"This election is highly unusual."
"Those with enough seniority lack strength. Those with enough strength lack seniority. And those with both strength and seniority aren't in the village."
"Let's start with someone you know—Kakashi Hatake. He has a chance. His advantages are that he was the Fourth Hokage's student and the Third Hokage's confidant. But his weakness is that he's too young."
"Compared to Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma's chances are even slimmer. If the Third Hokage had spent a few more years cultivating him, the outcome might have been different. But no matter what, he is now the descendant of a loyal martyr. The Sarutobi Clan is deeply rooted and cannot be underestimated.
"His weakness is the same as Kakashi's: he's also too young, and his strength still isn't enough to command public respect."
"The third is named Shimura Danzō. To establish his seniority, we have to go back even further. He was a comrade from the same generation as the Third Hokage, and likewise a disciple of the Second Hokage and a member of his elite squad.
"You should know his other two classmates: senior advisors Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. However, those two have long held high advisory positions. They are important figures who assist successive Hokage, and there is neither precedent nor need for them to be promoted, so I haven't included them among the candidates."
"It is said that Danzo's strength is unfathomable, but his methods are highly controversial. Some clan heads may also harbor dissatisfaction toward him."
Shimura Danzō.
Sasuke silently repeated the name to himself. Suddenly, he remembered that Toad Master had once told him that this man bore deep dissatisfaction toward the Uchiha Clan.
That was why Toad Master had strongly suspected him of being the mastermind behind the attempt on Sasuke's life.
Though