area51novel Chapter 458 The Struggle for Acting Hokage: Danzo's Trump Card
Chapter 458 The Struggle for Acting Hokage: Danzo's Trump Card
Chapter 458 The Struggle for Acting Hokage: Danzo's Trump Card
Deep inside the Hokage Building, in the first conference room.
The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.
The fluorescent tubes on the ceiling emitted a slightly cool white light, illuminating the oval conference table, the more than twenty figures sitting around it, and the expressions on their faces—some solemn, some thoughtful, and some anxious.
The Konoha Jonin and Special Jonin attending the meeting sat on either side of the conference table.
At one end, the two advisor elders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura, who sat at the lower end of the main seat with a cane, one eye slightly closed, like an old monk in meditation, were at the center.
They were surrounded by older Jonin, or those closely associated with the Root organization or conservative factions, such as Yamanaka Fu, Aburame Ryoma, Aburame Torune, and several veteran Jonin who looked serious and did not participate much in daily missions.
Their breathing was heavy, their eyes mostly lowered, or they stared calmly at the table.
On the other end, the focus is on Jiraiya, who has just returned.
He sat casually in the chair, one leg even crossed over the other knee, his long white hair slightly disheveled, but his usually nonchalant eyes were now sharp and clear as he slowly scanned the entire room.
Surrounding him were Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza, the "Ino-Shika-Cho" trio, along with Hyuga Hiashi, Hatake Kakashi, Might Guy, Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Mitarashi Anko, Morino Ibiki, and other mid-generation elite Jonin, as well as the ANBU captains led by Yamato.
These people looked even more worried.
The atmosphere in the conference room was extremely tense due to the silent confrontation between these two invisible forces.
Outside the window, dusk is quietly fading away.
Xiaochun, who was turning over in her dorm, cleared her throat, breaking the suffocating silence.
She sat in the main seat, her gaze slowly sweeping over each Jonin present, finally lingering briefly on Jiraiya and Danzo.
"Gentlemen," her voice, though not loud, carried the authority of an advisory elder and clearly reached everyone's ears.
"The Third Hokage, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, sacrificed himself to protect the village."
"But Konoha cannot be without a Hokage for even a day, especially in such a critical time when it is surrounded by powerful enemies and its internal situation is not stable."
According to the emergency regulations, a person will be jointly nominated by the Jonin team and the advisory elders to temporarily assume the duties of Hokage until the Fifth Hokage is officially elected.
She paused, glanced at the clerk beside her to confirm, and then continued to announce: "After preliminary discussions, there are two qualified candidates for Acting Hokage who have been nominated."
It felt as if an invisible hand was gripping everyone's heart.
"The first one is Elder Danzo Shimura."
"Elder Danzo is highly experienced, having long presided over Root. He is intimately familiar with the village's situation and potential threats, and is highly skilled in protecting Konoha's foundation and handling confidential matters."
As soon as Koharu Utatane finished speaking, many people looked at Danzo.
Danzo himself kept his one eye slightly closed, his face expressionless, as if he were not the one who had been nominated.
"Second place, Jiraiya."
One of the "Legendary Sannin," a direct disciple of the Third Hokage and mentor to the Fourth Hokage, he was renowned throughout the ninja world, his strength was beyond doubt, and he enjoyed high prestige both inside and outside the village. Furthermore, he played a crucial role in the current crisis.
As Koharu Utatane introduced Jiraiya, Shikaku, Inoichi, Might Guy, and the others looked at him with even greater determination.
Jiraiya himself raised an eyebrow and a somewhat helpless smile appeared on his lips, seemingly not very enthusiastic about this "nomination".
"Now, all eligible Jonin and Special Jonin present, please conduct a secret ballot." Koharu Utatane pointed to a sealed square wooden box that had been prepared beforehand in the center of the conference table. The top of the box had a round hole that was only big enough for a small ball to pass through.
"Each person will receive one small ball of each color: blue, red, and black. Blue represents Elder Danzo Shimura, red represents Jiraiya, and black represents abstention."
