Winning Won't Be Better, Losing Won't Be Worse

Only one injured Anbu member remained.

As for those unconscious civilians, once they woke up, they would simply go about their business the next day.

Because regardless of whether Konoha won or lost, their current situation would not change much.

Winning would not make it better, and losing would not make it worse.

If they won, the civilians were the cost; if they lost, the cost was them.

Those nobles were essentially no different from the civilians this time; both were merely the results of the power struggle between Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

While Utatane Koharu was haughtily issuing orders to everyone, Danzo (disguised by Uchiha Yan's Shadow Clone) suddenly arrived on the roof, leaning on his cane and accompanied by members of Root.

He looked at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura and said, "Since this is an ad-hoc command by the Advisory Council, I believe I am also qualified to take command, am I not?"

Hearing Danzo's words, the expressions of the two were not particularly pleasant.

Compared to Danzo, who held the reins of Root—Konoha's organ of violence—they were far inferior in terms of influence, strength, political acumen, and political maneuvering.

Therefore, if they wanted to oppose Danzo, it would be best to have a Hokage who was stronger and easier to control.

This way, their own power would not be completely diluted, and might even become greater than it was during the era of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

At this moment, Utatane Koharu suddenly gave a light cough. She looked at the Anbu and said, "Trouble yourself to summon Jiraiya. Tell him that Sarutobi Hiruzen sacrificed himself to protect the village."

Upon hearing her words, the Anbu was momentarily speechless.

Why wait until now? Is this just opposing for the sake of opposing?

However, a higher rank crushed those below, especially when the gap was this wide.

He vanished using the Body Flicker Technique to go find Jiraiya.

At this time, Uchiha Yan left with several subordinates.

He turned his head and urged them once more, "Just make a show of searching for Orochimaru. If you actually run into him, you are no match for him."

Several arrogant members of the Hawk Faction wanted to retort, but remembering that even the Third Hokage had only managed to severely wound the opponent at the cost of his life, they fell silent.

Even as arrogant as these Uchiha were, they knew their strength was far inferior to the Third Hokage.

After a moment of rational thought, they nodded and said, "We understand."

"Good. Dismissed!" Uchiha Yan waved his hand, signaling them to disperse.

He himself, however, set off alone to track Orochimaru's trail.

Because Orochimaru was heavily wounded and his subordinates were only at the Chunin level, they could not have traveled very far.

Furthermore, with the Anbu blockade in place, it would be very difficult for Orochimaru to escape.

Just then, a middle-aged man with white hair walked toward him.

His face looked somewhat lecherous, and seeing those distinctive features, Uchiha Yan immediately recalled who this was.

Was this not one of the Sannin, Jiraiya?

He was not familiar with Jiraiya, so after a simple greeting, the two passed each other by.

However, before they parted ways, Uchiha Yan whispered something into Jiraiya's ear.

Upon hearing it, Jiraiya's expression turned grim.

He nodded at Uchiha Yan, and the two headed toward their respective destinations.

Just as Uchiha Yan was about to exit the village, he was stopped by the two gate guards of Konoha.

"The village is currently under martial law. Leaving the village is prohibited except in special circumstances."

Uchiha Yan said indifferently, "The Konoha Military Police Force has received orders from the Advisory Council to pursue Orochimaru. Are you intending to defy the Council's orders?"

Because Uchiha Yan was wearing clothes bearing the Uchiha clan crest, the two gate guards did not block him further and allowed him to leave.

One of them even waved his arm and said, "My Lord of the Konoha Military Police Force, you must capture Orochimaru, that mastermind behind this!"

In their eyes, anyone pursuing Orochimaru alone had to be at least a Jonin, so they naturally addressed him as "My Lord."

The rooftop was a mess, stained with blood, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Compared to Danzo, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura appeared somewhat thin on the ground.

The two had only brought guards cultivated by their own clans or through clan alliances.

Compared to the cold-blooded Root members behind Danzo, there was a significant gap in presence.

