"A Hokage who just signs documents?"
Jiraiya stopped with his hand gripping the window frame, and the Wooden Sign cracked in his palm. He had been about to climb out the window to leave, but upon hearing those words, he still looked back at Sasuke.
No one answered in the meeting room.
Koharu's face looked ugly, and Homura set the teacup he had just picked up back onto the table, the bottom of the cup making a soft sound when it hit the surface.
The Third Hokage sat in a side seat, his Hokage Hat already sealed inside a wooden box. He looked at Sasuke, his lips moved, but in the end he failed to say that things had gone too far.
Sasuke pushed the Candidate Scroll forward a little.
"Konoha just experienced the Root rebellion, Orochimaru's invasion, the loss of credibility at the Hokage Building, the civilians need appeasement, the clans need a division of power, and the medical system needs to be rebuilt."
He raised his eyes to look at Jiraiya, his fingertip pressing against the edge of the scroll.
"Tsunade is suited to sit out in the open."
Jiraiya sneered and stuffed the Wooden Sign into his chest.
"You're certainly direct, not even bothering to cover it up."
Sasuke straightened his collar.
"When I covered it up, Danzo would use secret codes to murder people, and the Third Hokage would use the Will of Fire to whitewash ledgers."
The Third Hokage's hand reached toward his pipe, then pulled back under Kakashi's gaze.
Kakashi pressed the dossier on the White Fang's case against the corner of the table, speaking without looking at the Third Hokage.
"Lord Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade's return can at least make the villagers believe Konoha hasn't completely rotted away."
Jiraiya looked at him.
"You also