"Please consider carefully and step forward one by one to place your ballots in the box. After the voting concludes, the box will be opened and the ballots counted on the spot, and the results will be announced."
Her gaze swept across the room, carrying a final confirmation: "The voting process will be conducted by me, along with Advisor Mitokado Homura, and—"
She glanced at Danzo, who was resting with his eyes closed, and Jiraiya, who looked completely indifferent: "With both candidates supervising, does anyone have any questions?"
A brief silence.
Just then, Yamato, who was sitting to the side and behind Jiraiya, suddenly raised his hand.
His young face showed a hint of suppressed emotion and confusion, and his voice sounded somewhat hurried: "Advisors, I have a question!"
All eyes immediately turned to the captain of the secret service.
Meeting the slightly displeased gazes of the two advisors and elders, as well as the cold stares from Danzo's side, Yamato quickened his pace and said, "Before his sacrifice, the Third Hokage explicitly mentioned to those of us present that he hoped Jiraiya would succeed him as the Fifth Hokage! All the Anbu members present can testify to this!"
"If that's the case, why not simply follow the Third Hokage's last wish and have Jiraiya temporarily take over, instead of rushing into a proxy election? This seems—"
"Captain Yamato!" Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Mitokado Homura.
The bespectacled elder advisor's face darkened. He tapped the table lightly with his hand, his voice stern: "Watch your words and your status!"
Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses sharp as a knife: "Konoha is not some family business! The position of Hokage cannot be privately bestowed based on a will or personal will! This is the highest power concerning the future of the entire village, tens of thousands of ninjas, and civilians!"
"Its creation must follow the ironclad rules established at the very beginning of Konoha's founding."
"Fairness and transparency, elected by the Jonin team representing the will of all the village's ninjas through a vote! This is a rule established by the previous Hokage, the cornerstone of Konoha's continuation! How can it be abandoned because of one person's opinion?"
He paused, his tone softening slightly, but still firm: "The Third Hokage may have high hopes for Jiraiya, but those are merely his personal expectations. The final decision rests with you all, with the collective will of all the Jonin of Konoha!"
"Holding a proxy election at this time is precisely to ensure a smooth transition of power in the village and to prevent the interruption of decision-making before the formal election of the fifth generation leader. It is currently the most procedurally sound and prudent approach!"
Yamato's face flushed red from these righteous words. He wanted to argue, but seeing Shikaku's slight shaking of his head and the warning in Kakashi's eyes that said "Don't be impulsive," he could only grit his teeth and shut his mouth in reluctance.
However, the emotion in his eyes that resonated with Jiraiya's injustice struck a chord with many people.
At this moment, Jiraiya himself chuckled, waved his hand, and said in a somewhat lazy tone, "Oh dear, Yamato, calm down, calm down. Advisor Mitokado Homura was right, the Hokage position isn't an easy job. Not only is it exhausting, but you also have to deal with all sorts of troubles with a stern face all day long. How can I compare to how carefree I am now?"
He turned to Yamato, who was still indignant, and smiled, "Don't worry, Yamato. This is just an acting election. Even if I don't win in the end, it's not a big deal. When the village is a bit more stable, we'll hold the official election for the Fifth Hokage—"
He drew out his words, his gaze sweeping over Kakashi, Shikaku, Hiashi, and the others, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.
"Even if I don't want to be in that position myself, I will definitely bring back the person who is most qualified and most suitable for it."
"I promise."
Upon hearing this, Kakashi, Hiashi, Shikaku, and the others were taken aback at first, and then almost simultaneously a name and a figure flashed through their minds.
Tsunade!
Granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, princess of the Senju clan, one of the "Three Legendary Sannin" alongside Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and the world's top medical ninja!
Whether it's strength, prestige, bloodline, or factional background, he is enough to leave all the forces in Konoha speechless, making him an excellent candidate to balance the current chaotic situation and bridge the differences!
Moreover, her relationship with Jiraiya is special, so if Jiraiya were to find and persuade her to return to the village to succeed him, the success rate would undoubtedly be the highest.
