At this moment, Hiruzen looked at the two old friends sitting across from him.
Danzo was not present.
The only people Hiruzen had called over were Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
"Go ahead. Tell me what you think."
Hiruzen spoke first.
Koharu remained silent for a moment. Her eyes, which were usually narrowed, slowly opened a little wider.
"Hiruzen, have you really made up your mind?"
Hiruzen looked at her.
"You've already heard about what happened in the Land of Demons."
He paused briefly.
"Sealing Moryo, bringing the Land of Demons closer to Konoha, and demonstrating such strength. Every single thing Kiyohara has done has exceeded my expectations."
Homura nodded.
"That's true. That child... no, Kiyohara, already possesses the strength of a Kage."
"Not just strength."
Hiruzen shook his head.
"Have you noticed the way he handles problems?"
"After sealing Moryo, he didn't rush back to claim credit. Instead, he first negotiated an alliance with the Daimyo of the Land of Swamps, brought the Priestess back to Konoha, and even convinced those guards to follow him willingly."
"What he considers are the consequences that come afterward. He thinks about long-term benefits."
"Many Jonin aren't capable of doing that."
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe.
To be honest, Konoha's training in that regard was rather weak.
The village taught people how to become useful tools far more often than it taught them how to lead and influence others.
That was why becoming a Jonin required more than just strength and mastery of two chakra nature transformations.
There was another standard.
The ability to command and lead a team.
"Hiruzen, are you saying Kiyohara possesses the mindset of a Hokage?"
Hiruzen nodded.
Recently, he had heard about Uchiha Itachi from Uchiha Shisui.
Apparently, despite his young age, that child already knew how to look at problems from the perspective of the village as a whole.
That made Hiruzen feel greatly encouraged.
Perhaps the Uchiha Clan was beginning to change as well.
"The Uchiha..."
Homura pushed up his glasses.
"Tobirama-sensei once said that the Uchiha were born with a curse of darkness, yet Kagami was an exception. Shisui is an exception. Kiyohara is also an exception."
"If we refuse to accept even the exceptions, then the rift between the Uchiha and Konoha will never truly heal."
Koharu looked at him.
"So you're supporting Kiyohara?"
Homura nodded.
The main reason was simple.
Kiyohara's strength was beyond question.
Furthermore, the gatherings held by the Uchiha Clan were hardly a secret in the eyes of Konoha's leadership.
Kiyohara had never joined the hardline faction.
Uchiha Setsuna had approached him before, yet even he had failed to pull Kiyohara into his camp.
Because of that, Homura believed there was no harm in giving Kiyohara a chance.
"Minato is also an excellent choice."
Koharu spoke calmly.
"He has outstanding military achievements, enjoys tremendous popularity, and serves as a representative of civilian-born shinobi. If he becomes Hokage, many of those civilian shinobi will be delighted."
"He's also older than Kiyohara, more experienced, and more mature."
After hearing her words, Hiruzen did not answer immediately.
Throughout all their discussions, the three of them had constantly gone back and forth between Kiyohara and Minato.
As for Orochimaru, none of them even bothered bringing him up.
After all, Orochimaru had long since openly aligned himself with Danzo.
If Orochimaru became Hokage, it would not be much different from Danzo becoming Hokage himself.
A researcher like Orochimaru had little interest in political struggles.
Danzo, however, would certainly take advantage of the situation.
"Let me think."
Hiruzen fell into contemplation.
If Minato became Hokage, Konoha would experience a smooth transition.
Civilian shinobi would receive more opportunities.
The village would remain stable and free of major disturbances.
However, the rift between the Uchiha Clan and the village would still remain.
They would continue feeling excluded.
They would continue accumulating dissatisfaction in the shadows.
And one day, they might truly attempt a coup.
If that happened, the village would suffer enormous losses regardless of the outcome.
The only way to avoid that would be for the Uchiha Clan to produce an insider who could secretly cooperate with Konoha and help restrain the clan from within.
Unfortunately, in Hiruzen's eyes, such a thing was almost impossible.
What kind of Uchiha would side against his own clan?
The truth was that the Uchiha, for all their stubbornness and obsession, were more deserving of the title "Clan of Love" than any other shinobi family.
It was simply that their love was too intense.
Once it lost control, it could easily transform into hatred and drag them into darkness.
Because of that, the Uchiha Clan was actually more united than many other clans.
Although Kiyohara had become a bridge connecting the Uchiha and Konoha, he was ultimately not a clan-born Uchiha.
His level of acceptance within the clan was still somewhat limited.
"The historical issues do need to be resolved."
Homura said.
The Uchiha Clan had been one of the greatest founding clans of Konoha.
And because of the distinctive nature of the Sharingan, they could never simply dissolve their clan and merge into the village the way the Senju had.
"Let's go with Kiyohara."
