Chapter 194: Third Hokage, You’ve Already Been Hokage—why Fight For It Again?
“Phew… I didn’t expect his actions to be this fast, and moreover, he actually managed to convince Lady Tsunade.”
Homura Mitokado was also closely monitoring various public opinions in the village.
Uchiha Ikeizumi’s decisiveness exceeded his imagination.
The other party seemed to need no deep consideration or detailed plan. He went straight to persuade Lady Tsunade to run for the next Hokage of Konoha.
You know.
Currently, Hiruzen was still in the Hokage position and had no intention of stepping down for the time being.
In this way, this action was tantamount to a coup!
This…
It made the once radical faction of the Uchiha Clan seem like a bunch of clowns. After all, they had devised many coup plans to overthrow Konoha’s high-level advisors, and were even prepared to implement them.
Yet the Uchiha Clan’s radical faction achieved nothing in coups and were later completely wiped out by Uchiha Ikeizumi.
And the moment Uchiha Ikeizumi tried to overthrow the Hokage.
He didn’t even need a plan to put Hiruzen on the defensive.
Simple and straightforward might be the most unassailable open scheme.
“Maybe… they really can succeed.” Homura Mitokado’s emotions were quite low as he lightly sighed and murmured: “After all, today’s Hiruzen has lost the hearts of many people. Even the Sarutobi Clan’s clan members have lost their loyalty and respect for him.”
“In this situation… if Lady Tsunade wants to become Konoha’s Fifth Hokage, the Sarutobi Clan clan members might turn their backs on Hiruzen and support Lady Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage.”
“Of course, the premise is they don’t know Lady Tsunade is close to Ikeizumi, nor that Lady Tsunade wants to become Konoha’s Fifth Hokage because Ikeizumi is operating behind the scenes…”
Homura Mitokado could already see that Sarutobi Hiruzen’s Hokage Position was shaky and in dire straits.
To hold that position steady, what was most needed was the village’s adoration, loyalty, respect, and recognition.
Hiruzen once had all of these, and could even be said to be at the peak of his power, with no one surpassing him.
But now…
Hiruzen had lost most people’s adoration because conspiracy theories about him occasionally circulated in the village. This turned him into that kind of scheming politician in the minds of many villagers.
Few people in the village would like such a person.
This also indirectly caused Hiruzen to lose most people’s respect and recognition.
As for loyalty…
In the situation where Hiruzen failed to protect the Sarutobi Clan clan members and those Anbu Ninjas.
He had already lost loyalty!
Now Homura Mitokado found himself facing a choice problem—if Lady Tsunade wanted to become the Fifth Hokage and drive Hiruzen down, then as a Konoha high-level advisor, Lady Tsunade would definitely seek or ask for his attitude.
And once Lady Tsunade came to the door, she would probably directly force him to make a choice and pick a side.
Or before Lady Tsunade came, it would be Hiruzen first.
“Trouble…”
Homura Mitokado found he couldn’t maintain a neutral stance at all.
Just then, a Mitokado Clan younger generation member suddenly rushed over hurriedly and reported urgently to him: “Lord Homura! Lady Tsunade of the Sannin has come to visit! Moreover, that Lady Tsunade specifically named you to see!”
Homura Mitokado: “…”
His crow’s mouth was truly effective.
It seemed Lady Tsunade had come first.
……
At the same time.
On the other side.
“This… just preparing this simply, and we’re setting off for the Hidden Mist Village?” Juzo Biwa was a bit dumbfounded. He saw Uchiha Ikeizumi simply organizing his equipment and ninja tools.
And bringing along a ninja cat that looked fat enough to definitely have three highs, and a female subordinate who wasn’t very old, holding a notebook and seeming to scribble and record something, they were about to depart.
“Don’t we need to bring more ninjas? There should be one or two hundred ninjas in the Konoha Military Police Force, right?”
Juzo Biwa couldn’t help suggesting: “Even if some need to stay in Konoha to enforce justice, you could bring twenty or thirty people, right?”
He felt Uchiha Ikeizumi bringing only one subordinate who didn’t even look like an adult…
Seemed to underestimate the tragic experiences the Land of Water was suffering now.
