After a long silence, Namikaze Minato finally asked,
"Lord Hokage… are the Uchiha and Hyūga clans really that important?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a bitter smile.
"Minato, you're still too young. Never underestimate the foundations of those great clans that have endured for thousands of years."
"During the thousands of years of warfare in the Warring States Period, those clans that survived developed their own systems for cultivating shinobi."
"As a result, their clans never lack powerful fighters."
"Take the Uchiha clan as an example. Their bloodline ability is extrely special."
"The Sharingan only awakens under intense emotional stimulation."
"And once the Sharingan evolves into the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, that shinobi instantly possesses true jōnin-level combat power—sotis even far beyond that of an ordinary jōnin."
"That's why a saying exists throughout the shinobi world:
If you encounter an Uchiha in a one-on-one fight—run imdiately."
"And encountering a unit of Uchiha is even worse."
"Imagine running into a squad of Uchiha whose strength is roughly at the chūnin level. Suppose after great effort you manage to kill one of them."
"The remaining three could easily be driven by intense emotional shock and awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan on the spot."
"In an instant, they could all advance to jōnin-level strength—or even beyond."
"That's exactly what happened during this war."
"Although the Uchiha clan lost nearly a hundred mbers, their overall combat strength actually rose several tiers."
"Where can you even argue against sothing like that?"
After a pause, Hiruzen spoke again in a serious tone.
"You might think the Uchiha act extrely arrogant in the village…"
"But the truth is—they have the right to be arrogant."
"Right now, if you combine all jōnin-level combat power in the village—including the ANBU, Root, and all the major clans—the total is still less than one thousand."
"But the Uchiha clan alone possesses nearly one hundred jōnin-level fighters."
"With that perspective, their importance should be obvious."
Minato was deeply shocked.
This was the first ti he had heard such a direct assessnt of the Uchiha clan's strength.
He had always known the Uchiha were powerful—but he had never imagined they were this powerful.
Hiruzen continued,
"Although the Hyūga clan cannot match the Uchiha in overall strength, they are also an ancient clan that has existed for thousands of years."
"Their foundations are equally formidable."
"They are unquestionably Konoha's second most powerful clan."
"The Hyūga clan alone has dozens of jōnin."
"And each of those represents a jōnin confidence vote."
"I've already roughly calculated the numbers."
"With the support from Root, Orochimaru, and several other clans, Shimura Danzō already controls more than three hundred jōnin votes."
"If the Hyūga clan joins him, his total will reach nearly four hundred."
"As for the votes I can secure for you… even including my own influence, it will only amount to a little over four hundred."
"Once the neutral abstentions are removed from the calculation…"
"The nearly one hundred jōnin votes controlled by the Uchiha clan beco extrely critical."
Hiruzen sighed again.
If he hadn't completely fallen out with Danzō and Orochimaru, then those hundreds of votes would originally have belonged to his faction.
Which ant he would still possess absolute control over the village.
In that case, why would he ever need to care about the Uchiha clan's opinion?
Shaking his head, Hiruzen continued,
"Although your previous outburst offended the Uchiha clan…"
"Compared to you, the things Danzō has done to the Uchiha are far worse."
"So the Uchiha will never stand on Danzō's side."
"Between you and Danzō, the most likely choice for the Uchiha clan is to abstain."
"But the conflict between you and the Uchiha isn't impossible to resolve."
"Since you agree with their proposal to revise the village's outdated laws, and you also want to reclaim the authority of the Konoha Military Police Force, you might as well negotiate with them properly."
"You can promise certain benefits to the Uchiha clan in exchange for the authority of the Konoha Military Police Force."
"And in return, you can support their proposal to revise the village's legal frawork, securing the Uchiha clan's support for your candidacy."
"That Uchiha Ren is a smart man."
"And the two of you already have a decent relationship."
"If you negotiate sincerely, I believe he will agree to support your rise to Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi truly deserved his reputation as soone who had held the Hokage seat for more than a decade.
His balancing strategy was executed flawlessly.
Once he realized that the Uchiha's legal reform could not be stopped—and that the only option was to exchange interests through legitimate negotiation—he imdiately turned the situation to his advantage.
By using the sa issue, he could both prevent the Uchiha from monopolizing power and repair the relationship between Minato and the Uchiha clan.
From the outco's perspective, Hiruzen was still offering the sa concessions.
Yet he would gain Uchiha support for Minato, ensuring Minato's successful ascension as the Fourth Hokage.
The Uchiha might gain a little—but Hiruzen would not lose anything either.
"I understand," Minato said with a nod.
"I'll find an opportunity to speak with Uchiha Ren ."
"Good."
Hiruzen smiled.
Then, as if suddenly rembering sothing, he asked,
"By the way, Minato—do you know how strong Uchiha Ren actually is?"
Hiruzen's willingness to cooperate with the Uchiha was ultimately forced by circumstances.
Danzō's sudden challenge had caught him off guard.
For now, he had no choice but to temporarily set aside his prejudice against the Uchiha and use them as a counterbalance against Danzō.
This was politics.
There were no eternal friends—only eternal interests.
But that didn't an Hiruzen had forgotten the potential threat of the Uchiha clan.
That was why he asked about Ren 's strength.
Based on Ren 's performance on the battlefield, Hiruzen suspected that Uchiha Ren already possessed Kage-level combat strength.
However—
Even among Kage-level shinobi, there were enormous differences in power.
Without witnessing Ren fight firsthand, Hiruzen couldn't accurately judge his true strength, nor decide how cautiously the village should treat the Uchiha.
Minato thought for a mont before replying,
"A few years ago, Ren and I sparred several tis."
"His Fire Release techniques were extrely powerful—already beyond the scope of ordinary Fire Release ninjutsu."
"In a direct confrontation, I wouldn't be his opponent."
"But since I possess the Flying Thunder God Technique, he also had no way of defeating ."
Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly.
"Are you certain?"
Minato's words essentially ant that he could only maintain a draw through the mobility of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
That shocked Hiruzen.
Uchiha Ren 's strength had already exceeded his expectations.
Minato shook his head slightly.
"But that was several years ago."
"At the ti, I still hadn't fully mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"So now… it's hard to say."
Hiruzen visibly relaxed a little, though he still added,
"If possible, find another opportunity to spar with Uchiha Ren ."
"Try to determine his true strength."
"As the leader of a village…"
"Not knowing the real combat power of your own shinobi is a serious mistake."
Minato nodded.
"Understood."
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