Only one injured Anbu member was left behind.
As for the unconscious civilians, once they woke up, they could go back to their usual lives the next day.
Because whether Konoha won or lost, their circumstances wouldn't change much.
Winning wouldn't make things better, and losing wouldn't make things worse.
If Konoha won, they would be the price. If it lost, they would be the price.
Those nobles were no different from the civilians here. They were all consequences of the game between Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Just as Utatane Koharu was ordering everyone around with an air of superiority,
Danzo (an Uchiha Yan Shadow Clone in disguise) suddenly appeared on the roof, leaning on his cane and accompanied by Root members.
Looking at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, he said, "Since the Advisory Council is in temporary command, I assume I'm qualified to give orders too, aren't I?"
At Danzo's words, both their expressions darkened.
Compared to Danzo, who commanded Root, Konoha's instrument of force,
the two of them were far inferior to him in influence, strength, political acumen, and political tactics.
So, if they wanted to oppose Danzo, they needed someone stronger and easier to control to become Hokage.
That way, their own authority wouldn't be completely diluted. They might even end up with more power than they'd had under Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Just then, Utatane Koharu gave a soft cough and turned to the Anbu. "Sorry for the trouble. Please bring Jiraiya here. Tell him Sarutobi Hiruzen sacrificed his life protecting the village."
The Anbu member was instantly at a loss for words.
"What were you doing before? Are you really just opposing things for the sake of opposition?"
But a superior's orders were absolute, especially when he outranked you by that much.
He vanished with the Body Flicker Technique and went to find Jiraiya.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Yan left with several subordinates.
He turned to them and reminded them again, "Just make a show of searching for Orochimaru. If you actually run into him, you won't be a match for him."
Several arrogant members of the Hawk Faction were about to argue. But then they remembered that even the Third Hokage had only managed to seriously injure the enemy at the cost of his own life.
Even these few arrogant Uchiha knew they were nowhere near as strong as the Third Hokage.
After thinking it over, they nodded. "Understood."
"Good. Dismissed!" Uchiha Yan waved a hand, signaling for them to disperse.
Then he set off alone to search for Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was badly injured, and his subordinates were only around Chunin level. They couldn't have gotten far.
Besides, Anbu had sealed off the area. Escaping would be difficult for Orochimaru.
Just then, a middle-aged man with white hair walked toward him.
The man had a rather lecherous face. Seeing his unmistakable features, Uchiha Yan realized who he was.
Wasn't this Jiraiya, one of the Sannin?
But he wasn't close to Jiraiya. They exchanged a simple greeting and then passed each other.
Before they parted, however, Uchiha Yan leaned in and whispered something to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's expression darkened as he listened.
He nodded to Uchiha Yan, and the two of them headed in different directions.
Just as Uchiha Yan was about to leave the village, two of Konoha's gate guards stopped him.
"The village is under lockdown. No one may leave without special permission."
Uchiha Yan replied coolly, "The Konoha Military Police Force has orders from the Advisory Council to hunt down Orochimaru. Are you going to defy the Advisory Council's orders?"
Since Uchiha Yan always wore clothes bearing the Uchiha clan crest when he went out, the two gate guards didn't stop him any further and let him leave.
One of them even waved an arm and called out, "Sir, you've got to catch Orochimaru, the real culprit!"
In their eyes, anyone hunting Orochimaru alone had to be at least a Jonin, so naturally they addressed him as "sir."
The rooftop was a mess, stained with blood and heavy with tension.
Compared to Danzo, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura seemed rather outnumbered.
They had brought only personal guards from their own clans or those trained by their clans together.
They were still no match for the cold, imposing Root members standing behind Danzo.
But this fake Danzo had no time to waste brainpower on them. Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen's body, he asked, "Have you decided what to do with Hiruzen's body?"
Utatane Koharu replied, "Danzo, you don't need to trouble yourself with that."
Danzo could hear the rejection in Utatane Koharu's voice, but he didn't take it to heart.
His main task this time was to make life difficult for those two old geezers.
After all, once Sarutobi Hiruzen was dead, the Advisory Council would have more power.
With Danzo's identity, getting something done was difficult, but ruining something was all too easy.
As the two sides stood on the brink of conflict and the Anbu watched coldly from the sidelines,
Jiraiya finally arrived. But he didn't reveal himself right away; instead, he watched from the shadows for a while.
Looking at the scene before him, he even wondered if he'd come to the wrong place.
His teacher's body wasn't even cold, yet the teacher's old friends and former classmates were already fighting over power. Wasn't that too soon?
Seeing the tension grow heavier, Jiraiya finally stepped out.
When he appeared, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura immediately put on grief-stricken expressions.
Utatane Koharu said to Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, Sarutobi Hiruzen sacrificed his life. We're deeply saddened."
"But Konoha can't stop functioning just because one person has died. So I propose that Jiraiya become the Fifth Hokage. We can submit the application to the Feudal Lord right away."
Mitokado Homura nodded, indicating that he had no objections either.
Then the two of them fixed their gazes on Danzo.
Utatane Koharu's tone held a hint of threat. "Danzo, what do you think...?"
Danzo replied, "I have no objections either. But why don't you ask the person in question what he wants?"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were very confident.
In their eyes, no one could resist the temptation of the Hokage Position.
Especially not Jiraiya, one of the Third Hokage's longtime disciples.
His dream was to become Hokage, too.
But Jiraiya simply replied, "I don't want to be Hokage."
At his words, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu looked shocked.
They hadn't expected anyone to refuse the position of Hokage.
Especially when it had been handed to him without his having to pay any price.
Only Danzo remained calm, as if this were exactly what he'd expected.
Jiraiya then recommended someone else. "I think Tsunade, the First's granddaughter, is better suited than I am to take the position."
As for why Jiraiya didn't want to become Hokage, the reason was simple.
He felt that if he became Hokage, being caught peeping into the bathhouse would look even worse.
Besides, Jiraiya had something more important to do right now.
Hearing Jiraiya recommend Tsunade, Mitokado Homura nodded.
But Utatane Koharu hesitated before speaking. "Um, if I remember correctly, Tsunade has hemophobia. Is she really suited to be Hokage?"
Before Jiraiya could answer,
Danzo spoke first. "Does having hemophobia mean you can't become Hokage?"
"Koharu, how long has it been since you last fought a shinobi from another village?"
At Danzo's question, Utatane Koharu faltered.
She had no way to refute him.
Because what Danzo said was true.
After the four of them became members of Konoha's High Command,
all of them except her had fought in battle at one time or another.
For example, Mitokado Homura and Sarutobi Hiruzen had fought back during the Nine-Tails Incident.
Danzo had often been at the front during the Third Shinobi World War.
From that angle, Danzo certainly had the right to mock her.
But Utatane Koharu suddenly let out a furious shout.
Everyone present jumped.
"Setting aside the facts, don't you think you're at fault too?"
Everyone looked at one another, their eyes full of confusion.
Danzo could only sigh and ignore her.
She was a dying woman anyway. He might as well humor her.
Danzo fixed his gaze on Jiraiya. "Jiraiya, I hope you'll keep your word. If you can't bring Tsunade back, then either you take the position or find someone else."
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