The Ino-Shika-Cho Trio Makes Trouble!

Konoha.

Inside the conference room.

Upon hearing Fujiwara's words.

Chiba sat in a chair near the back, not even lifting his eyelids.

He propped his chin up with one hand, his expression as calm as a stagnant pool.

Cut the allocated funding by thirty percent?

That was indeed the Daimyo's favorite move!

As for having him go to the Capital of the Land of Fire?

There was no rush.

He would go sooner or later!

Meanwhile, the air in the hall seemed to freeze solid.

Everyone's gazes shifted back and forth between Fujiwara and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared fixedly at the Imperial Decree on the table.

His chest heaved violently, his breathing as harsh as a broken bellows.

The Daimyo had overstepped his authority!

This was completely against the rules!

Ever since the First Hokage established the One country, one village system.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire had only been responsible for providing funds.

As for Konoha's internal personnel appointments, the Daimyo had, at most, the right to make suggestions!

And now he actually dared to threaten them by cutting off their provisions?

This was going too far!

Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed both hands onto the podium and forcibly straightened his hunched body.

"Lord Fujiwara!"

"Konoha naturally respects the Daimyo's decree."

"But the village has its own rules!"

His voice was hoarse, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"The position of Hokage concerns the entire Ninja World's situation."

"Although the Daimyo has proposed Chiba as the Reserve Hokage, this does not follow legitimate procedure!"

Upon hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words.

Utatane Koharu seemed to have grasped a lifeline and immediately shrieked.

"That's right!"

"No matter how strong Chiba is, he is still only a Chunin in name!"

"How can a Chunin skip ranks and directly become Hokage?"

"This is utterly ridiculous!"

Mitokado Homura adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and chimed in.

"The selection of a Hokage must go through a vote of confidence from the Jonin Council."

"It must also receive the approval of the major ninja clans."

"It cannot be decided by a single Imperial Decree!"

The two advisors frantically egged him on from the side.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's facial muscles relaxed slightly.

As long as he muddied the waters and dragged this matter into Konoha's internal power game.

He refused to believe he could not beat some teenager barely in his teens!

No matter how strong Chiba was, he was ultimately alone.

While he, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had disciples and old subordinates throughout Konoha.

Which of the major clans had not benefited from him, the Third generation?

Thinking this, Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed twice and cleared his throat.

"I admit that the village has indeed suffered many setbacks recently."

"I cannot escape blame for Danzo's actions."

"I am indeed old, and my energy is far from what it once was."

"It is time to give my position to the younger generation."

He was beginning to yield!

The Jonin present exchanged glances.

The Ninja Hero who had led Konoha for forty years was actually admitting his mistakes in public?

"I am willing to step down!"

Whoosh!

A wave of suppressed gasps immediately rose through the conference room.

The Third Hokage was stepping down?

This was an earth-shaking event!

Before everyone could process this news.

Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately revealed his trump card.

"For the village's stability."

"In my capacity as the Third Hokage, I nominate Jiraiya!"

"To become the Reserve candidate for the Fifth Hokage!"

His words rang like a hammer striking the ground.

Jiraiya!

One of the legendary Sannin.

The Toad Sage.

Whether in reputation, strength, or contributions to Konoha, he was famous throughout the entire Ninja World.

Most importantly.

Jiraiya was also Sarutobi Hiruzen's direct disciple!

Sarutobi Hiruzen secretly felt pleased with himself.

This move of retreating in order to advance was perfect.

The Daimyo recommended Chiba?

Then he would recommend Jiraiya!

Let the Jonin choose for themselves!

He firmly believed that the overwhelming majority present would vote for the renowned Jiraiya.

Rather than a violent youth who had only just returned to the village and personally torn Danzo apart.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked down at the crowd with great expectation.

He waited for someone to stand up in agreement.

As long as someone took the lead, support for Jiraiya would surely overwhelm support for Chiba.

One second.

Two seconds.

The conference room was deathly silent.

Not a single person spoke up.

A bead of cold sweat formed on Sarutobi Hiruzen's forehead.

Something was wrong with the atmosphere!

It was too strange!

Just then.

The harsh screech of a chair scraping against the floor rang out.

It sounded especially jarring in the quiet room.

Everyone's attention instantly converged on it.