“No need.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi said expressionlessly: “I’m not going to invade the Land of Water. What would I bring so many ninjas for? The purpose of this trip is to kill the damned villains and awaken justice in the hearts of some ninjas in the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water.”
“As long as there are ninjas in the Hidden Mist Village who still hold justice in their hearts, even if just a sparse few, it means the Hidden Mist Village can still be saved and isn’t beyond hope.”
Hearing this, Juzo Biwa subtly swallowed hard.
He remained outwardly composed but couldn’t help asking: “If, I mean if… what if the Hidden Mist Village is beyond saving?”
Uchiha Ikeizumi slowly looked at him and said: “For a hopeless den of evil where everyone is twisted by deformed thoughts and all may bear sins… how do you think I should handle such a place?”
Juzo Biwa dryly spat out one word: “Kill?”
“Right.” Uchiha Ikeizumi nodded lightly: “Kill them all clean, kill out a clear sky, and replace everyone in the entire Hidden Mist Village.”
Juzo Biwa felt goosebumps all over his body.
He originally thought he had highly overestimated Uchiha Ikeizumi’s killing intent.
But in the end, he still underestimated it.
If the Hidden Mist Village was truly beyond saving, the other party would even kill everyone in the entire Hidden Mist Village clean!
Hiss…
Was defecting to him and asking him to focus on the Land of Water’s Hidden Mist Village a mistake? Or the right decision?
Juzo Biwa even wondered if he would doom the entire Hidden Mist Village.
In the end, would he, the one who wanted most to save the Hidden Mist Village, accidentally cause its destruction?
Juzo Biwa felt a wave of scalp tingling.
But…
Seeing Uchiha Ikeizumi already fully prepared to set off, Juzo Biwa couldn’t voice the words in his heart. Things had come to this; he couldn’t stop Uchiha Ikeizumi now, could he? Juzo Biwa worried that if he tried to stop him, he’d eat a lava fist!
“Lead the way.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi’s brief two words jolted Juzo Biwa back to reality; he could only tense his face and quickly lead the way.
Behind him.
Uchiha Izumi and Kijiro on her shoulder hurried to follow.
……
“Lady Tsunade, you’ve come…”
The moment he saw Lady Tsunade, Homura Mitokado sighed inwardly, but couldn’t show it on his face.
After gesturing for Lady Tsunade to sit, he asked her: “Have you really made your decision? You know Hiruzen is your teacher; he personally taught you to become an excellent Konoha Ninja. Your behavior like this… in the eyes of some, isn’t exactly good.”
While asking, Homura Mitokado earnestly reminded her.
This could be considered his utmost benevolence and righteousness toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Homura Mitokado sat in a formal kneeling position, while Lady Tsunade sat in a casual, unconcerned pose disregarding her Sannin image, even rudely grabbing a teapot to pour herself a cup of tea, taking a sip to moisten her throat.
Lady Tsunade spoke: “Precisely because the old man is my teacher, I can’t let him keep making mistakes. If Konoha operates under his will in his hands, it will only cause various conflicts between Konoha’s Will of Fire and Ikeizumi’s Absolute Justice.”
“Since the old man can’t tolerate Ikeizumi’s Absolute Justice, why not replace him with someone who can tolerate Absolute Justice as Hokage? At least I personally think there’s nothing wrong with Absolute Justice. In this chaotic world, heavy laws are needed to govern.”
With that, Lady Tsunade stared at Homura Mitokado before her: “Fifth Hokage… I’ve already promised that guy Uchiha Ikeizumi; I will definitely get elected.”
“I will also bring fundamental change and reform to Konoha. When I make the next decision, no one can stop me.”
“As for the old man, I can only say sorry to him from afar.”
“So…”
Lady Tsunade asked: “What’s your attitude?!”
“This old man…”
Homura Mitokado opened his mouth, just as he was about to say something, suddenly another Mitokado Clan younger generation member rushed in panicked.
“Lord Homura! The Hokage has brought two Anbu guards and come to visit!”
Homura Mitokado’s old face froze instantly.
The word “trouble” echoed endlessly in his mind.
He racked his brains and never expected Lady Tsunade and Hiruzen to choose the same day to visit him and ask his attitude and opinion.
And at the same time frame!
Homura Mitokado understood… this situation wasn’t tormenting Hiruzen; it was clearly tormenting him, Homura Mitokado!
