Everyone entered the meeting room and took their seats in turn.
Madara Uchiha sat in the middle at the head of the room, with Tetsuhiro to his right. Tobirama Senju should have been on his left, but that seat was currently empty.
Facing them were the Tailed Beast clones, lounging casually on the front-row tables.
The clan leaders and their representatives occupied the second row.
The village's key personnel sat in the third row.
Madara cleared his throat. "I hereby declare Konoha's first general assembly officially underway."
Tetsuhiro said, "Please report your problems and difficulties first. Let's start with the Hyuga Clan."
"At present, the Hyuga Main Family and the branch family... the practical issues..."
Details omitted...
"All right, we will now announce the candidates for First Hokage. Those in favor of Hashirama Senju becoming Hokage, raise your hands!
"Those in favor of Tobirama Senju becoming Hokage, raise your hands!
"Those in favor of Madara Uchiha becoming Hokage, raise your hands!
"The votes have been counted. The results are as follows:
"Hashirama Senju-17 votes.
"Tobirama Senju-10 votes.
"Madara Uchiha-20 votes!
"Congratulations, Madara! You're in the lead for now! Once the results from outside arrive, we will make the final decision on who becomes First Hokage!"
While Tetsuhiro made the announcement, Tobirama, who had been monitoring everything behind the scenes, secretly sent someone outside to tell them to speed up the voting.
But before long, the man hurried back.
"Lord Tobirama, something's wrong! For some reason, all those people voted for Lord Hashirama!"
A cold glint immediately flashed through Tobirama's eyes.
He gave his orders icily. "Issue the ballots again. Have them gather together and watch one another. Stay vigilant."
With that, he quietly emerged from the shadows, raised a finger toward Tetsuhiro, and stirred his chakra.
Tetsuhiro sensed it at once and understood the signal. Black Zetsu had indeed arrived...
Before he could speak, the little Nine-Tails sitting in the front row opposite him-Kurama-suddenly issued a warning. "Everyone! Let me interrupt for a moment. I sense a malicious presence lurking nearby..."
"And it's getting closer!"
Tetsuhiro quickly nodded to Madara, Tobirama, and the Uzumaki Clan Leader. "No rush. Pretend nothing has happened and proceed according to plan. Ideally, we'll eliminate this threat in one go!"
"Tobirama, are the emergency evacuation preparations complete?"
Tobirama answered gravely, "Monkey, Danzo, and Kagami are ready at any moment."
"Good! Let's continue!"
Outside the meeting room, Black Zetsu was imagining the wonderful expressions on those Konoha people's faces when they discovered that all the votes had gone to Hashirama Senju.
"Heh heh... ideally, they'll start fighting among themselves. That would make this perfect."
Suddenly, those small fry from Konoha gathered to vote again, keeping a wary eye on one another.
This surprised Black Zetsu. He had practically handed Tobirama Senju a knife, so why hadn't the man reacted?
And what was going on now?
To avoid exposing himself, he stopped influencing the vote. There were plenty of other ways to drive a wedge between those two anyway.
He was now more interested in the people inside the meeting room, so he slowly sank into the ground as though slipping into water, until he disappeared completely.
Secret Technique: Mayfly Technique!
He couldn't help feeling smug. This was a unique ability bestowed upon him by his mother!
It was precisely why he could cause trouble unseen, without Hagoromo discovering him.
He arrived outside the meeting room door.
Black Zetsu surveyed the area. More than twenty elite jonin guarded the surroundings, some openly and others in hiding. There were even three barriers covering the meeting room from every direction.
"Not bad! Too bad you're up against me." Black Zetsu's hoarse voice dripped with mockery for Konoha and its experts.
"What good is being strong? They all died in the end. I'm the strongest!"
Ignoring the barriers, he slipped straight in underground. As he touched and passed through them, neither alarms nor countermeasures were triggered.
This was Black Zetsu's unique gift. The Mayfly Technique could not only pass through earth, but also ignore barriers!
Whether it could render those sealing jutsu ineffective remained to be seen.
"Hashirama Senju, I never imagined you were hiding so much! You're even more calculating than Asura..."
Once inside, the more he heard, the more alarmed he became. Madara had not merely announced an iron-fisted overhaul of shinobi discipline and training.
