Uchiha Ran's vast chakra swept across the entire venue like a storm, forcing everyone present to gasp in shock. With Homura Mitokado escorted away, the question of legitimacy was settled once and for all—no one could challenge the Uchiha on that front anymore.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened.
"Since that's the case," he said coldly, "please continue your speech, Hokage candidate."
He stared straight at Uchiha Ran.
This brat was absurdly young—what kind of talent could he possibly have for public speaking? Jiraiya's speech, on the other hand, had been revised and polished all night. How could an amateur compare?
I'll just watch you embarrass yourself.
Hiruzen stood there, a heavy pressure radiating from him, making nearby villagers instinctively distance themselves.
In contrast, Hiashi Hyūga and Nara Shikaku looked energized, their eyes fixed on the figure standing on the platform, anticipation rising in their hearts.
Hearing Hiruzen's words, Uchiha Ran raised an eyebrow. He immediately withdrew his chakra and stepped forward, bringing his mouth close to the microphone.
Jiraiya stood with his arms crossed, watching calmly. A small white snake slowly poked its head out from his sleeve, flicking its tongue as it examined Uchiha Ran with curious vertical pupils.
On a nearby rooftop, Tsunade held a flask of sake, looking down with an amused smile. What she didn't notice was a faint green soul standing behind her with arms crossed, also watching the young man below with quiet expectation for the next generation.
"First," Uchiha Ran said calmly, "I didn't prepare anything for this speech—no script, no draft. Because I think that kind of thing is just too fake."
The moment the words fell, it was like a thunderclap.
The villagers were instantly intrigued. In the past, Hokage speeches were solemn affairs, rehearsed again and again to avoid even the slightest mistake. Yet Ran had chosen the complete opposite approach, making everyone eager to hear what would come next.
Jiraiya nodded appreciatively. "He's got guts. Better than me."
Orochimaru's voice echoed in his mind. "Heh, idiot. What he's really saying is that your earlier speech was nothing but empty, prewritten nonsense."
"I think what he said is fine," Jiraiya replied innocently. "Wasn't my speech like that too?"
Orochimaru opened his mouth, then closed it again, deciding it wasn't worth explaining anything to someone this simple-minded.
"If I become Hokage," Uchiha Ran continued, his voice steady, "then from this day forward, Konoha will stand supreme in the entire ninja world."
He raised his left hand, extending a single finger.
"Any ninja village, bandit group, or rogue shinobi who dares to harm even one person of Konoha—"
"—will be suppressed and eliminated immediately. The village will seek justice for you."
The venue erupted in shock.
The villagers stared at him in disbelief. This Hokage candidate was completely different from every Hokage before him. Just this first promise alone made him far more hardline than Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiashi Hyūga clenched his fists, his gaze unwavering. If things had been like this back then… would Hyūga Hizashi really have had to die?
Hiruzen let out a cold laugh. "Easy words. Hard deeds. Anyone can talk."
His remark resonated with many. Suspicious gazes turned toward Uchiha Ran.
Ran didn't rush.
"Second," he said evenly, "after I, Uchiha Ran, become Hokage, there will be no more ceding land, no war indemnities, and no tributes paid to other nations."
He raised a second finger.
As soon as he said this, many ninja clans nodded instinctively.
Over the years, under the banner of maintaining peace, Hiruzen Sarutobi had frequently "sent goodwill" to other villages. But where did that goodwill come from? Wasn't it all squeezed out of Konoha's own clans and people?
The civilians felt it less, since taxes were already unavoidable—but the clans felt every bit of it.
Hiruzen's expression turned ugly. What was Ran implying? Was he openly criticizing his policies? He had always acted for the greater good.
And it was just money—how could that compare to peace?
Besides, the Sarutobi clan had paid their share too. Why make such a fuss?
If Ran could hear his thoughts, he would probably laugh out loud.
How did the Sarutobi clan "pay"? Either through tax exemptions, special privileges, or by absorbing manpower into the Sarutobi faction under the excuse of military service. On the surface it was "sacrifice," but in truth it was quietly accumulating power. Other clans would love to "pay" like that.
"I support him!"
"So do I!"
"I've had enough of paying no matter whether we win or lose!"
"Damn it! We win wars and still have to pay compensation—do they think we're weak?"
The crowd's emotions surged.
Uchiha Ran watched calmly, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. Everything was proceeding exactly as planned. With Hiruzen Sarutobi as a living example, almost anyone would seem better by comparison.
Hiruzen's face grew increasingly grim. He scanned the surrounding ninja, suspicion rising—had Uchiha Ran planted people in advance?
Objectively speaking, this issue wasn't even that huge. Why was it igniting such fury among so many clans?
The reason was simple.
Konoha had been formed by the union of numerous ninja clans during the Warring States era. They joined partly for protection, partly for profit.
Senju Hashirama had possessed power strong enough to suppress an entire age. Under him, safety was guaranteed.
There were also tangible benefits: reputation, resources, fertile land, minerals, medicinal herbs, and food supplies. Just being part of the strongest village was a source of pride.
And in war, Konoha almost always won.
Since ancient times, victory meant spoils. Shouldn't indemnities flow to the victor, to the village, to everyone?
The village needed to develop. People wanted better lives—not to win wars only to dig into their own pockets to appease defeated enemies.
Wasn't that like throwing meat buns to a dog and never seeing them again?
Don't look at how Sunagakure called Hiruzen the "Hero of the Ninja World," or how Kumogakure spoke of him with surface-level respect.
In truth, they all saw him as a pushover.
Win or lose, he paid them anyway.
Such a bizarre Hokage—they had never seen anything like it.
And the worst part?
Hiruzen wasn't ashamed. He was proud, constantly telling everyone that it was thanks to his wisdom and magnanimity that Konoha's people could live in peace.