"Now then, who agrees, and who objects!? If anyone still has questions or objections, bring them up one by one! I'll answer every last one of them!" Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice echoed through the conference room.
Most of the jonin lowered their heads, not daring to meet the Third's gaze. They might have opposed the Third's unilateral decision, but they did not dare offer counsel to his face.
They were merely ordinary jonin, with neither great potential nor clan backing. As long as they did not make mistakes, they would never have to worry about making a living for the rest of their lives.
As for whether a child or an old man became Hokage, it made no difference to them.
It was certainly unpleasant to have a child placed above them, but what could they do? They could not defeat Hiroki, nor could they defeat the Third. So they might as well let them do whatever they wanted.
The conference room fell silent.
But as everyone knew, silence existed to be broken.
"Third-sama, Lord Hiroki." Nara Ruzan stepped forward and looked solemnly at the Third.
He was currently the representative of Konoha's smaller clans, as well as the chief military strategist and chief of staff. He did not dare casually approve of something as significant as replacing the Hokage. Yet neither did he directly oppose it.
"Personally, I have no objection to the decision made by the two of you."
Nara Ruzan first lowered his stance, easing the tense atmosphere in the conference room.
Mitokado Homura and the others raised their heads to watch him, eager to see what Ruzan, famed for his high intelligence, would say.
"However, as a jonin of Konoha, I have a responsibility to understand our new Hokage's plans for the village's future."
"Lord Sawada Hiroki,