Naruto: Uchiha's Resolve

"Captain, this joke isn't funny," Inahiro protested. "The Shadow Guard's duty is to protect the Hokage with their lives. Even if every last guard fell, the Hokage should survive. It makes no sense for a Hokage to sacrifice himself for his bodyguards."

Inahiro, more outspoken than his steady brother Tetsuka, found the death of Senju Tobirama almost surreal. To die protecting his own Shadow Guard seemed not just tragic, but absurd.

"Listen, Inahiro," Hirito replied, "stories may need logic, but reality is often far stranger."

Everyone stared at Hirito, wondering if he was just spinning tales to lighten the mood. But Hirito's demeanor suggested otherwise, and they found themselves reluctantly believing him. Hirito wasn't the type to fabricate news about the Hokage's death in such a serious setting.

Suddenly, Tetsuka spoke up, his voice laced with a mix of hope and caution. "Captain, since Tobirama has passed, have they selected the Third Hokage?"

Tetsuka's simple question ignited a spark within each Uchiha present. If the Second Hokage was gone, then the Third Hokage must be named. Could it finally be the Uchiha clan's turn?

After all, the Uchiha were also founders of Konoha. Even though their ancestor Madara had defected, his role in the village's founding couldn't be erased. With two Hokages already from the Senju, surely it was time for an Uchiha to step up.

The idea of their clan's captain, Uchiha Hirito, having gathered them to discuss such monumental news raised their hopes further. Could Hirito, a battle-hardened veteran respected by the clan and even considered a match for their clan leader Tomita, be the one with a plan?

But then Hirito's voice broke through their excitement. "It's settled."

The simplicity of his words was like a bucket of cold water extinguishing the flame of anticipation.

"The Senju clan again?" Tetsuka murmured bitterly.

Everyone exchanged glances. The Senju were the only clan powerful enough to claim the Hokage title once more. Uzumaki Mito, the First Hokage's widow, was a formidable choice, though she remained largely out of the public eye. Then there was Momoki Senju, the First Hokage's son, known for his strength and influence.

A terrible thought struck Tetsuka. "Captain… you're not planning a coup, are you?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper. The idea horrified him, yet he feared Hirito's ambitions might lead him down such a path.

"Who is it?" Inahiro broke the silence, eyes narrowing. "Mito-sama or Momoki-sama?"

"This is ridiculous," another Uchiha grumbled. "The Senju have already had two Hokages. It's time for the Uchiha."

Hirito held up a hand, quieting the room. "Neither. It's Sarutobi Hiruzen."

The room fell silent, stunned by the unexpected name.

"Captain, are you teasing us again?" Inahiro blurted, barely containing his frustration. "If you're not well, we should take you to the clan's medical ninjas. You're the pillar of our clan—you can't afford to lose your mind now."

A frown creased Hirito's face. He cast a hard gaze at Inahiro, his patience fraying. "Inahiro, I'm discussing the future of our clan, and you think I'm crazy? After this meeting, let's step outside and spar. I'll make sure you're seeing the medics afterward."

Inahiro took a step back, realizing too late that his casual remark had crossed a line. He glanced at Tetsuka, silently pleading for help.

Tetsuka sighed, shaking his head at his brother's loose tongue. "Captain, please don't mind him. He doesn't always think before he speaks." Then, turning to Hirito, he added, "But… is it really true? Did Tobirama actually name Sarutobi Hiruzen as his successor?"

"Yes," Hirito replied with a sigh. "I wouldn't waste our time on anything less."

The room's silence was tense, everyone struggling to process the news. The idea that Tobirama had named Sarutobi Hiruzen as his successor was almost too far-fetched to believe.

Inahiro couldn't contain himself. "Sarutobi Hiruzen? That nobody? Captain, I could take down three of him myself. And he's meant to lead Konoha?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room. If Tobirama had appointed Mito or Momoki, the Uchiha could have at least negotiated for concessions within the village. But Hiruzen? The Sarutobi were little more than a small clan under Senju patronage, a family of no consequence compared to the powerful Uchiha.

"With Senju already lording over us, we hardly need Sarutobi on top of that. What are they thinking?"

Hirito gave a slight nod, his eyes scanning the room as he read the rising anger and frustration among his clan. "I understand your feelings. To many of you, this may feel like an insult. The Sarutobi were never a clan of power in the Warring States era. And now we're expected to accept one of them as Hokage?"

"You're right, Captain!" shouted an Uchiha from the back of the room. "We won't stand for it!"

"The Uchiha should be the ones leading Konoha," someone else chimed in. "Let the Senju see how it feels to be overlooked!"

The mood in the room was changing rapidly, anger building as Hirito nodded in quiet agreement. He knew that, regardless of who held the title of Hokage, the Uchiha clan could not sit idly by, especially now that a lesser clan like the Sarutobi had claimed that title. For a clan as old and storied as Uchiha, this was a question of dignity.

"We can't accept this," Inahiro continued, standing defiantly. "If Sarutobi Hiruzen can be Hokage, then why not Uchiha Hirito, a true warrior?"

Hirito smirked, a glint of pride in his eye. "The Uchiha have always been the pride of Konoha," he said calmly. "We'll ensure that pride remains, no matter who sits in the Hokage's chair."

Around him, the Uchiha shared a moment of resolve, united in their conviction that the clan's glory would not be diminished, even if they had to stand against Sarutobi Hiruzen's appointment.

For them, the rise of Sarutobi Hiruzen to Hokage wasn't just a minor inconvenience; it was an affront to the legacy of their ancestors, and the Uchiha would not take it lying down.

(End of this chapter).

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