Having figured this out, Shikaku's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and a look of understanding flashed in Hiashi's eyes.
So that's how it is. This is what Jiraiya-sama really planned.
He didn't really want to avoid taking responsibility, but he believed that in the current situation of internal power struggles in Konoha and the covetous eyes of powerful enemies outside, a Hokage who was more accepted by all parties would be more beneficial to the village than someone like himself who was obviously used to being undisciplined.
His participation in the proxy election may simply be a way to buy time and ensure that Konoha's power does not fall into the hands of dangerous individuals before Tsunade is found.
Jiraiya's words reassured many ninjas.
If any of these great figures were to return, they would indeed be the most suitable person to assume the position of Fifth Hokage.
When Shimura Danzo heard Jiraiya's words, his one eye, which had been slightly closed, finally opened slowly.
A cold gaze was directed at Jiraiya.
"Tsunade-hime, huh?
Danzo immediately understood Jiraiya's plan.
But he didn't seem flustered. The corner of his mouth even turned down almost imperceptibly, and the muscles on the half of his face covered by bandages twitched slightly, as if he were sneering.
"Since there are no further questions, let's begin the vote now." Koharu Utatane gave no more time for discussion and nodded to the clerk ninja beside her.
The scribe ninja immediately picked up a small wicker basket filled with smooth, uniformly sized wooden balls in blue, red, and black.
He walked to each Jonin and Special Jonin who had the right to vote, according to their seating order, and distributed one small ball each in blue, red and black.
The ball feels slightly cool to the touch and has a smooth feel.
Everyone held the ball in a different way and with a different expression.
Some people clutched them tightly, as if holding a heavy burden; some gently rubbed the three small balls in their palms, their eyes lowered, lost in final deliberation; others barely hesitated before casually stuffing two of them into their pockets, leaving only the one representing their choice in their palm.
"Let me start." Koharu, who was turning the dorm, stood up first. She calmly threw a small ball into the wooden box, making a soft "thump" sound.
Immediately afterwards, Mitokado Yan also stepped forward expressionlessly and threw in a small ball as well.
The choice of the two advisor elders was something everyone could roughly guess.
Then, the other Jonin began to step forward one by one.
The wooden box wasn't large, but the "thump" and "tap" sounds of each ball falling into it were exceptionally clear in the quiet conference room, as if striking a chord in everyone's heart.
As Shikaku stood up and walked past Jiraiya, their eyes briefly met. Shikaku nodded slightly and then dropped a small ball into the box.
Yamanaka Ichi and Akimichi Dōza followed closely behind.
Hiashi Hyuga's expression was calm, and his steps were steady.
Kakashi appears casual.
Might Guy gave Jiraiya a thumbs up, revealing his gleaming teeth.
Sarutobi Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, Anko Mitarashi, Ibiki Morino, Genma Shiranui, Raido Namiashi
Yamashiro Aoba —
One by one, familiar Jonin stepped forward, and the sound of small balls falling into the box rose and fell.
The voting process lasted about ten minutes.
After the last black ball was dropped into the box, the clerk stepped forward and signaled that the voting was over.
Jiraiya and Danzo, as candidates, did not participate in the voting.
In front of everyone, Xiaochun, who was in the dormitory, personally carried the sealed wooden box to the center of the conference table.
She used a small key to unlock the hidden lock at the bottom of the box, and then carefully tipped the box over.
Splash—
More than twenty small wooden balls of different colors, like colorful beads, rolled into a square wooden tray covered with black velvet, colliding with each other and making a crisp sound.
All eyes instantly focused on that piece of velvet.
Red, blue, and black are intertwined, but the difference in quantity is obvious.
The red ball clearly takes up most of the space!
Like leaping flames, it stands out strikingly against the backdrop of black velvet.
There are fewer blue balls, which are scattered throughout.
The black forfeit balls were scattered here and there.
There was no need for a detailed count; everyone present was a seasoned ninja with exceptional visual abilities.
The number of red balls is almost twice that of blue balls!
