Chapter 177 The sudden election of Hokage
"What's going on, Advisor Tatsune? If you don't give me a reasonable explanation, the Daimyo's government will re-evaluate its financial support for Konoha!" The
Fire Country Daimyo closed his fan with an angry look on his face. He usually used the fan to cover his face, but now he closed the fan and showed his expression, which shows how angry the Daimyo is now.
In addition to slowly controlling the Fire Country Daimyo, black magic can also amplify his emotions.
"This matter will be thoroughly investigated by the Anbu and the interrogation team. Please rest assured, the Daimyo, the Ministry of Finance, including Advisor Tatsune, will not miss a single one."
Regarding funding and the support of the Daimyo's government, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not want to cause any more trouble. Although he had the title of a ninja hero, his courage was not as good as the second generation Hokage; if it was Senju Tobirama, he would never be threatened by the Daimyo. At worst, he would
cut off the relationship on the spot, and then let the Daimyo be killed by the bandits when he left the village.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't do that. He valued his reputation and didn't dare to quarrel with the daimyo openly. He also didn't want to cut off the daimyo's financial support to Konoha, so he could only admit his mistake and put the matter aside, and deal with it slowly later.
"After something like this, how can I trust Konoha again?"
The daimyo of the Land of Fire was still angry, and was obviously dissatisfied with the explanation given by Sarutobi Hiruzen. The few things that Kahn had just found out had a difference of hundreds of millions of ryo. Was he slaughtering the daimyo's house like a pig?
Now it has changed from Sarutobi Hiruzen's personal problem to a matter between Konoha and the Land of Fire. No one would be indifferent if they knew that they were cheated of hundreds of millions of ryo, especially when the other party was the daimyo of a country.
Nara Shikaku desperately thought of a way to solve the situation in his mind, but no matter how he thought, he couldn't think of a good solution.
Now he has no chance to intervene. The head of the Nara clan? This identity is nothing in front of the daimyo of the Land of Fire. He has not yet become the leader of the jonin squad.
"Re-elect the Hokage!"
After the Daimyo finished saying this, he covered his face with a fan again and closed his eyes.
This sentence was like a thunderclap in the clear sky, exploding in everyone's heart. Some of the marginal jonins never thought that things would evolve to the point of re-electing the Hokage.
Like Kakashi, who had been paddling all the time, no matter how depressed and lost he was, he couldn't help but look up at the Daimyo after hearing this sentence, which meant that the Third Hokage had lost the Daimyo's trust. Although Konoha was established
a short time ago, the cooperation between the village and the Fire Country has always been close. From previous wars, it can be seen that the Fire Country's funding for the ninja village is definitely the first among the five major ninja villages.
But now the Daimyo said to re-elect the Hokage.
For a moment, the room was silent, and most of the jonin looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had an ugly face. At this time, his series of actions just now had completely lost their effect.
Now there are only two choices, either to step back and give up the Hokage; or to be tough to the end, warn the Fire Country Daimyo, and restore the dignity of Konoha Village.
However, the latter will cause the relationship between Konoha and the Land of Fire to break down sharply, and some ninjas will not approve of Sarutobi Hiruzen's approach, such as the guardian nin Hatake Sakumo.
"Huruzen did not make any major mistakes during his tenure, on the contrary, he made many contributions. Konoha will never agree to change the Hokage just because of the mistakes of others!"
Danzo took two steps forward with crutches, his only remaining eye glowing with cold light, staring at the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and warning him.
However, when Danzo saw Kahn smiling at the side, he could not suppress the hatred in his heart. It was this person who caused him to be in this situation today. Not only did he lose the position of Hokage, but he also had to work for Konoha with a disabled body.
Kushina, who was sitting behind Tsunade, felt Danzo's malice towards Kahn, and couldn't help but clench her fist and whispered: "Old bastard, sooner or later I will beat you up."
Facing Danzo's threat, the Fire Country Daimyo didn't care at all, or under the influence of black magic, the fear in his heart had been suppressed to the lowest level. "No matter what you say, unless a new Hokage is elected, the support of the Daimyo's Mansion to Konoha may be suspended for a period of time, including the distribution of tasks."
After hearing the words of the Daimyo, not only Nara Shikaku, but even Tsunade and other jonin were a little restless; if Konoha lost its financial support and task distribution, the village might collapse.
Danzo asked with a cold voice: "Are you threatening Konoha, Your Excellency the Daimyo!"
"I know you, Danzo, the disciple of the Second Hokage; this is not a threat, but the Daimyo's Mansion's final ultimatum."
After the Fire Country Daimyo said this, he closed his eyes and waited for Sarutobi Hiruzen's reply.
At this time, the room was so quiet that even the sound of breathing could be heard. Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to take action several times to kill this ignorant daimyo on the spot; but he did not have the courage and prestige of the second generation Hokage. Even if he killed the daimyo of the Land of Fire, he could not shut up everyone present.
All the jonin didn't know how to speak. They seemed to have become spectators; even the ninja clan leaders and the three ninjas in the front row did not say a word.
