Fugaku and Orochimaru both smiled at the familiar voice.
"When did you get back, sir? It's been a while, but you're looking as good as ever," Fugaku said.
"Haha! How could I stay away when my old friend Orochimaru is running for Hokage? I had to come back and support him. But you, Fugaku—you learned Sage Mode at Ryūchi Cave.
I heard about it over at Mount Myoboku. They say you mastered Senjutsu Chakra in just a few days. You've got us beat."
"Jiraiya's right. Fugaku has become a model for everyone at Ryūchi Cave. The White Snake Sage brings him up all the time."
Jiraiya came over and took a seat at the table. "Time flies. Before we knew it, we were nearly thirty—old enough to run for Hokage.
I can still picture us graduating from the Ninja Academy and becoming the old man's students."
"Heh. Since when did you get so sentimental, Jiraiya? That's not like you.
Thirty is the prime of our lives," Orochimaru said.
"I haven't congratulated you yet. You'll soon become the Fourth Hokage. Of the three of us, you're the only one who fully inherited the old man's legacy. Taking the Hokage position should finally put his mind at ease after all these years," Jiraiya said.
The three of them talked until the tavern closed, then headed to their respective homes.
The day of the Hokage election quietly arrived. That morning, people made their way toward the Hokage Building.
Konoha was far stronger than it had once been, and its ranks included plenty of Jonin.
With Orochimaru as the only candidate, the election was straightforward.
A ballot box was set up in the conference room. Each Jonin had three choices: approve, oppose, or abstain.
If more than sixty percent voted in favor, the Daimyo