Jiraiya Didn't Want to Be Hokage? Then He Wouldn't Be.

Hiruzen Sarutobi signaled that the Konoha advisors were about to speak.

Masaichi's mind caught up. What had Jiraiya just said? That he wasn't worthy of being Hokage?

But he'd said it himself.

His teacher hadn't poisoned him or forced him.

Masaichi beat them to it.

"Ah, so Jonin Jiraiya himself thinks he isn't suited to be Hokage?"

"Lord Third! It seems there is no other choice."

With a regretful expression, Masaichi rose to his feet and respectfully nodded to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Wha... what do you mean?"

Not only was Hiruzen Sarutobi somewhat dumbfounded, but everyone present who supported Jiraiya was as well.

Danzo might not have had much political sense, but he was truly skilled at internal struggles. Once Masaichi's words clicked in his head, he hurriedly echoed, "Exactly. Since Jiraiya himself lacks confidence..."

"Then..."

"Third, we should nominate someone else."

"The position of Hokage must be inherited willingly. Jiraiya's ambitions lie elsewhere, and we cannot force him."

All of Jiraiya's supporters were stunned by this sudden move of taking advantage of his own words.

Jiraiya's lips twitched. "I..."

What was he supposed to do now?

Go back on his word and shamelessly say that becoming Hokage would actually be fine?!

As a competitor, Orochimaru naturally could not speak himself. His supporters had to serve as his voice instead. Once Masaichi launched the attack, everyone else immediately followed.

"Lord Third!..."

They all followed that same line of argument, attacking Jiraiya from every angle.

Listening to each sentence insisting that Jiraiya need not force himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly darkened.

"Third, the Hokage election cannot be handled so rashly. I think we should hold more meetings and discuss it for a few more days." Koharu Utatane hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

"It seems that is indeed the case. Everyone's opinions differ somewhat." Hiruzen Sarutobi forced out a laugh.

He was truly at his wit's end with Jiraiya, that useless fool.

Couldn't he just boast that he would definitely make a good Hokage, definitely lead the villagers to better lives, and definitely reduce taxes once the war ended? Why did he have to be humble?!!

Hiruzen Sarutobi was practically fuming.

"Meeting adjourned!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi could only announce the end of the meeting and return to discuss countermeasures with Nara Shikaku, figuring out how to push Jiraiya forward again.

"As expected of my student." Orochimaru had been marveling at how effective Masaichi was. Had he been even a step slower, the Third and the others would have spoken up to persuade Jiraiya.

If he hadn't taken a liking to Masaichi back at the Ninja Academy...

He thought that he might have already lost the competition for Fourth Hokage.

Just after leaving the Jonin meeting room.

A scandal explosive enough to shock all of Konoha, and even the entire Land of Fire, suddenly erupted.

A courtesan from some entertainment district in the northwest of the Land of Fire arrived carrying a white-haired infant, seeking the child's father.

According to the woman, the child's father was Jiraiya, one of Konoha's Three Ninja.

In less than half an hour, while the Jonin meeting had still been underway, the scandal swept across all of Konoha like a tornado.

The ANBU who discovered it had just been about to report it when Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others emerged from the meeting.

All of Konoha now knew that Jiraiya had fathered a child while fighting the Hidden Rock Village.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi had wanted to scold Jiraiya in the office just now, he now wanted to beat him to death. If looks could kill, Jiraiya would have died ten thousand times already.

"Old man! Believe me! I wore one, I..." Jiraiya began to doubt his life. That shouldn't have been possible. It couldn't have been possible.

Could it have been that night?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible. He had taken proper precautions that night too.

"Enough! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face flushed red. Why had he ever accepted Jiraiya as a student? Playing around outside was fine, but he should have kept it hidden!!

And he had let it blow up in Konoha at such a crucial moment in the Hokage election?!

What kind of fucking Hokage had a child in an entertainment district?

Minato covered his face helplessly. His teacher Jiraiya... sigh.

Nara Shikaku watched Masaichi's retreating back. Was this a frame-up?! What despicable methods!

Orochimaru's faction merely smiled from the side without speaking.

"Teacher, it seems Jiraiya truly isn't suited to be Hokage." Orochimaru's tone carried a trace of mockery.

"Orochimaru, this matter had better have nothing to do with you." Hiruzen Sarutobi shot him a sidelong glance, then glared at Jiraiya again. "Bring her here first!"

He then ordered the ANBU to bring the woman over.

"Lord Third Hokage, please, uphold justice for my son and me."

"I can live without a husband, but my child cannot live without a father."

The woman holding the little boy dropped to her knees before Hiruzen Sarutobi and began to weep as soon as she arrived.

Jiraiya had already guiltily hidden behind the crowd. He knew this woman. He knew her!! Could it really be true? He had thought Orochimaru was framing him.

With that tuft of white hair on the little boy, the story was seventy percent believable. Coupled with Jiraiya's usual behavior...

"And you are called?" Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly forced a smile and helped the kneeling woman to her feet.

"Delia."

"Good, Delia. I will ask Jiraiya. If he has wronged you in this matter, I will definitely give you an answer!!"

There were no shortage of Konoha villagers gathered to watch. Who didn't love a scandal involving the higher-ups?

"Get over here!" Hiruzen Sarutobi roared at Jiraiya.

"Yes!!" Jiraiya was as obedient as he could possibly be today, meekly stepping forward. Before leaving, he hesitantly glanced at Delia. That shouldn't have happened. He had worn one.

Nara Shikaku thought for a moment, then followed them.

"Hahaha." Masaichi was delighted to death. He had never expected things to go so smoothly today.

First, Jiraiya had rejected the position of Hokage himself.

Then this spectacle had been a tremendous success as well.

Danzo stared gravely at Masaichi. He had prescribed the right medicine and struck a fatal blow. Once Orochimaru became Hokage, could Danzo truly seize more power than Masaichi?

"Teacher, please check whether this child is Jiraiya's."

Masaichi walked over to Orochimaru and said this.

Orochimaru looked puzzled. Hadn't they framed Jiraiya? Yet he still prepared to comply.

It was just a DNA test. He could already perform one using laboratory equipment.

But he did not understand why Masaichi, after framing Jiraiya, wanted to help him out.

Perhaps he had a sense of Justice?

Heh, perhaps.

"Is he yours?"

"I... I don't know, old man." Jiraiya was on the verge of tears. He felt there was a high chance the child was not his.

"You simply cannot control your lower half." Hiruzen Sarutobi jabbed his index finger hard into Jiraiya's chest, making it ache, yet Jiraiya did not dare resist at all.

Though he had been lecherous his entire life, he had always upheld his bottom line. He had never truly done anything to betray Biwa Lake.

"I'm single, aren't I?" Jiraiya pursed his lips.

"You still dare talk back." Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand to strike him. If he had kept himself clean, how would this woman have dared come looking for him? Now they did not even know whether the child was his. What if he really was?

Jiraiya hurriedly dodged with a cheeky grin.

"Third, it seems we must acknowledge this child." At that moment, Nara Shikaku, who had followed them over, interrupted.