"You mean to say, you want to elect me as Hokage?"
Inside Konoha Hospital, Minamikawa Yuu stood there quietly, looking at Utatane Koharu and the other person before him, an unexpected look appearing on his face.
"Correct."
Homura Mitokado nodded. "If Hiruzen were still here, he would undoubtedly be the best candidate for Hokage, but he has now gone missing."
"Teacher is gone, but there is still Mr. Danzo."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly, "He is also a student of Hokage-sama, and his strength is top-tier within the Village. He has the qualifications to become Hokage."
"Although I don't want to say this, Danzo's personality is not suitable for becoming Hokage."
Utatane Koharu hesitated for a moment before finally sighing. "His temperament is too extreme. If he were allowed to become Hokage, the Village would suffer a disaster."
Compared to the mild-tempered Hiruzen Sarutobi, the cold-natured Danzo Shimura was a type many people disliked.
Even his teammates, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, did not wish to see such a person as Hokage above them.
In comparison, Minamikawa Yuu's performance was undoubtedly more suitable.
He had a gentle personality and maintained good relationships with Hiruzen Sarutobi's supporters like the Ino–Shika–Chō, as well as with Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and others.
Back when the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju was still around, Tobirama Senju also held Minamikawa Yuu in high regard.
His abilities were obvious to all; the results of his leadership in the Medical Department reforms over the years were clearly visible.
Within the entire Konoha, even the Hiruzen Sarutobi of the past could not compare to Minamikawa Yuu in this regard.
The most crucial factor was his background.
Minamikawa Yuu came from the Uchiha Clan.
This was originally a disadvantage.
However, through Minamikawa Yuu's deliberate efforts over the years, the mark of the Uchiha Clan on him had become very faint, while his identity as Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple became more prominent.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple, he could enjoy many things.
Much of the foundation Tobirama Senju had prepared for Hiruzen Sarutobi's succession could now serve as a boost for Minamikawa Yuu in Hiruzen's absence.
For example, right now.
"Ji, you are Hiruzen's disciple."
Homura Mitokado spoke, "Hiruzen was the Hokage designated by the teacher before his death. Now that he is gone, as Hiruzen's only disciple, you should naturally become a nominee for the next generation's Hokage."
A disciple inheriting a teacher's legacy was a very common thing in this world.
Regardless, with Hiruzen Sarutobi missing, it seemed reasonable to Homura Mitokado and the others for Minamikawa Yuu to inherit Hiruzen Sarutobi's legacy.
Of course, this was assuming they didn't know Minamikawa Yuu was the one who had dealt with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"I am still too young, after all..." Faced with the persuasion of Homura Mitokado and the other, Minamikawa Yuu showed hesitation.
"That is not a problem."
Utatane Koharu urged, "Your abilities are obvious to all, and your strength is no less than Danzo's."
"If you step forward, everyone will be convinced."
"I'll consider it further."
Minamikawa Yuu did not agree immediately.
This was, of course, an act, and also a matter of practical consideration.
Agreeing too eagerly would easily reveal his goals and put him in a passive position.
The story of the Hokage election had only just begun; he was in no hurry.
Minamikawa Yuu did not have to wait for long.
As he expected, only a short time passed before many changes occurred outside.
There were also some interludes.
The Uchiha Clan Head made a high-profile entry into the Hokage election.
It would have been fine if he were just campaigning, but he did so with great fanfare, even threatening the smaller clans unwilling to side with the Uchiha Clan, saying they would pay the price in the future.
His style was too flamboyant; he didn't understand the concept of endurance at all.
Even if you truly intended to settle scores later, you couldn't just say it out loud.
This Uchiha Clan Head was something else; not only did he not put on a front, but he also spoke his mind openly.
Regarding his performance, Minamikawa Yuu could only shake his head inwardly, finding it unsurprising.
Such actions might seem inconceivable to an ordinary person, but for the Uchiha Clan, they were quite normal.
After all, he had experienced the Uchiha Clan's level of political maneuvering before and had no doubts about it.
However, once this incident came out, the resistance within Konoha Village toward the Uchiha Clan taking power became even stronger.
There were already many people in Konoha who didn't want to see the Uchiha Clan rise to power, and now there were even more.
"Ji, this can't go on."
In a quiet courtyard, Uchiha Kagami stood before a tree, looking at Minamikawa Yuu and urging him, "The Clan Head has gone mad..."
""
"Once he ascends to the position of Hokage, the Village will be turned into a mess by him."
Before him, Minamikawa Yuu stood quietly, currently like a gardener, calmly pruning flowers and plants.
He had been like this during this period.
Despite the turmoil outside, he stayed here as if he were completely ignoring external affairs, maintaining an attitude of indifference.
