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Hokage Building, third-floor conference room.
Clan heads, who had received a series of urgent notifications late at night, were now arriving at the venue one after another.
As soon as they entered, they were immediately stunned by the scene before them, their expressions all solemn.
Less than ten minutes after the notice was issued, more than half of the Village's clan heads and renowned Jonin had already arrived at the venue. Everyone was still unclear about the situation, but those who might have guessed some of the inside story also looked grim, sitting silently in their places, quietly observing the hushed conversations of those around them.
The remaining individuals were either temporarily unreachable or were likely still on the front lines of the battlefield.
At the same time, with the war on the Land of Wind front having recently concluded, many Ninja had just returned from the front lines. Only the Hidden Cloud Village was still engaged in continuous warfare. Most people even believed that the protracted Second Shinobi World War was about to end, and their spirits had unconsciously relaxed. Now, with this sudden turn of events, everyone had a vague sense of foreboding.
As the conference room buzzed with low conversations, Hyuga Soumin, the current head of the Hyuga Clan, walked in through the main door with a solemn face.
Seeing him, many took the opportunity to greet him and subtly inquire about their small doubts.
However, Hyuga Soumin seemed to genuinely know something. Even when questioned by the clan heads of the friendliest Ninja clans, he remained silent, found his seat, and sat down quietly, his face as still as water.
He wasn't the only one; Uchiha Motoya, the clan head, and the clan heads of the Ino–Shika–Chō also entered with similar expressions, as if they had encountered some difficult matter.
Seeing their expressions, the clan heads of the various Ninja clans generally understood the situation. The noise in the conference room gradually subsided until no one spoke anymore.
Something serious had indeed happened.
Everyone was waiting for someone to come out and announce the outcome they had anticipated.
"Clang."
As expected.
When the door was pushed open, everyone saw the three members of the Hokage Advisor Group, who should have been behind the Third Hokage, enter first, one after another, all with grim, aged faces, as if they had encountered a difficult matter.
Among them, Mito Homura's face was the darkest, especially his eye circles, which were so dark they were almost purple.
Following behind them were the Konoha Three, the most renowned Ninja in the entire Village, and a group of less familiar young Ninja.
"Oh?"
However, among that group of young people, who should have been staunch supporters of the Hokage faction, Hyuga Soumin saw a somewhat familiar figure.
"Is that Sawara-kun?"
"Oh, Lord Soumin remembers him too?"
"Of course."
"Haha."
Uchiha Motoya, the clan head beside him, chuckled softly, a strange sense of triumph on his face.
Now, Sawara Kiri's deeds on the Land of Wind battlefield were gradually spreading throughout the Village. Even many ordinary civilians had learned that a very powerful young Ninja from Konoha had directly defeated the Hidden Sand Jinchuriki, who was considered the Village's ultimate weapon, in a head-on confrontation.
As a clan head of a major Ninja clan, Uchiha Motoya naturally knew more about such news.
For example, shortly after entering the battlefield, this kid had eliminated Rasa, the Sunagakure's rising star, 'Gold Dust,' and Monzaemon, the 'Marionettist';
For example, the Jinchuriki Sawara Kiri fought was Bunpuku, a perfect Jinchuriki, rare in the entire Ninja World, who had been in sync with Shukaku for decades.
Although Bunpuku had rarely fought in the war, they had witnessed the power a perfect Jinchuriki could unleash.
Of course, these were not the main points for him.
The most important thing was that this overpoweringly strong young man had a very good relationship with a child from his own clan. People often saw him and Megumi going to the small forest alone during lulls in the war, doing who knows what embarrassing things.
Now it was even better; Sawara Kiri seemed to have gotten together with Tsunade—he must have been noticed by the Hokage faction and was about to be taken as a disciple, right?
Hokage Faction → Sawara Kiri → Uchiha Clan!
Didn't that connect everything?
Ever since Uchiha Kagami died, Uchiha Motoya had been troubled for a long time about how to re-establish the connection. Now, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling completely refreshed as if he had drunk a large bowl of plum juice in the dead of winter.
What is important? This is important!
Megumi, you did well, Megumi!
If Sarutobi Hiruzen, that old geezer, died now, and Tsunade took over directly, that would be even better!
Wouldn't the good times arrive then?
Uchiha Motoya chuckled triumphantly in his heart, but only hinted at it, causing Hyuga Soumin beside him to look utterly bewildered.
Of course, laughing aloud in such a setting would definitely be inappropriate.
Uchiha Motoya thought for a moment, subtly composed himself, and tried to appear as solemn as possible.
After the meeting room had been quiet for a while, Mito Homura, as the host, finally looked up at the many Jonin and began the emergency meeting briefing.
He first briefly described Sarutobi Hiruzen's ambush on the battlefield, then spoke of the 'mutually destructive' process between him and the Third Raikage, finally arriving at the crucial issue:
"...After this fierce battle, the Third Hokage is feeling slightly unwell and will temporarily enter Konoha Hospital for long-term recuperation."
"Due to various reasons, and given that the war has not yet ended, after preliminary voting by the entire Hokage Advisor Group, it has been decided to order Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya to form the Substitute Hokage Council to oversee the duties of the current Hokage."
"Regarding this proposal, we will now solicit opinions from all Jonin within the Village and hold a Jonin Meeting vote."
Almost as soon as these words fell, the entire conference hall erupted in a wave of uproar. All those who were unaware collectively turned their gaze towards the few people on the stage.
What does 'Third Hokage feeling slightly unwell' mean?
Did he catch a cold after fighting the Third Raikage and returning to the Village?
Everyone here is a thousand-year-old fox; who doesn't know who?
You already said in the mission debriefing that the Third Raikage, that absurdly strong monster, even added the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki label to himself. After that battle, how could Sarutobi Hiruzen, that old geezer, be fine?
