Chapter 678: Influence

The Jonin voting results surprised the Ninja present.

However, no matter what their thoughts were, the voting results could no longer be changed.

In this round of Jonin voting, Muzuki achieved an absolute leading advantage.

After the meeting, Muzuki’s friends came forward to congratulate him.

“Muzuki, you’re really going to make it big now. The position of Hokage is within reach.” Kushina excitedly slapped Muzuki’s shoulder and laughed.

Actually, a long time ago, when she was in Ninja Academy, Kushina also aspired to become Hokage, to become Konoha’s first female Hokage.

However, Kushina had no special reason for wanting to become Hokage; she just saw it as a grand ambition, as she was a person unwilling to be ordinary.

“It’s not certain until the exact results are out.” Muzuki shook his head and said.

He didn’t think becoming Hokage was something to be happy about, and he shouldn’t celebrate prematurely.

“Indeed, we can’t be careless because of this, but I still want to congratulate you on gaining so much support in the Jonin vote.” Minato Namikaze said with a gentle smile.

Seeing his good friend suppress seniors like the Sannin in the Fourth Hokage election, Minato Namikaze felt a little emotional.

Once, when Muzuki was a Chunin, he was already a somewhat famous Jonin, but now Muzuki was about to become Hokage, and he was still just the leader of the Jonin class.

However, Minato Namikaze was neither jealous nor envious of Muzuki, only admiring him.

Because he knew Muzuki well, he understood that all of this stemmed from Muzuki’s own ability and his contributions to Konoha, and not from any connections Muzuki had in the higher echelons.

If Minato Namikaze were in Muzuki’s shoes, he questioned whether he could achieve Muzuki’s level.

“I cast my precious vote for you, so it’s not too much to ask for a big meal to celebrate such a big advantage, right?” Tsunade said directly.

Muzuki nodded, a big get-together once in a while was not bad.

Jiraiya, who was trying to joke and comfort Orochimaru, instantly perked up when he heard this.

It didn’t matter if he returned to Konoha; it would be too regrettable if he rushed back and didn’t get to freeload on Muzuki’s meal.

“Ahem, Orochimaru, we seniors must be magnanimous. Although you and Muzuki are currently competing for Hokage, it shouldn’t affect your private relationship.” Jiraiya said with a serious expression.

He wanted to freeload, but Jiraiya felt it wouldn’t be good to leave Orochimaru behind at this time, so he had to take Orochimaru with him.

“Jiraiya, when did you get the illusion that you have the ability to lecture me?” Orochimaru said lightly, walking directly towards Muzuki and very calmly making a request to freeload.

Being overwhelmingly defeated in votes by a junior indeed made Orochimaru a little upset; he also had his pride.

But it was only a little, because that junior was Muzuki.

When he heard that he was competing with Muzuki for Hokage, Orochimaru knew that he was definitely chosen to be a mere participant this time.

How could he win against Muzuki? Besides his mission record, he had almost no areas where he could surpass Muzuki.

In terms of strength, Muzuki could heavily injure the Fourth Kazekage with one punch, and then he also developed the Wood Release, unique to the God of Shinobi; in terms of military achievements, Muzuki was Konoha’s hero who ended the Third Shinobi World War.

Orochimaru, aware of the gap between them, didn’t feel too much disappointment.

Moreover, they were also partners. Strictly speaking, Muzuki becoming Hokage was actually a good thing for Orochimaru, although it wasn’t as good as him becoming Hokage himself.

“What about me?”

Jiraiya didn’t expect the aloof Orochimaru to also love freeloading, so he was stunned for a moment.

When he came back to his senses, he realized that the few people had already walked some distance while chatting, so he quickly caught up.

Besides his friends, Muzuki also invited his students and disciples like Asuma and Obito, and they had dinner together.

“Muzuki-sensei’s Cuisine is truly something I never get tired of, no matter how many times I eat it. If the Sharingan could copy this, it would be great; I wouldn’t have to bother Muzuki-sensei and could eat it every day.” Walking back to the Uchiha Clan Compound, Obito lamented that the Sharingan wasn’t powerful enough.

He tried to use his Sharingan to perfectly replicate Muzuki’s Cuisine skills, but he couldn’t make Cuisine as delicious as Muzuki’s, only decent tasting.

“The Sharingan isn’t omnipotent. If you seriously learned from Muzuki-sensei, you might be able to do better.” Shisui replied casually.

“No thanks. I’ll learn Cuisine later when my strength can’t improve anymore.”

Obito didn’t want to waste time on Cuisine and end up being surpassed by Kakashi in strength, then mocked and humiliated by Kakashi.

“However, Muzuki-sensei has such a big advantage, which is a waste of the brilliant plan I painstakingly came up with.” Obito quickly brought the topic back to the Hokage election.

“It doesn’t seem like a waste. I can keep it in mind and use it when I run for Hokage.”

“Wouldn’t that still be a waste?” Shisui subtly reminded him, implying that reckless actions could backfire.

“Don’t you think my idea is very good, Shisui?”

“Perhaps a thousand years ago, it would have been a rare and brilliant plan worthy of praise.”

Obito:… After arriving at the Uchiha Clan Compound, the two separated and went home.

Not long after Shisui returned home, Uchiha Fugaku personally came to his door.

“Did you have dinner at Assistant Muzuki’s house today?” Uchiha Fugaku asked.

He saw Shisui and a group of people with Muzuki when he left.

“Yes.” Shisui nodded.

“Assistant Muzuki is very likely to become Hokage this time. We must seize this opportunity. Once the village’s direction leans towards Assistant Muzuki, we must promote Assistant Muzuki’s ideas.” Uchiha Fugaku said quickly.

“At that time, we will first call the elders together for a meeting to reach a consensus before holding a Clan Meeting.”

The Uchiha Clan was not unwilling to enter Konoha’s core decision-making body; they just couldn’t get in.

Muzuki has an excellent reputation within the Uchiha Clan; all Uchiha Ninja know that their two greatest geniuses are Muzuki’s disciples.

Now with the hope of Muzuki, Uchiha Fugaku did not believe that those elders would still oppose the Police Force reform.

Unless they didn’t want the Uchiha to improve, but if that were the case, Uchiha Fugaku would have to use his Clan Head authority.

“Hmm.” Shisui nodded again.

Uchiha Fugaku’s actions gave Shisui a new understanding of the Hokage’s power and status.

Previously, although Uchiha Fugaku also supported him, he wasn’t this proactive. Now that Muzuki had a chance to succeed as Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku suddenly became much more active.

Shisui didn’t dislike Uchiha Fugaku’s behavior, after all, Uchiha Fugaku was also acting for the Uchiha Clan.

He thought that Uchiha Ninja like Uchiha Fugaku would rather betray the village than betray the Clan.

PS:

My condition is very bad. I feel that if I write more, I’ll ruin the plot I’ve planned. Plus, it’s very late, so I’ll just stop writing and post two thousand words.

I’m on holiday today, and I hope to recover a bit during the day. Then I’ll write a bit more to make up for the two thousand words I’m short.