However, this fake Danzo had no time to waste brain cells on them. He looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen's corpse and said, "Has the plan for disposing of Hiruzen's body been decided?"

Utatane Koharu replied, "Danzo, there is no need for you to trouble yourself with that."

Danzo sensed the rejection in Utatane Koharu's tone but did not take it to heart.

Because his main mission this time was simply to make things difficult for these two old fossils.

After all, once Sarutobi Hiruzen died, the power of the Advisory Council would only grow greater.

It was very difficult for someone with Danzo's identity to accomplish a task, but it was far too easy for him to ruin one.

As both factions stood at daggers drawn, the Anbu watched coldly from the sidelines.

Jiraiya finally arrived, though he did not reveal himself immediately, choosing instead to observe from the shadows for a while.

Looking at the formation on the field, he even wondered if he had come to the wrong place.

His teacher's body was not yet cold, and his teacher's lifelong friends and old classmates were already scrambling for power—wasn't this happening too fast?

Seeing the atmosphere on the field grow increasingly heavy, Jiraiya finally walked out slowly.

As he emerged, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura immediately burst into tears.

Utatane Koharu said to Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, Sarutobi Hiruzen has sacrificed himself, and we are deeply grieved."

"However, the operations of Konoha cannot stop because one person has passed away, so I propose that Jiraiya serve as the Fifth Hokage, and we can submit the application to the Feudal Lord immediately."

Mitokado Homura nodded, indicating he had no objections either.

Then, the two of them locked their gazes onto Danzo.

There was a hint of a threat in Utatane Koharu's voice, "Danzo, what is your opinion..."

Danzo replied, "I have no objections, but why don't you ask the person concerned for his thoughts?"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were very confident about this.

In their view, no one could refuse the temptation of the Hokage position.

Especially Jiraiya, who had always been one of the Third Hokage's direct disciples.

His dream had also been to become Hokage.

But Jiraiya only responded indifferently, "I do not wish to serve as Hokage."

Hearing his words, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu immediately wore expressions of shock.

They had not expected that anyone could actually refuse the position of Hokage.

And it was being handed to him on a silver platter, without him having to pay any price at all.

Only Danzo remained calm and composed, looking as if this was exactly what he had expected.

At this moment, Jiraiya recommended another candidate, "I feel that the First Hokage's granddaughter, Tsunade, is more suitable for the position of Hokage than I am."

As for why Jiraiya would not be Hokage, the reason was simple.

He felt that if he became Hokage, it would be a bad look if he were caught peeping into bathhouses.

Furthermore, Jiraiya had more important things to do right now.

Mitokado Homura nodded upon hearing Jiraiya's recommendation of Tsunade.

However, Utatane Koharu spoke up with some hesitation, "Um, if I recall correctly, Tsunade has hemophobia; is she really suitable to be Hokage?"

Hearing her words, before Jiraiya could even speak for himself, Danzo spoke up first.

"Just because she has hemophobia, she can't be Hokage?"

"Koharu, how long has it been since you last fought against a ninja from another village since you became an advisor?"

Hearing Danzo's questioning, Utatane Koharu's tone faltered.

Danzo's words left her unable to refute him.

Because what Danzo said was the truth.

After the four of them became the high-ranking officials of Konoha, all of them had fought, to varying degrees, except for her.

For instance, Mitokado Homura and Sarutobi Hiruzen had both fought during the Nine-Tails Incident.

Danzo was even a regular on the front lines of the Third Shinobi World War.

From this perspective, Danzo certainly had the right to mock her.

However, Utatane Koharu let out a direct roar.

Everyone present was startled.

"Setting aside the facts, don't you have any faults at all?"

The group exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion.

Danzo could only let out a soft sigh and ignored her.

In any case, she was already a person on the verge of death, so he would just indulge her.

Danzo locked his gaze on Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, I hope you keep your word. If you don't bring Tsunade back, then either you take the position, or you find someone else."