章節 80: The Hokage's Faction Dominance and 'Underdogs'

Once seated amidst the low buzz of ongoing conversations and movements, Hikari took a moment to assess the gathering quickly but thoroughly.

Leveraging the unique capabilities of his Byakugan, as soon as he approached the venue through those chambers beforehand, he subtly activated and then deactivated it, granting him a fleeting yet comprehensive glimpse into the chakra signatures of everyone present.

This brief survey allowed Hikari to gauge the landscape of shinobi strength in the room, providing him with a snapshot of the village's elite power dynamics.

Using his observations and personal assessments, Hikari deduced that the Hokage's Faction had numerical superiority and a considerable edge in terms of elites' power.

For instance, despite Hiruzen Sarutobi's advancing age, which slightly diminished his capacities, he remained a formidable Late Kage-level shinobi, a testament to his enduring strength and experience.

Similarly, Sakumo Hatake, also at the Late Kage level, might currently edge out Hiruzen slightly due to his renewed determination to enhance his abilities and perhaps lesser impact from age, as he was in his prime.

Hiruzen's three disciples—Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru—were assessed by Hikari to be at the Middle Kage level. Their capabilities were significant, though Hikari speculated that they had yet to reach the zenith of their powers, as depicted in the original series.

This looming conflict could very well be the catalyst for their ascension to peak form, pushing them beyond their current limitations.

Danzo Shimura was positioned between the Quasi-Kage and Early Kage levels, according to Hikari's estimation. Without the Senju cell and Sharingan enhancements and facing the decline associated with age even worse than Hiruzen for some reason, Danzo's current strength was somewhat compromised, yet he remained a potent and cunning adversary.

Surprisingly, Hiruzen's son, Shinsuke Sarutobi, had achieved the status of a 'first-class' Elite Jonin, indicating a high degree of skill and potential beyond what many might expect.

Kushina Uzumaki was also currently most likely a 'first-class' Elite Jonin, but with vast untapped potential, primarily due to the unpredictable power of the Nine-Tails sealed within her—a factor that could dramatically influence her combat effectiveness even further.

Minato Namikaze, meanwhile, was evaluated by Hikari to be somewhere between the Early to Middle Kage level, at this point, possessing the potential for significant growth as the circumstances demanded, just like it happened in the original series by the end of the war.

Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza were Elite Jonin, but they all showed surprising signs that they could go even much further in the future. For some reason, unlike in the original, Hikari strangely contributed this to his own 'Butterfly Effect'. He noticed it from this observation and some previous rumors circulating within the Konoha about their mission record over the last two years.

Meanwhile, within Hikari's own coalition, he assessed the smaller clan heads to be, on average, at the level of standard Elite Jonin, reflecting a solid foundation of skill and experience.

His own Patriarch, Hirayoshi, despite the effects of aging, remained at the Elite Jonin level. Hikari speculated that this was, however, only without tapping into any theorized secret power source that might elevate his abilities further.

Despite being well past his prime, Takumi was considered by Hikari to maintain a level of 'top-notch' Elite Jonin. His reliance on spiritual power and proficiency in Yin Release allowed him to preserve his combat effectiveness, demonstrating the diverse sources of strength among shinobi.

Hiashi's advancement to the Quasi-Kage level earlier than expected, in Hikari's view, was a direct consequence of the changes Hikari had influenced.

This "Butterfly Effect," resulting from Hikari's presence and actions within the clan, had seemingly spurred Hiashi to push beyond the original trajectory of his development.

Motivated by the need to not fall too far behind Hikari and fulfill his responsibilities as the successor to the Patriarch, Hiashi's efforts paid off significantly.

On the Uchiha side, Kiyomi and Fugaku were both evaluated as 'top-notch' Elite Jonin. Additionally, Setsuna, distinguished by his expertise in Lightning Release and the unique capability to summon a grizzly bear with Lightning Release abilities, was pegged by Hikari as a standard Elite Jonin despite his highly advanced age.

This rapid mental appraisal solidified Hikari's concerns about the comparative strength of their factions. His coalition was indeed at a disadvantage, particularly when it came to the top-tier shinobi—those who could sway the tide of conflict with their sheer power and skill.

This gap was most pronounced at the Kage level, where Hiruzen's faction held a clear upper hand. This realization underscored the strategic challenges facing Hikari and his allies.

Reflecting on this imbalance, Hikari felt validated in his efforts to enhance Kiyomi's abilities. The necessity of bolstering their ranks with shinobi capable of competing at the highest levels had never been more apparent. Now, he found himself hoping for Fugaku to unlock the Mangekyo Sharingan soon, a development that could significantly level the playing field.

Hikari also resolved to pay special attention to Shisui's and Itachi's matters in the future and never allow Hiruzen's faction to get even more S-level, Kage-tier shinobi through them.

Witnessing the formidable array of administrative power and personal might assembled on Hiruzen's side, Hikari recognized the precarious position his coalition would have been in had the war not presented an opportunity for them to consolidate and strengthen - buy time.

The impending conflict, while a grave threat in its own right, ironically offered a break—a chance to close the power gap and prepare for the internal struggles that loomed on the horizon. Hikari also saw who they were facing fully and who the true 'underdogs' were.

With this comprehensive understanding of the power dynamics at play, Hikari came back to the reality of the moment, recognizing that the path ahead in these negotiations would be anything but straightforward today.

The imbalance in strength, especially at the Kage level, underscored the uphill battle his coalition faced in advocating for their positions and interests this time around.