Shikaku Nara slowly rose to his feet.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Ino-Shika-Cho!

The staunch supporters of every past Hokage!

Although Shikaku was usually lazy and laid-back, he had an exceptional grasp of the bigger picture.

If he stood up now, he was surely about to firmly support Jiraiya.

"Shikaku, tell us what you think."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone was mild, as though victory was already assured.

Shikaku Nara scratched his messy pineapple-shaped hair.

His gaze passed over the crowd before covertly glancing at Chiba in the corner.

Chiba still rested his chin on his hand, not even giving him an extra expression.

Shikaku Nara smiled bitterly to himself.

This new master of theirs was really good at keeping his composure.

In that case, he could only serve as the vanguard to break this deadlock.

Shikaku Nara withdrew his gaze and looked directly at Sarutobi Hiruzen on the podium.

"Third Hokage."

"I oppose your proposal."

Boom!

Those words were like a bolt from the blue, striking directly atop Sarutobi Hiruzen's head.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand trembled, and he nearly dropped his pipe onto the floor.

He suspected that he had misheard.

"What did you say?"

Shikaku Nara did not yield an inch, raising his voice slightly.

"Lord Jiraiya has traveled outside the village for years and does not understand the village's current situation at all."

"He is an outstanding ninja, but he is absolutely not a qualified politician."

"Konoha is currently beset by troubles both within and without."

"What we need is a leader with absolute power, someone who can cut through chaos with swift and decisive measures!"

Shikaku Nara enunciated every word.

"I, the head of the Nara Clan."

"Publicly support Lord Chiba as the Fifth Hokage!"

Silence.

Deathly silence.

Utatane Koharu's mouth hung open, her jaw nearly dropping to the floor.

Mitokado Homura's glasses slid straight down to the tip of his nose.

Ino-Shika-Cho had actually turned against them?

How was that possible!

Before they could react.

Two more people stood up beside him.

Akimichi Choza patted his round belly and shouted loudly.

"Same here!"

"The Akimichi Clan supports Lord Chiba!"

Yamanaka Inoichi smoothed his golden hair, his expression solemn.

"The Yamanaka Clan seconds the motion."

The three clans were bound together by shared interests.

Shikaku Nara's decision was their joint decision.

For years, Sarutobi Hiruzen had indulged Danzo's human experiments in order to consolidate his power, suppressing the major ninja clans.

Even the Senju Clan had been reduced to a dwindling population.

If they kept following such a master, sooner or later they would be sold off and still help count the money.

Chiba's strength was heaven-defying. He wielded Wood Style and had Tsunade and the Daimyo backing him.

Only a fool would not know whom to choose!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's body swayed.

His facial muscles twitched wildly as he stared at the three of them in disbelief.

"You..."

"Do you know what you are doing?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen forced those words out through clenched teeth.

"This is rebellion!"

"You Ino-Shika-Cho have benefited from the Hokage's favor for generations."

"And now you're colluding with outsiders, trying to overthrow Konoha?"

Utatane Koharu shrieked.

She pointed at Shikaku Nara's nose, her finger trembling.

"Outsiders?"

A cold voice came from the other side.

Aburame Shibi rose to his feet and adjusted the sunglasses on his nose.

"Since when has the Senju Clan become an outsider to Konoha?"

"Without Lord Hashirama Senju, where would Konoha Village have come from?"

Shibi's voice was not loud, but every word struck at the heart.

"The Aburame Clan supports Lord Senju Qianye's succession as the Fifth Hokage."

That made four clans!

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt the world spin around him.

These people had long since colluded!

No wonder the Senju Compound had been packed with visitors, yet the Anbu he had sent to monitor it had found nothing.

So they had already reached an unspeakable deal behind his back!

"Good... very good!"

"So what if four clans support him?"

"Konoha has more major clans than just you!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth.

After saying that,

he turned his gaze toward Fugaku Uchiha, who was seated in the front row.

The Uchiha Clan!

The controllers of the Konoha Military Police Force.

As long as the Uchiha stood with him, there was still room to salvage the situation.

Most importantly,

the Senju and Uchiha had been bitter enemies for generations!

Back then, Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju had fought until heaven and earth crumbled.

As the Uchiha clan head, how could Fugaku possibly watch a descendant of the Senju Clan rise to power?