"What do you mean by that?! You're bullying Wen Lan again?!"
Inuzuka Tsume glared at Inuzuka Tsume with open hostility.
"Bullying him?" Inuzuka Tsume looked as if he'd just heard the biggest joke of his life.
"Tsume, I'm just a lousy jōnin, and he's already Kage-level! Use your eyes—no, use your brain—does that even sound possible?"
"So you're saying I've got no brain?" Tsume's eyes turned dangerous.
Her fingernails instantly sharpened, and she slapped him across the face.
Inuzuka Tsume yelped and bolted toward the Hokage Building, shouting over his shoulder as he ran,
"Wen Lan! This isn't over between us!"
"Hehehehehe—"
Seeing Wen Lan's shameless grin, Fugaku, Hiashi, and the others waiting at the entrance all fell silent in collective speechlessness.
Once everyone entered the Hokage Building, the formal proceedings began.
Namikaze Minato sat behind the Hokage's desk, delivering polite, ceremonial remarks.
In truth, it was just the major clans stepping forward to declare loyalty.
Each clan sent two or three representatives.
These so-called "high-level seats" weren't decorative—any major village reform, policy shift, or wartime decision required their votes.
Previously, the Uchiha had only ever been represented by the clan head.
Other clans had at least one seat—often two or three.
The clan head didn't count toward the quota, as that seat was automatic.
What surprised Wen Lan, however, was that Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had not stepped down.
After the pleasantries concluded, Minato lightly tapped the desk.
The meeting room fell into a brief silence as he gathered his thoughts.
"Regarding the issue of the Uchiha clan's representation in village decision-making," Minato said slowly, his gaze sweeping across the room,
"I believe it's time for a reassessment."
Wen Lan's eyes narrowed slightly—his heart tightened.
Not just him. Fugaku and the others felt the same unease.
By contrast, Koharu and Homura both showed faint smiles.
Then Minato continued:
"The duties of the Hokage are too numerous to handle alone.
The Third Hokage once established the position of Hokage Assistant, and I intend to retain it.
"In light of the village's long-standing debt to the Uchiha clan, I propose that Uchiha Wen Lan assume the role of Hokage Assistant."
The room plunged into dead silence.
Every gaze snapped toward Wen Lan.
Wen Lan's mind went blank.
He stared dumbly at Minato.
What the hell?!
After everything he'd done to help Minato—saving his wife's clan members and more—this was how he got repaid?!
The Hokage Assistant held enormous power, even the ability to influence the Hokage's decisions.
But Wen Lan didn't want it.
He preferred living freely—fighting when angered, slacking when bored, and focusing on training.
Worse still, the position's reputation had already been completely ruined by Danzō.
When people heard "Hokage Assistant," their first thoughts were:
shady, scapegoat, someone who handles dirty work.
Just as Wen Lan was about to refuse—
"I object!"
Utatane Koharu shot to her feet.
Instantly, the expressions of the four Uchiha representatives darkened, their gazes turning sharp.
Koharu's heart skipped, but she forced herself to stay calm.
"Minato, the Hokage Assistant position cannot be given to an Uchiha—"
Boom!
A violent surge of chakra erupted from Wen Lan, sweeping across the entire chamber.
Everyone's pupils shrank.
They clearly saw Wen Lan's Sharingan activate.
Homura stood up and barked, "Wen Lan, what do you think you're doing?!"
"Doing?" Wen Lan narrowed his eyes.
"You think you're allowed to call him Minato now? He's the Fourth Hokage!
"You two old dogs—just because I haven't dealt with you yet, you think we forgot what you did to the Uchiha?!
"I turned Danzō into something neither human nor ghost.
Doing the same to you would be just as easy!"
"Outrageous!" Homura roared. "We are Hokage advisors!"
"If you know you're advisors, then act like it!"
Wen Lan's left hand closed around his scabbard, thumb pushing the guard slightly free.
Killing intent poured from him like a tide.
"The Fourth Hokage stands here—who gave you the nerve to address him by name?!"
"We're his seniors. Isn't that allowed?" Koharu snapped back, fear flickering in her eyes but refusing to yield.
"Seniors, huh?"
Wen Lan turned his head toward Fugaku.
"Clan Head—go dig up the Utatane clan's ancestral graves. Let her ancestors teach her some manners!"
"You wouldn't dare!" Koharu shrieked.
"Fuck you—watch me!"
Wen Lan's right hand seized the hilt.
Shing!
The blade flashed out like lightning.
The entire meeting room was instantly flooded with suffocating killing intent.
Breaths caught. Hearts froze.
The tip of the blade stopped inches from Koharu's brow, cold light reflected in her trembling pupils.
"Old dog, you created the Hokage Assistant position. You know damn well it's meant for scapegoats and dirty work.
"The only reason you still sit here as advisors is because the Fourth Hokage chose to leave you some dignity.
"But if you don't want that dignity, I'll help you lose it.
"The Uchiha reputation is already beyond saving—I don't mind adding another stain."
"Enough, Wen Lan!"
Minato finally spoke.
He turned to Koharu and Homura.
"This is my decision. If you have objections, bring them to me."
Silence fell once more.
Wen Lan slowly sheathed his blade, casting a cold glance at the two advisors.
Koharu's face was deathly pale, her fingers shaking as she braced herself on the table.
Homura's lips twitched—but no words came out.
The others wore mixed expressions, but everyone understood two things clearly:
First—Namikaze Minato was firmly backing Wen Lan.
Second—the Uchiha clan was about to soar.
The air was heavy as iron, broken only by Wen Lan's steady, chilling breaths.
Seeing the two advisors fall silent, Minato turned to the rest of the room.
"I've made my decision. The village has indeed treated the Uchiha unfairly in the past.
"They are part of Konoha, just like everyone else. Peaceful coexistence is essential.
"So—does anyone else have objections?"
"I, the Inuzuka clan, agree," Inuzuka Tsume spoke up immediately.
Whatever personal squabbles he had with Wen Lan were family matters.
On issues like this, unity came first—especially since Wen Lan becoming the Inuzuka clan's son-in-law was already inevitable.
"The Hyūga clan agrees as well," Hiashi said calmly.
Nara Shikaku thought for a moment, then nodded.
"The Nara clan agrees."
Once Shikaku spoke, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza followed suit.
A few clans still harbored doubts—but at this point, opposition would only make them look foolish.
Minato had made his stance clear:
to oppose Wen Lan now was to oppose the Hokage himself.
No further objections were raised.
Only a heavy, stifling silence spread through the chamber.
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