"Benefits?"
Uchiha Fugaku was the first to speak, showing great concern for the question Minamikawa Yuu had posed: "What do you mean by that?"
"The greatest benefit, naturally, is the ability to integrate into the Hokage's faction."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly: "I know the Uchiha Clan has always wanted to enter the core of Konoha, but to achieve that, you cannot be hostile to the current Hokage's faction."
"Even if you cannot be overly friendly with the Hokage's faction, at the very least, you must ease the relationship."
"This time is undoubtedly an opportunity."
He continued: "As long as the Uchiha Clan supports my teacher in taking the position of Hokage, the Uchiha Clan will be the most loyal supporters of the Fourth Hokage in the future."
"At that time, the Uchiha Clan will naturally be considered a member of the Hokage's faction."
If they couldn't become the Hokage, they would first become the Hokage's supporters?
Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku fell into deep thought.
To be honest, before this, he had been troubled by the future of the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha Clan was in a rather awkward position within the current Konoha, constantly facing suppression from the Hokage's faction.
Looking at the current situation, their hopes of competing for the position of Hokage were indeed slim.
But Minamikawa Yuu's words had opened up a brand new path for him.
Indeed, since the Uchiha Clan was destined not to become the Hokage, why not fully utilize their influence and convert it into tangible benefits?
If they couldn't be the Hokage, then being the Hokage's supporter was also quite good.
Just like the three clans of Konoha today.
As loyal supporters of the Third Hokage, the benefits they received were by no means small.
Their situation was at least much stronger than that of the current Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha Clan's strength was definitely above those three clans; if they could choose to support a Hokage, the benefits they could obtain in the future would certainly not be small.
And this would undoubtedly be a key step toward entering the core of Konoha.
"Brilliant."
Uchiha Fugaku kept replaying this proposal in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
What he had been thinking about was how to get the Uchiha Clan accepted by the core of Konoha so they would no longer face this awkward situation.
But if they could stand by the next generation's Hokage and become the most loyal supporters of the Fourth Hokage, wouldn't that achieve the same goal?
No, doing it this way might even be more effective.
Because how could begging for acceptance in an almost pleading manner compare to putting forward your own spokesperson to speak for you?
Even better, Minato Namikaze also had this need.
Compared to Orochimaru, he was merely a rising star; aside from his reputation as a war hero, he had almost nothing.
Orochimaru not only possessed a reputation no less than Minato Namikaze's but had also been famous in Konoha for many years and held immense influence.
A large number of Ninjas in Konoha were his admirers.
Many high-ranking members within the Hokage's faction also expressed their support for him.
One could say he held the advantage.
Although from the perspective of later history, the final winner of this Hokage election was undoubtedly Minato Namikaze, from the current perspective, Minato Namikaze was undoubtedly at a disadvantage.
Compared to him, Orochimaru's advantages were too great; while not exactly a total landslide, he could be said to have the upper hand in every way.
The weaker his position, the more he needed the support of the Uchiha Clan's power.
In this way, the importance of the Uchiha Clan would be more prominent, and the benefits they could obtain in the future would be greater.
"Even if we were to choose a side to support, why can't we choose Orochimaru?"
Another person spoke up, raising a doubt: "Compared to Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru's chances of winning are undoubtedly higher, right?"
Although Minamikawa Yuu's words moved them, they still used this as a reason to see how Minamikawa Yuu would respond.
"Indeed."
To their surprise, facing their questioning, Minamikawa Yuu nodded directly and admitted this: "Compared to Lord Orochimaru, Minato-sensei is indeed a bit lacking right now."
"Whether it's the number of followers or other aspects, he is inferior compared to Lord Orochimaru."
"But it is precisely because of this that he needs everyone's support even more."
He smiled and said: "Supporting Lord Orochimaru is certainly easier, but how much use would that be, and how much of a favor would Lord Orochimaru remember?"
"On the contrary, it's different."
At this point, his expression was calm, but his gaze fixed on everyone present: "To turn the tide when it's about to collapse, to help the weak overcome the strong—that is how one truly shows their worth."