Hiruzen finally made his decision.
"Then I'll support your choice."
Homura nodded as well.
In his view, it made little difference whether Minato or Kiyohara became Hokage.
As long as advisors like them remained in place to balance the Hokage's authority, the Hokage would never be able to govern entirely according to personal preference.
"I agree too."
After a moment of hesitation, Koharu gave her approval.
"Then it's settled."
Hiruzen nodded.
At the same time, he prepared to dispatch ANBU operatives to notify all the Jonin that a meeting would be held at the Hokage Tower the following day.
The next day.
The Hokage Tower.
The conference room was already packed with people.
Nara Shikaku leaned back in his chair.
Akimichi Choza sat beside him, his enormous frame practically overflowing from the seat.
Scratching his head, he leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Shikaku, who do you think it'll be?"
Shikaku lowered his voice as well.
"It's probably already been decided behind closed doors."
Choza blinked in surprise.
"If it's already decided, then why hold a meeting?"
"Just going through the motions."
Shikaku shook his head.
"The fact that the higher-ups have struggled over the decision for this long already proves that all of the candidates are exceptional."
Yamanaka Inoichi, who sat on Choza's other side, leaned over after hearing that.
"Then who do you think it'll be?"
Shikaku remained silent for a few seconds.
"Probably Minato."
He paused before adding,
"He has deeper qualifications, better popularity, and..."
He left the sentence unfinished.
But both Choza and Inoichi understood.
Minato was the representative of civilian-born shinobi.
Allowing a shinobi without a clan background to become Hokage would be an enormous source of inspiration for all those who lacked powerful family connections.
That would be beneficial to Konoha's overall stability.
At that moment, a rough female voice came from nearby.
"I think it'll be Minato too."
The three men turned their heads simultaneously.
Inuzuka Tsume was sitting not far away with her arms folded across her chest.
"My ears are sharp enough to hear your little whispers."
She grinned, revealing two sharp canine teeth.
"But I agree. That kid Minato really does have incredible popularity."
Choza nodded and scratched his head again.
"But Kiyohara is pretty amazing too. His achievements are dazzling, and he even sealed Moryo..."
"That's different."
Shikaku shook his head.
"Military achievements are only one factor. What the Hokage needs most is balance."
While they were discussing the matter, Kiyohara finally arrived.
"There are even more people here than last time."
Tsunade looked at the sea of Jonin filling the room.
"That's true."
Kiyohara nodded.
Many shinobi had returned to the village after leaving the battlefield, so the number of attendees had naturally increased.
The moment Kiyohara entered, countless eyes turned toward him.
Hyuga Hiashi was the first to approach and greet him.
"Kiyohara."
"Lord Hiashi."
Kiyohara looked at him.
"I'm very optimistic about your chances this time."
A smile appeared on Hiashi's usually stern face as he patted Kiyohara on the shoulder.
After seeing Kiyohara arrive, Uchiha Fugaku also brought several clan members over.
"So today's the day a Hokage will finally be chosen."
Uchiha Shisui said.
He had grown noticeably taller compared to before and already looked like a young teenager.
"I hope you'll become the first Hokage from the Uchiha Clan."
Uchiha Tekka said.
After years of hard work and experience, Tekka had successfully become a Jonin as well.
"Thank you for the good wishes."
Kiyohara continued greeting the people who came over to speak with him.
Elsewhere in the room, many of those who supported Kiyohara also began gathering around him.
After all, among the three Hokage candidates, the situation was essentially a three-way division.
Each candidate had attracted a group of supporters who believed in them.
Before long, the doors of the conference room were pushed open once again.
Sarutobi Hiruzen walked inside.
Behind him followed Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and several officials from the Land of Fire dressed in formal government robes.
...
Everyone's eyes were focused on them.
Hiruzen walked to the seat at the head of the conference table, but he did not sit down immediately.
Instead, he remained standing there, his gaze slowly sweeping across every person present.
The conference room instantly fell silent.
"Today, we will choose the Fourth Hokage."
The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere inside the room immediately became tense.
Hiruzen's eyes lingered for a moment on Minato, Kiyohara, and Orochimaru before he slightly turned his head toward Homura.
Understanding the signal, Homura stepped forward.
"Now then, each Hokage candidate will deliver their campaign speech in order."
His eyes settled on Minato.
"Minato, you'll go first."
Minato stood up.
He walked to the front of the conference room before turning to face everyone.
"Good morning, everyone."
His voice was gentle, yet every person in the room heard it clearly.
"It is an honor for me to be standing here today."
He paused, his expression becoming even more sincere.
"Ever since I was a child, I have had one dream."
"To become Hokage and protect Konoha."
"Over these years, I have devoted myself to that dream. On the battlefield, I gave everything I had to protect every single one of my comrades. During times of peace, I never allowed myself to relax, always preparing myself to give everything for the sake of the village."
