"Hokage-sama, are you really not going to step in and restrain those strange rumors circulating throughout the village? Although the Police Force has been cracking down on 'rumors' recently, it seems that when it comes to rumors concerning you, the Police Force shinobi don't appear to care."
"Maybe… maybe it's because, in the eyes of that group, the rumors about you spreading among the villagers might actually be close to the truth."
"So, the Police Force that upholds Absolute Justice has not suppressed the rumors concerning you, Hokage-sama."
One of the few Anbu still utterly loyal to Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke up to remind and advise him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "Some of those conspiracy theories have already been deeply engraved in many people's hearts... Even if I personally come forward to stop the spread of such rumors, I fear it would be to no avail."
"They might refrain from discussing it openly, or from whispering it in private, but they will still think it in their hearts—and I have no way to suppress what they think."
"But..."
After hesitating for a moment, the Anbu finally spoke again to remind him. "These words spreading around have already caused quite a harmful influence. Some people in the village now believe that you, Hokage-sama, are no longer suitable to serve as Konoha's Hokage."
"There are even opinions among the civilians—that the Third has already sat in the Hokage's seat for so many years. Logically speaking, after the Fourth's fall, it should have been the Fifth's turn to ascend. Why must the Third continue to rule over Konoha? When will the Fifth Hokage finally be chosen?"
Taking a deep breath, the Anbu dared to continue, "Hokage-sama, if things go on like this... it's possible that some people in the village might really attempt to initiate an election for the Fifth Hokage."
The words "some people" clearly carried an implied meaning.
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent for a long while, then shook his head and said hoarsely, "The position of Fifth Hokage is not so easily taken. Within the Police Force, there is not a single person suitable."
He added, "Even Keizumi is not suited to serve as Hokage—let alone anyone else."
But at that moment—
Another Anbu knocked on the door and entered, reporting to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Hokage-sama, Tsunade-sama has had her disciple Shizune release a piece of news throughout the village. In less than two hours, the message has already spread across nearly half of Konoha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen could hear the complexity and shock in that Anbu's tone.
That made an ominous feeling rise within him.
"Tsunade..." Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, "Wasn't she supposed to be establishing some new medical division? What kind of news did she release?"
The Anbu said in a complicated tone, "Tsunade-sama's disciple said—Tsunade-sama has decided to inherit the Fourth Hokage's will and wishes to become the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure. She even said she intends to sweep away everything of the old Konohagakure and build a new Konohagakure."
[Crack—]
Faintly, the Anbu ninja heard something being crushed.
He could feel that, in that fleeting instant, Lord Hokage's emotions had fluctuated violently.
"Tsunade... wants to become the Fifth? And she's even openly announced this news to the entire Konoha... That really does fit her style—carefree, unrestrained, and indifferent to rules."
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly drew in a deep breath.
If this had been in the past, Hiruzen would have actually felt quite gratified if Tsunade had taken the initiative to succeed him. He would even have been very willing to cultivate Tsunade into Konoha's Fifth Hokage.
After all, the village ultimately needed a young person to take charge, and his own age was, after all, getting on.
The problem was... that was the Tsunade of the past. The Tsunade of now was no longer someone he could trust.
Because Tsunade now stood firmly on the side of Absolute Justice!
If she became the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, how would that be any different from Uchiha Keizumi becoming the Fifth Hokage?
She was simply that kind of disciple who turned her back on her own sensei!
"...Have many people in the village already heard the news Tsunade released?" Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his brow and asked.
"Yes," the Anbu ninja nodded. "At least all the shinobi clans in the village know about it, and the vast majority of Konoha shinobi have also heard. Probably only the ordinary civilians aren't very aware yet."
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a powerful sense of urgency.
The immense pressure made it hard for him to breathe.
...
Somewhere in Konoha.
"Tsunade-sama openly declared that she wants to inherit the Fourth's will," Yamanaka Inoichi said slowly. "She didn't mention the Third at all, which means that in her eyes, the Third no longer counts as Hokage in the strict sense."
