Torifu Akimichi

What kind of person was Shikaku Nara?

Konohagakure's greatest mind!

A renowned strategist throughout the Shinobi World.

Since he had made up his mind, he would surely turn passivity into initiative.

If the strength of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans was not enough to make the Hokage and the others wary, then they would bring in a few more clans.

There were countless ninja clans in Konohagakure that Danzo had harmed. He could find them with his eyes closed.

In fact, given Konohagakure's current situation, the strength of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans alone was enough to give the Hokage a massive headache.

The Aburame Clan!

Shikaku Nara openly visited the Aburame Clan with Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka, where they received a warm welcome from Shibi Aburame.

Although it did not show on their faces, aside from the one Jonin currently out on a mission, all four remaining Jonin of the Aburame Clan had come out to greet them. That alone showed how seriously they took this visit.

"Looks like the Aburame Clan has made its decision as well."

Shikaku Nara smiled.

He had originally intended to come alone, but Shibi Aburame had expressed his hope that Ino-Shika-Cho would enter the Aburame Clan through the main gate, openly and honestly.

Shikaku Nara was overjoyed. He knew this was their response.

Though Shibi Aburame remained expressionless, he handed Shikaku Nara a list.

After reading it, Shikaku Nara's brows twitched wildly, and even his face spasmed.

Well, damn!

That was really something!

The three of them had also received lists issued by Danzo.

For the Akimichi clan, Danzo had demanded a few people.

For the Nara clan, Danzo had demanded several well-known figures.

For the Yamanaka Clan, Danzo had demanded nearly everyone from teenagers to young adults.

Danzo truly loved ninjas who could manipulate minds.

Shikaku Nara had thought that was already the cruelest it could get. Yet when he saw Shibi Aburame's list, he finally understood that there was always something worse.

The very first name on the list: Shibi Aburame!

Damn it!

He even wanted to take their Clan Leader!

The names below were all Jonin of the Aburame Clan as well.

So after some "optimization," Danzo intended to merge the entire Aburame Clan into Root.

"Has Danzo gone insane?"

Inoichi Yamanaka saw it as well and was left speechless.

So there were people worse off than him.

What had he said before?

Danzo wanted to take him, the Clan Leader, too? Was Danzo planning to become Clan Leader himself?

Look, over at the Aburame Clan, it had nearly come true.

In an instant, Inoichi Yamanaka felt much better.

No wonder the Aburame Clan had let Ino-Shika-Cho swagger in through the front gate. Anyone would have been unable to hold it in after this.

Why had these ninja clans established themselves in Konohagakure?

So their families could multiply and prosper in a peaceful environment.

What was Danzo trying to do? Did he really see them as tools?

Shibi Aburame's calm voice rang out. "I don't know whether he has gone insane, but I nearly did."

"Cough, cough!"

Even Choza Akimichi could not help coughing repeatedly.

For Danzo to drive Konohagakure's perfect ninja, Shibi Aburame, to this point, he was truly something else.

Shibi Aburame was unlike the others.

He excelled in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu alike. Clear-minded and calm in the face of trouble, he had virtually no weaknesses. Many Jonin called him the perfect ninja. His status in Konohagakure was extremely high, and he had completed more S-rank missions than Shikaku Nara and the other two combined.

If not for his personality, he would have been even more famous than Kakashi Hatake.

Shikaku Nara took a deep breath and slowly said, "It seems our choice was not wrong at all. Danzo has gone mad!"

Shibi Aburame slowly nodded. "If the Aburame Clan joins forces with Ino-Shika-Cho, the strength of four clans will be enough that Danzo will not dare act rashly!"

"Not four clans. Five!" Shikaku Nara smiled slightly. "The Inuzuka Clan has also agreed to join our big family. What do you think, Shibi?"

Shibi Aburame's fingers trembled slightly. Though he wore sunglasses, Shikaku Nara could still feel that sharp gaze.

Just as the Ino-Shika-Cho clans were one entity, the Aburame Clan and the Inuzuka Clan also shared an excellent relationship.

Although Shibi Aburame had joined this alliance, he had secretly remained in contact with the Inuzuka Clan, keeping them as a hidden card. It was also a form of mutual protection.

But now, Shikaku Nara had laid everything bare.

He did not know how Shikaku Nara had persuaded Tsume Inuzuka, but to make her break her agreement with Shibi Aburame, he had clearly used special means.

"Fine!"

After a brief silence, Shibi Aburame calmly said, "The strength of five first-rate ninja clans is enough to make the Hokage back down. But Shikaku, tell me your true purpose."

"If you say you only want to protect yourselves, I will not believe you."

Shikaku joked, "If I said I wanted to become Hokage, would you believe me?"

"Yes," Shibi Aburame calmly replied. "But you cannot become Hokage."

Shikaku's expression stiffened slightly, then he laughed. "All right, I'll be direct. I intend to choose a new Hokage—the Fifth Hokage. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is already old."

"The Fifth Hokage?"

Shibi Aburame nodded slightly. "Who is your candidate?"

Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka also looked over curiously.

They knew Shikaku Nara intended to nominate a new Hokage, but they did not know who it would be.

Shikaku Nara smiled faintly and looked toward a massive figure.

"Me?"

Choza Akimichi pointed at his own nose, his eyes full of astonishment. "I'm becoming Hokage?"

"Are you dreaming?" Shikaku Nara rolled his eyes. "I mean Lord Torifu!"

Torifu?

The others froze.

Torifu Akimichi?

That was truly an unexpected name.

They had thought Shikaku Nara would choose Jiraiya or Tsunade.

"What?" Shikaku Nara asked with a smile. "Do you think Senior Torifu is not qualified?"

Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka fell silent.

Naturally, they were more than willing.

It would mean that someone from Ino-Shika-Cho would become Hokage. The benefits to the three clans were self-evident.

The Hokage faction's tradition of monopolizing the Hokage position would appear to remain intact, but in truth, it would be broken.

But would Shibi Aburame agree?

The Aburame Clan and the Inuzuka Clan had a close relationship, with Shibi Aburame faintly serving as their leader.

If he nodded, then with the combined strength of five clans, this matter might truly be possible.

After all, Torifu Akimichi had also been a disciple of the Second Hokage. He, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and the others had once been fellow disciples.

He was slightly younger than Hiruzen Sarutobi, and because of the Akimichi clan's Secret Technique, he had barely maintained his peak strength. His power was not especially great, but he could still rank among Konohagakure's top ten.

Konohagakure was not Kumogakure.

The Hokage did not need to be Konohagakure's strongest person.

In terms of prestige, Torifu Akimichi was barely qualified as well.

"Impossible!"

After thinking it over, Shibi Aburame said without hesitation, "Senior Torifu is indeed qualified to serve as Hokage, but he is too old."

A ninja's peak lasted from around forty to forty-five years old. After that, they began to decline.

Torifu Akimichi had delayed that decline somewhat through the Akimichi clan's Secret Technique, but he was still nearly sixty. His combat ability should already have begun to fall.

If he became the Fifth Hokage, how many years could he serve?

In three to five years, they would need to replace the Hokage again, and Konohagakure would suffer another upheaval.

Shibi Aburame looked strangely at Shikaku Nara.

Even he could think of these things. Could Konohagakure's strategist not?

"Mm, you make a lot of sense!" Shikaku Nara smiled slightly. "That is why I changed my mind. I will nominate Jiraiya or Tsunade. But before that, how about having Senior Torifu serve as Acting Hokage?"