Danzo directly cut off Jiraiya's remaining words.
After ANBU made sacrifices for the village and brought back valuable intelligence, Jiraiya could no longer say, "If I become Hokage, then disband ANBU!"
Of course, Danzo's intelligence had no relation to ANBU's espionage. This was actually obtained through a transaction with Mukai. Mukai had gained the attack targets of the Grass Hidden Village and the distribution of Konoha, obtaining what both parties needed, thus controlling the direction of this war.
Jiraiya was speechless, and Homura Mitokado also said at this moment, "Jiraiya, you should directly take on the Hokage position today. The war is about to begin. The village needs a Hokage to boost morale, and it needs a Hokage to unite everyone's hearts."
Jiraiya remained silent. In the end, he could only nod and accept it. He had already prepared himself to become Hokage during the Sannin's reunion.
However…
This decision was orchestrated by Naruto!
Naruto was now deciding his fate!
The news that Jiraiya was to become Hokage quickly spread throughout the village. As one of the legendary Sannin, although he hadn't returned to the village for over a decade, those ninjas in their twenties and thirties hadn't forgotten the Sannin's heroic demeanor from back then.
Therefore, Jiraiya faced no obstacles whatsoever. He directly passed the vote of all the jōnin and officially became the Fifth Hokage that very afternoon, donning the Hokage's hat and cloak.
But what immediately followed was Konoha's strategic meeting.
Because the Hokage position had been vacant and undecided before, a large number of affairs had been put on hold. Therefore, Jiraiya, immediately after becoming Hokage, didn't get a moment's rest and promptly entered the meeting.
A large number of shinobi, including Might Guy, had already gone to the front lines. At this time, only thirty or so shinobi were gathered in the meeting room, with Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi also present.
Shimamura Danzo was the first to stand up. During this period when the Hokage's seat was vacant, he took the opportunity to once again extend his influence into the ANBU and, with the help of the other two elders, took over most of Konoha's intelligence personnel.
Yamanaka Inoichi, the head of the intelligence department, was completely no match for Danzo after losing the support of Nara Shikaku and Akamichi Chōza. The power he still held was less than a third of what it once was.
After all, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had interacted with Danzo for decades. Compared to others, they trusted Danzo's capabilities more.
Danzo handed out some scrolls to everyone and then said, "Detailed intelligence is on here. Besides the clear attack targets of the Grass Hidden Village and the Sand Hidden Village, the Rock Hidden Village, the Cloud Hidden Village, and the Mist Hidden Village — these three ninja villages' forces are also approaching our borders. The village may have to face the predicament of fighting against the other four ninja great nations again. Although ANBU was heavily damaged, we still managed to obtain some valuable intelligence. In addition to the troop deployments of various countries, we also obtained the precise attack targets of the Grass Hidden Village. I have already reported this to the Hokage-sama."
After speaking, Danzo looked at Jiraiya. Jiraiya was also cornered at this point. He had no choice but to praise Danzo, saying, "The village will remember ANBU's contributions in its heart."
ANBU's existence was the darkness of the village. Jiraiya didn't want to publicly affirm ANBU's actions, so he planned to suppress this matter. Later, when no one was paying attention, he would give ANBU some insignificant rewards.
But Danzo, with a sneer, then said in a low voice, "ANBU doesn't need the village to remember. We secretly support Konoha's roots. What we need is nourishment! We received too little support this time. If we could get more support, we could obtain even more valuable intelligence for the village, which would greatly reduce the village's casualties. I hope Lord Hokage can think about our comrades fighting on the front lines. For their sacrifices, please increase ANBU's support!"
Danzo had already used Jiraiya's aversion to ANBU to coerce him once. If Jiraiya didn't give an appropriate response this time, he wouldn't be able to continue ignoring Danzo's demands.
Jiraiya was pushed into a corner; everyone looked at him, waiting for his response. After all, he had just become Hokage less than half a day ago, and immediately facing someone like Danzo, who had played political schemes his entire life, truly felt like a rookie being pressed by a final boss.