"What about Mr. Danzo..."
Hearing Kagami's words, Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly, "What does he say?"
"Danzo, he... 71"
At the mention of Danzo, Uchiha Kagami hesitated, then finally sighed and said, "He has changed a bit; he's become somewhat of a stranger now..."
"In order to fight for the position of Hokage, he is now doing whatever it takes."
With the Uchiha Clan Head's side blowing up, Danzo's side didn't seem much better.
To fight for the Hokage position, he also employed many maneuvers; while they had some effect, they also thoroughly disgusted many onlookers.
Because of this, Uchiha Kagami and the others were even more disappointed.
No one wanted a leader with dirty tactics above them.
This was especially true for people like Uchiha Kagami and Homura Mitokado, who truly loved Konoha.
To put it bluntly, in this battle for the Hokage position, Minamikawa Yuu hadn't even officially made a move yet, and his competitors were already blowing themselves up one after another.
So sometimes, you don't need to do exceptionally well; you just need the opponent to do poorly enough.
This is a world of comparing who is less worse.
"Is that so?"
Minamikawa Yuu sighed softly.
Hearing Uchiha Kagami's words, he also seemed somewhat moved and fell into thought.
Uchiha Kagami didn't disturb him, just looked at Minamikawa Yuu with expectation. Most of Hiruzen Sarutobi's many friends had a good relationship with Minamikawa Yuu, even Danzo Shimura, who maintained a normal friendship and social interaction in the past.
But among these many people, Uchiha Kagami was undoubtedly the one with the best relationship with Minamikawa Yuu.
On one hand, they were from the same clan; on the other, it was out of admiration.
Unlike other Uchihas, Uchiha Kagami truly loved Konoha and truly believed in Hiruzen Sarutobi, but who doesn't have a dream of becoming Hokage in their heart?
People like Uchiha Kagami and Homura Mitokado didn't step forward to campaign for that position only because they knew the limitations of their own abilities and that they were not enough to shoulder that role.
But the Minamikawa Yuu before him was different.
In Uchiha Kagami's view, although this junior was young, his abilities were even a cut above his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Within Konoha, the only one who could truly compare to him was the already deceased Second Hokage Tobirama Senju.
He had no hope of becoming Hokage, but this junior from his own clan had great hope.
Moreover, there was the factor of a life-saving debt involved.
Previously, when Homura Mitokado's group returned to Konoha, the others were mostly fine, but Uchiha Kagami's injuries were quite severe.
If Minamikawa Yuu hadn't treated him in time, he might have died.
With this factor, combined with being from the same clan and their previous relationship, Uchiha Kagami supported Minamikawa Yuu from every angle.
"What does the clan say?"
After pondering for a long time, Minamikawa Yuu finally looked up.
He looked at Uchiha Kagami: "If I step forward to campaign for Hokage, what will the people in the clan say?"
"Most people in the clan support the Clan Head."
Hearing Minamikawa Yuu's words, joy immediately appeared on Uchiha Kagami's face. "But if you, Ji, are willing to step forward, then I can guarantee that at least thirty percent of the people will support you, and many of the rest will take a wait-and-see attitude."
Minamikawa Yuu was, after all, of Uchiha descent.
Over the years, as a genius of the Uchiha Clan, although he deliberately downplayed his Uchiha identity, he still held great prestige within the clan.
After all, from any perspective, he was a stunning genius of the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha Kagami before him was the same.
Compared to Minamikawa Yuu, who came from an ordinary background, Kagami's family was not ordinary within the Uchiha; although not of the Clan Head's branch, they had produced many elders and had great influence within the Uchiha Clan.
If not for this, the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju would not have chosen to take him as a student.
With Uchiha Kagami's support and Minamikawa Yuu's own reputation, it was enough to ensure that the vast majority of Uchiha Ninjas would turn to support him.
"That is enough."
Minamikawa Yuu nodded. "In that case, let's go ahead and do it."
He didn't think thirty percent of supporters was few; on the contrary, he felt this support rate was already quite high.
After all, to minimize his Uchiha identity as much as possible, he hadn't done much within the Uchiha Clan.
Under such circumstances, having this current support rate was already good.
"What about Senior Torifu?"
He continued to ask.
"He hasn't stated his position, but he also doesn't support Danzo."
Uchiha Kagami spoke, "As long as you are willing to step forward, Homura and I will go to persuade him together; there will definitely be no problem."
Akimichi Torifu was also one of Tobirama Senju's guard units, serving as the representative of the three traditional clans, the Ino–Shika–Chō.
If he chose to support Minamikawa Yuu, then he would basically have the support of the Ino–Shika–Chō Clans.
And these three clans were originally supporters of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"In that case."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly, "Then let's begin."