Make Jiraiya the Fifth Hokage

Inside the Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the Hokage's chair. His pipe had gone out long ago.

He had not relit it.

The setting sun stained the entire office dark red, like an ominous warning.

The Anbu had finished reporting on public opinion throughout the village.

What had happened that afternoon in the square outside the Hokage Building had utterly disgraced the Konoha High Command.

"The Fourth Hokage's son was abused." The revelation had cut straight into everyone's heart.

Now the whole village was talking about it.

When the villagers looked at them, there was no longer respect or awe in their eyes. Only contempt.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time.

Then he sighed, as though it took every ounce of strength he had left.

"The tide has turned against us..."

His voice was hoarse.

"Our standing... is completely gone."

Utatane Koharu folded her arms across her chest, her face livid.

Mitokado Homura sat hunched on the sofa, his hands braced on his knees. His back was bent like that of a man at death's door.

They exchanged a glance and saw the same emotions in each other's eyes.

Resentment and fear.

"How did this happen...?"

Utatane Koharu gritted her teeth.

"How did the Fourth Hokage's former subordinates find out Naruto was his son?"

"Someone must be pulling the strings!"

Mitokado Homura nodded too.

"Exactly. Someone's stirring up trouble."

"First those three revelations, then Naruto's identity came out..."

"Every move was perfectly timed."

"Someone planned this."

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand, signaling them to stop.

"Now... isn't the time to discuss that."

He sounded exhausted.

"What matters most now... is deciding how we face Konoha's ninja and villagers from here on."

Utatane Koharu opened her mouth, then closed it without a word.

Mitokado Homura fell silent too.

They both knew this was not something they could solve through suppression and intimidation.

The hearts of the entire village were no longer with them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe, tapped the ash out against the desk, then packed it with fresh tobacco and lit it.

He drew deeply and slowly exhaled a stream of smoke.

"Since things have gotten this bad..."

His voice was calm.

"I have no choice... but to resign as Hokage."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were both shocked.

"What?!"

"Hiruzen, you're resigning as Hokage?!"

Utatane Koharu spun toward him, her face full of disbelief.

Mitokado Homura straightened up, his eyes wide.

"Hiruzen, you..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand.

"Let me finish."

They fell quiet and stared at him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took another drag and slowly exhaled.

"Resigning as Hokage doesn't mean I have to give up every position."

"I could... serve as an advisory elder too."

Utatane Koharu paused.

"An advisory elder?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

"But there's one condition... the Fifth Hokage must listen to us."

Utatane Koharu's and Mitokado Homura's eyes lit up.

Of course!

They only needed to find a Fifth Hokage who would listen to them! Utatane Koharu sat up straight.

"Then... you already have someone in mind?"

Mitokado Homura watched Hiruzen Sarutobi too, waiting for his answer.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer at once. He took another drag, letting the smoke drift through the air.

Then he slowly spoke a single name.

"Jiraiya."

"Jiraiya?!"

Utatane Koharu froze, and Mitokado Homura frowned.

"Hasn't Jiraiya been traveling all this time?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

"He's the most likely to listen."

"And as one of the Sannin, he has both the strength and the reputation to serve as Hokage."

Utatane Koharu was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Jiraiya really is the best choice."

"He isn't as cold-blooded as Orochimaru, or like Tsunade..."

She trailed off, but her meaning was clear.

Mitokado Homura agreed. "That's right. We watched Jiraiya grow up."

"He may be a bit flighty, but we can count on him when it matters."

"If he becomes the Fifth Hokage, he really could stabilize things."

They exchanged a glance and both breathed a sigh of relief.

But Utatane Koharu soon frowned again.

"Still... where is Jiraiya now?"

"Isn't he still searching the world for that so-called Child of Prophecy?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe, his gaze steady.

"You don't need to worry about that."

"I have my own way of finding Jiraiya."

At that, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura finally relaxed completely.

They nodded and asked no more questions.

Meanwhile.

Deep inside the Shimura Clan estate.

In a room with the lights off.

Shimura Danzō sat in the darkness, his face expressionless.

A Root ninja knelt before him on one knee, one of the last few loyal lackeys he had left.

The ninja was reporting what had happened in Konoha over the past few days.

Danzo listened without a word.

When he heard that Hiruzen Sarutobi had returned the Uchiha's original clan grounds to them, he slammed a furious palm onto the table.

Bang!

A crack split the solid wooden table.

"Fool!"

Danzo forced the word through clenched teeth.

"Hiruzen really has gone senile!"

"How could he hand the Uchiha's clan grounds back so easily?!"

The ninja kept his head lowered and continued.

"And... this afternoon, the Fourth Hokage's former subordinates caused a scene in the square outside the Hokage Building. They revealed in public that Naruto Uzumaki is the Fourth Hokage's son."

"The Third Hokage was forced to admit it, and his standing took a severe blow."

Danzo's face darkened further. He drove his cane hard into the floor.

Thud!

The cane left a dent in the floorboards.

"I told him long ago!"

Danzo's voice seethed with suppressed rage.

"To put the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki under my control!"

"But he wouldn't listen!"

"And now... the whole village knows the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is Minato Namikaze's son."

"I'd like to see how he plans to control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki now!"

After saying that, his chest heaved several times.

His expression grew uglier. A deathly silence settled over the room and lasted a long time.

Danzo slowly rose.

"No..."

He gritted his teeth.

"I've only been suspended for two days, and Konoha has already come to this."

"It seems Konoha truly can't manage without me."

Leaning on his cane, he made his way toward the door step by step.

"I'm going to see Hiruzen right now!"

"I'll make him reinstate me!"

"Then I'll purge Konoha of these wretches!"