59. Numbers Game: Hikari’s Electoral Strategy


    Sakumo nodded, absorbing the depth of Hikari''s n now fully, "Yes, I see your point. With the support of your Hyuga n and my own involvement, rallying the other smaller shinobi ns in the vige might indeed be very feasible. However, even with all of them on the boat, I''m still concerned about whether we would have enough numbers to secure a majority in the Jonin Council vote...",


    "And it will be pretty hard to convince that many civilians to hypothetically vote for me, those recent rumors are one thing, but civilians are also traditionally very leaning toward the Hokage''s faction...", He said, now reflecting only on the logistical challenges of their goal and expressing no other disapproval.


    "I''ve done the numbers on this, and you''re right Sakumo-san. Relying solely on our alliance, it''s going to be a tough call to rally enough Jonin behind you. And trying to sway the civilian poption is an uphill battle given the Hokage''s influence and the perks he can offer too...",


    "But there''s one group you''ve overlooked, a group even more sidelined than the smaller ns—the Uchiha n. They''re arguably the most marginalized group in the vige right now. If we manage to get their support for your bid as Jonin Commander, and in exchange, promise to them that you to use that position to support them more and work towards politically reintegrating them into the vige''s fabric further in the future, they might just be willing to join our cause as well this time around...", Hikari finally outlined his entire strategy this time.


    Hikari had indeed roughly done the math required for their n to seed. He understood that the Jonin Council, which votes for the next Jonin Commander or the head of the Jonin Council,prised approximately 500 members.


    To be considered a candidate in the election, one needed at least 50 votes, and the nominee with the highest tally would ultimately secure the position.


    Within this body, the Hyuga n boasted 100 members in the Jonin Council alone, a significant but not decisive contingent. It was worth noting that this number represented only about half of the Hyuga''s Jonin-level shinobi.


    The others, despite holding Jonin ranks, were not part of the Jonin Council. This was primarily because they hadn''t participated in missions contributing directly to the vige''s shinobi efforts, choosing instead to focus on being permanently stationed within the n, this group is mainly from the Main Branch as well.


    "But isn''t your n traditionally seen as rivals to the Uchiha? Would they really agree to coborate with us on this?", Sakumo asked, voicing a concern that naturally arose from the historical tension between the Hyuga and Uchiha ns.


    "In reality, the rivalry between our ns isn''t as intense as people make it out to be, Sakumo-san. There haven''t been any wars or significant conflicts with the Uchiha since the vige was founded, and even before then, certainly nothing on the scale of the Uchiha''s past with the Senju. I believe the idea of our rivalry has beenrgely amplified by the Hokage''s faction, who stand to gain the most from keeping our ns at odds with one another...",


    "The other Elders of my n have all also recognized this maniption, and that''s a major reason why they''re open to aligning with the Uchiha now. Aside from the ''normal''petitive spirit stemming from our simr Kekkei Genkai and dojutsu, there aren''t deep-seated grievances or conflicting interests between us...",


    "The real hurdle instead might be the overall Uchiha''s reputation for arrogance and their tendency to iste themselves, but given the pressure they''ve faced from the Hokage''s faction, I''m optimistic. I doubt the Uchiha Elders are blind to the benefits of our proposal, especially in light of their current situation.",


    "They''re likely keen on reintegrating more closely with the vige, at this time, and aren''tpletely gone into the n ''instion'' philosophy. With your involvement, Sakumo-san, and the support of other smaller ns, we have a strong case to make. I believe the Uchiha will see the wisdom in joining forces regarding this matter...", Hikariid out his true analysis.


    Sakumo listened intently, processing Hikari''s perspective on the matter. After a moment of reflection, his expression softened, signaling aplete shift in his initial skepticism as well.


    "You make apelling argument overall, Hikari-kun. I must admit, I''ve been viewing the situation through the lens of old perceptions and rivalries just now...", Sakumo conceded, "If the Hyuga and Uchiha ns can also set aside past differences, real or exaggerated, for the greater good of the vige, then perhaps there is hope for genuine change on a broad level.",


    "Uniting our forces could also be the key to averting potential great future conflicts within the vige, stemming from the injustices faced by the Uchiha and the smaller ns. Their growing grievances, if left unaddressed, could destabilize Konoha and ''explode'' sometime in the future.",


    "If we manage to politically address and resolve these issues, however, it would mark a significant achievement for the vige''s future stability and strength. Such a coalition could truly safeguard the vige''s long-term prosperity and harmony...", Sakumo reflected.


    Then clearly suddenly reinvigorated by the conversation and the possibility of making a significant impact, Sakumo found himself unknowingly stepping away from the shadow of his recent troublespletely.


