Chapter 29: The Humiliated Tsunade
"Me? Clan leader?"
Shisui pointed at himself in disbelief.
He had imagined countless possibilities—after Yu used thunderous methods to suppress Konoha, he would naturally inherit Clan Leader Fugaku's position, or perhaps some respected elder from the clan, or even the clan leader's only daughter, Miss Sasuko, successfully rising to power with Yu's support.
He had never considered himself.
"I can't do it." He shook his head with a bitter smile, his sleeve sliding down to show Yu scars left from ANBU missions. "All these years... I've only known how to do unspeakable things in the shadows."
Yu stood up, his expression serious as he declared loudly:
"Precisely because you've seen darkness—"
"You understand the direction of light better than anyone."
"Moreover..."
"Compared to me, a seeker of vengeance..."
"You better understand how to maintain balance in the sunlight."
Yu suddenly turned to Tsunade, magnetic lines imperceptibly coiling around her ankles: "Don't believe me? Ask your Hokage."
Tsunade's body trembled—how had the topic turned to her again?
Two pairs of Mangekyou stared at her simultaneously, making her full lips unconsciously bite down, leaving teeth marks.
"I..."
Under Yu's benevolent gaze, she suddenly straightened her back: "I think Shisui is... slightly suitable, perhaps?"
Her voice grew quieter and quieter, finally becoming barely a whisper.
Heaven knew how much she feared this demon beside her would suddenly erupt. At least Shisui...
At least Shisui probably wouldn't suddenly crush some Konoha official with his bare hands.
"See, even the Hokage thinks you're more suitable. What other concerns could there be?" Yu smiled slightly at Shisui.
Yu patted Shisui's shoulder. "Compared to me, you should have more prestige among the clan members, right?"
Shisui recalled hearing quite a bit of slander about Yu in the camp—things like "dead last" and "shame of the Uchiha."
The other clan members didn't understand Yu at all. Conversely, they held great respect for him, a failure.
He quickly explained: "That's because they don't understand you. If they knew..."
"It doesn't matter." Yu interrupted him. "If you really don't want the position, you can have the clan select someone else wise."
Yu looked into Shisui's eyes, his finger twitching slightly.
"Mmph...!"
Tsunade suddenly groaned, magnetic lines coiling around her voluptuous body like living snakes.
Her professional suit tightened under the invisible force, outlining heart-stopping curves.
"But you should think carefully..."
Yu's voice was as casual as discussing the weather, yet his fingertips manipulated Tsunade into a forced submissive posture.
This Fifth Hokage was now like a human marionette, faint red marks already appearing on her snow-white skin.
"In this world where might makes right—"
He suddenly released control, and Tsunade staggered against the office desk, gasping.
"What difference is there between a weak clan leader..."
"And a puppet?"
Yu lazily leaned back in the Hokage's chair, leisurely sipping tea, the rising steam blurring his handsome profile.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Shisui instinctively wanted to step forward but was pinned in place by an invisible magnetic field.
Tsunade's figure, bent over the desk corner in the sunlight, cast a humiliating silhouette. Her suit straps had slipped, exposing large areas of snow-white skin, yet she was denied even the right to pull them back up.
Shisui understood Yu's intention.
Whether Hokage crown or clan leader title, in this youth's eyes they were nothing more than toys for playing house.
Real power always came from strength that could crush rules.
And now the Uchiha...
Besides this youth before him, only he possessed the Mangekyou as "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
If they elected those respected but mediocre elders...
It would just be one more marionette.
Outside the window, Hyuga servants were diligently distributing pastries to Uchiha children.
This seemingly harmonious scene looked like a carefully rehearsed play to Shisui.
How long could this false harmony last? Would the fear in those families' eyes really transform into goodwill?
The crisp sound of teacup tapping the table pulled him back to reality.
Yu's voice was light yet heavy as a thousand pounds:
"Have you decided?"
Shisui's eyes flickered—he saw through Yu's thoughts.
This youth had absolutely no attachment to the Uchiha clan.
Back in the cave, he had spoken bluntly: staying in Konoha was only out of respect for his adoptive father Clan Leader Fugaku's decision.
Now that the Fugaku couple was gone, Itachi had exiled himself...
The entire family had only Sasuko as a fragile bond, barely maintaining Yu's emotional connection to the "Uchiha" name.
"I understand."
Shisui sighed deeply, dropping to one knee: "I accept the clan leader position."
"Very good."
Yu smiled, finally releasing the magnetic lines from Tsunade.
"For specific matters..."
He stood and adjusted his collar as space began to distort:
"Have a good 'exchange' with the Fifth."
He bit down hard on the word "exchange," making Tsunade's body tremble.
After confirming Yu's aura had completely disappeared, Tsunade collapsed into her chair like all her bones had been removed.
She grabbed the teacup Yu had drunk from and drained it, tea spilling from the corners of her mouth and soaking her chest, though she remained oblivious.
"Hah..."
She let out a breath like someone who had survived disaster.
Before this, what a proud existence the "legendary Sannin" had been. As the First's granddaughter and "Princess of Konoha," she had dared slam tables in front of the Third Hokage.
But these past two days...
Physically, the red marks that youth had left still ached faintly.
More terrifyingly, mentally—
He simply didn't care about Hokage dignity.
Public suspension and binding...
Casual manipulation of posture...
Even patting her head like a pet...
"Fifth-sama?"
Shisui's voice pulled her back to reality. Only then did Tsunade realize her hand holding the teacup was shaking uncontrollably.
She suddenly laughed self-mockingly.
What Hokage?
Nothing but a relatively durable marionette...
In that monster's hands.
Tsunade's fingertip traced the teacup's edge as a flash of insight struck her—she now completely understood.
Those old foxes had desperately pushed her into the Hokage position merely to use her as a buffer.
Whenever that monster was in a bad mood and wanted to kill someone, she, the "acting Hokage," would be the first to suffer, just like the Third Hokage.
A bunch of bastards!
She looked up at the helpless Shisui, another wave of humiliation surging in her chest.
That little bastard didn't understand political dignity at all—manipulating her like a plaything right in front of the new clan leader...
"You'll get used to it."
Tsunade suddenly pulled open her collar, revealing the magnetic line marks still visible on her collarbone, saying brazenly: "That crude fellow never knows what 'Hokage dignity' means."
This action made Shisui hastily avert his gaze.
Tsunade threw the Hokage hat onto the desk in self-abandonment, saying offhandedly:
"You want to rebuild the Uchiha compound, right?"
"The Shimura territory files are in the third drawer."
"Thank you." Shisui tactfully turned toward the filing cabinet, deliberately slowing his search through the drawers to give Tsunade enough time to compose herself.
Behind him came the sounds of Tsunade's suppressed deep breathing and rustling as she adjusted her clothing.
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