His gaze swept across the crowd until it landed on Rin and Kakashi.
The smile on his face grew even warmer.
"I have been fortunate enough to meet wonderful students and wonderful friends. They taught me that the Hokage is never the responsibility of one person alone."
"It is the trust placed in someone by countless others."
"If I am chosen as Hokage, I will continue protecting that trust."
"I will make sure every child in Konoha has the opportunity to grow up in peace."
He bowed slightly.
"I look forward to working with all of you."
As soon as he finished speaking, enthusiastic applause erupted throughout the conference room.
The applause carried genuine approval.
It carried heartfelt admiration.
Choza clapped vigorously, his round face beaming with a broad smile.
Inoichi nodded in approval, his eyes filled with appreciation.
Tsume folded her arms with a faint smile and nodded lightly.
Kiyohara watched Minato.
He quickly realized that Minato truly had a great many supporters.
Although his speech itself was fairly ordinary, his image as a handsome, warmhearted man naturally gave people a feeling of sincerity and kindness that was easy to believe in.
As the applause gradually subsided, Homura spoke once more.
"The second candidate, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru slowly rose to his feet.
Today he was wearing his familiar green flak jacket, with a thick purple rope tied around his waist.
His pale face showed no emotion whatsoever.
He walked to the front of the room, his golden vertical pupils sweeping across everyone present.
"My friends..."
He paused.
"Have any of you ever considered something?"
The corners of his lips slowly curled upward.
"Birth, aging, illness, and death."
"That is the destiny of ordinary mortals."
The moment those words were spoken, murmurs immediately spread throughout the room.
Orochimaru ignored the whispers and calmly continued.
"From the moment we are born, we begin walking toward death."
"It does not matter how powerful you are."
"It does not matter how intelligent you are."
"It does not matter how wealthy you are."
"No one can escape that ending."
"The First Hokage died."
"The Second Hokage died."
"The Third Hokage will one day die as well."
His eyes rested briefly on Hiruzen before shifting away again.
"This is the destiny of every shinobi."
"But..."
"What if I told you that I could break that destiny?"
Orochimaru slowly spread his arms.
His green flak jacket swayed slightly with the movement.
A nearly fanatical expression appeared on his face.
"I have already surpassed the limits of ordinary humans."
"I have discovered the path to eternal life!"
"So long as you support my election as Hokage..."
"I will generously share this method with everyone."
"I will allow every single person who supports me to fulfill the dream of immortality!"
The entire conference room exploded into chaos.
The discussions became even louder than before.
In everyone's opinion, this election was supposed to be about explaining one's Will of Fire or describing what one intended to accomplish for the village after becoming Hokage.
Yet here Orochimaru was...
Talking about immortality.
"Immortality?"
"What is he talking about?"
"Has Orochimaru gone insane?"
Jiraiya sat among the crowd with his eyes opened wide.
He stared at Orochimaru as though he were looking at an absolute stranger.
"This guy..."
he muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.
"What the hell is he talking about? Immortality? Has he lost his mind?"
Jiraiya knew that Orochimaru had spent years conducting all sorts of research.
But he had never imagined things had reached this point.
Immortality?
Was that really a field human beings were meant to touch?
Tsunade frowned as well.
She could already feel that Orochimaru had strayed onto the wrong path.
Sitting quietly in a corner, Danzo's perpetually gloomy expression darkened even further.
This fool...
Had he actually revealed all of this in public?
Had he gone completely mad?
This was the sort of thing that should only ever be discussed behind closed doors.
How could he possibly bring it onto the stage in front of everyone?
Even so...
Danzo had to admit that the "method of immortality" Orochimaru spoke of genuinely interested him.
It simply was not the right time.
Hiruzen's brows knitted tightly together.
"That's enough."
His voice interrupted Orochimaru.
Orochimaru stopped speaking and turned toward him.
Hiruzen looked directly into his eyes before speaking slowly.
"Orochimaru."
"You may step down now."
"...Yes, Sensei."
After hearing Hiruzen's words, along with the increasingly heated discussions all around him, Orochimaru's expression gradually darkened.
A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Even if he became Hokage of this village...
It would still remain a stagnant pool of water.
These people simply could not understand the greatness of his ambitions.
Immortality?
To them, it was nothing more than the ramblings of a madman.
But Orochimaru knew the truth.
It was real.
He had sacrificed so much.
He had devoted so many years of research.
Only then had he barely managed to touch the edge of that door.
The Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique.
That was the greatest achievement of his research so far.
He could already make the wind turn a windmill.
But these people...
They did not even know what a windmill was.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly.
It was a smile filled with ridicule.
Gradually, the discussions inside the conference room died down.
However, Orochimaru's speech had still delivered a considerable shock to everyone's understanding of the world.
