The Fourth Hokage's Seat, Whose Hand Will Claim It Is Yet Unknown! What Danzo Says, Even the Third Cannot Stop!

The venue fell into such sudden silence that one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone's movements froze, and hundreds of gazes, like iron filings drawn to a magnet, focused squarely on the old man leaning on his cane.

Shimura Danzo!

What had he just said?

"I object"?

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened instantly, as if it were about to drip water. He had just finished his resignation speech and was about to welcome his most prized student to the throne; this should have been the most glorious curtain call of his political career.

Yet Danzo, his best friend of yesteryear and his greatest political rival for a lifetime, had dealt him the most resounding slap in the face at this moment of universal attention.

"Danzo! Do you have any idea what you are saying!"

Utatane Koharu was the first to react. A look of fury appeared on her well-maintained face as she scolded him in a sharp voice.

Mitokado Homura also slammed his cane heavily against the floor, producing a dull thud. "Danzo, this is no place for your nonsense! The appointment of the Hokage was agreed upon unanimously by the village elders and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire!"

However, "Danzo" turned a deaf ear to the accusations of his two old companions.

His single eye, not covered by bandages, swept slowly, inch by inch, across the room.

He swept past the jonin who were whispering in shock, past the clan heads who wore expressions of suspicion and doubt, and finally, his gaze landed on the young man in the white haori who was supposed to be the sole protagonist of the day.

Namikaze Minato.

Facing this sudden turn of events, the smile on Minato's face did not vanish; it remained gentle, though a hint of gravity appeared in his azure eyes.

"Lord Danzo," Minato bowed slightly, his tone humble yet neither servile nor overbearing, "you are an elder of the village, and Minato is willing to listen to your opinion."

His words instantly drew everyone's attention back and diffused the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere.

A fine move of retreating to advance!

Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting in the seat of honor, nodded secretly, feeling slightly relieved.

"Hmph." Danzo let out a cold snort, his cane clicking against the floor as he stepped out from the corner and stood in the center of the venue.

"Namikaze Minato, no one can deny the merits you established during the Third Shinobi World War. Your name, 'Yellow Flash,' is enough to strike fear into the hearts of any enemy."

He began with an affirmation, leaving the crowd somewhat confused.

But immediately after, his tone shifted, becoming suddenly cold and sharp.

"However! Decisiveness on the battlefield does not equate to the wisdom required to govern a village! A blade of unparalleled sharpness may not be able to wield the pen that represents the authority of the Hokage!"

"Konoha today is beset by internal troubles and external threats!"

Danzo's voice rose sharply, like a thunderclap exploding in everyone's ears.

"Externally, the legendary ninja Uchiha Madara has returned; his strength is unfathomable, enough to rival a nation single-handedly! Internally, spies from various villages have infiltrated, and undercurrents are surging!"

"At a time like this, what Konoha needs is not a 'hero' who only knows how to charge into battle, but a leader who can sit in the rear, discern complex situations, unite the various clans, coordinate all departments to form a collective force, and spare no cost to ensure the village remains united under the threat of external enemies!"

His single eye stared fixedly at Minato as he questioned him, word for word: "Namikaze Minato, I ask you: if, to protect the village, you were required to sacrifice one hundred innocent villagers with your own hands, could you do it?"

This question was venomous in the extreme!

The entire venue fell into deathly silence once more.

Everyone looked at Minato, waiting for his answer.

If he answered "yes," he would confirm Danzo's assessment of him being "ruthless," losing the hearts of the people.

If he answered "no," he would prove himself "too benevolent" and unable to handle the cruel realities of the future.

This was a trap from start to finish!

Minato's azure eyes narrowed slightly. He remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly, his voice clear and firm:

"I would not allow such a choice to be placed before me."

"My responsibility as the shadow of the village is to protect every single person within it. If it truly reached the point where a sacrifice was necessary, the first person to step forward would be myself."

This answer was airtight, filled with the conviction of the Will of Fire.

In the audience, many ninjas showed expressions of admiration.

Sarutobi Hiruzen also breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak in support.

"Naive!"

Danzo let out a roar, his cane striking the floor heavily!

"Stupidly naive! How precious is the life of the Hokage? How could it be sacrificed so easily? A philosophy like yours will only lead Konoha into an abyss from which there is no return!"

He turned abruptly toward the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, who sat in the highest seat, and bowed deeply.

"Lord Daimyo! This old subject swears by the name of the leader of Root and by the lifelong honor of a Konoha ninja! Namikaze Minato is absolutely not the right candidate for the Fourth Hokage! I beg you to reconsider!"

With this, the ruse was fully exposed.

He had kicked the ball directly to the highest decision-maker!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression changed completely: "Danzo! You are being presumptuous!"

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire, a middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache who looked somewhat portly, wore a very troubled expression at this moment.

He glanced at Namikaze Minato, whose face radiated righteousness and who represented the will of the people, then looked at Shimura Danzo, whose hardline stance represented the dark side of the village.

Just as he hesitated, he recalled a "secret letter" he had received from Root three days ago.

The content of the letter was almost identical to what Danzo had said today.

In particular, the description regarding the return of "Uchiha Madara" had left him unable to eat or sleep in peace.

"Ahem..." The Daimyo cleared his throat and spoke slowly, "Lord Danzo's concerns are not without merit."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart sank abruptly.

It was over.

The Daimyo had been swayed.

"Sarutobi," the Daimyo looked at the Third Hokage, his tone becoming profound, "the threats Konoha currently faces are indeed no small matter. The choice of the Fourth Hokage concerns the safety of the entire Land of Fire; it truly... requires the utmost caution."

"Minato's achievements are plain for all to see. However, it is also a fact that his seniority is shallow."

"In my view, it would be better if today's succession ceremony were... postponed for now."

Postponed!

These two words struck everyone's heart like two heavy hammers.

Postponement meant variables.

It meant that Namikaze Minato's succession had been marked with a massive question mark!

"This..." Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were dumbfounded; they had never expected things to develop to this point.

Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force. He stared fixedly at Danzo's calm, unruffled face, wishing he could rush up and tear him to shreds right then and there.

As for Danzo, he simply stood there quietly, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint, almost imperceptible arc.

He had won.

At least, in the first round, he had won.

In a distant cave.

Lin Feng watched everything in the water mirror and crossed his legs with satisfaction.

"Well done."

Black Zetsu emerged from the shadows to the side, letting out a hoarse laugh: "What a truly spectacular play. Sarutobi Hiruzen is probably so angry right now that his lungs are about to burst."

"This is only the beginning." Lin Feng picked up a cup of tea—from where, no one knew—and took a light sip. "This is just the first step: to bring the transfer of power in Konoha to a standstill."

"What comes next is the main event."

Lin Feng set down the teacup, his gaze turning deep and inscrutable.

The image in the water mirror shifted, focusing on a corner of the venue.

The head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku Uchiha, was sitting there expressionless, yet deep within those pitch-black eyes, a strange light flickered.

For an ambitious man, any turmoil was an opportunity.

"Lord Madara, do you mean..." Black Zetsu seemed to have guessed something.

"A single Danzo is not enough."

Lin Feng's fingers tapped lightly against the stone table.

"We need to add more fuel to the fire."

"I want to make this stagnant pool that is Konoha boil over completely."

"Black Zetsu."

"I am here."

"Go and relay the second order to my puppet." Lin Feng's mouth curled into an arc that would make the entire ninja world tremble.

"Tell him to go find Fugaku Uchiha and say..."

"Uchiha Madara appreciates his talents and is willing to support him in seizing the position that should have belonged to the Uchiha all along--the position of Hokage!"