Mitokado Homura's words, "Let's settle on a candidate for the next Hokage as soon as possible," made the already silent conference room grow even quieter.
Hatake Sakumo looked at each person in turn, his gaze lingering on every face for a moment before he "carefully considered" his words and spoke:
"In that case... I think Tsunade would be a good choice."
Quite a few people in the conference room nodded to themselves at that.
Clearly, many of those present also wanted Tsunade to become the Fourth Hokage.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu muttered to themselves inwardly, but their expressions gave nothing away.
Utatane Koharu knew she couldn't keep "slacking off." It was time for her to speak up, lest Hatake Sakumo settle scores with her afterward.
She spoke in an even voice:
"Sakumo... Tsunade is indeed a good candidate. But everyone here should be aware of her situation."
She paused, a hint of a sigh entering her voice:
"Ever since Little Nawaki and Dan Katō died, Tsunade has been utterly disheartened. She even faints at the sight of blood. Sigh... as she is now, she cannot shoulder this responsibility."
Silence.
Hatake Sakumo paused again, as though running through several names in his head:
"Then... Jiraiya..."
Halfway through, he seemed to realize just how "unreliable" the person behind that name was and hurriedly changed tack:
"Orochimaru could actually..."
Before he could finish, Mitokado Homura interrupted him.
"Sakumo!"
Mitokado Homura spoke, his voice quiet but firm:
"Since Tsunade cannot shoulder this responsibility, we have given the matter careful consideration and decided that, at this critical moment, you should accept the responsibility and become the Fourth Hokage!"
Hatake Sakumo inwardly cheered.
Here it comes.
But outwardly, he froze as though struck by lightning:
"Wh... what?"
Utatane Koharu took over again, speaking unhurriedly:
"You heard correctly, Sakumo. We have given this careful consideration, and under the present circumstances, you are the most suitable person to serve as the Fourth Hokage."
"Your strength, your qualifications, and your contributions to the village all make you worthy of this responsibility."
"Don't be so quick to refuse. The Fourth Hokage can only be chosen from you and Tsunade. Neither Orochimaru nor Jiraiya is yet..." She shook her head as she trailed off.
Beside them, Orochimaru's expression was uglier than if he'd eaten shit.
Why the hell are you bringing me into this?
But this was a full meeting, and Orochimaru didn't dare rely on his contributions during the Second Shinobi World War or his status as Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple to contradict the two advisors.
To put it bluntly, Hatake Sakumo outclassed Orochimaru in every respect: reputation, qualifications, achievements, and even actual strength.
What was more, with both top-level advisors supporting Hatake Sakumo so strongly, Orochimaru didn't stand a chance.
He didn't have Tsunade's status as "Hashirama Senju's granddaughter," either.
But Orochimaru had already put the two old bastards in his little black book.
Hatake Sakumo couldn't be bothered with Orochimaru's petty schemes. He had never regarded Orochimaru as a rival, and what he was thinking at the moment was:
These two old bastards are playing off each other perfectly.
But he also knew that he couldn't just seize the Hokage Position the moment it was offered.
That would be far too "improper"!
He had to at least follow the example of "refusing three times and yielding three times." Only then would he appear to be someone who didn't covet power and position.
So Hatake Sakumo put on another troubled, guilty expression:
"But I... abandoned my mission for my comrades' lives. I'm the one who caused the village its greatest losses. Am I really... qualified to shoulder this responsibility?"
As he spoke, his eyelids drooped and his voice grew quieter, making him look as though he was still reeling from the incident.
Quite a few people present breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Hatake Sakumo refuse. They truly didn't want him to become the Fourth Hokage.
For no other reason than that whole affair with the bullying.
Just think: two months ago, everyone had stood by coldly, some even joining in to kick him while he was down. Then, in the blink of an eye, he became Hokage and their boss.
How awkward would it be when they ran into him afterward?
The problem was, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu seemed to have taken leave of their senses and were dead set on backing Hatake Sakumo.
On top of that, Tsunade wasn't even in Konoha at the moment.
And what the two of them said made sense. Given Tsunade's condition after what had happened to her brother and lover, she really couldn't take on the burden.
So those sensible enough chose to keep quiet, knowing that saying more would do no good.
When it came down to it, the authority to decide on the Hokage candidate lay with the two senior advisors.
But some people still couldn't read the situation and felt that Tsunade ought to take the position.
For no other reason than that she was a Senju, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and Konoha's princess.
Seeing Hatake Sakumo turn it down of his own accord, one of them couldn't help speaking up:
"Advisors, should we discuss this again later? Perhaps wait until Lady Tsunade returns?"
Hatake Sakumo couldn't discern any emotion in the speaker's voice, but he glanced in that direction.
Who said that?
Fine, fine, fine. I'll remember you. I'll make things difficult for you when I get the chance!
