"Mr. Yoichi, why do you want to recommend Hatake Sakumo for Fourth Hokage?"
"It's simple, he can be fair, that's enough."
Uchiha Yoichi shrugged and said, "Orochimaru, although my relationship with you is better, I don't think you're suitable for Hokage; I'm afraid once you become Hokage, you'll be stuck in the laboratory all day, and the power of the Hokage will return to the Third Hokage and the current Konoha advisors."
"You really know me...."
Orochimaru laughed; compared to the position of Hokage, he still wanted to explore all the truths of the world and thoroughly study all ninjutsu.
A breakthrough in ninjutsu in the laboratory, that feeling of conquering unfamiliar knowledge, is what he enjoys.
Now Orochimaru still has a little desire to become Hokage, but this desire is more about proving himself to the third teacher.
But now he knows that the Uchiha clan fully supports Hatake Sakumo, which makes Orochimaru dispel his desire to become Hokage.
Compared with Hatake Sakumo, there is indeed a gap; he'd better give up early in exchange for some benefits he needs.
"Alright, I agree with you, Mr. Yoichi."
"After the Wood Release, I'll give you a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan and some Uchiha clan members' blood and flesh, that's the best I can do."
Uchiha Yoichi said, realizing he couldn't give Orochimaru a complete clan member, at most he could offer the eyes of fallen clan members.
Orochimaru nodded without greed; Uchiha Yoichi is the clan leader now, he didn't expect to get Uchiha's experimental subjects.
After the transaction was settled, Orochimaru stayed to discuss some other matters with Uchiha, mainly asking about the village and the Ninja World situation.
He often stayed in the experimental base, and the Third Hokage didn't give him any missions, so Orochimaru enjoyed leisure and rarely ventured out.
To be honest, even though the Third Ninja World War has reached this point, with both major battlefields settled, Uchiha Yoichi feels the war hasn't ended yet.
Neither war seemed to hurt the opponent enough. The Land of Hot Water battlefield aside, the village was guarding against two other ninja villages at the time, and the support provided was already scant, forcing an end to the war was a helpless move.
The sudden peace talks at Kikyo Castle puzzled Uchiha Yoichi; he clearly opposed negotiating with the Hidden Sand Ninja during the Jonin meeting when they had already reached the Land of Wind's border and could've pushed further.
Unexpectedly, the Hidden Sand Ninja suggested peace talks, and Konoha's senior management actually agreed....
The Sand Ninja hadn't suffered significant losses, and they withdrew with their forces intact; now, with the large-scale war over, small countries observed the major powers' vulnerability and began provoking at the borders frequently, leading to skirmishes.
Originally, dispatching elite squads to cut off these small nations' provocations would suffice, but Sarutobi Hiruzen insisted on organizing a joint Chunin exam to showcase the village ninja's strength.
It genuinely puzzled Uchiha Yoichi.
After seeing off Orochimaru, the cleaning people also left after coming over during his conversation with Orochimaru.
Then Uchiha Yoichi went upstairs to call Uzumaki Minami for dinner, even though she had eaten a lot for lunch, the two had used ten-plus positions to exercise in the afternoon, which consumed a lot of energy.
During the meal, Yugito suddenly asked, "When can I use Chakra?"
"Once you join Konoha and become my subordinate, I can remove the seal on you."
Uchiha Yoichi said, then gestured with his chin at Uzumaki Minami beside him, continuing, "See Minami, from the Uzumaki clan, even with the Bloodline Seal, she can adapt quickly to the Two-tailed's power after a Tailed Beast transfer.
If you remain stubborn, I'll have to consider other solutions!"
Uchiha Yoichi had said such words many times, at first Yugito was fearful, hiding under the covers shaking, afraid that if the Two-tailed was extracted, she would die entirely.
But hearing it often, Yugito became numb, particularly recently, as she felt this perverted Uchiha Yoichi had no intention to kill her.
"If I join Konoha, would Konoha accept a traitorous ninja?"
"If I say they accept, they accept. What do you think my status is in the village."
Uchiha Yoichi snorted softly, then said to Uzumaki Minami beside him, "Minami, release the Five Elements Seal on Yugito later."
"Alright, I got it."
Uzumaki Minami glanced at Yugito, just a kid, not threatening, just a bit uncomfortable living with Mr. Yoichi, wondering if she heard the noise in the afternoon.....
"The Chunin Exam is about to begin; you don't need to participate in this, after settling your identity, you might have to stay in the village for half a year, except you can't leave the village or some special places, feel free to roam otherwise."
With the Flying Thunder God Mark on Yugito, Uchiha Yoichi isn't worried about her leaving or hiding, offering her a chance for assessment.
————————————
"Lord Madara, there are two pieces of news; finding the information you need so quickly, can I...."
White Zetsu suddenly changed the topic, feeling the danger, so he got to the point: "Uchiha Fugaku has been found.
It was quite a coincidence; the clone monitoring Nagato suddenly saw several unfamiliar people with the Akatsuki Organization when following Nagato back, one of whom was Uchiha Fugaku, his face wrapped in bandages....."
"He's approached Nagato? How's the Rinnegan?"
Uchiha Madara's tone changed immediately; the Rinnegan was crucial for his resurrection, and Uchiha Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, perhaps he'd even seen the hidden stone tablet in the Nankai Shrine's secret chamber....
"He saw it but was merely surprised, not attempting to seize the Rinnegan."
White Zetsu continued, "Uchiha Fugaku seemed to be rescued by the Akatsuki Organization after being injured and stayed afterward; the purpose is unknown...."
"What's the second piece of good news?"
Hearing this, White Zetsu animatedly said, "Lord Madara, the second piece of news is also related to Uchiha Fugaku; my clone discovered something strange in the Uchiha Clan Land.
Uchiha Fugaku's son did not stay with his mother; Uchiha Fugaku's wife lives alone and often visits the current Uchiha Clan Leader...."
"Are you suggesting....."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Madara quickly deduced the reason for Uchiha Fugaku's defection.
"How dull, it's because of such a trivial matter...."
Yet, upon guessing the reason, Uchiha Madara understood Uchiha Fugaku's reason for defecting from Konoha; his heart must now be filled with hatred.
The Mangekyo Sharingan could be hopeful as an aide for the Moon Eye Plan, but Uchiha Fugaku is an experienced adult; despite opening the Mangekyo through suffering, such people are also quite cautious, unlike Obito.
"White Zetsu, figure out a way to lure Uchiha Fugaku over, but don't let the Akatsuki Organization suspect him."
Uchiha Madara spoke, finding value in exploiting his hatred, wanting to meet this junior; if he couldn't be an asset to the Moon Eye Plan, he still desired a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan.
Even though he's nearing death, with Tobi possessing him, he could still exert some power.
"Go, White Zetsu."
"Understood."
White Zetsu, hearing this, immediately sank underground, leaving this stronghold.
Elsewhere.
In the Land of Rain, Uchiha Fugaku was utterly shocked upon seeing the Rinnegan on Nagato, his expression also noticed by Yahiko.
Yahiko, seeing someone glimpse Nagato's Rinnegan, felt uneasy; unwilling to expose Nagato's power, he usually had Nagato cover his eyes with his hair when many people surrounded him.
But a gust of wind unexpectedly ruined things.
Yahiko called Uchiha Fugaku out while having Konan and Nagato follow, yet figuring out what to do with Uchiha Fugaku troubled him.
Ideally, killing him quickly would solve the issue, but Yahiko was incapable of such an act.
Uchiha Fugaku noticed Yahiko's hesitation and, after a moment's silence, spoke up, "You don't have to worry, I have no intention of exposing this matter....."