Kurenai, who had already become a Jonin, was also seated among the audience.
She had no interest whatsoever in what Orochimaru had been saying.
Her attention remained fixed entirely on Kiyohara.
She quietly waited for his turn.
Very soon, Homura cleared his throat.
"The third candidate..."
"Kiyohara."
Kiyohara rose from his seat.
Step by step, he walked to the front of the conference room.
"My friends."
"It is an honor to stand before all of you."
"Over these years, I have continued training."
"I have continued fighting."
"And I have continued doing everything I could to protect the people around me."
"Everyone has seen what happened on the battlefield."
"I have contributed to Konoha."
"I have shed blood for Konoha."
"If I become Hokage..."
"I will reform our economy."
"I will ensure Konoha is no longer dependent solely on mission commissions."
"Tourism."
"Trade."
"Technology."
"So long as something can make this village prosper, I will pursue it."
"I will ensure that those who sacrificed their lives receive the respect they deserve."
"I will ensure that those who are still alive no longer have to worry about making a living."
"And I will ensure that every child can grow up in peace."
Compared to the others, Kiyohara's speech was far more practical.
Instead of relying on ideals, he began painting a vision of economic prosperity for the assembled shinobi.
The strongest shinobi might not lack money.
But the overwhelming majority of Konoha's shinobi were Genin.
They were ordinary people at the very bottom.
Even Kido, a financial manager from Root mentioned years later in Sakura Hiden, had recalled just how outrageously expensive Konoha's medical treatment had been.
His father had been unable to afford those medical expenses.
As a result, he had no choice but to continue accepting dangerous missions despite being ill.
He had even stopped taking his medicine altogether just to save enough money for Kido to attend the Shinobi Academy.
The reason was simple.
Konoha's existing system of wealth distribution was fundamentally unreasonable.
Take medical expenses, for example.
To a considerable extent, pricing remained under the influence of the Nara and Akimichi Clans.
Shikaku frowned slightly.
He found himself genuinely curious about how Kiyohara intended to carry out economic reform.
Among shinobi...
This was something completely unprecedented.
Nearby, Rin clasped her hands together against her chest while sitting beside Kurenai.
'Kiyohara-kun...'
'He's incredible.'
That thought quietly passed through Rin's mind.
Standing at the front of the room, Minato also applauded Kiyohara's speech.
After the applause died down, Kiyohara returned to his seat.
Hiruzen slowly stood.
"You have all heard the speeches delivered by the three candidates."
His gaze swept across everyone present.
"Now, I ask everyone to wait for a moment."
He led Koharu, Homura, and several officials from the Land of Fire into a room behind the conference hall.
The door closed behind them.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Then discussions immediately broke out once again.
"Who do you think it'll be?"
"Hard to say..."
"Minato is excellent."
"Kiyohara is excellent too..."
"But what exactly was Orochimaru talking about?"
"Who knows?"
Choza leaned toward Shikaku once again.
"Shikaku, what do you think?"
Shikaku simply shook his head.
"Let's wait."
His eyes remained fixed on the tightly shut door.
"The result will be announced soon enough."
Time passed one second after another.
The conversations throughout the conference room gradually quieted.
Everyone waited.
Finally...
The door opened.
Hiruzen walked back into the room.
Behind him followed Koharu, Homura, and the officials from the Land of Fire.
His expression remained completely unreadable.
Slowly, his gaze swept across every person in attendance.
Then he spoke.
"After careful deliberation..."
"The Fourth Hokage..."
"...will be Kiyohara."
Hiruzen calmly announced the result that had already been decided beforehand.
The moment his words fell, congratulations immediately echoed from every direction.
Fugaku stood up and slowly began applauding.
The first Hokage from the Uchiha.
He had personally witnessed history being made.
In the corner of the room, Danzo's face instantly turned ashen.
No wonder Konoha's leadership had excluded him from every important discussion over the past several days.
They had never intended to choose Orochimaru at all.
Kiyohara accepted the congratulations pouring in from every direction.
"Congratulations, Kiyohara-kun!"
"Congratulations, Lord Kiyohara!"
"Lord Fourth!"
Voices filled with every imaginable emotion surged toward him from all sides.
Kiyohara nodded politely, responding to each greeting one by one.
Even he had not expected to truly become Hokage.
It could only be said that his achievements had been so dazzling that they had completely overshadowed even Minato.
Kiyohara guessed there was another reason as well.
He had chosen the right side early enough.
As Tsunade's disciple, he had been firmly tied to the Hokage's faction from the very beginning.
At that moment, a single thought flashed through his mind.
'The History of Warring States Seals.'
Now he finally had a legitimate reason to obtain it.
As the Hokage, no one would stop him from examining Konoha's entire archive of fuinjutsu techniques.
(End of Chapter)