“…Can you delay for a bit? Make Hiruzen wait a few minutes?” Homura Mitokado tried to get his clan younger generation to stall the Third Hokage a little.
If Hiruzen and Lady Tsunade met here.
The most embarrassed person would undoubtedly be him, Homura Mitokado.
The Mitokado Clan younger generation awkwardly explained: “But I’ve already welcomed the Hokage in… After all, that’s Konoha’s Hokage, and you and the Hokage usually have a good relationship… I couldn’t make him wait outside the ninja clan residence for long, right?”
Homura Mitokado: “…”
And right then, footsteps approached from far to near.
Homura Mitokado saw Sarutobi Hiruzen approaching, and Sarutobi Hiruzen also saw Homura Mitokado.
And even more, saw Lady Tsunade in front of Homura Mitokado.
At this moment.
The smile piled on Sarutobi Hiruzen’s face stiffened instantly.
“Old man, it’s been a few days; your energy seems much worse than before.” Lady Tsunade lifted her eyelids, her gaze falling on Sarutobi Hiruzen as she said flatly: “If the burden feels too heavy, maybe you can relax a bit. Some heavy loads can be shouldered by us young people.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly shifted his gaze from Lady Tsunade to Homura Mitokado.
His silent gaze seemed to carry unspoken questioning and doubt.
That gaze made Homura Mitokado awkwardly lower his head slightly.
Homura Mitokado now wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
“…” Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a moment and didn’t respond to Lady Tsunade’s words, instead saying to Homura Mitokado: “I see. It seems this old man has intruded at a bad time.”
Just as Homura Mitokado hurriedly opened his mouth to explain, Lady Tsunade waved her hand and interrupted: “If you know you’ve disturbed, then hurry back!”
“You’ve already been Hokage twice anyway; that’s like consecutive terms. Old man, you’ve had your turn; why fight for more?”
Lady Tsunade’s tone and expression grew slightly serious: “I don’t want to fall out with you too badly, but if you block what I want to do, I’ll tear the face without hesitation.”
Homura Mitokado: “…”
Please… stop talking… If you keep saying this, it sounds like this old man is already on your side.
Sarutobi Hiruzen: “…”
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly took a deep breath: “As expected of this old man’s disciple. Whether Jiraiya, Orochimaru, or you, Lady Tsunade, all chose life paths that surprised this old man greatly. Perhaps as Hokage, this old man is qualified. But as a teacher, he is not.”
“Homura, take care.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen had no interest in hearing Homura Mitokado’s hesitant explanations.
He turned and left resolutely with his two Anbu guards.
Since his old friend and partner Homura Mitokado chose to meet Lady Tsunade first, he, Sarutobi Hiruzen, didn’t have the thick skin to stay as an awkward listener.
……
“As expected… Lord Orochimaru and Ryuchi Cave have met with trouble.”
Somewhere in the Land of Fire.
Yakushi Kabuto, who had sneaked back, gazed at the devastation before him.
He stood stunned in place for a moment, unsure what to do.
After being dazed for over a minute, Yakushi Kabuto tried searching for Orochimaru’s corpse but found none after searching everywhere. He only found some of Orochimaru’s subordinates’ corpses, all burned to charcoal.
Considering Ryuchi Cave might also have issues, Yakushi Kabuto murmured in speculation: “Was the final battle in Ryuchi Cave? So Lord Orochimaru’s corpse is in Ryuchi Cave too?”
The problem is…
Entering Ryuchi Cave isn’t that simple; the easiest way is for a Ryuchi Cave Sage to use reverse Summoning Technique to summon him in.
But no matter what Summoning Jutsu Yakushi Kabuto used before, he couldn’t summon with the snake sages in Ryuchi Cave.
“One more try… the last time…”
With this thought, Yakushi Kabuto used the Summoning Technique once more.
He had no hope left, but unexpectedly, a puff of white smoke flashed before him.
As Yakushi Kabuto’s eyes widened, after the white smoke dissipated.
The White Snake Sage’s figure appeared in front of him.
“You are Orochimaru’s disciple, right?”
……
……
PS: Seems I overestimated myself. Last night I really pulled an all-nighter trying to finish writing it, but only wrote over a thousand words before falling asleep_(_`」∠)_