Although Hyuga Hiashi was young, he was proficient in the art of resting his mind. He would sit there motionless with his eyes closed to rest his mind. Except for Ino-Shikacho, the other ninja clan leaders all learned from the Hyuga clan leader, but they did not have the traditional aristocratic etiquette of the Hyuga clan. As for
the three ninjas, Orochimaru watched the show the whole time except for warning Nara Shikaku. Tsunade kept frowning and biting her nails, and Jiraiya was fidgeting as if there were nails under the cushion.
Now Sarutobi Hiruzen also guessed why the Daimyo was so tough. His confidence was in the next Hokage, or Orochimaru. When Sarutobi Hiruzen tilted his head to look at Orochimaru, the latter also chuckled at him.
Orochimaru, I will never let you succeed! After a long silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly said, "I understand what the daimyo means. Five days later..."
The daimyo suddenly interrupted Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "Aren't all the jonin in the village here? If we are going to elect the Hokage, what better time than now?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but said angrily, "The election of the Hokage is not a trivial matter. The daimyo should not go too far!"
"It should be Konoha that is going too far. The daimyo's government trusted Konoha so much, but what they got in return was deception!"
The daimyo of the Land of Fire also slammed the table and shouted angrily, then picked up the evidence beside him and threw it forward; but he was not strong enough and lacked skills, and the throw fell to the ground less than two meters away, and did not hit Sarutobi Hiruzen at all. However,
the daimyo's actions also made most of the jonin present feel ashamed. They learned in the ninja school that the employer is supreme and the ninja spirit; but now Konoha's reputation seems that even the daimyo no longer trusts it. As Konoha ninjas, they did not feel proud, but lowered their heads in shame.
'It's all Utatane Koharu'
Not only one person thought so, at least one third of the hundreds of jonin present had this idea. Sarutobi
Hiruzen looked around and found that most of the jonin lowered their heads, and he could not find many who supported him. As for Mito Kado En and Utatane Koharu, their reputations had been lost, and it would only make them laugh if they spoke again.
And Danzo was like a sick dog, no matter how loudly he barked, he could not scare the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes, and finally, as if he had let out a sigh of relief, he said, "Let's do as the Daimyo said, and hold the Hokage election now."
After saying this, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to have aged a dozen years.
The Hokage election was very simple, and the only formal one was when the first Hokage was elected, which happened to be the celebration of the establishment of the village, so it was held in a more grand manner.
Then the second generation inherited the position of Hokage directly with strength and prestige, and then the battlefield appointed the third generation Hokage. To be honest, there is no fixed process at all. After all, there are only three experiences, and each time is different, so there is no reference value at all.
The election of the fourth generation Hokage is also different from the previous three generations of Hokage. A strong conflict broke out between the Daimyo Mansion and Konoha, and there is even a risk of separation. Under such circumstances, the election of Hokage was held.
In fact, with Sarutobi Hiruzen's age, he is now in his prime.
"In terms of contribution, strength, etc., those who agree with the candidate for Hokage in the village are Lord Orochimaru, Lord Jiraiya, Lord Tsunade, and Namikaze Minato, a senior ninja."
Nara Shikaku said to everyone. Namikaze Minato is so young and is on par with the three ninjas, but according to military exploits and strength, it is indeed enough; this is because Nawaki took the initiative to give up, otherwise the Wood Release Bloodline, the first generation's grandson plus strength and contribution, and Tsunade Riki, even Orochimaru would feel a headache.
"Since all the jonin are here,
we will tentatively decide that everyone will have one vote, the daimyo will have 20 votes, the ministers of
the Land of Fire will have 3 votes, and the person with the highest number of votes will be the Fourth Hokage." This was the only solution that Nara Shikaku could think of. He could only hope that Minato Namikaze would have a better reputation in the village. However, the votes in the hands of the daimyo and the ministers of the Land of Fire were unexpected. This was the daimyo's request. Sarutobi Hiruzen and others did not speak, so Nara Shikaku could not refuse.
Before Nara Shikaku finished speaking, Tsunade interrupted and said, "No need to include me. I recommend Orochimaru." After Tsunade
said this, Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen looked very ugly; and the medical jonin present nodded slightly as if they had received a signal, and some civilian ninjas who did not know who to vote for seemed to have a target.
Jiraiya hurriedly said at this time: "I will also abstain. I support Minato. Whether in terms of strength or quality, he is the most suitable ninja for the position of Hokage."
If you want to abstain, just abstain, and you are canvassing for votes! Tsunade looked at Jiraiya with contempt, a typical person who refused to admit defeat.
However, with Tsunade in front and Jiraiya behind, the effect of his words was not so good.
Nara Shikaku sighed in his heart and said, "Then the candidates are only Namikaze Minato and Orochimaru. Colleagues, please make your choice." Soon
, everyone wrote down their favorite Fourth Hokage on a piece of paper. Nara Shikaku was responsible for counting the votes. In front of so many people, he didn't dare to play tricks.
The votes were counted quickly. Nara Shikaku felt helpless, but he could only announce the result: "Namakaze Minato got 45 votes, and Orochimaru got 197 votes. The Fourth Hokage is Orochimaru."