"With the strength of the Uchiha Clan, why should you care who is strong and who is weak?"
"Whomever you support will become the Hokage; wouldn't that prove the strength of the Uchiha Clan even more?"
After those words fell, all the Uchiha present were stunned.
Those who could sit here and be responsible for receiving distinguished guests, aside from Fugaku, the clan leader, were basically all old men.
But even they were fired up by Minamikawa Yuu's words.
"Well said!"
A clan elder couldn't help but cheer: "Bullying the weak is no skill at all; helping the weak defeat the strong, that is the behavior of the truly powerful!"
"So what if Orochimaru is stronger!"
"With the help of my Uchiha Clan, Minato Namikaze will surely take this Hokage position!"
"No problem at all!"
"Clan Leader, make the decision!"
"The honor and prosperity of our Uchiha Clan depend on this one move!"
They looked toward Fugaku in front of them, actually turning around to urge the clan leader to make a quick decision.
Looking at their performance, it was as if they couldn't wait to step out and participate in this Hokage election to help Minato Namikaze win.
By nature, most of the Uchiha Clan were proud.
In the entire Konoha, they looked down on everyone except the Senju.
In this situation, when you praised their strength and reputation, they were naturally quite satisfied and in agreement.
Especially Minamikawa Yuu's previous sentence, which spoke right to their hearts.
With the strength of the Uchiha Clan, why should they care who was strong and who was weak!
Even if Orochimaru was strong and Minato Namikaze was weak, so what?
With our Uchiha Clan here, why worry that Minato Namikaze cannot surpass Orochimaru and seize that Hokage position in one fell swoop?
At that time, my Uchiha Clan will also be the Hokage's direct line, the prestigious direct descendants of Konoha.
The situation would naturally be very different.
In an instant, the Uchiha Clan Elders present actually shifted their stance and began to actively persuade Fugaku, the clan leader.
Looking at this momentum, it was as if they were about to lose control and were ready for a big battle.
Minamikawa Yuu sat to the side, watching the scene before him, and felt somewhat speechless.
Before coming here, he had actually prepared a large set of arguments, including both tangible interests and many other plans.
As it turned out, before he could even use those tricks, it was already almost settled?
Is the Uchiha Clan this easy to fool?
They are a grand clan, after all.
Minamikawa Yuu was completely puzzled in his heart.
But this was fine too.
At least it saved him some trouble.
Originally, Minamikawa Yuu estimated that to handle this group of people from the Uchiha Clan, he would need to grind for a long time.
But looking at it now, maybe he could settle it this time.
"Everyone, please be quiet for a moment."
Uchiha Fugaku sat opposite Minamikawa Yuu.
As a standard Uchiha, he was also fired up by Minamikawa Yuu's words just now and almost couldn't help but speak up to agree.
However, his responsibility as the clan leader made him brake at the critical moment, barely maintaining a shred of calmness.
"You said just now that you want us to support Minato Namikaze."
He looked at Minamikawa Yuu in front of him and asked: "If we support him in taking the position of Hokage, what will the Uchiha Clan gain?"
This was asking for benefits.
What Minamikawa Yuu said indeed suited his taste, and the advice provided was very much in line with the Uchiha Clan's current reality.
But while the people of the Uchiha Clan were easy to fool, they still had some reason after all.
Just like now.
Uchiha Fugaku was actually already somewhat moved by Minamikawa Yuu's series of words, but he still maintained a surface calm and even had the mind to probe for concrete, practical things.
Having the Uchiha Clan invest their support in you—that's no problem.
But you have to let us know what benefits we can get, right?
"What can you gain?"
Hearing Fugaku's question, Minamikawa Yuu smiled: "The opportunity to integrate into Konoha, and also a tangible ally."
"Ally?"
Uchiha Fugaku fell into thought.
"To be honest, whether it's me or my teacher, we don't come from any great clans within Konoha."
.
Compared to before, Minamikawa Yuu's attitude now was very sincere: "Compared to those who come from great clans or have been operating for many years, we don't have many supporters behind us."
