Konoha: Offer your heart to the Hokage!

Danzo needed Hiruzen to stand in the light and take the blame and attacks for him.

He could accept Hiruzen serving as Hokage for ten years first, after all, they had a good relationship.

Of course, ten years later, he will be the Hokage.

If Hiruzen refuses to relinquish power voluntarily...

A dark light flickered in Danzo's eyes as he began to imagine himself sitting in the Hokage's seat.

……

A week later.

The plaza in front of the Shadow Spirit Hall was packed with people.

The core area of ​​the plaza had only a few hundred seats reserved, all of which were for Jonin with voting rights, representatives of ninja clans, village representatives, and public officials from various departments of Konoha.

The area outside was crowded with ordinary villagers who had heard the news and were watching. Everyone looked up and waited quietly for the results of this historic vote.

He looked down at the crowd below, lamenting the devastating damage the First Shinobi World War had inflicted on Konoha.

Three years ago, the number of Jonin from Konoha attending the battlefield meeting easily exceeded one hundred, but today, even including other minor figures with voting rights, they can't even gather one hundred people.

In the past, the Hokage election was always held at the Hokage Building.

However, after the completion and opening of the Hall of Shadows, its recognition far surpassed that of the Hokage Building because of its special significance in the hearts of the people of Konoha, which is unique to the succession of the Kage position. From this generation onwards, all future Hokage will be chosen here, witnessed by the previous Hokage.

From then on, the Hokage Building was used solely as a government office space.

On the high platform, Mito Uzumaki, dressed in a swirling kimono, stood beside two Hokage candidates, Hiruzen and Senju. When the time came, her voice echoed throughout the entire arena.

"The Hokage trust vote shall now begin."

The words fell.

An ANBU Chunin carried a transparent ballot box, which had been sealed with a jutsu, onto the platform. Even the Byakugan could not penetrate the seal to see the words on the ballot.

Two members of the Dark Guard each carried a wooden plank and placed it behind Shinji and Hiruzen.

Another team of secret agents simultaneously entered the core area and distributed special slips of paper to each person eligible to vote.

The Naruto trust vote is conducted anonymously.

The slips of paper don't have unique numbers; voters simply write down their preferred Hokage candidate and drop the slip into the transparent ballot box. Mito then counts the votes publicly, ensuring a fair, just, and transparent process—an ancient and traditional method.

Aside from the Jonin, those who voted were all prominent figures, members of the decision-making body.

But this is, after all, the ninja world...

If, after taking office, the Hokage were to specifically assign opponents to dangerous missions, even if they died, there would be no recourse. Hashirama Senju was a ninja who was rough around the edges but meticulous in his calculations; he considered this when establishing the rules for succession.

Anonymity allows for a better reflection of everyone's true thoughts.

Mito was closest to the ballot box, so she was the first to write her name on a slip of paper and put it in the ballot box.

Next, the Jonin present put their notes into the box one by one and then left.

Shen'er's gaze remained calm as he watched the Jonin pass by one by one.

About ten minutes later.

The ballot box was stuffed full of slips of paper.

Mito Uzumaki and Jin exchanged a glance, nodded, and stood up. Her calm voice carried a convincing authority:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I will now announce the votes in the vote of confidence!"

"We will witness the birth of the Third Hokage under the watchful gaze of the spirits of the previous Hokage!"

The plaza in front of the palace, where tens of thousands of people had gathered, fell eerily quiet.

All eyes were fixed on the note in Mito's hand, and everyone held their breath.

“Vote 1 times at Zen Temple.”

“Vote 2 times at Zen Temple.”

"Vote 19: Hiruzen Sarutobi".

"..."

Mito Uzumaki unfolded the folded slips of paper one by one from the box, her calm voice, amplified by chakra, spreading throughout the entire plaza. Two ANBU members beside her were recording the votes of confidence received by the two candidates.

Each time the name of the corresponding candidate is called out, a deep mark is left on the wooden plank by the kunai. In the silent plaza in front of the palace, the soft sound of the kunai cutting through the plank is particularly clear.

Work should be documented.

Perhaps many years later, this scoreboard, covered in marks and belonging to Shinji, will be included in the Ninja Academy's teaching materials or displayed in the Shadow Hall, becoming a piece of historical evidence.

The wooden planks of the doorway were covered with scratches, while the wooden planks of the doorway only had one scratch.

Shen Er narrowed his eyes slightly, keenly noticing Shimura Danzo's expressionless face in the corner of the voting area.

There was no anger or frustration, no somber expression. It was as if she had accepted the outcome so easily.

It might work for someone else, but for Danzo... is that right? It's clearly not right.

This served as a wake-up call for him.

“Vote 99 times at Zen Temple.”

