After Tobirama Senju was laid to rest, the election for the Third Hokage was immediately placed on the agenda. The Uchiha and Hyuga joined forces to invite Konoha's major clans to convene and discuss the matter.
The Senju Clan had naturally received the invitation as well. They had no choice but to attend this meeting. If they dared not show up, Uchiha Nan would dare to announce his succession as Konoha's Third Hokage the very next day—and claim it had passed unanimously.
In the conference room, the Clan Heads of every clan arrived on time. Some brought several of their clan's higher-ups, and before long, the room was full.
"Now that the Second Hokage has been laid to rest, Konoha cannot remain leaderless. It is time to choose the Third Hokage and lead Konoha onward."
After Hyuga Takuma spoke, everyone's gaze turned toward Mito Uzumaki.
"Before Tobirama died in battle, he had already chosen Konoha's candidate for the Third Hokage."
After Mito Uzumaki spoke, no one present looked surprised. Uchiha Nan had already spread the news throughout Konoha.
"That person is Hiruzen Sarutobi."
The conference room fell silent. The Clan Heads had always treated the news that the position would be passed to Hiruzen Sarutobi as a joke. No one had taken it seriously.
They had not expected Mito Uzumaki to actually say it aloud in the conference room. She might as well have said it would be passed to Senju Touma. Whether it was true or not, at least most people acknowledged that Senju Touma was qualified to become Hokage.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Give them a break!
"Mito-sama, Hiruzen Sarutobi isn't suitable, is he? Can he really serve as Konoha's Hokage?"
Hyuga Takuma frowned as he voiced his opinion. His tone was fairly tactful; he did not want to embarrass Mito Uzumaki in public.
"I agree with the Hyuga Clan Head!"
"I agree!"
.
Hyuga Takuma's words immediately struck a chord. Voices of opposition rose, creating an overwhelmingly one-sided situation.
"Quiet down, quiet down!"
Mito Uzumaki frowned and stopped the quarrel in the conference room before speaking unhurriedly.
"No matter what, he is the Third Hokage Tobirama chose. We might as well let Hiruzen Sarutobi stand up and speak. At the very least, give him a chance to have his say."
Mito Uzumaki gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a subtle look. The stage has been set for you. Time to step up and perform.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat beside Sarutobi Sasuke, his eyes lighting up. It's time to show what I'm made of!
Hiruzen Sarutobi had rehearsed this scene countless times in his mind. He had long since prepared his speech.
Recently, he had constantly been thinking about Konoha's Future. If he became Hokage, how would he restore Konoha's strength? How would he balance the relationships between the ninja villages?
Of course, the most important thing was Konoha's Will of Fire. Wherever the leaves of Konoha danced, the fire would burn without end!
This was the Will of Fire he had realized from Tobirama Senju's righteous act of self-sacrifice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had decided to turn the situation around with a speech filled with the Will of Fire and make everyone present willing to give him a chance.
Now, turn the tide!
Hiruzen Sarutobi encouraged himself inwardly and walked step by step to the center of the conference room, ready to give his speech.
"Everyone, Konoha's Future—"
"."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke passionately from the floor.
However, Uchiha Nan had no time to listen to Hiruzen Sarutobi spout grand principles. Every Clan Head present was a realist. The Will of Fire was fine to listen to, but did he really treat it like some precious treasure?
Uchiha Nan gave Uchiha Inohi, seated beside him, a look.
Inohi, it's time to put those skills you used to tear into me to work!
"Keep your spirits up. Don't disgrace yourself!"
"You clawed your way out of blades and gunfire!"
Uchiha Nan cheered Uchiha Inohi on, and Uchiha Inohi gave him a reassuring look.
He's just Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And he dared to stand here and ramble on?
"Fuck!"
"Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
"Fuck your mother!"
"You're a useless piece of trash from some minor clan who ran from the battlefield! What right do you have to spout nonsense here?!"
"Don't you want to be Hokage?"
"I'm telling you, no fucking way!!"
Uchiha Inohi sprang up and strode before Hiruzen Sarutobi, unleashing a torrent of abuse that caught Hiruzen Sarutobi completely off guard.
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
Uchiha Nan burst out laughing, utterly unrestrained. Uchiha Inohi really was a damn talent.
I'll reward you with two pounds of Sweet Potato Shochu later.
He learned it so vividly. I taught him casually, and he picked it up right away.
Uchiha Nan's wild laughter echoed through the room, and the Clan Heads of the various clans began laughing along with him.
Who was actually listening to what Hiruzen Sarutobi had to say? They were only giving Mito Uzumaki some face.
Who among those present did not understand perfectly well that, in all of Konoha, only the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had a chance to contend for the Hokage Position?
Everyone had been waiting for the Uchiha to reveal their stance. Now that the Uchiha's attitude was so obvious, there was naturally no need for them to keep pretending. They could laugh to their hearts' content.
What qualifications did Hiruzen Sarutobi have to talk about Konoha's Future?!
Mocking and jeering rose one after another, making Hiruzen Sarutobi flush crimson. For a moment, he did not know what to do. It was the first time he had suffered such a humiliating loss before so many people.
Not to mention that everyone present was the Clan Head of a Konoha ninja clan. Every one of them held a higher status than he did.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground. He glared hatefully at Uchiha Inohi. If looks could kill, Uchiha Inohi would already have been torn to pieces.
As expected, the Uchiha are inherently evil!
Teacher was absolutely right. Such an evil clan should never exist in Konoha!
Hiruzen Sarutobi swore inwardly that he would teach the Uchiha a lesson someday.
Mito Uzumaki frowned, utterly disappointed in Hiruzen Sarutobi. He could not even withstand this little bit of provocation?
The Uchiha had not even begun to exert themselves!
"I, the Uchiha Clan Head, have always considered protecting Konoha my duty. I believe I am better suited for the position of Third Hokage!"
"However, since Tobirama designated you, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as Konoha's Third Hokage, that means you must have something exceptional about you!"
"I can give you a chance. Defeat me, and I can represent the Uchiha Clan in recognizing you as the Third Hokage!"
Uchiha Nan stood up and directly revealed his ambition.
The laughter in the conference room came to an abrupt stop. The main player had finally appeared. The grand struggle for the Third Hokage had begun.
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to look at Mito Uzumaki, hoping she would come to his rescue. Mito Uzumaki had personally said that she would handle the Uchiha.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi was destined to be disappointed. In Mito Uzumaki's eyes, he was now nothing more than a pawn to test Uchiha Nan's strength.
Mito Uzumaki did not even spare Hiruzen Sarutobi a proper glance before speaking coldly.
"Hiruzen, accept it!"
"If you want to become Hokage, you must possess the corresponding strength!"
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