"If the Uchiha Clan is willing to join us now, you will be our only ally within Konoha."
"Regardless of whether this Hokage election succeeds or what happens in the future, my teacher and I will be the most loyal friends of the Uchiha Clan."
"And friends deserve to be treated seriously."
He looked at the Uchiha members before him: "If my teacher can become the Hokage, the Uchiha Clan will gain greater freedom... and the power to change Konoha."
is
"We are all dissatisfied with the status quo, aren't we?"
He smiled and said: "Since that's the case, why can't we unite and change this Village together?"
"Even if we fail, at least we can make our voices heard, right?"
The implication of these words was to hint that Minato Namikaze had no other supporters behind him; as long as the Uchiha Clan joined now, they would surely gain more power in the future.
After all, as a 'bare-poles' Hokage with few clansmen and not even many direct subordinates, even if Minato Namikaze ascended to the position of Hokage, he would face a situation of having no one available in the short term.
At that time, even out of practical necessity, the Uchiha Clan, as his only loyal supporters, would be heavily utilized.
After all, Minato Namikaze indeed had this need.
The phrase 'unite and change the Village together' was an even more blatant hint.
After all, how could it be possible to change this Village without sufficient power?
Hearing Minamikawa Yuu's statement, the Uchiha Clan members present were all very satisfied.
For them, at this stage, being able to have this kind of statement was already quite good.
Don't look at the fact that Minamikawa Yuu didn't promise much, and they weren't tangible things.
But to be honest, this was already the best treatment the Uchiha Clan had ever received.
In the past time within Konoha, the Uchiha Clan had always been the one being watched and suppressed; when had anyone ever tried to win them over like this?
The Uchiha members, enjoying this treatment for the first time, felt very satisfied.
Moreover, they were not worried that the other party would regret it.
Just as Minamikawa Yuu had said just now, Minato Namikaze was just a single person.
He did not come from a Ninja Clan; he was merely from a civilian background and had no relatives around him.
Among his disciples, although Minamikawa Yuu and Kakashi Hatake were from Ninja Clans, they had no power.
The Hatake was just a small family, and the Minamikawa Clan's numbers had dwindled to the point where Minamikawa Yuu was left all alone.
In this situation, even if Minato Namikaze became the Hokage, he would be, as Minamikawa Yuu said, just a bare-poles Hokage.
Under these circumstances, what reason would he have not to heavily utilize his loyal supporters, the prestigious Uchiha Clan of Konoha?
This was a case of each getting what they needed.
Minato Namikaze had strength and reputation but no power base of his own.
The Uchiha Clan had their own power base but lacked the strength and reputation sufficient to support their competition for Hokage. The two could be said to have hit it off perfectly in this regard.
After confirming the other party's sincerity and terms, the subsequent chat atmosphere between the two sides became quite relaxed and pleasant.
As for Minamikawa Yuu's original purpose for coming—Kakashi's Sharingan—no one even mentioned it now.
It wasn't that they had forgotten the matter; it was just a tacit understanding to ignore it.
If the Uchiha Clan once decided to board Minato Namikaze's war chariot and form an alliance with him, then they naturally had to show sincerity.
In this situation, a mere Sharingan naturally didn't count for much.
Moreover, the Uchiha Clan high-ranking officials, led by Fugaku, had no intention of pursuing this matter too much in the first place.
They pursued this matter originally just to give the clansmen an explanation.
As long as the Hokage's faction could provide an adequate way out, allowing them to step down gracefully, then they would take it.
And now, Minamikawa Yuu had already delivered that way out.
Fugaku and the others would naturally know how to handle it.
"There is one more thing."
During the discussion, Uchiha Fugaku thought for a moment and then had someone bring a child.
That child didn't look old, only three or four years old, but he appeared very calm, with a coolness beyond his years.
"Father."
Walking into the hall, he bowed respectfully to Fugaku and then sat down respectfully to one side.
"This is my eldest son, Itachi."
Looking at Minamikawa Yuu in front of him, Uchiha Fugaku said: "What does Yuu-kun think of him?"
Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Minamikawa Yuu glanced at him with great curiosity.