Nara Shikaku interjected, "Strictly speaking, Tsunade-sama is aiming directly at the Third Hokage this time. She must have already spoken with Keizumi. She's planning to dedicate herself to Justice in this way."
Akimichi Chōza sighed. "That's practically forcing the Third Hokage to step down! Tsunade-sama is being way too straightforward and rough about it."
Nara Shikaku's lips curved slightly. "Maybe it's precisely that straightforward and rough approach that will catch Lord Hokage off guard. Didn't Keizumi also make the Hokage retreat step by step in this same way?"
"Sometimes, there's no need for elaborate schemes."
...
"Hah… I didn't expect his movements to be this fast, and he actually managed to persuade Tsunade."
Mitokado Homura was also closely monitoring the trends of public opinion within the village.
Uchiha Keizumi's ability to take action was beyond his imagination.
It was as though the other party needed neither deep deliberation nor the drafting of a detailed plan. He simply went straight to persuade Tsunade to run for the position of Konohagakure's next Hokage.
One had to know—
At present, Hiruzen was still in the Hokage's seat and had yet to show any intention of stepping down.
In this way, such an action was no different from an act of coup d'état!
This…
It made the Uchiha clan's former radical faction seem like a bunch of clowns. After all, they had devised numerous plans to overthrow Konoha's upper echelon, and had even been prepared to put them into action.
Yet those radicals of the Uchiha clan had accomplished nothing in their coup attempts, and were eventually wiped out entirely by Uchiha Keizumi.
And when Uchiha Keizumi attempted to overthrow the Hokage—
He did not even need a plan, and had already forced Hiruzen into a passive position.
Perhaps simplicity and directness were, in fact, the most unanswerable of open conspiracies.
"Maybe… they really can succeed." Mitokado Homura's tone was rather low. He let out a light sigh and murmured, "After all, the current Hiruzen has already lost many people's support. Even the members of the Sarutobi clan have lost their loyalty and respect toward him."
"In such circumstances… if Tsunade were to become the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, the members of the Sarutobi clan might very well turn their backs on Hiruzen and instead support Tsunade in becoming the Fifth."
"Of course, that's assuming they don't know how close Tsunade is to Keizumi, and that Tsunade's desire to become Konoha's Fifth Hokage is, in fact, something orchestrated behind the scenes by Keizumi…"
Mitokado Homura could already see that Sarutobi Hiruzen's position as Hokage was teetering on the brink, on the verge of collapse.
To remain firmly seated in that position, what one needed most were the village's affection, loyalty, respect, and recognition.
All of these, Hiruzen had once possessed in abundance—indeed, one could say that his glory had been at its zenith, unmatched by anyone.
But now…
Hiruzen had already lost most of the villagers' affection, as occasional conspiracy theories about him spread within the village. These rumors had turned him, in the eyes of many, into the sort of scheming political operator no one liked.
There were few in the village who would favor such a man.
This, in turn, had indirectly caused Hiruzen to lose most of the people's respect and recognition.
As for loyalty…
Since Hiruzen had failed to protect the members of his Sarutobi clan and those several ANBU shinobi—
He had already lost that loyalty!
Now Mitokado Homura realized he, too, was facing a decision: if Tsunade wished to become the Fifth Hokage—if she intended to drive Hiruzen from office—then as one of Konoha's senior advisors, his own stance was certainly something Tsunade would try to win over or at least inquire about.
And once Tsunade came to his door, she would likely force him to make a choice—to decide which side he would stand on.
Or perhaps, before Tsunade arrived, it would be Hiruzen who came first.
"What a headache…"
Mitokado Homura found that he simply could not maintain a neutral position.
Just then, a young member of the Mitokado clan came running in haste, reporting urgently, "Homura-sama! T–Tsunade-sama has arrived! Moreover, Tsunade-sama specifically named you—she wants to see you personally!"
Mitokado Homura: "…"
His own crow's mouth really was accurate.
It seemed Tsunade had indeed come first.