Late at night, after finishing her battle with Gento, Kurenai hurriedly left.
Soon after, Pakura immediately walked in, stood by the bedside, looked down at him, her eyes carrying a hint of disdain.
"You really are a big pervert!"
Gento raised his brows and turned over to sit up.
"Oh? A big pervert?"
Before his words finished, his hands were already forming seals.
"Yin Sealing: Slave Mark!"
The moment the Slave Mark was activated, Lightning-attribute Chakra burst out from the mark on her lower abdomen, like dense electric snakes drilling into Pakura's body.
"Mm~!"
Caught off guard, Pakura's legs suddenly clamped together, her body went weak, and she dropped straight to her knees on the ground.
She bit her lip, raised her eyes to look at Gento, annoyance in her gaze, yet she couldn't speak.
Gento stood up, walked to her, bent down, and lifted her into his arms.
The bed was a complete mess, but he didn't care, gently placing her down.
"Since you say that."
He leaned down close to her ear, his voice low.
"Then I'll let you see what a real pervert is like."
...
The next morning.
Gento opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
He turned his head to glance over; Pakura was still curled up in the blanket, faint red marks visible on her exposed shoulders and arms.
Her whole body was sore and limp, sleeping deeply.
Gento smiled, got dressed, and pushed the door open to leave.
Just as he stepped out, a figure landed in front of him.
It was an Anbu directly under the Hokage, wearing an animal mask, kneeling on one knee:
"Gento-sama, Hokage-sama summons you."
Gento nodded, following him toward the Hokage Tower, thoughtful.
When Gento entered the meeting room, most people had already arrived.
Gento found a seat and sat down, sweeping his gaze across those present.
Gento sharply noticed that Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was seated at a side position, while the main seat was empty.
This arrangement clearly meant that a major figure was about to arrive.
Danzo sat in the corner, his face expressionless.
After a while, the door was pushed open.
A middle-aged man wearing luxurious robes, with a tachi at his waist, walked in.
He had a fair appearance, the corners of his brows slightly raised, the corners of his mouth holding a faint smile, his eyes carrying a sense of looking down from above.
Behind him followed two guards: one was a blond young man with a cigarette in his mouth, Asuma Sarutobi.
The other was a bald young man dressed in monk robes, Chiriku.
Seeing this man enter, Hiruzen immediately stood up and introduced him to everyone:
"This is Lord Komon Isayama, an attendant to the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire. Please welcome him."
Everyone stood and bowed.
Komon merely nodded as a return.
He walked to the main seat but did not sit; he took out a scroll from his sleeve, unfurled it, cleared his throat, and read aloud:
"By the decree of the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire: Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, has served for many years, with both merit and fault in the war.
"In consideration of his toil, he is permitted to continue as Hokage for one more year. Upon the completion of this one-year term, he shall retire, and a new Hokage shall be selected."
After reading, he rolled up the scroll and casually handed it to Hiruzen beside him.
The meeting room fell silent for a moment.
Hiruzen took the scroll, his expression calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.
The defeat in the war had already made him expect this outcome.
Being able to serve for one more year now was already thanks to Minato and Gento, far better than he had anticipated.
Danzo, however, was different.
He lowered his head, but his eyes lit up, the corners of his mouth almost unable to suppress a smile.
A re-selection of Hokage in one year… didn't that mean he also had a chance?
Komon had no intention of sitting down. His gaze swept across the crowd, his tone as casual as idle chatter:
"Are Minato Namikaze and Gento Uchiha here?"
A young man with golden hair stood up, a gentle smile on his face: it was Minato.
Gento also stood and nodded to him.
Komon looked the two of them up and down, a look of appreciation appearing on his face.
"The two of you performed excellently in the war. The Feudal Lord has heard of it and is very satisfied. He intends to make both of you candidates for the next Hokage. Keep up the good work."
Minato slightly bowed:
"Thank you, my lord, for your regard."
Gento also followed with a bow.
Komon nodded, his gaze moving away from the two of them, as if preparing to leave.
Danzo suddenly stood up:
"My lord, in this war, I joined forces with Hanzo of the Salamander, defeated an organization in the Land of Rain called 'Akatsuki,' and even killed their leader, Yahiko.
"That should count as no small merit, right? I wonder if the Feudal Lord-sama has ever mentioned allowing me to participate in the selection for the next Hokage?"
Komon turned his face slightly and glanced at him.
That look was indifferent, like he was looking at an unimportant passerby.
"Hmm… what was your name?"
The corner of Danzo's mouth twitched.
"I am Danzo Shimura."
"Oh, the Feudal Lord-sama never mentioned you."
Komon waved his hand.
"Besides, you're too old."
Danzo clenched his fists, his lips moving as if he still wanted to say something.
Komon, however, gave him no chance and turned to walk out directly:
"My time is very precious; I won't stay here any longer."
The two guards followed, and the door closed behind them.
Everyone looked at each other, but no one spoke.
In the end, Hiruzen was the one who broke the silence.
He cleared his throat, his tone calm:
"It's about time for this old man to step down as well. However, in this final year, I will still properly handle what needs to be done."
Gento sat in his seat, but his thoughts were racing.
In the original story, as soon as the war ended, Hiruzen was forced to step down.
Now, because of the changes brought by him, the Hidden Leaf Village had defeated the Land of Wind, and Hiruzen had unexpectedly gained another year in office.
It seemed the Feudal Lord intended to give him a dignified conclusion out of consideration for his efforts, even if not for his achievements.
Hiruzen continued:
"The war has ended, and many shinobi have returned to the village. After spending so long on the battlefield, some have brought that savage atmosphere back with them. Recently, the public security in the village has worsened significantly; fights, disturbances, and harassment of civilians occur from time to time."
He looked at Gento:
"The Uchiha Police Force will have to work harder; strengthen patrols and suppress these unhealthy trends."
Gento stood up and lowered his head in acknowledgment:
"Understood, Hokage-sama. After I return, I will urge Fugaku to keep a closer watch."
Hiruzen nodded:
"Alright, meeting adjourned."
Everyone stood up and left one after another.
Danzo watched the departing figures of Minato and Gento, his gaze sinister.
He returned to the Root base. With a wave of his hand, a masked figure emerged from the shadows and knelt on one knee.
"Send a few people to investigate Minato Namikaze and Gento Uchiha."
"Dig up everything from their past. Check each matter thoroughly, organize it, and report back to me."
"Yes."
The dark figure flickered and disappeared into the shadows.
...
On the other side, after leaving the Hokage Tower, Gento walked along the street toward the Uchiha clan district.
As he walked, he thought about what had just happened.
In one year, the Hokage would be reselected. Both he and Minato were candidates.
Minato was upright in character, strong in ability, and highly popular. Not only had he, like Gento, achieved military merits on the battlefield, but more importantly, he was Hiruzen's grand-disciple.
According to the unspoken rules regarding the Hokage position, Gento's chances were likely slim.
Though that was fine… the current Hokage position was a hot potato, hardly a desirable role.
While he was thinking, a burst of commotion came from ahead.
Gento looked up and saw a crowd gathered at a street corner, making a racket.
He walked over, pushing through the crowd to look inside.
Two young men wearing Uchiha Police Force vests were pressing a drunken man onto the ground. The man was still struggling, cursing loudly.
Beside them, a woman sat on the ground, her clothes disheveled, her head lowered as she sobbed softly.
Gento frowned and stepped forward:
"What's going on?"
...
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