This sparse applause was like a basin of ice water, pouring on Jiraiya's heart, making him furious. But for Hiruzen Sarutobi, this was more hurtful than any direct accusation.
He knew that the seeds of suspicion had been planted, and during his absence, they completely took root and took root in people's hearts.
He took a deep breath and suppressed the bitterness and disappointment in his heart.
"I know," his voice sounded again, this time with a heavier and more tired tone, "I know that during the time I left the village, there were some... bad rumors in the village."
This sentence is like a huge stone thrown into the lake that has just calmed down.
Buzz--!
The crowd in the audience immediately exploded.
"Have you finally said it..."
"I would like to hear Lord Hokage's explanation."
"Explanation? How to explain the matter of Lord White Fang? How to explain the matter of Lady Tsunade?"
"Keep your voice down! Do you want to die?"
Discussions came and went. Although the voices were deliberately lowered, when they came together, they formed a huge wave of sound that impacted the old man on the rostrum.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened quietly without stopping. He looked at the angry, sad, or confused faces in the audience, especially those family members of ninjas who had lost their husbands and relatives in the war. Their eyes were like needles piercing his heart.
He suddenly understood.
The opponent's strategy is really too vicious.
This is not a conspiracy that can be clarified through excuses and evidence at all. The other party is taking advantage of people's hearts, the pain caused by war, people's respect and regret for heroes, and... a little bit of dissatisfaction with him, Hokage, who has been in power for too long, accumulated over time.
All the emotions intertwined together to form an unstoppable torrent.
And he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is the only outlet for this torrent.
Whatever he says now will be interpreted as a defense and a sign of guilty conscience. If he suppresses it forcefully, he will only be charged with "monopolizing power" and "suppressing dissenters."
He is already... powerless Rotation.
A deep sense of powerlessness overwhelmed him like a tide. He remembered the scene when his teacher, Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, entrusted Hokage Position to him before he died.
"Hiruzen, from today on, you must protect the village and everyone in the village."
Teacher, did I... really do it?
He lowered his head and glanced at the royal robe that symbolized the highest authority in the village. He had worn this robe for decades. It had brought him supreme honor and a mountain of responsibility.
Now, it has become so heavy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head again. In his cloudy old eyes, all the emotions - anger, sadness, disappointment, exhaustion - gradually faded away, leaving only an unprecedented calmness and determination.
"I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, hastily taken over this position from Lord Second Hokage. Today, more than twenty years have passed."
His voice was not loud, but it had a strange penetrating power, causing the entire conference room to become silent instantly.
Everyone looked at him, wondering what this old man who had been in charge of Konoha for decades wanted to say.
"In the past twenty years, I, you and the village have experienced Second Shinobi World War and just ended Third Shinobi World War. I have watched my students grow into the famous 'Sannin' of Shinobi World, and I have also watched the village move towards prosperity and strength step by step in my hands."
"I ask myself, I have dedicated my whole life to this village. I love every inch of land here and every person in the village, just like I love my own life."
His words were plain and sincere, without the slightest sensation. But it was this plainness that made some people in the audience lower their heads unconsciously. They remembered how this Hokage stayed up all night to handle official duties during the war, and how he shed real tears for the sacrificed ninjas at every memorial ceremony.
"But," Hiruzen Sarutobi changed the subject, with a trace of unconcealable weariness in his voice, "Time is not forgiving. I am old and tired. When my decisions began to make the villagers doubtful; when my existence began to become the source of disharmony within the village, I knew that it was time... to relieve myself of this burden."
What?!
This sentence, like a thunder, exploded in everyone's mind!
Jiraiya suddenly opened his eyes and looked at his teacher in disbelief. "Teacher! You..."
Shikaku Nara's lazy expression completely disappeared, replaced by unprecedented solemnity. He understood that Third Hokage wanted to... retreat in order to advance, or in other words, make the most thorough cut!
Shimura Danzō's half-closed one eye suddenly opened! A flash of ecstasy and disbelief flashed in his eyes, and was immediately covered up by a deep sinister look. He stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi on the stage, almost doubting his own ears.
The follow-up plan has not yet been launched, but Hiruzen said it himself?
Success?
Just like that... success?
Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored the commotion in the audience. He just looked around at everyone and said word by word in an extremely solemn tone:
"I hereby announce that I will resign from my position as Third Hokage."
"From now on, Konoha will officially start electing the next Hokage. The day Fourth Hokage is elected, that's when I, an old man, will officially retire."
"Boom--!!!"
The entire conference room was completely boiling!
Resign Hokage Position!
Election Fourth project!
This news is more explosive than winning the war and than any rumors!
"Lord Third!"
"How is this possible!"
Some ninjas who had deep feelings for Third cried out.
And more people, after the initial shock, began to become more active.
Especially the heads of the major families, their eyes instantly flashed with extremely complicated light.
Hokage Position, available!
This means that the power structure of Konoha will usher in an unprecedented reshuffle!
This is a crisis, but also an opportunity!
Shimura Danzō's fists were clenched unconsciously in his sleeves, and his heart was beating crazily.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood quietly on the stage, looking at the various expressions of all living beings in the audience, and the last bit of nostalgia in his heart turned into a silent sigh.
Hiruzen, your era... is over.
He picked up the Hokage bamboo hat that symbolized supreme power, took one last deep look, then turned around, without looking at anyone else in the audience, and walked off the podium step by step.
The departing back was very long under the light, with a bit of desolation, a bit of loneliness...