Stepping Down to Take Responsibility

As the Third Hokage, Third Hokage Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, finished speaking, the arena fell silent, seemingly in shock at his decision to resign.

"Third Hokage, are you sure?"

"Third, have you thought this through?"

The two advisors on the platform seemed unaware of the news, instead pressing for confirmation.

"Yes! As the Hokage, I bear undeniable responsibility for the village's losses. Only my resignation can do justice to the heroes who protected Konoha."

The three people on the platform spoke in unison, working together to make the resignation of the Third Hokage seem all the more tragic.

While the Jonin's votes are important in electing the Hokage, the appointment of the previous Hokage is also crucial. The succession of the Third Hokage was purely an appointment by the Second Hokage.

"Then let's elect a Hokage. I think Orochimaru, Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya Namikaze Minato are all excellent candidates to serve as the next Hokage. How about we choose from these four?"

Mitokado Homura proposed four candidates, seemingly giving everyone a fair chance to compete, but he didn't mention Hatake Sakumo and Uchiha Nara, who were heroes of the Ninja War.

The Jonin in the arena recovered from the shock of the Third Hokage's announcement of his resignation, and at the same time, they discussed among Jonin the four Hokage candidates nominated by Mitokado Homura.

Upon hearing Mitokado Homura's words, Naraku couldn't help but sneer, offering no comment and deciding to let things play out for a while.

However, many of the Uchiha Jonin Naraku had raised brows and looked angry.

A Jonin from the Uchiha, with his eyebrows raised and a fierce look in his eyes, was about to stand up and speak, but was pressed down Jonin the Uchiha next to him.

What are you doing?

The Jonin, his eyebrows Jonin in displeasure, turned to the Jonin holding him down and asked, "What do you mean?" The Jonin holding him Jonin pointed towards Naraku.

The enraged Jonin looked at the clan leader Naraku then gestured for silence, indicating that he should not speak.

Seeing Naraku's gesture, the Jonin was still displeased. All the Hokage candidates were disciples and grand-disciples of the Third Hokage. What kind of abdication was this?

This Jonin quite annoyed and wanted to nominate his clan leader Uchiha Nara.

"Please be patient. The clan chief should have his own plans. We just need to follow orders."

The Uchiha beside him once again Jonin down the angry Uchiha Jonin, signaling him not to act rashly.

"Snort!"

After a brief struggle, the high-ranking ninja with his eyebrows raised Jonin down slightly, let out a cold snort, and stopped looking at the high-ranking officials on the platform.

After speaking, Mitokado Homura observed the situation and found that his proposed list of candidates was generally satisfactory. The Sannin and the Yellow Flash were renowned enough to qualify as Hokage.

Mitokado Homura turned his gaze Hyuga Clan the Uchiha clans. The Hyuga Clan avoided involvement in Konoha's power struggles, preferring to protect themselves and obeying whoever became Hokage.

The Uchiha had always wanted to become Hokage Position, Mitokado Homura noticed that many of the Uchiha Jonin with anger.

Mitokado Homura nodded slightly in understanding. As a core member of the Hokage faction, it was impossible for him to nominate the Uchiha.

"Lord Yan's nomination is excellent, but I believe Hatake Sakumo is also capable of serving as Hokage and protecting our Konoha."

Furthermore, Uchiha Nara, who defeated both Hidden Mist and Hidden Sand, is also fully capable of serving as Hokage. Why didn't Lord En nominate these two heroes of Konoha?

A Konoha Jonin stood up and questioned, "The Jonin Class team has all kinds of Jonin from the commoner faction. They support different factions. Many commoner Jonin are wary of the Hokage's power, but many commoner Jonin are fearless and let the facts speak for themselves."

Naraku to look Jonin the Konoha, an unfamiliar one Jonin Naraku didn't recognize. Naraku puzzled by the Jonin.

But then he saw Naraku Akita Yuya next to the Jonin. When Akita Yuya looked at him, Akita Naraku gave Naraku a look of support.

Naraku understood that the promotion of Jonin usually required the support and recognition of Jonin, so Jonin generally had their own circles.

Jonin Akitani Yuya seems to have some prestige and considerable influence within his own small circle.

During the Battle of Kikyo Pass, Jonin Akitani Yuya's left arm was saved by Naraku. He was attacked by Hidden Sand Scorch Release. He could have survived, but even if he was lucky, his left arm should have been amputated.

However, Naraku the rescue in time. His left arm had just been injured and had not completely lost its function. With the full healing power of the Mystical Palm Technique, it returned to normal. There might be some impact, but at least in appearance, it looked no different from a normal arm.

When Mitokado Homura heard that a Jonin questioned his list, he showed no anger. Instead, he nodded in agreement and said in a deep voice:

"That makes sense. It was indeed my oversight. If any of you have Jonin you approve of, or someone you recommend, please nominate them. The Jonin Class will vote, and the top five will be the candidates. Then, the Hokage will be chosen."

"Each Jonin should write Jonin they support with pen and paper, drop it into the election box, and then confirm the candidate's eligibility."

Utatane Koharu added, clapping her hands. Two staff members from the Hokage Building entered; one carried a mailbox-like box, and the other carried a plate with paper and pen on it.

After the two entered, they divided the work: one of them placed the box on the table of the Jonin the front row so that the Jonin could write down their names and then vote.

The other person was distributing paper and pens, just like at the Ninja Academy, where the paper and pens were distributed in the first row and then passed on to the back.

After receiving the paper and pen, Jonin picked up the pen and wrote down their preferred candidates, while Jonin did not do anything after receiving the paper and pen.

After Jonin the paper and pen, the nearly forty Jonin of the Hyuga Clan placed them flat on the table without moving.

"Please write your names down and put them in the mailbox. I will then tally the votes."

The Jonin Class Leader, Namikaze Minato, stood up, dropped the note into the mailbox, and addressed the Jonin present.

With Namikaze Minato golden hair and blue eyes, Namikaze Minato Jonin many Jonin who had fought alongside him. Upon seeing Namikaze Minato, they didn't hesitate to write down their names in support and drop them into the mailbox.

Naraku assessed the situation, then, without further hesitation, wrote his name on the note and handed it to Uchiha Yashiro, who was standing next to him.

"Keep the votes from your clansmen safe and go cast them."

"Um!"

The Yashiro took the slip of paper, stood up, and collected the votes Jonin the Uchiha, each holding a large handful, and walked towards the mailbox.

"So Uchiha Nara really does intend to Hokage Position?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the large stack of slips of paper in the hand of the Uchiha Yashiro, lost in thought.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu looked at Uchiha Yashiro's vote, their eyes flickering as if they were deep in thought.