering something interesting, he turned back and said:
"However, allow me to remind you, Senju-dono, your opponent tomorrow is not just me. Jonin Hiruzen is also determined to get the Hokage position."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi?" Uchiha Isshin looked as if he had heard an utterly absurd joke, his face first showing an expression of disbelief, then speaking with some irritation:
"Senju-dono, please don't make such jokes!"
"How can a coward who abandoned the Hokage and fled the battlefield dare to compete with you and me for the Third Hokage position?"
This time, Senju Mori finally no longer concealed it, and his clear laughter echoed freely throughout the empty hall.
"Hahahahahahaha—it truly is endlessly enjoyable to converse with Clan Head Isshin."
Before Senju Mori's laughter faded, he had already turned and walked out.
"My words are done. Farewell."
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