"Just a mere Jinchuriki, nothing more than a tool! What are you being so arrogant for?!"
Angry curses erupted throughout Konoha. A burly villager spat viciously.
"What have you ever done for us? What gives you the right to call us ungrateful?!"
The woman beside him immediately chimed in. "That sinister Uchiha Chuan must have taught her that! Everyone knows he's best at manipulating people!"
Inside a tavern, several drunkards slammed their hands on the tables and roared, "How are we ungrateful? Uchiha's violent law enforcement is justified now?"
"It's all sophistry!" A Ninja Academy teacher fumed. "I will never support a monster becoming Hokage!"
"Yeah!" The students joined in the heckling. "We hate monsters the most!"
The villagers, who had originally remained silent, now resembled a hornet's nest that had been poked. Waves of embarrassed, furious shouting rose higher and higher.
Meanwhile, Hatake Sakumo, who was out on patrol, felt a long-lost warmth surge through his heart.
The usually reserved man unconsciously tightened his grip on the White Fang Short Sword. The insults and accusations he had endured lately had nearly crushed his not-so-strong soul. But today—
Kushina's public recognition and her resounding questions were like a beam of light shining into his gloomy heart.
His reason for protecting Konoha was quietly changing.
From "for everyone," it became "for the people who matter"—
For Kakashi, and for people like Kushina who dared to speak the truth.
"Those are all my reasons for running for Hokage!"
Kushina's voice drew everyone's attention back.
"Those who support me, please persuade the Jonin you know to join us!"
"When we have enough comrades—"
Her voice suddenly became firm and forceful.
"We will formally launch an impeachment against the Third Hokage!"
This bold declaration sent a shock through all of Konoha.
"Also, recruitment for