Hashirama had willingly agreed to assist him. Even more shocking, Tobirama had accepted the arrangements and was willing to serve as Deputy Hokage, overseeing all internal affairs!
"What has happened to this world?"
At last, he understood where the problem lay. All three men had undergone strange changes, but the most obvious change was in "Hashirama Senju." He had become more tactful, more rational, and more realistic in his thinking!
His entire worldview had now been shattered. He had to take action, or he would never be able to revive his mother!
Black Zetsu instantly turned his entire body into black water and slipped underground. Silently, he approached Tobirama, who stood in a corner, and slowly crawled up along his shoes.
"Hm?" By the time Tobirama noticed something was wrong, it was too late.
Black Zetsu seized control of half his body, restricting his movements.
"Mmph, mmph..."
He used his own hand to cover Tobirama's mouth and prevent him from calling for help, then slowly invaded his brain with a secret technique, attempting to take complete control.
A short while later...
Konoha's first village-wide assembly was drawing to a close.
"Based on the votes of everyone in the village, I hereby announce that Madara Uchiha will officially serve as Konoha's First Hokage! This result is fair, open, and impartial. Does anyone object?"
"I object!"
The room immediately erupted!
A fiercely indignant voice rang out from the shadows, throwing everyone into an uproar...
"Who is it? Who would be so bold as to disregard those two lords' decision? They must have a death wish."
"That voice sounds familiar. Could it be him? If it is, I suppose it's understandable."
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
As expected, a silver-haired figure emerged from the shadows. A trace of resentment showed in his "black" eyes, expressing vehement opposition.
"Brother, have you forgotten how many members of the Senju Clan the Uchiha killed? Have you forgotten our clan's hatred? They're all evil Uchiha!"
As he spoke, he walked to the center of the front row and shouted heatedly at the clan leaders. "We Senju were the victors! We founded this village and ended the age of war! The other countries have all followed our example. My brother should be the First Hokage!"
He tried to sway them. "My brother's kindness is known throughout the world. If he becomes Hokage, you'll all receive better treatment!"
But however forcefully he argued, none of the others budged.
They thought, Are you kidding? Those two terrors haven't even spoken. You're Hashirama's own younger brother, so you won't die. I might not be so lucky.
Once Tobirama relaxed as he poured himself into his speech, Tetsuhiro signaled everyone to retreat.
Most of those present, including the Tailed Beasts, swiftly darted away!
Before Tobirama could react, Tetsuhiro struck first!
Dragon → Ox → Horse → Boar → Snake.
Wood Release: Hotei Technique!
"What?!" Though startled, Black Zetsu still controlled Tobirama and prepared to use the Flying Thunder God Technique.
But three golden chains suddenly appeared around him and bound his entire body tight.
Uzumaki Secret Technique: Adamantine Sealing Chains!
The chains extended from the Uzumaki Clan Leader, who had stayed behind.
"Damn it, what are you doing? Brother, I'm your younger brother, Tobirama!"
Tetsuhiro said nothing and nodded to Madara.
Madara instantly drew on natural energy, and markings once again appeared around his eyes.
Sage Art: Yin Release: Lightning Dispatch!
Thick bolts of black lightning shot from his mouth, branching out like tree limbs as they raced toward Tobirama.
"What?! Are you trying to kill me? Brother, save me!"
He glanced at Hashirama out of the corner of his eye. Hashirama's expression was icy, and he remained unmoved.
Black Zetsu's heart sank. Damn it, have they discovered me? That's impossible!
No, if that hits me, I'll definitely be injured.
With the sage art about to strike, he had no choice but to release his control and quickly burrow underground from beneath Tobirama's feet.
Tobirama immediately regained control of his body, and the chains disappeared.
Just before he was hit, blue light flashed, and he appeared in a treetop thirty meters away, a lock of his hair scorched by the lightning.
Boom! The lightning struck the ground, blasting a massive crater whose interior was blackened and cracked, but no figure could be seen inside.
"Don't worry. Kurama, where is he?" Tetsuhiro immediately asked.
"Underground to the right, by the doorway!" As soon as he spoke, Kurama jumped onto Tetsuhiro's shoulder.
"Madara, let's go."
"You don't have to tell me!"
The two used the Body Flicker Technique to give chase...
Before you continue