Jiraiya Doesn't Want to Be Hokage, So He Won't Be.

Hiruzen Sarutobi signaled to the Konoha advisors, about to speak.

Zhengyi's brain finally caught up. What did Jiraiya just say? He wasn't fit to be Hokage?

You said that yourself, buddy.

The teacher didn't poison you, nor did he force you.

He seized the initiative and spoke first:

"Sigh, so even Jonin Jiraiya himself believes he is not suitable to be Hokage?"

"Lord Third! It seems we have no other choice."

Zhengyi stood up with a look of regret and nodded respectfully toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Wha... what do you mean?"

Not only was Hiruzen Sarutobi stunned, but everyone present who supported Jiraiya was equally bewildered.

Danzo's political acumen wasn't high, but he was truly skilled at internal strife. Once he heard Zhengyi's words and his brain turned the corner, he quickly chimed in, "Indeed. Since Jiraiya himself lacks the confidence..."

"Then..."

"Third, we should nominate someone else."

"The position of Hokage requires a willing successor. Since Jiraiya's heart is not in it, we cannot force him."

All of Jiraiya's supporters were left dazed by this sudden turn of events, where their own logic was used against them.

Jiraiya's lips twitched, "I..."

What was he supposed to do now?

Shamelessly go back up there and say that actually, he could be Hokage after all?!

As a rival, Orochimaru naturally couldn't speak, so he had to rely on his supporters to act as his mouthpiece. Following Zhengyi's lead, the others immediately jumped in.

"Lord Third!..."

They all followed the same format, using various arguments to suppress Jiraiya.

Listening to the chorus of voices telling Jiraiya not to push himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face turned black instantly.

"Third, the election of the Hokage cannot be this hasty. I suggest we hold more meetings to discuss this over the next few days," Utatane Koharu hurriedly stepped in to mediate.

"It seems that is the case; everyone's opinions are somewhat divided," Hiruzen Sarutobi forced a laugh.

He was truly fed up with Jiraiya, this man who couldn't accomplish anything.

Couldn't you have just bragged that you would definitely be a great Hokage, that you would lead the villagers to a better life, and that you would lower taxes after the war? Why did you have to be so humble?!

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like he was about to explode with rage.

"Meeting adjourned!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to dismiss the meeting and return to consult with Shikaku Nara on a strategy to push Jiraiya forward once more.

"He truly is my student," Orochimaru had been marveling at how effective Zhengyi was. If he had been even a second slower, the Third and the others would have already succeeded in persuading Jiraiya.

If he hadn't taken a liking to Zhengyi back at the Ninja Academy.

He thought, the competition for the Fourth Hokage might have already been lost.

Just as they emerged from the Jonin conference room.

A piece of gossip explosive enough to shock everyone in Konoha, and indeed the entire Land of Fire, burst onto the scene.

A woman from a red-light district in the northwest of the Land of Fire arrived, holding a white-haired infant, looking for the child's father.

According to the woman, the child's father was the Konoha Sannin, Jiraiya.

In the less than thirty minutes they had been meeting in the conference room, this massive scandal swept through all of Konoha like a tornado.

The Anbu who discovered it were just about to report it when they saw Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others walking out of the meeting.

The entire village now knew that Jiraiya had fathered a child while fighting against Iwagakure.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi had wanted to scold Jiraiya in the office earlier, he now wanted to beat him to death. If looks could kill, Jiraiya would have been killed ten thousand times over.

"Old man! You have to believe me! I wore protection, I..." Jiraiya was questioning his entire existence. This shouldn't be possible, it can't be!

Could it have been that night?

Impossible, absolutely impossible. I took very good precautions that night.

"Enough! Isn't it embarrassing enough already?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face flushed red. Why had he ever taken Jiraiya as a student? You can play around outside, but keep it hidden!!

To cause such a scene at the critical moment of the Hokage election?!

What kind of Hokage has a child in a red-light district, for heaven's sake?

Minato covered his face in resignation. Oh, Jiraiya-sensei, sigh.

Shikaku Nara looked at Zhengyi's retreating back. Was this a frame-up?! What a truly despicable method!!

The Orochimaru faction stood to the side, smiling without a word.

"Teacher, it seems Jiraiya is not suited to be Hokage," Orochimaru said, his tone laced with mockery.

"Orochimaru, this matter had better have nothing to do with you." Hiruzen Sarutobi shot him a sidelong glance before glaring at Jiraiya. "Go and bring the people here first!"

He then ordered the Anbu to bring the individuals in.

"Lord Third Hokage, please, I beg you to seek justice for my child and me."

"I can live without a husband, but my child cannot grow up without a father."

As soon as the woman holding a small boy arrived, she knelt before Hiruzen Sarutobi and began to weep.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, had guiltily hidden behind the crowd. He knew this woman—he actually knew her! Could it really be true? He had assumed Orochimaru was framing him.

Just looking at the small boy's tuft of white hair gave the claim seventy percent credibility, and when combined with Jiraiya's usual conduct...

"This lady, what is your name?" Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly squeezed out a smile to help the kneeling woman up.

"Hanako."

"Very well, Hanako. I will go and question Jiraiya. If this is his fault, I will certainly give you an answer!"

The number of Konoha villagers who had come to watch was not small; everyone loves a scandal involving the upper echelons.

"Get over here!" Hiruzen Sarutobi roared at Jiraiya.

"Yes!" Jiraiya was as obedient as he could possibly be today, following along meekly. Before leaving, he glanced hesitantly at Hanako. This shouldn't be happening; he had used protection.

Shikaku Nara thought for a moment, then followed them.

"Hahaha." Zhengyi was dying of joy; he hadn't expected today to go so smoothly.

First, Jiraiya had rejected the Hokage position himself.

And now, this scene was a resounding success.

Danzo watched Zhengyi with a grave expression. Prescribing the right medicine for the illness, a single fatal blow—once Orochimaru became Hokage, would he truly be able to seize power from Zhengyi?

"Teacher, please go and check if this child is Jiraiya's."

Zhengyi walked over to Orochimaru's side and said.

Orochimaru looked puzzled. Isn't this just the frame-up we orchestrated? Still, he prepared to follow through.

DNA testing—he could already perform it using laboratory equipment.

However, he didn't understand why Zhengyi, having framed Jiraiya, would want to help him out of the situation.

Perhaps he possessed a sense of justice?

Heh, perhaps.

"Is he yours?"

"I... I don't know, Old Man." Jiraiya was on the verge of tears. He felt there was a high probability the child wasn't his.

"You just can't control your lower half." Hiruzen Sarutobi poked Jiraiya's chest hard with his index finger, causing him sharp pain, yet Jiraiya dared not resist.

Although he had been lecherous his whole life, he had always held to his own bottom line and had never truly betrayed Biwako.

"I was single, wasn't I?" Jiraiya muttered, pouting.

"You still dare to talk back?" Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand to strike. If you had just kept yourself clean, how would this woman dare to come forward? Now, you don't even know if the child is yours—what if he really is?

Jiraiya hurriedly dodged with a cheeky grin.

"Third, it seems we have to acknowledge this child," Shikaku Nara, who had followed them, interrupted.