The Jonin who supported Jiraiya, such as Shikaku and Yamato, unconsciously revealed a hint of relief and subtle excitement in their eyes.
As expected, Jiraiya's prestige and support among the true Jonin were unmatched by Danzo!
Most Jonin tend to believe Jiraiya, rather than Danzo, who has been hiding in the shadows for many years.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado's faces didn't reveal much expression, but their gazes flickered slightly when they swept over the clearly dominant red ball, before returning to calm.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of helplessness and "I knew it" in each other's eyes.
They supported Danzo, but they were also aware of Danzo's popularity and reputation among the vast majority of Jonin.
And Shimura Danzo—
He remained seated, his single eye calmly fixed on the glaring red light in the wooden tray. His face, mostly covered by bandages, showed no sign of muscle twitching, not even a change in the frequency of his breathing.
He seemed completely indifferent to the stark contrast in the votes before him.
Then, Xiaochun, who was turning over, began to slowly and methodically separate the small balls in the wooden tray by color and count them one by one.
"Elder Danzo Shimura, seven votes."
"Jiraiya, fifteen votes."
"Abstain, three votes."
"Total valid votes: 25."
Koharu Utatane raised her head, her gaze sweeping over all the Jonin present.
The number of Jonin in Konoha is certainly more than twenty-five, but the Jonin combatants of various ninja clans do not serve in Konoha's military.
Therefore, the Jonin members standing here now are also representatives of their respective ninja clans.
Koharu, who was turning the dorm, coughed lightly, cleared her throat, and prepared to announce the obvious result.
"Based on the voting results, I hereby announce that the candidate for Acting Hokage has received the most votes in this election—"
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Just then, a clear and urgent knocking sounded abruptly, interrupting Koharu Utatane's words.
Everyone frowned.
At such a critical moment, who would dare to disrupt a high-level meeting?
Raido Nami, who was closest to the door, glanced at Koharu Utatane and, after receiving a slight nod from her, quickly got up, walked to the door, and opened the heavy conference room door.
Outside the door stood a young ninja from the Konoha Communications Squad. His face was flushed, sweat beaded on his forehead, and he was tightly clutching a scroll in his hand.
Upon seeing that it was Namiashi Raidou who opened the door, and then seeing the Jonin and advisors gathered inside, he visibly swallowed nervously, but still managed to remain calm and quickly walked into the room.
He went straight to Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, bent down, and whispered something in the ears of the two advisor elders in a very low voice, while handing them the scroll in his hand.
The moment Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado heard the communicator's whisper, their expressions changed slightly at almost the same time. Although the change was extremely brief and they returned to calm in an instant, the people present were all elites with keen perception, so how could they not notice it?
Especially Koharu Utatane, her wrinkled eyes twitched almost imperceptibly, and her gaze unconsciously fell on Danzo Shimura, who remained expressionless.
Mitokado Yan took the scroll, quickly unrolled it, glanced at it, and his expression became even more serious.
He closed the scroll and exchanged a complex look with Koharu Utatane, a look that contained shock, realization, and a hint of annoyance at being tricked.
The atmosphere in the conference room became strange again due to the unusual behavior of the two advisor elders.
Shikaku's fingers tapped the table unconsciously, Hiashi's Byakugan narrowed slightly, and Jiraiya's lazy smile faded a bit as he sat up straight.
Everyone had a premonition that something was about to happen.
Xiaochun took a breath, raised her head again, and faced everyone.
"Gentlemen, we have just received an urgent communication. There is important news from the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Fire."
"It concerns the selection of the acting Hokage."
"What?!"
"Daming Mansion?!"
"Why would the Daimyo suddenly interfere in the Hokage election?!"
"This has never been done before!"
A chorus of barely suppressed gasps and whispers erupted in the conference room!
Shikaku suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with a sharp light!
Hiashi's Byakugan suddenly contracted, and he exchanged glances with the other ninja clan leaders. Kakashi raised his single eye and looked at Danzo opposite him.
Even Jiraiya frowned, a serious expression on his face.
The daimyo of the Land of Fire is the nominal ruler of Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village).
Konoha, as a ninja village, provides military services to the Land of Fire, while the Land of Fire provides land, resources, money, and political support.
According to tradition and established rules, the Daimyo's office generally does not directly interfere in Konoha's internal affairs, especially the election of the Hokage.
This is considered the core of Konoha's high degree of autonomy.
The usual procedure is that after Konoha elects a Hokage, the result is reported to the Daimyo's office, where the Daimyo formally "appoints" and announces the appointment to demonstrate authority and legitimacy.
This is unprecedented! Before the election results were even officially announced, the Daimyo's office intervened directly and even explicitly stated "regarding the selection of the acting Hokage"!
This is a serious violation of tradition and an interference with Konoha's autonomy!
What does Daimyo want to do?
How did he learn that Konoha was holding a proxy election and send the message so "timely"?
Countless questions swirled in everyone's minds.
"Connect the communications immediately," Mitokado Homura said in a deep voice to the communications ninja.
The communications ninjas didn't dare to delay and immediately got to work with their comrades.
They quickly moved in a sophisticated communications display, skillfully connected the cables, and adjusted the frequency.
The lights in the conference room were dimmed, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the screen that was gradually lighting up.
The screen flickered a few times, then stabilized.
A clear figure appears in the center of the image.
He was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a pale face, heavy eye bags, and obvious signs of excessive indulgence in sex.
He wore a traditional green and white kimono, covered with a haori embroidered with flame patterns, and a uniquely shaped black crown that spread out to the sides like a folding fan. Three gleaming flame-shaped gems, symbolizing the Land of Fire, were set in the front of the crown.
He held a closed folding fan in his hand, casually leaning back in a wide chair covered with soft brocade, with a luxuriously decorated room backdrop adorned with calligraphy and paintings by famous artists behind him.
It was none other than the current daimyo of the Land of Fire, Naoya Enichi.
Although it was through a screen, and although this daimyo was known for his incompetence, pleasure-seeking, and neglect of state affairs, he was, after all, the ruler of the Land of Fire and Konoha's nominal most loyal subject.
Out of basic courtesy and respect for the daimyo, all the ninjas in the meeting room, including the two advisors, Jiraiya, and even Danzo who had been resting with his eyes closed, stood up and bowed slightly to the figure on the screen.
"Greetings, Your Excellency." The crowd greeted him in unison, their voices echoing in the silent conference room.
On the screen, Naoya Madoka had no expression on his face, showing neither pity nor concern.
He simply glanced at the screen with his slightly puffy, tired eyes, as if he could see part of the conference room through the device, and then spoke in a calm, languid tone.
"I just received a detailed report from my subordinates about the situation in Konoha and Hiruzen."
The slightly distorted voice of the person in question was transmitted through the device.
"Alas, what a pity—such a good Hokage. He devoted himself entirely to the Land of Fire."
His tone was flat, and although there was a hint of regret, no one could detect any real sadness in it.
After a brief opening remark, or rather, some pleasantries, Madoka tapped his palm lightly with his closed folding fan before getting straight to the point, his tone becoming slightly more formal: "Konoha has its own rules regarding the election of the new Hokage, and I, the daimyo, should not presume to comment further. However, it seems that the formal election will likely require some time to prepare, and Konoha, having suffered such a great calamity, is in dire need of rebuilding, surrounded by powerful enemies, and cannot afford to be without a leader for even a day."
He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the screen, precisely targeting someone in the conference room.
"In that case, until a new Hokage is officially elected, let Shimura Danzo temporarily serve as Hokage."
boom-!
Despite having a premonition, everyone in the conference room was stunned when the words were clearly spoken by the daimyo. They looked at the screen in disbelief, then turned sharply to look at Shimura Danzo, who remained expressionless!
Shikaku's pupils contracted sharply, and his brain worked frantically!
Yamato's eyes were filled with shock and confusion!
Hiashi's face darkened, and his Byakugan swept back and forth between Danzo and the daimyo.
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza looked at each other in bewilderment.
