Jiraiya had withdrawn from the Hokage selection, just as expected. Surely Tsunade wouldn't withdraw too?
It would be perfectly in character for her.
At first, people had worried that neither of them would compete because there was nothing in it for them. Now they worried that both would pull out.
If that happened, Konoha would become a laughingstock.
The foremost ninja village in the Shinobi World couldn't find a single successor who wanted to be Hokage? How embarrassing would that be?
Fortunately, Tsunade had not announced her withdrawal. With only one candidate left, the identity of the next Hokage was all but certain.
Some veteran ninja breathed a sigh of relief. At least Tsunade hadn't walked away from the job.
The Jonin Council still had to hold its vote, though. It represented the Jonin's position, and even the Hokage couldn't ignore their collective will.
That day, the Jonin gathered in the Hokage Building's usual meeting hall.
The older leadership—the Third Hokage, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and the others—sat on one side. Tsunade, Jiraiya, Hatake Kakashi, and the newer generation sat on the other.
"Everyone's here, so I'll get straight to it. Today we're holding an anonymous vote of confidence on Tsunade becoming the Fifth Hokage. If more than half vote in favor, the motion passes." The Third Hokage spoke at length as usual, though he looked tired.
The past few days had been hard on a man his age. There had been too much to deal with.
He had to arrange compensation for fallen ninja, make provisions for those left disabled, attend to civilian casualties, decide what to do with the prisoners from Otogakure and Sunagakure, and send someone to explain the situation to the Daimyo.
It had left him exhausted.
But at last, his successor had arrived. This time,