Listening to Minamikawa Yuu's words, not only Fugaku but everyone else present fell into silence.
The Uchiha Clan was indeed a major clan in Konoha.
Even now, though the Uchiha Clan had weakened compared to its peak, its strength was still not bad.
But they truly lacked top-tier powerhouses who could be presented to the world.
They especially lacked anyone who could be called a Kage-level powerhouse.
After all, the current Uchiha couldn't even produce a single Mangekyo user; they were completely incomparable to Orochimaru or Minato Namikaze.
Of course, if you were talking about the Uchiha Madara who still had a breath of life left in him at this moment, that would be a different story.
"The second point is reputation."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke: "The Hokage is not only the strongest person but also the one supported by the masses."
"The reputation of the Uchiha Clan is known throughout the Ninja World."
An Uchiha Clan elder spoke up in rebuttal.
If it was about strength, they indeed had no top-tier powerhouses to show off right now.
But when it came to reputation, they, the Uchiha Clan, believed they were second to none.
The Sharingan's fame was legendary within the Ninja World, making them the most famous Bloodline Limit family in existence.
Except for a few major clans like the Hyuga and Senju who could rival them, others simply could not compare.
"The reputation of the Uchiha Clan is naturally incomparable."
Minamikawa Yuu first offered a compliment before continuing: "But to become Hokage, mere prestige is not enough; one must also have sufficient popular support."
"And in this regard, I believe I don't need to say more about the Uchiha Clan's situation within Konoha."
The Uchiha Clan's situation in Konoha couldn't be described as everyone wanting them dead, but it wasn't exactly good either.
At the very least, the vast majority of Ninjas in Konoha probably didn't have a very good impression of them.
In this aspect, even Orochimaru's public image was stronger than theirs.
Although Orochimaru's style was somewhat sinister and didn't make people feel close to him, he had his own unique leadership style and a large number of supporters within Konoha.
At least, that was the case before his human experimentation and use of Konoha Ninja as test subjects were exposed.
If a member of the Uchiha Clan ran for Hokage, besides their own clansmen, would anyone else support them?
Everyone present knew that it was simply impossible.
"Then what about the third point?"
Fugaku was silent for a moment before continuing his inquiry.
After the conversation just now, he had already retracted his previous disdain.
Although the Minamikawa Yuu before him was much younger than them, his insight was not weak at all.
At least ninety percent of the Ninjas in Konoha could not compare to him in this regard.
"Minato truly took on a good disciple..."
Uchiha Fugaku maintained a serious expression on the surface, but he was secretly sighing in his heart.
Both of Minato Namikaze's remaining disciples were so extraordinary.
Kakashi went without saying; he was already a Jonin at a young age and had a boundless future.
And while the Minamikawa Yuu before him was younger, judging from the current situation, he was also no ordinary person.
"As for the final point, it is the attitude of the Third Hokage and his associates..."
Minamikawa Yuu pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "The Third Hokage, and those around him..."
"Their attitude toward the Uchiha Clan is something I'm sure you understand, Patriarch Fugaku..."
As his voice fell, Uchiha Fugaku and the others all fell silent.
Konoha's previous Hokage was Senju Tobirama, and his attitude toward the Uchiha needed no explanation.
As disciples of Senju Tobirama, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura's attitude toward the Uchiha Clan naturally wouldn't be very good either.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was relatively better; regardless of his inner thoughts, at least on the surface, he spoke less, acting as the moderate of the Hokage faction.
Danzo Shimura was another story entirely, a pure radical.
But on the matter of the Uchiha Clan competing for the Hokage position, both the moderates and the radicals within the Hokage faction held an exclusionary attitude.
As long as there was even a sliver of an alternative, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others would never hand the position of Hokage to the Uchiha Clan.
This was an absolute bottom line.
The Uchiha Clan actually knew this as well.
"I know you have the intention to run for Hokage, Patriarch Fugaku, but you must ultimately consider reality."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly: "Under the circumstances where the Hokage faction does not want the Uchiha to rise, and you possess no advantage in strength or reputation, it is impossible for the Uchiha Clan to compete for the Hokage seat."
In the end, it still came down to a lack of strength.
It was originally beyond reproach for the Uchiha Clan to want to run for Hokage.
In Konoha, even an ordinary Ninja could take the Hokage as their goal and state it openly and honorably.
There was no reason why the Uchiha Clan couldn't do what an ordinary Ninja could.
But while you could run for Hokage, you had to have the necessary strength.
With no strength, no mass support base, and being excluded by the high-level Hokage faction, what did your Uchiha Clan have to fight with?
Before him, Fugaku and the others were all silent now.
If they could, they really wanted to say something.
But Minamikawa Yuu's words were too direct and too realistic, so much so that even if they wanted to argue, they didn't know where to start.
Actually, they more or less knew the situation they were dealing with; they just hadn't thought about it seriously and were clinging to some level of fantasy.
What if they fought for it now and somehow succeeded?
It wasn't until Minamikawa Yuu explained it to them in detail that they suddenly realized the situation the Uchiha Clan faced was actually so perilous.
Without an advantage in any condition, their desire to fight for the Hokage position was equivalent to becoming cannon fodder; there was simply no hope to speak of.
"According to what you're saying, my Uchiha Clan shouldn't even compete for the Hokage?"
In the corner, Uchiha Setsuna snorted coldly.
He stood up, a pair of crimson Sharingan staring at Minamikawa Yuu: "Should we just sit obediently in the Uchiha ancestral lands, honestly waiting for the Hokage's orders, being marginalized by the Village until we are completely destroyed?"
Good grief.
Minamikawa Yuu looked up in surprise and glanced at Uchiha Setsuna.
Where did this prophet come from?
What the other man just said was exactly the original historical ending of the Uchiha Clan.
If not for the anger on the man's face and his intense emotions, Minamikawa Yuu would have almost thought he was a transmigrator like himself who had seen the plot.
"Of course not."
He shook his head and then spoke again: "With the Uchiha Clan's current strength, it is naturally impossible to compete for the Hokage."
"But..."
He paused and then looked up at Fugaku: "You do have the power to decide who becomes the Hokage."
As his voice fell, everyone from the Uchiha Clan present, including Uchiha Fugaku, was stunned.