Konoha.
Inside the conference room.
Upon hearing Fujiwara's words.
Chiba sat in a chair toward the back without even lifting his eyelids.
He propped his chin up with one hand, his expression as calm as a stagnant pool.
A thirty percent cut in allocated funding?
That truly was the Daimyo's favorite tactic!
As for making him go to the Capital of Land of Fire?
No rush.
He would go sooner or later!
At the same time.
The air in the hall seemed to have frozen solid.
Everyone's gazes moved back and forth between Fujiwara and Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared fixedly at the Imperial Decree on the table.
His chest heaved violently, and his breathing was as heavy as a broken bellows.
The Daimyo had overstepped his authority!
This was completely against the rules!
Ever since the First established the One country, one village system.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire had only been responsible for providing money.
As for internal personnel appointments in Konoha, the Daimyo had, at most, the right to make suggestions!
And now he actually dared to use cutting off supplies as a threat?
This was outrageous!
Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed both hands onto the podium and forced his hunched body upright.
"Lord Fujiwara!"
"Konoha naturally respects the Daimyo's decree."
"But the village has its own rules!"
His voice was hoarse, carrying an undeniable authority.
"The position of Hokage concerns the situation of the entire Ninja World."
"Though the Daimyo has proposed Chiba as a Reserve Hokage, that does not conform to the proper legal procedures!"
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 only a Chunin in name!"
"How can a Chunin directly skip ranks and become Hokage?"
"This is utterly absurd!"
Mitokado Homura also adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and chimed in.
"The birth of a Hokage must pass a confidence vote by the Jonin Council."
"And it must receive the approval of all the major ninja clans."
"It can never be decided by a single Imperial Decree!"
The two Advisors frantically egged him on from the side.
The muscles in Sarutobi Hiruzen's face 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 defeat some teenage brat!
No matter how strong Chiba was, he was still only one person.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen had disciples and former subordinates throughout Konoha.
Which major clan had not received favors from him, the Third generation?
Thinking this.
Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed twice and cleared his throat.
"This old man admits that the village has indeed suffered quite a few setbacks lately."
"This old man cannot escape blame for Danzo's actions."
"This old man truly is getting old, and his 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 looks.
The Ninja Hero who had controlled Konoha for forty years was publicly admitting fault?
"This old man is willing to step down!"
Whoosh!
A wave of suppressed exclamations immediately rose through the conference room.
The Third Hokage was stepping down?
This was an earth-shattering event!
Before everyone could digest the news.
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately played his trump card.
"For the stability of the village."
"In my capacity as the Third Hokage, I nominate Jiraiya!"
"To become the Reserve candidate for the Fifth Hokage!"
His words rang with conviction.
Jiraiya!
One of the legendary Sannin.
The Toad Sage.
Whether in reputation, strength, or contributions to Konoha, he was renowned throughout the entire Ninja World.
Most crucially.
Jiraiya was also Sarutobi Hiruzen's personal disciple!
Sarutobi Hiruzen secretly reveled in his triumph.
This move of retreating in order to advance was practically 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 cast their votes for the famous Jiraiya.
Rather than a violent youth who had only just returned to the village and personally torn Danzo apart.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked expectantly at the audience below.
He waited for someone to step forward in agreement.
As long as someone took the lead, the calls for Jiraiya would surely drown out those for Chiba.
One second.
Two seconds.
A deathly silence filled the conference room.
Not a single person responded.
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's forehead.
Something was wrong with the atmosphere!
It was too strange!
Just then.
The harsh sound of a chair scraping against the floor rang out.
It sounded especially jarring in the silent room.
Everyone's attention instantly turned toward it.
Shikaku Nara slowly rose to his feet.
At the sight.
Sarutobi Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
Ino-Shika-Cho!
The staunch supporters of every Hokage through the generations!
Though Shikaku was usually lazy and carefree, he had an exceptionally strong grasp of the bigger picture.
If he stood up at a time like this, he was surely going to firmly support Jiraiya.
"Shikaku, tell us what you think."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke gently, as though victory was already in his grasp.
Shikaku Nara scratched his messy pineapple-like hair.
His gaze passed over the crowd before he discreetly glanced at Chiba in the corner.
Chiba still propped up his chin and did not spare him even the slightest extra expression.
Shikaku Nara smiled bitterly to himself.
This new master of theirs truly knew how to keep his composure.
Since that was the case, he could only serve as the vanguard to break the deadlock.
Shikaku Nara withdrew his gaze and looked directly at Sarutobi Hiruzen on the platform.
"Third Hokage."
"I oppose your proposal."
Boom!
Those words were like a bolt from the blue, striking Sarutobi Hiruzen squarely on the head.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand trembled, nearly dropping his pipe onto the floor.
He suspected that he had misheard.
"What did you say?"
Shikaku Nara did not yield in the slightest, raising his voice a few notches.
"Lord Jiraiya has traveled outside the village year-round and has no understanding of Konoha's current situation."
"He is an outstanding ninja, but he is absolutely not a qualified politician."
"Konoha now faces troubles both within and without."
"What we need is a leader with absolute strength, one capable of cutting through chaos with swift, decisive action!"
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 fell open so wide that her jaw nearly hit the floor.
Mitokado Homura's glasses slid straight down to the tip of his nose.
Ino-Shika-Cho had actually switched sides?
How was that possible?!
Before they could react.
Two more people stood up beside him.
Akimichi Choza patted his round belly and shouted loudly.
"Me too!"
"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 as one.
Shikaku Nara's decision was their shared decision.
Over the years, Sarutobi Hiruzen had tolerated Danzo's human experiments and suppressed the major ninja clans in order to consolidate his power.
Even the Senju Clan had been reduced to a dwindling remnant.
If they kept following a master like this, one day they would be sold out and still help count the money.
Chiba possessed heaven-defying strength, wielded Wood Style, and had both Tsunate and the Daimyo backing him.
Only a fool would not know whom to choose!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's body swayed.
The muscles in his face twitched wildly as he stared at the three men in disbelief.
"You..."
"Do you know what you're doing?"
"This is rebellion!"
"You Ino-Shika-Cho have enjoyed 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 did the Senju Clan become outsiders of Konoha?"
"Without Lord Hashirama Senju, where would Konoha Village have come from?"
Shibi's voice was not loud, yet 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 been in cahoots all along!
No wonder the Senju Compound had been bustling with visitors, yet the Anbu he sent to watch them had found nothing.
They had already made some unspeakable deal behind his back!
"Fine... very fine!"
"So what if four clans support him?"
"Konoha has more great 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 sworn enemies for generations!
Back then, Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju had fought until heaven and earth shattered.
As the Uchiha Clan head, how could Fugaku possibly watch a descendant of the Senju Clan rise to power?
Before you continue