Another Hokage Advisor position had opened up.
Yet no one had any desire to compete for it anymore.
The reason was simple.
First Shimura Danzō had fallen, then Mitokado Homura, and then Utatane Koharu...
The supposedly prestigious position of Konoha High Command Advisor had become a genuinely high-risk occupation.
Looking across all of Konoha.
Who still dared to take that seat?
What was more.
Everyone knew perfectly well.
Uchiha Minamoto would become the Fifth Hokage sooner or later!
What would happen to anyone who took an advisor position now once Uchiha Minamoto took office?
Even if Uchiha Minamoto did not act personally, would the ninja eager to prove their loyalty to the new Hokage take action?
Hiruzen Sarutobi could not even protect his three old companions, Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu. Could he possibly protect a new advisor?
What a joke.
Rather than step forward now to become some Hokage Advisor, only to be purged along with the others as one of "Hiruzen Sarutobi's accomplices" by Uchiha Minamoto later.
They were better off keeping their heads down and doing nothing. When the new era arrived, they could at least earn a reputation for "knowing which way the wind blew."
"Everyone."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke again, once more reminding everyone in the Conference Room.
"The position of Hokage Advisor is vacant. Does anyone have a suitable candidate to recommend?"
Still, no one answered.
It was not that they had anything against Hiruzen Sarutobi.
They were afraid-afraid of becoming the next Shimura Danzō, the next Mitokado Homura, the next Utatane Koharu.
Only Uchiha Setsuna let out a loud snort at that moment.
"Hmph!"
Uchiha Setsuna might have done it deliberately, or perhaps accidentally. More likely, he had deliberately done it "accidentally."
But at that very moment.
In the quiet Conference Room.