Everyone here is a Jonin of the Village, very experienced; it's not like they haven't seen Kumogakure's Lariat and Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Now, after this round, the Third Hokage is so injured he can't even show his face. So, if the current situation isn't a secret funeral, it's at least a severe injury that's left him half-dead—Sarutobi Hiruzen probably even had his butt hung on a tree.
However, the 'Substitute Hokage Council' they mentioned later did pique the interest of many present, as if they had discovered a new continent, their gazes fixed intently on the three individuals on the stage.
All the Jonin began to ponder how they and their respective clans should seize the greatest benefits in this surge of activity before the war ended.
At the same time, though not overtly obvious, many eyes gradually focused on the line of young Ninja who had followed closely behind the Konoha Three—especially that one young man who had recently risen to fame.
Sometime, a small label reading 'Deputy Commander of the Land of Lightning Front' had been placed on the table in front of Sawara Kiri.
Many detected a different meaning in this seemingly insignificant line of text.
However, when these high-ranking officials looked up and met Sawara Kiri's azure eyes, they received a gentle, polite smile as a greeting from the young man whose face still held a hint of childishness.
His sunny and gentle demeanor immediately marked him as a good child, warm-tempered, honest, and polite.
There might be an opportunity to connect with him later.
In contrast, the Konoha Three on the stage, despite having received a huge advancement, all wore grim faces, as if their teacher had died.
Konoha, a change is coming.
After the meeting ended, numerous Jonin gradually dispersed, many with complex expressions, seemingly lost in deep thought.
Among these crowds, the fastest to slip away were the members of the Anbu Guard who had just listened to the 'confrontation' between the Advisor Group and the Konoha Three in the small conference room.
Namikawa Daisuke, among them, was practically jogging at the very front.
My goodness, the scene of the higher-ups holding a private meeting was truly terrifying.
Leaving the Konoha Three aside for now.
Sawara Kiri, that seemingly timid young man, actually dared to grab the Hokage Advisor's collar and curse him out?
Almost the second he stepped out of the Hokage Building, Namikawa Daisuke decided in his heart—no matter who asked about today's events, he wouldn't utter a single word!
After the meeting.
The entire Konoha Village began to operate at its fastest speed, with all organizational relationships originally belonging to the Hokage being reallocated to the three members of the 'Substitute Hokage Council'.
Politics, economy, military.
The power to propose, supervise, and make final decisions on various matters, as well as the numerous individuals and forces dependent on these powers, also began a major reshuffle behind the scenes.
No organization can be completely changed by simply killing one or two people or changing one or two positions. As long as the goal is to build, not to destroy, then one must be patient and slowly resolve issues with those 'unclean' individuals within the rules.
If they want to thoroughly change Konoha, the Konoha Three still have a long way to go.
However, this had nothing to do with Sawara Kiri now.
Although he had now gained recognition within the scope of the entire Jonin Meeting, becoming a new generation star Ninja renowned throughout Konoha for independently defeating the Hidden Sand Jinchuriki.
However, all of this only proved his capabilities in warfare; it did not mean he was inherently entitled to wield power.
Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke had defeated Uchiha Madara, and even Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, when they were sixteen, saving a hundred thousand Ninja troops and becoming heroes who saved the entire Ninja World. People everywhere would ask them for autographs on the street, and even Uchiha Sasuke's crimes of attacking the Five Kage Summit, personally eliminating Shimura Danzo, and attacking the Fourth Raikage could be redeemed.
However, the Sixth Hokage still had to follow the seniority system, meaning Kakashi Hatake served as the Sixth Hokage for over a decade before they could take over.
Of course, part of this was due to Uzumaki Naruto and others' willingness, but it also involved the suppression and influence of entrenched forces.
Even after Naruto took office, Mito Homura and Utatane Koharu, the two Hokage Advisors, remained in their positions, serving until they were over ninety years old.
The various intricacies involved in this were unspeakable matters.
But that's just how it is.
If Sawara Kiri wanted to take over a complete and prosperous Konoha Village, and desired a stable and orderly environment, then he had to abide by certain conventional rules—not just him, but even Senju Hashirama, who was once invincible, had to.
Feigning compliance while secretly disobeying is not just a tactic of civil officials.
"You must be tired, Lady Tsunade."
Sawara Kiri thought about what was to come, sighing softly, "You must be busy until very late tonight, right?"
Just as he was feeling rather gleeful, a masked man in the crowd suddenly bumped into him with his head down.
When Sawara Kiri instinctively moved aside, he found a thin strip of paper tucked into his sleeve.
It seemed to be slightly damp.
He turned his head and glanced in the direction of the crowd.
The figure weaved through various alleys, quickly disappearing without a trace.
Those around him seemed to notice nothing, still walking leisurely forward, as if it were just a common little interlude on the road.
Sawara Kiri's gaze seemed to darken slightly.
After finding a secluded corner, he unfolded the paper and glanced at it, then his eyebrows subtly raised as if he had suddenly realized something.
The handwriting on the paper was clear.
"Return to the Village for debriefing in three days, abandoning all missions."
At the very end of the note, it was marked with clearly emphasized strokes:
"Final Deadline."
Under the shadows of the dimly lit street, Sawara Kiri's azure eyes held a profound gaze.
Looking at the rather conceited and overconfident tone on it, and the underlying implications, his lips seemed to twitch inadvertently, revealing a rather sighing smile.
"Really."
"I almost forgot about these pests."
Now that he thought about it, it seemed it was time for him to clean up his background a bit.
Sawara Kiri thought, turning silently.
In the alleyway, in a blind spot no one noticed, his figure vanished soundlessly.
The next moment.
Several figures dressed in dark Anbu uniforms suddenly swept across the rooftops.
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter