Election

The weather is fine today, with clear skies as far as the eye can see.

Preparations are already underway in the open space beside the Hokage Building.

Today is the election for the Jonin Squad Leader, an event second only to the election of the Hokage for the ninjas of Konoha.

For an ordinary jonin, entering the Jonin Squad Leader is considered a shortcut to joining the upper echelons of Konoha.

Staff members, having prepared well in advance, have begun greeting the jonin arriving to vote; once their identities are verified, each is issued a ballot.

After the voting concludes, the person with the most votes becomes the Jonin Squad Leader, while the others are automatically filled in as committee members of the Jonin Squad based on their vote counts, up to a maximum of nine people.

The final waiting period for voting is unified, followed by a public count on the spot; this is done to prevent any instances of fraud.

Minato Namikaze and Sarutobi Hiruzen, the two Hokage, have arrived at the polling station early, though the two men have different intentions today.

Minato Namikaze has come today to show his support for Masaki Uchiha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, meanwhile, wants to try and prevent Masaki Uchiha from being elected as Jonin Squad Leader; although this position does not hold much real power at this stage, he cannot let the Uchiha Clan win it so easily, and besides, wouldn't it be better if he could push his own person into this position?

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen is lost in thought, Masaki Uchiha arrives with a large group.

"Yo, isn't this the Third Hokage? What wind blew you here today?" Masaki Uchiha says in a joking tone, and without waiting for Sarutobi Hiruzen's reply, he greets Minato Namikaze, "Fourth Hokage, good morning."

"Good morning, Masaki-kun." Minato Namikaze responds with a squinting smile.

"I have come today in my capacity as a jonin of Konoha to cast my vote, and to see for myself just how far you have grown," Sarutobi Hiruzen retorts, his words carrying a hint of provocation.

"Hahaha, then let's wait and see." Masaki Uchiha smiles confidently, then says to the clansmen behind him, "Let's go, let's get our ballots first."

"Fourth Hokage, excuse me for a moment."

Seeing that Masaki Uchiha no longer pays him any mind, Sarutobi Hiruzen is not annoyed; instead, he watches the Uchiha Clan with a chuckle.

I hear you've already spread the word that the position of Jonin Squad Leader is yours for the taking; I just wonder if you'll still be able to smile when the votes are counted later.

"Lord Third, Lord Fourth, good morning." The arrival of Hyuga Hiashi interrupts the reverie in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.

"It's Hiashi. Who are you planning to vote for today?"

"Whoever the Third Hokage says to vote for, that is who I shall vote for." Upon hearing this, Hyuga Hiashi immediately adopts an obedient posture.

Minato Namikaze responds to Hyuga Hiashi's greeting with a sunny smile, but inwardly he thinks: What is going on? Didn't the Hyuga Clan also join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization? How could they...

This makes Sarutobi Hiruzen laugh out loud: "Then follow me and vote for Kojiro Sarutobi."

"Understood." Hyuga Hiashi says with his head bowed, "Then we shall head over to get our ballots first; excuse us."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nods with a smile, "Go ahead."

The Hyuga Clan certainly knows how to read the room; I'll arrange a couple of positions for them in the Administration Department later and give them a taste of the benefits.

Following behind Hyuga Hiashi, Hizashi Hyuga finally cannot help but ask, "Brother, didn't we agree to vote for..."

Before he can finish, Hyuga Hiashi waves his hand to cut him off, "It's just to paralyze that old man Sarutobi Hiruzen. I also want to see what the President mentioned—I expect many people will look quite flustered today..."

So that's it. Hizashi Hyuga understands immediately and falls silent.

Next, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans arrive and are similarly instructed by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Gradually, almost all the jonin in Konoha have arrived, save for those on missions or stationed outside the village.

Presiding over the vote is Torifu Akimichi of the Akimichi Clan, an old comrade-in-arms of Sarutobi Hiruzen who, for various reasons, stepped down from the upper echelons of Konoha and is now only responsible for the Jonin Squad election.

"The voting for the Jonin Squad Leader now begins. You may all place your ballots with the names written on them into the ballot boxes."

As Torifu Akimichi finishes speaking, everyone begins to form long lines in front of the ballot boxes.

The vote is conducted by secret ballot, intended to allow everyone to express their true views.

Half an hour later, there is no one left in front of the ballot boxes. Seeing this, Torifu Akimichi immediately announces, "Voting is closed. We will now begin counting the votes."

"Masaki Uchiha, one vote."

"Masaki Uchiha, one vote."

"Kojiro Sarutobi, one vote."

"Masaki Uchiha, one vote."

Secret ballot.

"Masaki Uchiha, one vote."

The counting staff carefully checks the inside of the ballot boxes and, finding no more ballots, announces that the count is complete.

The voting board now clearly displays:

Masaki Uchiha: 234 votes

Kojiro Sarutobi: 115 votes

Shikaku Nara: 51 votes

Hyuga Hiashi: 21 votes

"Excluding those on missions or stationed elsewhere, the number of registered votes matches the actual count on-site. I declare the vote valid!" With Torifu Akimichi's slightly excited voice, the results were finalized.

Arranged from highest to lowest, it was clear that Masaki Uchiha had been elected as the Jonin Squad Leader.

Upon hearing that the vote was valid, the members of the Uchiha Clan could no longer contain their excitement; they jumped up and cheered loudly, happier than if it were the New Year.

Only Sarutobi Hiruzen stood there with a dark expression, puffing on his pipe.

Beside him, Minato Namikaze was also applauding Masaki Uchiha's victory. Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen remaining silent, he offered some guidance: "Third Hokage, there is no need to be like this. The seat must be left for others to sit in eventually."

Sarutobi Hiruzen forced himself to perk up and said, "Minato, I am simply unwilling to accept this. The wariness my teacher held toward the Uchiha Clan has been dismantled under my watch. You will understand in the future." Having said this, he turned and walked away, leaving Minato Namikaze standing there alone.

Third Hokage, what good does being unwilling do? Konoha does not belong to any one person. The village requires balance. When you chose me as Hokage, you must have taken that into consideration as well.

Since you have stepped down, you should do so gracefully so that you may still be respected in your old age. If you resort to underhanded tactics, the only path left is ruin.

Watching Sarutobi Hiruzen's lonely departure, Minato Namikaze felt a pang of distress. He could not understand why the Third Hokage would target the Uchiha Clan in such a way; even the Second Hokage would not have treated the Uchiha as enemies.

"Fourth Hokage, I must thank you for your help today," Masaki Uchiha said as he approached.

"This is what you deserve, Masaki-kun," Minato Namikaze said with a chuckle. "I was actually worried just now that the Hyuga Clan might turn against you."

"Hahaha, I had asked Hiashi to do that, just to give the Third Hokage a surprise."

"You really should show more respect to the Third Hokage, but regardless, congratulations on being elected as the Jonin Squad Leader," Minato Namikaze said with a helpless smile.

"This is all for the sake of Konoha!"

Masaki Uchiha smiled faintly.