In this life, Madara was no longer alone. He had the Uchiha Clan's support, had cultivated many forces of his own, and had used his strength to draw numerous clans to his side. Tsunade had yet to decide whether she would return to the village, but even if she joined Jiraiya, how could two people who had been absent for so long shake Madara's standing in Konoha?
Now, the Third Hokage was dead, and Madara had received his unequivocal endorsement. Madara was Konoha's rightful successor. Jiraiya could not strip him of the Kage position with a few words. Unless Madara himself stepped aside, it was absolutely Zetsu impossible.
"Lord Jiraiya, I acknowledge how important Lady Tsunade is to Konoha right now, but the Fifth Hokage must be Uchiha Itachi."
The astute Shikaku Nara saw how determined Madara was to become Hokage. Once Madara refused to yield voluntarily, Jiraiya's plan was doomed to fail. So Shikaku stepped forward in time to make his position clear, lest Jiraiya mistake their earlier neutrality for approval of his proposal.
As he spoke, Shikaku moved to Madara's side. At the same time, Choza led his clansmen over to stand beside Madara as well.
Several Jōnin who had abstained from the earlier Hokage vote also abandoned their neutral stance and moved to Madara's side once they realized he was determined to secure the Hokage position.
For these people, their earlier neutrality had been a personal choice. Even a Hokage had no right to force everyone to approve of him. But after Jiraiya stepped forward to obstruct him and Madara Uchiha firmly declared his position, anyone who remained neutral would automatically be considered part of Jiraiya's faction. That would mean becoming Madara's enemy outright.
They did not want to help push Madara into office, but they wanted