Naruto: Binding Uchiha Sasuke, Hundredfold Return

After receiving a warning, Gekko Himan took it to heart and promptly came to Kazuki in the evening to confess everything, sincerely apologizing and promising never to repeat his mistakes. Kazuki, seeing the sincerity, granted Himan a second chance.

With Kazuki's forgiveness, Himan returned to his usual cheerful self. This led to a peculiar sight for the Gekko Clan members.

In the afternoon, they saw Himan, the Clan Patriarch, leaving Kazuki's house, hopping and singing like a carefree child on his way home. By evening, though, he returned looking pale and nervous, carrying numerous gifts in his hands. Later that night, he once again left Kazuki's house, giftless but beaming with joy, singing as he ran back.

"Annieee~" he chanted…

The next day, as the village's higher-ups prepared to move forward with selecting the Sixth Hokage, an envoy from the Fire Daimyo arrived with clear instructions regarding the choice for Hokage: Gekko Himan, Patriarch of the Gekko Clan!

"Gekko Himan? That short, greedy, and lecherous old man?" one scoffed. "What makes him worthy of being Hokage?"

To the higher-ups in Konoha, Himan had always been a mere background figure. Despite his increased status since Danzo's appointment, Himan hadn't gained any real power, and few saw him as a threat. Yet, unexpectedly, he had somehow managed to win the Fire Daimyo's endorsement.

"How did Himan even get in touch with the Fire Daimyo?" The skeptical clan leaders sent their own agents to verify this news, but all reports confirmed: the Fire Daimyo indeed supported Gekko Himan as the next Hokage.

As is widely known, to become the Hokage, one needs not only the support of Konoha's upper echelon and villagers but, most importantly, the endorsement of the Fire Daimyo. Without it, the Hokage's authority—and Konoha's funding—would crumble.

Having the Fire Daimyo's backing meant Himan was assured the Hokage position, almost as if he had been preordained by the Daimyo himself.

In a quiet corner of the Gekko Clan compound, Kazuki's small residence…

"Kazuki, how did you get the Daimyo to support me? I haven't even met him! How does he even know who I am?" Himan asked, curiosity brimming in his eyes.

"Getting his support doesn't require him to meet you. It's just a matter of keeping him under control," Kazuki replied with a smirk.

"Control… the Daimyo?" Himan gulped, casting a cautious look at Kazuki. If Kazuki controlled the Hokage, he was the undisputed ruler of Konoha. But if he controlled the Daimyo, he practically ruled the entire Land of Fire!

"Kazuki," Himan chuckled nervously, "how… exactly did you manage that? The Daimyo has so many powerful guards around him. Of course, you don't have to tell me if you'd rather keep it secret…"

Kazuki cast him a sidelong glance, replying calmly, "Nothing special. Just have a strong ally keep him in check."

"A strong ally?" Himan's mind raced to two potential figures: Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke! He remembered how Kakashi and the others once tried to rebel against Danzo, but Kazuki had turned them down, saying he had someone else in mind.

Could it be that either Orochimaru or Sasuke was the one keeping the Daimyo under control? Together, they could undoubtedly restrain the Daimyo with ease.

Kazuki's strength was already formidable, but his allies were equally terrifying! The realization sent chills down Himan's spine, making him rethink his recent schemes against Kazuki. He had, quite literally, been dancing on the edge of a cliff, risking his life without even realizing it.

Thank goodness Kazuki still viewed him as an ally of the clan…

Elsewhere, Konoha's top brass, originally poised for the Hokage selection, were left in disbelief over the Daimyo's choice. Although the Daimyo's endorsement was crucial, they still sought the support of Konoha's council and villagers, hoping to rally enough public favor to contest Himan's appointment.

Their strategy, however, proved fruitless. Surprisingly, several clan heads who once supported the major clans began backing Gekko Himan. Even prominent clans like the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi chose to support him, bewildering those competing for the Hokage position.

Frustrated, the clan leaders tried to sway the villagers, but even the villagers favored Himan. After gaining Kazuki's endorsement, Himan had embarked on a village-wide campaign, advocating for peace and economic growth, promising a return to the prosperous policies of the Third Hokage's era. This populist approach won significant support from Konoha's residents.

Meanwhile, other candidates focused solely on their clan's strength and influence, only alienating the people.

"Restore the Third Hokage's policies!" "We want Gekko Himan as Hokage!" "Himan is the right choice!" "I support him!" "Count me in!"

By the time the clan leaders recognized Himan's campaign slogans, it was too late. Villagers were already rallying for Himan, forming massive demonstrations in his support. Upon investigation, they found that his approval rating among the people even surpassed that of the Third and Fourth Hokages.

Even when the other candidates pledged to restore the Third Hokage's policies, the villagers rejected them. After all, to them, it was Himan's original promise.

And so, Gekko Himan, the rightful choice, rose as the Sixth Hokage of Konoha.

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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg