Naruto: I am Uchiha Seiryu

"Is that so?" Seiryu glanced around the chamber. "So there is no precedent?"

"You are correct, Left Minister. There is no such precedent in the Land of Fire," another official chimed in. "And if martial law is declared rashly, the people may be dissatisfied."

"And who are you?" Seiryu frowned.

"I am Matsuda Kiyosuke, the Minister of Internal Affairs," the man replied.

"I see." Seiryu slowly walked to the chamber door, speaking as he went. "I am only a warrior, ignorant of politics. The late daimyo entrusted me with this burden, and I know I am unworthy. But as a subject of the Land of Fire, I must be loyal! Now, the traitors have revealed themselves!"

"You, Matsuda Kiyosuke, are one," Seiryu Uchiha pointed at him, then turned to Abe Taiichi, "and you, Abe Taiichi!"

The chamber erupted in uproar.

"Lord Hokage, your words are out of line," Abe Taiichi protested, his face twitching as Seiryu called him a traitor.

"Out of line?" Seiryu sneered. "The late daimyo's body is barely cold, his killer is still at large, and if we don't impose martial law, who will keep the heir safe? Can you guarantee that, Left Minister? If anything happens to the heir, your entire clan could not atone for it!"

"You…" Abe Taiichi's face flushed, knowing if he didn't say something now, the traitor's label would stick.

Another man spoke up. "The Imperial Tutor is right. In these times, the heir's safety is paramount. To oppose on grounds of precedent is shortsighted."

Seiryu looked at the speaker with interest—this man had not been among Kakashi's kidnapping list.

"Miura Kazuo, what do you mean by that?" Abe Taiichi turned on the speaker.

"Hmph, it's obvious. The late daimyo made the Imperial Tutor regent—his will is clear," Miura Kazuo retorted.

The chamber broke into chaos as the officials quarreled. The four-year-old heir, Minamoto Yoshinori, stood bewildered before his father's bed.

Seiryu and Kakashi stood by the door, watching the officials argue. For Kakashi, it was eye-opening: these high-ranking ministers squabbled like villagers.

"Enough!" Seiryu spoke up once he had assessed the factions. The noise subsided, and all eyes turned to him.

Seiryu strode before Yoshinori, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, give the order."

Yoshinori stared at Seiryu for a long moment, then finally spoke, "Everything will be as you, Teacher, decide."

Seiryu nodded and strode out into the courtyard. All the elite Konoha jonin not on outside missions were present.

"My orders: from today, Konoha ninja will take over the capital's defense. Once the reinforcements arrive, ANBU and the police will seal and enforce martial law in the city. Any suspicious persons are to be killed on sight!" he declared coldly.

Asuma and the others, waiting outside, were stunned.

Kazuma immediately stepped forward to object, but Seiryu glanced his way, Mangekyo Sharingan open, murderous intent nearly tangible.

Kazuma was cowed into silence.

"Should we deal with him?" Kakashi asked quietly.

"No need," Seiryu replied. "He's just a clown; he can't do anything."

…

With the city's defenses fully under his control, Seiryu finally relaxed. The entire capital was now in his grasp.

For Seiryu, these moves required little thought; his prior life's history had already provided all the answers. And, compared to his predecessors, Seiryu had an even greater advantage: Shisui's Kotoamatsukami had settled his legitimacy. Now he held both righteousness and power.

At dawn, when the citizens tried to leave their homes, they found armored ninja patrolling the streets and delivering the martial law order door to door. Only then did those living far from the palace realize something major had happened.

Though the citizens grumbled about the restriction, the ninja's weapons quickly convinced them to stay home.

The police thought martial law in the capital would be tough, since it was twice the size of Konoha, and the force was only around 700. But with the people's cooperation, control was quickly established. Even the police marveled at the discipline of the capital's residents.

Seiryu was not surprised. The capital was nothing like Konoha, where there were laws against ninja attacking civilians. Here, even the nobles would have their warriors kill if angered.

After martial law was imposed, Seiryu settled into a residence near the palace and had Kakashi begin gathering information on all the officials. As for the young daimyo, Seiryu's shadow clone watched over him constantly. Only after the old daimyo's funeral and the new daimyo's enthronement, during the first court meeting, did Seiryu don his Hokage robes and the Grand Minister's ceremonial garb and attend.

After the rituals, Seiryu stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Honored by the late daimyo's trust, I am painfully aware of my shortcomings. I beg Your Highness to revoke the late emperor's order; I am unworthy of the Grand Minister position."

Before Left Minister Abe Taiichi could speak, Miura Kazuo did. "Why would you say that, Grand Minister?"

"Grand Minister, you do not covet power, which we respect deeply. But this was the late daimyo's last command; revoking it would be unfilial," Miura said, and several others chimed in.

"Indeed, Grand Minister, you have protected the heir day and night. This position should be yours!"

"Yes, after learning of the attack, you rushed here alone, your loyalty clear for all to see. Please do not refuse this post."

Nagano Kiryu, one of the three regents, also spoke up. "Yes, Grand Minister, please do not refuse."

With these words, even Abe Taiichi realized the tide had turned. Remembering the ninja lurking around his residence, he could only grit his teeth and say nothing.

Seiryu acted hesitant as the crowd urged him to accept.

Yoshinori, eyes brimming with tears, stood up from the throne and cried, "Are you going to abandon me, Teacher?"

The past few days, Seiryu's shadow clone had always shielded the boy at the slightest disturbance, giving the traumatized child a sense of security.

Yoshinori's words ended the debate. Two officials quickly stepped forward, took the Grand Minister's robes, and put them on Seiryu. He did not resist until the robe was fully donned, then shot a meaningful glance at Miura Kazuo.

Kakashi had gathered quite a bit of interesting information on the Right Minister these past days.