Konoha.
The plaza before the Hokage Tower.
Countless eyes focused on the stage.
This time, Uchiha Shamu had completely torn away all pretense with the Third Hokage.
The various factions had only come to find out who Konoha's new Hokage would be.
No one had expected such an incident to suddenly occur.
Though no one said anything aloud, inwardly, they were all thrilled by the spectacle.
Never mind the outcome for now.
Shamu's move alone had made the trip worthwhile for everyone.
If the ballots were inspected and something turned up afterward, the show would become even more entertaining.
A faint smile appeared on Shamu's face. You fools, I worked so hard to gather votes not for the position of Hokage at all.
The Otsutsuki are about to come and destroy the world, and you're still fighting to become Hokage? What the hell is wrong with you people?
Shamu leaned closer to the microphone.
"To ensure fairness, I would like to invite the First Hokage's granddaughter, the princess of the Senju Clan, Lady Tsunade, to inspect the ballots."
As a candidate, Shamu could have inspected the ballots himself.
Yet he specifically wanted Tsunade to do it.
First, Tsunade was also one of the candidates and was qualified to inspect them.
Second, Tsunade's status was noble, and she enjoyed enormous prestige among the public. Her words would be more convincing than Shamu's.
Third, Shamu simply wanted to disgust certain people.
"Lady Tsunade, would you be willing?"
Shamu asked with a smile.
Tsunade had not been told about this beforehand, so she was somewhat surprised as well.
But she also wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on.
So she readily agreed.
"Fine!"
She strode directly onto the stage.
The Third Hokage's expression had remained grim. The Advisory Elders