"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
Everyone perked up at once.
To put it plainly, today's meeting was about deciding who would become Hokage and who would take custody of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
When it came down to it, there was only one issue: whoever got custody of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki might become the next Hokage.
"Impossible. Minato entrusted Naruto to me. I will never hand him over to you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke in a fit of rage.
"Don't get the wrong idea. Everyone who went to support the Fourth Hokage knows that Minato didn't entrust Naruto to you alone. He entrusted him to us!"
Masaki Uchiha bluntly pointed out Hiruzen's mistake.
"Keep dreaming. How could the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki ever be entrusted to you?" Shimura Danzō ground out, wishing he could leap up and bite Masaki to death.
"What kind of standing do you have to spout nonsense here?" Masaki looked at him askance, his tone scornful.
"You..." Danzō was so furious that he nearly bared his teeth.
It was true. Minato Namikaze had long since stripped Danzō of his position as an elder, and he couldn't publicly mention his position as the leader of Root. For now, he could only suppress his anger and look to Hiruzen to speak on his behalf.
Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and slowly exhaled. "Naruto definitely won't be handed over to you. He'll only be entrusted to the next Hokage to raise, so you can stop thinking about it."
"I have no objection to the next Hokage raising Naruto, but he can't stay in your hands in the meantime."
"Also, I propose that the Jonin Squad take care of Naruto until the next Hokage is elected. That way, you, Third Hokage, can keep an eye on him too."
Although he didn't have many allies in the Jonin Squad, Masaki figured he'd fly into a rage if Hiruzen refused even this much.
They could both make a concession and accept the arrangement. As long as they made sure the next Hokage was one of their own, that was enough. After hesitating for a moment, Hiruzen nodded and agreed.
Danzō was just about to speak when Hiruzen stopped him with a look.
"Good. We'll leave the matter of the Nine-Tails there for now. Next, we need to discuss your problem, Third Hokage."
The main event had arrived.
Hiruzen and Danzō both focused their attention, ready to hear what Masaki had to say.
"Since you've retired, Third Hokage, you shouldn't keep clinging to Konoha's key departments. So, in my view, you should hand over control of the Anbu, the Education Department, the Medical Department, and the other departments. It would be good for both you and Konoha."
Danzō was incensed by Masaki's composed demeanor.
"Hand them over to whom? You? Do you have any experience? Can you handle Konoha's internal affairs properly?" Hiruzen couldn't possibly agree to Masaki turning him into a powerless retiree.
After all, power was a man's fuel station.
A man couldn't go a day without power, especially if he'd once been Konoha's highest leader.
Masaki couldn't help laughing at Hiruzen's agitated look.
"Why are you in such a hurry? I never said you should hand all those departments over to me. I've just heard that since the Fourth Hokage took office, he's never had control of those departments. Third Hokage, can you explain that?"
Seeing that Masaki had laid it all out, Hiruzen could only steel himself and answer under everyone's astonished, incredulous gazes. "I didn't do it for myself. Minato had only just taken office and wasn't familiar with many things. I was afraid he'd make the wrong decisions, so I transferred control to him bit by bit."
"You're just a retired old man now. You have no right to hold on to the Hokage's authority!"
"If you refuse my proposal, I'm sorry, Third Hokage, but I'll forcibly reclaim that authority under Konoha's Public Interest and Security Act—and send you to prison!"
Masaki had finally revealed his true intentions.
"You bastard, are you trying to seize power? Do you have the votes?"
Hiruzen was burning with rage. He shouted furiously.
"Exactly! Don't think we're afraid of you just because you have people supporting you!" Danzō chimed in.
The others present were also left reeling by their exchange.
Was this going to become a civil war?
The shinobi in the room began choosing sides.
Gradually, three distinct factions emerged. Aside from a small group of neutral parties who stayed put, three-fifths of everyone else stood behind Masaki.
A closer look at the representatives of the neutral faction revealed that one of them was Orochimaru.
Seeing that even his own student wouldn't support him, Hiruzen was deeply hurt.
"See that, Third Hokage? Forget trying to reclaim the Hokage Position—you won't even leave this room unless you hand over the authority you're holding!"
Masaki swept out his hand with a commanding air and slapped it down on the table.
"Bang!"
The sound struck Hiruzen like a slap across the face.
Looking at the people standing behind Masaki, Hiruzen wore a bitter smile.
The Ino-Shika-Cho, the Hyuga, the Inuzuka, the Aburame, the Kurama, and the others—these were all clans that had once belonged to the Hokage faction, clans that had never gotten along with the Uchiha.
He hadn't expected things to change so drastically in just a few short months after Masaki became clan head.
"Why?" Hiruzen asked, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Shikaku understood what he meant. He walked straight over to Masaki and said to Hiruzen, "It's all for Konoha."
It's all for Konoha?
Thinking of everything he'd done over the years as Hokage, Hiruzen suddenly found the words ironic. He, too, had once used the same words to persuade their clansmen to join Root. And...
But I won't hand over this authority so easily.
After understanding why these clans had "betrayed" him, Hiruzen's resolve did not falter. He pulled himself together and said firmly, "I'll hand it over, but only to the next Hokage. None of you will get your hands on it."
"How about this? From now on, the Jonin Squad will handle Konoha's affairs, big and small. The Jonin Squad will exercise authority over all departments on behalf of the Hokage. Once the Fifth Hokage is elected, the authority will be returned to him."
"Third Hokage, you can also choose three experienced people to join the Jonin Squad. What do you say?"
Masaki had already offered the greatest concession he could. If Hiruzen still refused, they would have no choice but to fight.
Although a fight would cost Konoha dearly, especially so soon after the Nine-Tails Incident.
With these concerns in mind, Masaki decided to give Hiruzen a chance. The Hokage Position was basically secure already, so they should try to take over peacefully.
"Hiruzen, agree," Danzō said indifferently.
It was unexpected that Danzō was the one urging Hiruzen to give in. He might usually act like a fool, but at least he still had his head on straight.
At present, Hiruzen had no powerful allies besides himself, while Masaki's side was full of strong fighters.
Picking a fight now would be unwise. They could wait until Jiraiya and Tsunade had both been called back, then settle the score.
So there was nothing wrong with backing down for now.
After a moment's hesitation, Hiruzen's voice came out hoarse. "I agree."
After uttering those three words, he felt as though all his strength had been drained away. He sat motionless in his chair.