Hanekawa studied Fugaku Uchiha across the modest sitting room, choosing his words with care. "Uncle Fugaku, do you know how many approvals are needed to become Hokage?"
Fugaku's expression shifted—curiosity mixed with caution. "You mean... the process?"
"Essentially, yes." Hanekawa settled back slightly. "The Hokage, the Land of Fire Daimyo, the jonin council, and the villagers. Four pillars of support."
Fugaku nodded, though his thoughts were clearly elsewhere. In his mind, only the Hokage's approval truly mattered. The Uchiha had never produced a Kage because no Hokage had ever trusted them enough.
"If my student wants that position," Hanekawa continued carefully, "all four approvals are essential. Lady Tsunade and I can secure the Hokage and Daimyo. But the jonin and the villagers..." He paused, letting the weight settle. "That's where the real obstacle lies."
Fugaku's jaw tightened. He understood where this was heading.
"The Uchiha clan's reputation in Konoha is... complicated," Hanekawa said, keeping his tone neutral. "That will hinder his path."
Silence stretched between them. Fugaku had spent years trying to reshape the clan's image, with limited success. The weight of leadership pressed down on him constantly.
"The solution lies with the Police Department," Hanekawa said.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you proposing?"
"The villagers resent the Police Department because the Uchiha enforce the law too rigidly. Lady Tsunade's idea is to integrate ninjas from other clans—to balance the approach."
"How many?" Fugaku's voice was sharp.
"Approximately half."
Fugaku stood abruptly. "That's impossible. Even if I agreed, the clan elders would never accept it."
"Then your son won't become Hokage," Hanekawa said simply. "The Uchiha must integrate into the village, not stand apart from it."
Fugaku paced, wrestling with the impossible choice. His pride warred with his ambition for his family's future.
"We can start gradually," Hanekawa offered. "Fill the vacancies left by casualties from the Land of Snow campaign. Frame it as a manpower shortage, not a policy shift."
Fugaku stopped, considering this compromise.
"Itachi." Hanekawa turned to the younger Uchiha, who had remained silent throughout. "What do you think?"
Itachi glanced at his father before responding. "A Hokage shouldn't represent one clan or one department. He should represent the entire village."
Fugaku's expression softened. His son understood what he was still learning.
"I'll do it," Fugaku said finally, the words seeming to cost him. "But the clan will resist."
"Then you'll need to convince them," Hanekawa replied. "Lady Tsunade isn't Hiruzen or Danzo. She won't tolerate obstruction."
After Hanekawa left, Fugaku sat alone with his thoughts. The Police Department had never been as important as the ANBU or Root anyway—Danzo and Hiruzen had systematically stripped it of real power. Perhaps reclaiming authority through reform wasn't weakness. Perhaps it was strategy.
---
The evening air was cool as Hanekawa walked toward the Yuhi residence, a scroll tucked under his arm. Aoi had delivered the list of war orphans adopted over the past four years—routine administrative work that had become his responsibility as Hokage's aide.
He was halfway through reading when hands covered his eyes from behind.
"Guess who?" A deliberately low voice attempted mystery and failed.
Hanekawa smiled. "What's the prize for a correct answer?"
"Dinner," the voice promised.
"Kurenai."
She released him, laughing in surprise. "How did you know? I didn't even—"
"Your scent," he said, turning to face her. "It's distinctive."
Kurenai sniffed her own neck skeptically. "I'm not wearing perfume. You're making that up."
"Am I?" Hanekawa leaned closer, his voice dropping. He caught the faint fragrance of her hair, the warmth radiating from her skin. "It's really quite nice."
Her pupils dilated. She stood very still.
"Your skin is pale as snow too," he murmured, studying the delicate line of her neck. "Beautiful."
"I... that's..." Kurenai's voice wavered, her composure cracking like thin ice.
Hanekawa straightened slightly. "I'm changing the reward. I already ate at the Uchiha compound."
"What do you want instead?" she asked, her voice barely steady.
He lowered his head and kissed her neck softly.
Kurenai's entire body went rigid. Her mind went white. When she finally processed what had happened, heat flooded her face.
"This," Hanekawa said, taking her hand. "Let's go home."
"Ah," she managed, following in a daze.
"Have you eaten?" he asked, gently playing with her fingers as they walked.
Several seconds passed before she answered. "Yes."
He smiled at her distraction. She was adorable like this.
"Is Uncle Shinku home?" he asked casually.
"Yes," she confirmed, still flustered.
"That's unfortunate," he said softly.
Her heart jumped. "Why... why is that unfortunate?"
He met her eyes, and she immediately looked away, her face burning.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, amusement clear in his voice.
"N-nothing! Nothing at all!" She stared at her feet, her voice barely a whisper.
Hanekawa chuckled and ruffled her hair. She didn't protest this time.
---
October arrived with the weight of significant change.
Two events dominated Konoha's attention. The first was the wedding of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki—a union that fascinated the village given Minato's status as Jiraiya's student and Kushina's role as the Nine-Tails jinchuriki.
The second was Tsunade's first official jonin council meeting as Hokage.
This meeting consumed far more nervous energy than the wedding.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had barely slept in days, terrified that Tsunade would strip them of their advisor positions. They'd appealed to Hiruzen, only to be coldly refused. He'd retired, he said. He wouldn't interfere.
It was obviously a lie, but there was nothing they could do about it.
---
At the ANBU base, Hanekawa completed the final hand seal.
Wood Style: Four Pillar House.
Chakra erupted outward. The ground buckled and heaved as wooden pillars shot upward, interlocking and forming walls, a roof, an entire structure in seconds.
Hanekawa walked through the completed house, genuinely impressed. "Chakra really is something else."
The interior was fully furnished—a living room, bedroom, even a bathroom. Only the kitchen was missing. It was remarkable what pure chakra could accomplish.
He'd now mastered four Wood Style techniques: Tree World Descent, Great Forest Technique, Wood Clone, and this one. He was still working on Woodman Technique, but that would take months.
The Flying Thunder God Technique remained his priority. Another month or two, and he'd have it. Then the entire ninja world would be within reach.
He dispersed the structure and heard familiar voices approaching.
"Hanekawa!" Kurenai appeared, practically bouncing with excitement. Rin was with her. "The wedding's about to start! We have to go!"
"There's still thirty minutes," he said, smiling at her enthusiasm.
"Let's go anyway!" She grabbed his hand and pulled.
The wedding venue was already packed when they arrived. Hanekawa had expected this. He wasn't particularly invested in the ceremony itself—his main objective was the food.
But as he scanned the seating arrangements, he realized his status had changed. He could no longer sit at the children's table with Kurenai, Kakashi, and the others. As the Hokage's aide and a high-ranking member of the village, he had a different place now.
The weight of that shift settled on him as he took his seat at the jonin table, watching the ceremony begin.