If we're talking about running for Hokage, the current Uchiha Clan indeed lacks that capability.
They fall far too short in both strength and reputation.
However, they do have the power to decide who becomes the Hokage.
Preventing the Uchiha Clan from taking power is a consensus among the high-ranking officials of the Hokage faction.
To anyone with a clear eye, it's obvious that this group is unstable; letting them become Hokage wouldn't be good for Konoha as a whole.
But it's undeniable that the Uchiha Clan is also a part of Konoha and wields immense influence within the Village.
Under this premise, as long as they are willing to take a side during the Hokage selection, they can achieve significant results.
After all, the number of Ninja in the Uchiha Clan is by no means small.
In the later Fourth Shinobi World War, even the Sarutobi Clan could field so many Ninja.
The current Uchiha wave is known as Konoha's number one noble clan; the number of capable Ninja they can produce wouldn't be small either.
This is all pure strength.
And when this strength is combined with the Uchiha Clan's reputation, it becomes absolute influence.
To put it bluntly, as long as they are willing to manifest this influence, they can achieve great outcomes.
In reality, this is essentially the playbook of democratic politicians from his past life—already a very familiar and common practice, nothing strange at all.
But in the Konoha of this moment, most people simply haven't realized it yet.
The Uchiha Clan is the same.
The reason for this actually lies in the selection issues of the previous two generations of Hokage.
Back when the First Hokage founded Konoha, he established a corresponding Hokage selection system, including a Jonin vote.
The subsequent Second Hokage also refined the corresponding system, hoping the Hokage's succession would be stable and smooth.
In practice, however, the selection of Konoha's Third Hokage didn't really allow this system to show its effect.
The First Hokage goes without saying; as the pure founder, he naturally wasn't bound by this system.
The Second Hokage had actually been acting as Hokage for many years even before officially taking over the title.
He had been handling Hokage affairs on behalf of the First Hokage; though he lacked the title of Hokage, he had the reality of one, so the transition was naturally perfectly smooth.
There were some complications when the Third Hokage took over, but due to the prestige of the Second Hokage, the vast majority of Konoha Ninja chose to follow the Second Hokage's deathbed command, choosing Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Second Hokage's disciple, to become Hokage.
Throughout the selection of the Third Hokage, although the Hokage selection system existed, it mostly played no role.
This was because the prestige of the previous Hokage was too immense, coupled with the fact that a successor was directly designated by a deathbed command.
In a situation where the previous Hokage has immense prestige and a designated successor, even with a Jonin voting system, most Ninja will only cast their votes for the successor designated by the previous Hokage.
"But compared to the previous two Hokage transitions, this Hokage selection is vastly different,"
Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly.
"You mean..."
Hearing Minamikawa Yuu's words, Uchiha Fugaku's eyes couldn't help but light up: "The Third Hokage..."
"Exactly."
Minamikawa Yuu nodded: "In this Hokage election, the Third Hokage has not designated his own successor..."
Honestly, in terms of prestige, the current Third Hokage is not as great as the first two.
But as the Hokage, if he were to directly designate the next successor, there would similarly be no room for maneuvering.
Even if his prestige is less than the first two Hokage, most people would still follow momentum and cast their votes for the successor designated by the Hokage.
But he hasn't done so—at least not overtly—merely allowing several candidates to act freely.
After all, in terms of relationships, whether it's Minato Namikaze or Orochimaru, both can be said to be from his faction.
Orochimaru goes without saying; he is his disciple.
As for Minato Namikaze, he is Jiraiya's disciple, making him his grand-disciple.
Both of these can be considered candidates from his lineage, and both possess outstanding ability and reputation; it doesn't matter to him which one takes power.
It is precisely because of this that there is room for maneuvering in this Hokage election.
Or rather, it has the value for placing a bet.
Past Hokage elections were less like elections and more like successions; your attitude wouldn't have much impact regardless.
But this time, it's a genuine election.
In that case, as long as you pick the right side, there will be corresponding benefits afterward.
"The Uchiha Clan is powerful, the only great clan in Konoha capable of rivaling the Hyuga and Senju clans."
Minamikawa Yuu offered a compliment: "Though you cannot win this Hokage election yourselves, as long as you decide whose side to stand on, that person will become the final Hokage."
"This is an indisputable fact."
Whomever we support becomes the Hokage?
Minamikawa Yuu's words were like a bolt of lightning, leaving all the Uchiha present stunned.
Then, an indescribable pride surged from the depths of their hearts.
Indeed, they are Konoha's top noble clan.
With the Senju gone, the Uchiha Clan is Konoha's number one noble clan.
Even the Hokage should need their support.
"Hmph."
Not far away, a clan elder snorted coldly: "The Senju are one thing, but what skill or reputation does the Hyuga have to be mentioned in the same breath as my Uchiha Clan?"
Already starting with the comparisons?
Minamikawa Yuu was speechless in his heart.
What he said just now was purely to flatter the Uchiha Clan in passing.
After all, no matter how you look at it, this is someone else's territory; one should give praise where praise is due.
It's not like it costs anything.
But when it comes to actual impact, the Uchiha Clan's role isn't really that large.
After all, in this Hokage election, although the Third Hokage doesn't participate overtly, as long as he makes up his mind, there would be no question about the outcome.
He is the true stabilizing force.
The Uchiha Clan's role does exist, but it only comes into play if the Third Hokage doesn't personally take the field.
Of course, in this Hokage election, there's a high probability the Third Hokage won't actually step in.
In that case, the role the Uchiha Clan can play is truly important.
In the original plot, they were likely truly stubborn, casting their votes directly for their own clan leader, gaining zero benefits in the end, and instead pointlessly letting the Village sense their desire for the Hokage position, leading to even more severe suppression.
But at this moment, the situation is different again.
"The purpose of my visit this time is none other than to hope the Uchiha Clan can support my teacher."
In front of them, Minamikawa Yuu wore a smile and continued: "If we can have the Uchiha Clan's support, then in the competition against Lord Orochimaru, we will undoubtedly have a greater advantage."
"And for the Uchiha Clan, this is equally beneficial."