Mito Uzumaki paused for a moment, then continued reading aloud, “In addition, a total of twenty-seven Jonin from Konoha are stationed on the front lines and are unable to return to the village. Their votes have been verified and notarized by the Anbu.”

"All twenty-seven votes were cast for Zen Monastery Shen'er."

"A total of 126 valid votes were cast in this trust vote. Zenji received 125 votes and Hiruzen Sarutobi received one vote."

A faint smile appeared on Mito Uzumaki's solemn face, and her voice, imbued with chakra, resounded throughout the entire arena, solemnly declaring:

"In the name of the First Hokage, I hereby declare that the ninja who will become the Third Hokage of Konoha is Zenin Jinji!"

"The future of the Land of Fire and Konoha is entrusted to you, Third Hokage."

Mito solemnly handed the red and white hat and sacred robe, which symbolized the position of Hokage, to Jin.

Shen Er calmly put on the sacred robe printed with "Third Hokage," pulled it with his right hand, and slid his left hand through the sleeve.

"Where the leaves dance in the air, the fire will never be extinguished."

"I will not let down any villager of Konoha," he said, then raised his hand to fasten his Hokage hat. He stretched his right hand towards the sky, clenched it into a fist, and declared in a powerfully infectious voice, "I will make Konoha great again!"

In an instant, the three hearts sealed within him—Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, and Tobirama Senju—beat in unison, creating a powerful resonance.

Looking down at the vast crowd of Konoha ninjas and villagers below, he felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. Taking a deep breath, he broke into a triumphant smile, his unrestrained laughter echoing through the air.

"Fellow villagers of Konoha, are you ready to join me in restoring Konoha's glory and making it great again?"

"Oh! We're ready! Third Hokage!"

A frenzied atmosphere swept across the square. Countless villagers who witnessed this moment had tears in their eyes, raised their right fists and pressed them to their hearts, shouting in unison, the sound waves reverberating throughout the entire square in front of the palace.

"Offer my heart to the Third Hokage!"

Shen Er smiled and silently said in her heart, "This prosperous age is just as I wished."

From a rogue ninja from another village to the most powerful Third Hokage in the ninja world, it took him a full 16 years to get there.

Sixteen years!

It was really tough.

With that, all the suffering has become a thing of the past. From this day forward, only smooth sailing lies ahead for you!

Even though he wasn't a narcissistic person, he couldn't help but hum to himself inwardly at that moment.

Another year has passed, the pear blossoms in the courtyard have faded, and the moonlight shines on the empty steps in the clear night. No one supports my lofty ambitions; I will tread the snow to the mountain peak myself.

...

Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

He consciously left the platform, handing over the most dazzling stage to the future protagonist of Konoha. Standing below, he looked up at Shen'er, whose figure was ablaze with firelight, his eyes filled with envy.

Konoha ninjas should be like this!

Only someone like Lord Jin is worthy of becoming Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi silently vowed in his heart: One vote! Even if it's just one vote, it doesn't matter. He will rely on his own efforts to reverse the situation in ten years!

Meanwhile, Danzo Shimura's figure silently disappeared into the crowd.

He returned home quickly.

Five Tibetan ninjas from the Four Symbols Seal of the Academy were secretly dispatched by him to the only road leading to the Daimyo's capital to ambush Zen-in Jinji.

As long as Zen-in-no-kami never returns after his audience with the daimyo...

He didn't lose!

Chapter 178 In the Name of the Hokage, everyone, turn left!

Tsunade looked up at the tall figure on the platform, lost in thought, her mouth slightly agape, looking like she was infatuated.

Orochimaru stared at the robe with the Third Hokage's image printed on it, then looked at the frenzied villagers around him, and suddenly felt a pang of fear. His heart seemed to resonate with something, and a tingling sensation came from his wrist.

He looked down and saw some black hairs emerging from under the skin of his wrist.

what is this?

Seeing the strangeness in his body, Orochimaru fell into deep thought.

Senju Kensuke, Hatake Sakumo, Jiraiya... the Silver Saints of Konoha all looked up at Senju.

In a corner where no one paid attention, Mitokado Homura, who had recovered from his injuries, walked up to Sarutobi Hiruzen with a guilty look on his face and his eyes darting around as he said, "I'm sorry, Hiruzen, I didn't give you the vote of confidence this time."

There was no farce of a single ballot being claimed by four or five people.

As a friend, Mitokado Yan didn't want to create any resentment between him and his close friend, so he decided to speak frankly and openly.

"fine."

Despite his complicated feelings, Hiruzen Sarutobi still tried to comfort his friend: "As a friend, I still hope that you, as an ordinary Jonin of Konoha, will uphold your principles and vote with confidence."

"Thanks……"

Despite being in his prime, Mitokado Yan's figure appeared somewhat hunched.