Seven days had passed since Dodai's departure.
In that time, the Hidden Leaf Village had already received war reparations from the Land of Lightning. At the same time, the Fire Daimyō had sent troops to garrison the port city that Kumogakure had previously ceded.
On top of that, the Daimyō had forwarded a staggering fifteen billion ryō in military funds as a morale booster.
The accompanying letter voiced mild displeasure over Jiraiya's devastating flood attack, but it didn't linger on the matter. Most of the lines were filled with praise for Hiruzen Sarutobi—praising the old professor for remaining so vigorous despite his age.
It also, rather pointedly, asked about the candidate for the next Hokage.
In the Daimyō's eyes, this was the perfect moment for Hiruzen Sarutobi to retire.
Kakashi happened to agree.
After the Nine-Tails' attack, the Third had reclaimed the hat and turned the village's fortunes around. Now, having brought the Third Great Ninja War to a decisive close, he could step down at the height of victory.
A near-flawless curtain call.
Hokage Conference Room
The four elders of Konoha's leadership were gathered once more.
A single letter rested on the table between them.
Each stared at it, their expressions unreadable, thoughts racing.
Big decisions in small circles, small decisions in large ones.
"I'm sure I don't need to spell it out," Hiruzen said, tapping the letter with one finger. "Your thoughts?"
"This… isn't it a little sudden?" Koharu Utatane hesitated.
"Hiruzen, you're only sixty-nine. Old, yes, but you're far from finished. Another ten years as Hokage would be no trouble at all. And right now, there simply isn't a suitable successor in the village."
They had all read the letter. It was from the Fire Daimyō.
Unlike previous messages, this one was practically an open demand to know when Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to step down.
If the Third remained in the hat any longer, the Daimyō seemed to fear, Konoha's shinobi would soon know only the Hokage and forget the man who paid their salaries.
Victory had already given Hiruzen more than enough glory.
Hiruzen glanced at Koharu but said nothing, waiting for the others.
"I nominate Kakashi Hatake," Danzō Shimura said, his single visible eye half-lidded.
"!"
"Kakashi is far too young," Homura Mitokado blurted, startled. "And his methods are too extreme. He is not suited for the position."
Since when did Danzō Shimura have any connection to Kakashi?
A chill crawled up Koharu's spine the moment she heard the name.
"I nominate Jiraiya," she countered immediately.
"Jiraiya is disqualified," Danzō shot back without hesitation. "His actions during the Land of Frost campaign removed him from consideration."
"But that flood attack—"
"Jiraiya has no interest in the hat anyway," Danzō cut in. "We pinned the blame on him precisely to shield Kakashi."
Koharu opened her mouth to argue, but Danzō gave her no chance.
The air in the room turned to ice. Koharu's sharp gaze locked with Danzō's single eye. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Then, suddenly, she shot to her feet and slammed her palm onto the table.
"Danzō, I know exactly what you're scheming!"
"I can stomach that boy rising through the ranks."
"But the Hokage seat? I would sooner see you wearing the hat!"
Her voice cracked like a whip, utterly unlike the calm elder she usually was.
Danzō's eye widened a fraction.
"Now, now, don't say things you'll regret," Homura muttered, tugging gently at Koharu's sleeve. "Sit down, please."
If Danzō Shimura ever became Hokage, Hiruzen might as well keep the position until he died at his desk.
Hiruzen watched the chaos unfold and let out a quiet sigh. His thoughts drifted inevitably to the Fourth—the student he had once believed would solve all these problems.
If Minato were still alive, none of this would be happening.
Maybe this war with Kumogakure wouldn't have happened at all.
"Kakashi is the only viable candidate the village has right now," Hiruzen said at last.
Koharu's face twisted. She lowered her voice to a venomous whisper.
"That boy treats human life like weeds! The second something displeases him, he reaches for the blade. The Kumogakure situation could have been resolved diplomatically, yet he started a war on a whim!"
"We won, yes—but at what cost? How many graves did we fill?"
"If he becomes Hokage, I will never accept it."
Danzō's brow furrowed. He refused to yield.
"That's exactly why we had to fight! Kumogakure was pushing to see how far they could go. If we'd bowed our heads, they would have taken everything!"
"Is that concept really so hard for you to grasp?"
Koharu let out a cold laugh. She jabbed a finger toward the door—toward the cemetery beyond the village walls.
"Then go say that to the dead."
"Because one man decided to play hero, thousands of Konoha shinobi are fertilizer. And you expect me to accept him as Hokage?"
The argument spiraled further into chaos.
Suddenly, Hiruzen rose to his feet. An immense wave of chakra erupted from him, flooding the room with killing intent thick enough to choke on.
"Together the three of you are nearly two hundred years old, and you're squabbling like academy brats! Have you no shame?"
"I am still the Hokage!"
Koharu huffed, dropped back into her seat, and crossed her arms. Danzō fell silent.
Homura sighed—he hadn't even managed to get a word in.
"I've made my decision," Hiruzen continued, voice cold as steel. "Kakashi Hatake will serve as acting Hokage for three years. If he makes no grave errors in that time, the position becomes his permanently."
Koharu's face drained of color.
"Hiruzen—!"
"Enough."
The Third fixed his oldest friend with an icy stare.
"I am the Hokage."
Danzō gave a faint, mocking smile. "Hiruzen is the Hokage. His word is final. I have no objections."
"Meeting adjourned."
No one else spoke.
Hiruzen brought the gavel down—figuratively speaking—and that was that.
"You will regret this, Hiruzen!"
Bang!
Koharu stormed out, slamming the door so hard the hinges rattled.
Danzō watched her go, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Those words sounded familiar.
Koharu marched down the corridors of the Hokage Tower, face dark as a thundercloud. Staff and shinobi alike shrank against the walls as she passed.
Hiruzen has lost his mind. Danzō too.
A warmonger on the Hokage seat?
Konoha will fall into ruin because of Kakashi Hatake.
————
Supporting me on Pa-treon to gain early access to advanced chapters and enjoy expedited updates. Your support is greatly appreciated.
pat-reon .c-om/Dragonhair
(Just remove the hyphen - and space, to access Pa-treon normally.)