    The rumors and negative thoughts that had once weighed heavily on him seemed less oppressive as he considered the potential for real change within the vige he loved.


    Therefore, a newfound enthusiasm evident in his demeanor and a spark of passion lighting up his face, Sakumo leaned into the discussion, genuinely curious and hopeful about their potential chances of sess.


    "So, are you sure that with the Uchiha also on board, we would have enough numbers...?", He inquired fully ''bought in'', his voice carrying a mix of optimism and a desire for reassurance.


    His question stemmed from a ce of genuine curiosity. Politics had never been his main arena; he was a shinobi at heart, more ustomed to the straightforwardness of missions than the intricate dance of vige politics.


    "The math works out in our favor, Sakumo-san. Honestly, I was as surprised as you might be when I went through the numbers with the help of the n''s intelligence. I bet the Hokage''s faction would be quite caught off guard too.


    "And that''s why we must keep our strategy tightly under wraps until election day to prevent any unforeseen moves from their side. They''ve proven time and again how insidious they can be...", Hikari shared his voice carrying a tone of strategic caution.


    "Let mey out the numbers for you: the Uchiha n contributes about 100 members to the Jonin Council, the same as my n. If they''re all on board and cast their votes, we''d only need around 50 more to secure a win.",


    "The smaller ns, when their numbers are pooled together, have about 75 members in the Council. This means, that if we manage to get everyone to vote, we''ll have more than enough to win the majority. It''s all about unity and coordination at this point.", Hikari exinedying out the arithmetic of their n with rity.


    Hikari''s calctions were not made lightly. Initially, he had assumed that securing additional votes from civilian Jonin through covert incentives might be necessary to ensure victory in the election.


    However, a thorough consultation with the Hyuga Patriarch and a review of the n''s intelligence resources led him to a surprising conclusion: such measures were unnecessary.


    This revtion not only reinforced the strength of their strategy but also highlighted the intrinsic power and influence wielded by the Hyuga and Uchiha ns within the vige.


    The fact that both ns had about half of their Jonin force not even participating in the Jonin Council spoke volumes about their untapped potential.


    It underscored a significant aspect of Konoha''s shinobi hierarchy—despite the apparent dominance of the Hokage Faction, there existed formidable pockets of power, represented by the Hyuga and Uchiha, that could dramatically alter the vige''s politicalndscape when mobilized.


    This insight was a revtion to Hikari, also emphasizing the parity between the Hyuga and Uchiha ns in terms of their capacity to influence vige affairs if they joined together.


    Meanwhile, Hikari also got further detailed intelligence assessment regarding the representation of other notable ns within Konoha''s Jonin Council when researching this.


    Thisprehensive analysis provided him with a clearer picture of the politicalndscape and the rtive power levels of various important shinobi ns within the vige as well.


    The Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Nara ns, each had an average representation of about 25 members within the Jonin Council for example.


    On the other hand, the Aburame, Inuzuka, Shimura, and Sarutobi ns had roughly half that number, with an average of around 12 members each in the Jonin Council.


    Hikari''s analytical approach also extended even beyond just the Jonin Council''s membership counts; he delved into the broader power dynamics and the distribution of elite-level shinobi across the vige.


    He now had some kind of statistical representation inside of his head of various power dynamics of the ns and vige after getting that Elder-level intelligence estimation after bing one himself recently.


    His investigation revealed a fascinating insight:bined, the Hyuga and Uchiha nsmanded an impressive 40% of the vige''s entire elite Jonin pool, with both of them having half of that share at the standalone levels.


    This figure also included not only those Jonin within the Jonin Council but also those in specialized units like the Anbu, but that analysis also included the substantial Jonin force that Uchiha and Hyuga ns had but that constantly stayed within the npounds.


    Hikari also found that alongside the Hyuga and Uchiha, considered the vige''s foremost ns, the Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Nara—also ssified among therger ns—, collectively held about 55% of the vige''s Jonin forces.


    Adding the medium-sized ns to the mix, including the Sarutobi, Shimura, Inuzuka, and Aburame, this percentage rose to around 65%.


    Furthermore, when considering the smaller ns like the Hatake, the total share of Jonin hailing from all shinobi ns astonishingly reached 80% of the vige''s entire Jonin force.


    This analysis truly highlighted the significant advantage shinobi from established ns had over those born to civilian families.


    In such an environment, only the most fortunate, talented, and intellectually gifted civilian shinobi could break through to im a share of the remaining 20% of Jonin positions.


    Reflecting on these newfound insights, Hikari again felt a profound sense of gratitude for his n affiliation.


    Otherwise, being reborn as a civilian for example, then it would truly have ended even before it began for him in his overall transmigration journey in this kind of low social mobility world.