After Jiraiya left...
Inside the temporary Hokage office, the air was oppressive, silent...
It filled the entire camp like something tangible.
Only after a long while did Tobirama finally break that awkward silence, his tone carrying an unconcealable weariness and disappointment. "Monkey, have you forgotten? The true Hokage is you!"
Hearing this, Hiruzen lifted his head slightly, meeting Tobirama's gaze for a moment...
There was neither joy nor sorrow on Hiruzen's face...
"Yes, I am the Hokage, but at the same time, I am also your disciple."
"Since you have already made your decision, Teacher, then no matter what you intend to do, I will support you... even if it means abolishing the Land of Fire's Feudal Lord system."
Abolishing the Feudal Lord system was a simple sentence, yet it represented an extremely dangerous signal.
It meant that the Land of Fire and Konoha would be plunged into a fierce conflict between the Shinobi World and the noble class, and might even trigger joint hostility and war from other countries and shinobi villages against the Land of Fire.
Hiruzen knew very well in his heart that unless the other four great shinobi villages all chose similar action...
Otherwise, at this critical moment with doomsday approaching, the Land of Fire would very likely be jointly targeted by the Feudal Lords of the other four nations, causing Konoha, already beset with crisis, to fall into an even more passive position.
Even if Tobirama's current actions could swiftly centralize power within Konoha, in the long run, they were extremely dangerous.
Tobirama had clearly also seen the concerns in Hiruzen's heart. He slowly shook his head, his voice carrying a faint hint of ridicule and helplessness. "I truly didn't expect this, Monkey. After several decades, you have actually become so timid and weak."
"Since