A Done Deal

Hokage Office.

Mitokado Homura slapped a stack of slips onto the desk. They scattered across it, each bearing much the same accusations: dereliction of duty, lechery, questionable loyalty.

"Overnight."

His voice was hoarse. "They're all over the village."

Utatane Koharu gritted her teeth. "That Uchiha brat must have done this!"

"Where's your proof?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his chair. He raised his pipe to his mouth, then lowered it again. "Who would you confront? Everyone in the village only 'heard about it'... Whose mouth are you going to shut?"

Utatane Koharu opened her mouth, but no words came out.

The office fell deathly silent.

A long time passed before Utatane Koharu spoke, her voice heavy with an exhaustion she could not put into words.

"We can't get Jiraiya installed as Fifth Hokage..."

Mitokado Homura looked up at her.

"Have you thought about it?" Utatane Koharu said, enunciating every word. "With public opinion like this, forget the Jonin Meeting... he won't even get past the clan heads."

"The Hyuga, the Inuzuka Clan, the Fourth Hokage's Former Subordinates... they're all on the Uchiha's side. Ino-Shika-Cho are standing back and watching. None of them will take a position."

"There's no way to get Jiraiya installed as Fifth Hokage."

Mitokado Homura fell silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.

He was quiet for a long time before he spoke.

"Back then... the Second Hokage entrusted the Hokage Position to me on his deathbed."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both looked at him.

"Danzo wasn't happy about it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm. "He thought he was better suited to be Hokage than I was."

"But I took the position in the end."

He paused. "Do you know why?"

Utatane Koharu frowned. "Because the Second Hokage entrusted it to you on his