Hiruzen Sarutobi Steps Down

"Who supports this? Who opposes it?"

The moment Tobirama Senju said that,

the conference room fell into an eerie silence.

"This..."

"I support it!" The first voice rang out from the crowd.

Everyone turned toward the speaker.

It was actually Jiraiya?!

"I'm sorry, Teacher Sarutobi. Though this may be somewhat rebellious, I believe stepping down and enjoying your later years is probably the best choice for you..."

With guilt on his face, Jiraiya spoke to the astonished Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Jiraiya was not stupid. On the contrary, he was wise beneath a foolish exterior. Though he had spent many years traveling the ninja world and had been away from the village for long periods,

that did not mean he was unaware of Hiruzen Sarutobi's disgraceful deeds.

He had tacitly allowed Danzo to frame the White Fang of the Leaf; he had done nothing as the conflict between the Uchiha and the village intensified, even suppressing the Uchiha; he had allowed Naruto, the son of a hero, to suffer discrimination from the villagers...

Though he had not been present for these matters, he knew most of what had happened. Yet he had not exposed them.

This former hero of the ninja world had truly grown old. He had already decayed beyond repair.

As the Third's disciple, allowing Teacher Sarutobi to enjoy some peace and comfort in his later years was the greatest filial duty he could fulfill.

"Teacher Sarutobi, don't let power blind you any longer..." Jiraiya thought silently.

The crowd erupted into an uproar.

No one had expected the first person to support the Third stepping down to be the Third Hokage's own disciple.

"Jiraiya..." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked sadly at his beloved student. Then, as if he had made some important decision, his gaze abruptly hardened as he spoke:

"Teacher, there is no need to make them choose. I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, am willing to resign from the position of Hokage voluntarily!"

"Oh?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words did surprise Tobirama Senju for a moment. He looked at the frail old man before him.

"It seems Hiruzen Sarutobi isn't as hopeless as I imagined. He is actually willing to give up his position as Hokage. Danzo, on the other hand, is the real scum who must be purged."

Tobirama Senju secretly glanced at Danzo, who was quietly rejoicing beside him.

"This guy doesn't actually think that once Hiruzen Sarutobi steps down, he can become Hokage, does he?"

Having known the plot, Tobirama Senju naturally knew exactly what kind of person Danzo was.

Under the banner of acting for Konoha, he forcibly selected the most talented children from every ninja clan and brought them into Root to be brainwashed into his personal hounds.

He had seized Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan and ordered Itachi to massacre his clan, directly driving the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha to the point of irreconcilability.

Going further back, he had joined forces with Hanzō to ambush the Akatsuki, killing Yahiko and causing Nagato to fall into darkness, indirectly leading to Pain destroying the village.

He had arranged for Kabuto Yakushi and Director Nonō to kill each other, creating the great villain of the Fourth Shinobi World War.

It could be said that Danzo had almost single-handedly influenced the course of the entire ninja world. Compared to Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi could practically be considered a good person. Of course, Danzo's rampant behavior was inseparable from Hiruzen Sarutobi's indulgence.

In short, when Tobirama had watched Naruto back then, the person he had hated most was Danzo.

Danzo had to die!

But he could not exactly rush up to Danzo right now and lop off his head with one slash, could he? It would not sound very good if word got out.

The most urgent matter now was for Tobirama to reclaim the position of Hokage, obtain the power of Wood Release, purge Konoha of all its petty villains, and completely unite Konoha as one.

"Very good, Hiruzen. You have not disappointed me."

Tobirama Senju spoke to Hiruzen Sarutobi in an approving tone.

"Since Lord Third has voluntarily stepped down, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans support it."

As the head of the Nara clan, the clan with the highest intelligence, Nara Shikaku quickly assessed the situation. The Third's resignation was already a foregone conclusion.

The Ino–Shika–Chō clans had always advanced and retreated together. Skilled at reading the situation, they quickly chose their side.

What Nara Shikaku was thinking now was,

"Does this Second Hokage intend to retake control of Konoha, or will a new Hokage be elected?"

"The Hyūga clan supports it!"

"The Aburame clan supports it as well."

"The Shimura clan supports it."

Very soon, the representatives of the major ninja clans and the civilian ninja all voted in favor of the Hokage stepping down.

It was as though Hiruzen Sarutobi had set down a weight in his heart. He seemed to have grown younger, his eyes bright and spirited.

"Lord Second, Konoha cannot go a single day without a Hokage. I propose that you return to the position of Hokage!"

"?!"

Everyone turned to look at that person.