He didn't make a sound, and not a trace of anything unusual showed on his face.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu spoke up again.
They were indeed disciples of Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. After so many years as Konoha's senior advisors, they could trot out lofty arguments one after another.
Mitokado Homura didn't answer the person directly. Instead, he first addressed Hatake Sakumo's abandonment of his mission to save his comrades:
"Sakumo, the reason for that incident was not your fault."
"You chose to end the mission and rescue your comrades for the sake of their lives. In a sense, that means you made the right choice."
"My teacher, Lord Tobirama the Second, once said:"
Mitokado Homura paused, as though lost in recollection, then spoke a moment later:
"A ninja's true strength has never lain in power, but in choice. And choices have no absolute right or wrong; there is only whether you are willing to pay the price for them."
As for whether Tobirama Senju had actually said those words, that wasn't important.
What mattered was that the words had come from Mitokado Homura's mouth.
Now that Tobirama was dead, and Danzo and Hiruzen were dead too, whatever these two old bastards said was the truth.
The heads of the Hyuga Clan, the Nara Clan, and the other clans all knew the outcome was settled when they heard this.
The advisor had even brought up the words of Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. What else was there to say?
They might as well continue to keep quiet.
Hatake Sakumo was very satisfied with the two old bastards' performance.
You know how to handle things. I'll give you credit for this later.
At that moment, Utatane Koharu spoke up in support:
"What's more, according to what we know, it was actually Shimura Danzō who secretly engineered the villagers' scorn of you for abandoning your mission to rescue your comrades."
"Before Hiruzen was murdered, he discussed this matter with the two of us in private. He had planned to find an opportunity to clear your name. Who could have known... that something like this would happen?"
Sarutobi Ken wanted to say something from where he sat, but there was nothing he could do. His voice carried little weight.
Although he had now succeeded as head of the Sarutobi Clan and was also the Third Hokage's son, the Third was dead, after all.
With the position of Fourth Hokage down to a choice between Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo, he supported Tsunade.
After all, Tsunade was nominally his father's disciple.
Hatake Sakumo, meanwhile, might once have had a very good relationship with his father, but after the whole affair with the bullying, there would be some hard feelings.
But there was nothing he could do. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were dead set on supporting Hatake Sakumo, and he couldn't get a word in.
Unable to come up with a rebuttal for the moment, Sarutobi Ken could only sit in his seat and keep quiet like everyone else.
Having finished, Mitokado Homura turned to the person who had proposed "discussing it again when Tsunade returns":
"It will take at least another six days for the ANBU to find Tsunade, deliver the message, and for her to return to the village."
"News of what's happened in the village may already have been sent back to the major ninja villages by enemy spies."
"We have no time to wait. Whether regarding external or internal matters, Konoha's residents are waiting for an explanation."
"Even the Third Hokage himself was assassinated within the village. How can we make the villagers believe they can be protected?"
After that, even the person who had proposed "discussing it later" could offer no rebuttal.
Mitokado Homura swept his gaze around the room, finally settling on Hatake Sakumo:
"It's settled, then. Hatake Sakumo, from today onward, you are the Fourth Hokage."
Silence filled the conference room.
Hatake Sakumo stood up.
He didn't speak right away. He simply looked at each person in turn, taking in their averted, conflicted, and resigned looks.
Only after a long moment did he speak.
"In that case, everyone!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the conference room:
"Those opposed to my becoming Hokage, please raise your hands."
The conference room was so quiet a pin could be heard dropping.
Nobody moved.
Hatake Sakumo knew exactly what he was doing. He had deliberately asked those opposed to raise their hands, rather than those in favor.
These people were like wooden figures right now. None of them was willing to be the first to state a position, choosing not to decide, as though abstaining.
Who would dare jump out and become the target of everyone's ire in front of the whole room?
Sure enough, not a single person raised a hand.
Hatake Sakumo waited a while, then spoke as though he had finally made up his mind:
"In that case... since everyone supports me so strongly, I will not fail to live up to your trust."
With that, he turned and bowed deeply to Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu:
"Nor will I fail to live up to the trust you two advisors have placed in me."
It was a solemn, sincere bow.
At least, that was how it looked to everyone else.
No one knew who started applauding first.
"Clap, clap, clap..."
At first, the applause was scattered, then it swelled into a continuous patter that filled the conference room.
It was done.
Hatake Sakumo straightened up and, under the gazes of Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, walked step by step to the empty seat of honor in the center of the conference room and sat down.
Mitokado Homura was on his left. Utatane Koharu was on his right.
Seeing that the ceremony had gone on long enough, Hatake Sakumo raised a hand and pressed it downward, signaling for the applause to stop.
Only when the conference room had quieted down again did he speak:
"All right, let's deal with the important business first."
"Who will report to me first on exactly what happened last night?"