Jiraiya's expression turned completely somber, and his nonchalant smile vanished without a trace.
He finally understood where Danzo's confidence came from!
Danzo never intended to gain the support of Jonin and various ninja clans!
The daimyo actually stepped in personally, and in the name of the monarch, forcibly appointed the acting Hokage!
This completely shattered the political tacit understanding and power balance that had been established between Konoha and the Daimyo for decades!
This is not just a simple designation; it is an extremely dangerous signal!
The Daimyo, or rather the Daimyo himself, is trying to take this opportunity to strengthen his control over the military group that is Konohagakure!
Danzo, on the other hand, clearly made some kind of deal or alliance with the daimyo, willing to sacrifice Konoha's autonomy in exchange for the opportunity to rise to power!
This is a blatant political deal and a power grab!
"Your Excellency, Daimyo!" Jiraiya couldn't help but exclaim.
"The election results for the acting Hokage of Konoha have just been announced! According to procedure—"
"You're the disciple Hiruzen mentioned, Jiraiya, right?" Enichi Naoya interrupted Jiraiya directly.
He peered at Jiraiya through the screen, his gaze still languid, but his tone was clearly tinged with anger.
You must understand that in the ninja world with its strict hierarchy, the daimyo is the highest ruler, and ninjas are just mercenaries who work for the daimyo. Even when the Third Hokage was alive, he had to be addressed with honorifics!
Who do you think you are?
"Programs are programs, but you also need to know how to be flexible."
"What Konoha needs right now is stability, decisiveness, and people capable of handling extraordinary situations."
O
"Elder Danzo has been in charge of the Root Clan for many years and has handled countless thorny issues. He is most aware of all aspects of the village and potential threats. I believe it is appropriate for him to act as regent during this critical period."
He tapped his palm with the folding fan again, as if to make a final decision.
"That's settled then."
"Danzo, remember to come to the Daimyo's residence in a few days and give a detailed report on Konoha's losses, reconstruction plans, and—the countermeasures against that so-called Star Country and Shura."
"Ugh, looks like we're going to have to fight again. What a hassle."
His last sentence seemed to be both a complaint and an implication.
After saying that, he didn't give the Konoha people any chance to speak or question, and waved his folding fan at the screen.
That's fine.
The screen flickered, the image instantly cut off, turned into static, and then went completely dark.
Communication was unilaterally terminated.
The meeting room was deathly silent.
Only the now-darkened monitor and the distinctly colored, yet now incredibly ironic, balls in the wooden tray silently recounted what had just happened.
The daimyo made no attempt to conceal his interference in Konoha's internal affairs, overturning the results of the recent vote and forcibly appointing Shimura Danzo as acting Hokage.
All eyes turned to Shimura Danzo.
He still leaned on that cane, his movements unhurried and deliberate.
The exposed left eye slowly swept across the shocked, angry, confused, or thoughtful faces of everyone present.
Danzo's face was expressionless, but his single eye clearly reflected a joy that had finally been fulfilled.
He glanced at Jiraiya, then looked down at the small ball representing "public opinion".
With his hoarse yet steady voice, Danzo addressed Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, as well as the entire audience, saying calmly, "Since Your Majesty has given the order, this old man—will respectfully comply."
"From this day forward, I will temporarily assume the duties of Hokage and handle all affairs of the village. I hope you will all provide me with your full support."
His voice wasn't loud, but it struck the hearts of everyone in the conference room with a heavy weight.
Jiraiya stood still, his hands clenched into fists.
He looked at Danzo, then at the two silent advisors and elders, and then at Lu Jiu and the others around him, whose faces were grim and whose eyes were full of resentment.
Finally, my gaze fell upon the plate of three-colored balls.
He twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing an extremely sarcastic and helpless smile.
"Heh—the designated name, huh—"
He muttered to himself, his voice so soft that only Shikaku and Kakashi beside him could barely hear him.
So this was Danzo's trump card.
It wasn't about the votes of Jonin, forming cliques, or conspiracies; it was about directly leveraging secular power!