But just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi also stood up. She knew Mukai's thoughts; he wanted to unite with Jiraiya to resist Danzo. But her thoughts were also this:
Danzo had developed too quickly. His roots in Konoha were deeper than anyone could have imagined.
The Shimamura Clan, although not well-known, was a major clan that had joined Konoha since its establishment. Over several decades, they had continuously infiltrated various parts of the village, silently providing Danzo with various forms of support. If Jiraiya alone were to fight, he would definitely not be Danzo's match!
Hiruzen Sarutobi also handed over a scroll of intelligence to everyone, then said with a grim expression, "Lord Hokage, elders, I have something important to say here. Our comrades in the village are about to engage in battle with the enemy. When the village's blood flows, there will be the roots of the village invading and seizing its very essence! We found a despicable corrupt official, possibly even a damned enemy spy! As a captain under him, he completely embezzled the village's war supplies. To this day…"
"…we haven't been able to investigate where those supplies went, and he was recommended to be a captain…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Shimamura Danzo, and said solemnly, "That is precisely the part that needs to be explained, Lord Danzo. Do you have anything you wish to explain?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's words instantly changed the atmosphere of the meeting!
Jiraiya couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. No one paid him any attention anymore.
Danzo's eyes slightly narrowed. It's Hiruzen Sarutobi again. It's Hiruzen Sarutobi again!
The atmosphere he had previously created had vanished. Hiruzen Sarutobi was even subtly accusing him of colluding with enemy nations. If that point were confirmed, let alone being unable to run ANBU, he would even be stripped of all his positions!
So, with almost no hesitation, Danzo immediately abandoned that name and said in a flat tone, "My entire life has been dedicated to the village. Over decades, I have cultivated and recommended countless talents for the village. Everything I did had no personal motives. I recommended him only because his resume was sufficient for him to hold that position. If there is truly anything suspicious about him, please let me deal with it, because he has betrayed my trust!"
Danzo's decisive action rendered all of Hiruzen Sarutobi's subsequent moves useless.
It was then that she realized that, unlike her, the relationship between Danzo and his subordinates was not one of cooperation…
…but rather one of ruler and subject!
Danzo held their lives in his hands. Regardless of whom he abandoned or killed, he absolutely did not need to consider anyone else's feelings!!
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded her head. She then said, "I have felt the Shimura Elder's determination. I believe the village will investigate this matter thoroughly. Then, let us proceed to the next agenda item. The village will…"
Danzo looked at the somewhat flustered Hiruzen Sarutobi, and also thought to himself, This guy who has been my opponent for three times, is precisely the stumbling block preventing Konoha's rise!
The strategic meeting continued until dusk. Although Jiraiya was not proficient, he successfully resolved most of the accumulated problems. A backbone who could unite everyone was truly that important.
At the end of the meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose throat was already hoarse from speaking, recalled what Mukai had told her last time…
Battle achievements!
Only achievements on the battlefield could gain everyone's recognition!
Jiraiya had abandoned his responsibilities and left the village for over a decade, but it was precisely because his previous achievements on the battlefield were incomparably brilliant that everyone recognized him as the Fifth Hokage.
If she wanted to go further, she would have to embellish her resume with battle achievements!
Therefore, she said to Jiraiya, "Lord Hokage, the battle is about to begin. Please allow me to go to the front lines and fight for the village!"
Jiraiya didn't know much about the village's situation, but just from Hiruzen Sarutobi's performance in the meeting, he already knew that she was managing most of the village's operations.
Furthermore, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not known for her strength, so Jiraiya was somewhat reluctant to let her leave.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi was already prepared. She continued, "The front line is the most complex and most important place on the entire battlefield. Once enemy spies infiltrate, the consequences could even affect the outcome of the entire war. Please allow me to go to the front lines and contribute a force for the village!"
Saying this, she subtly glanced at Danzo.
Jiraiya also reacted at this moment. Hiruzen Sarutobi was going to the front lines to monitor Danzo!
After a brief thought, Jiraiya agreed. Hiruzen Sarutobi, who managed the village's logistics and administration, was no small figure. The two had already formed an unspoken alliance against Danzo in the meeting, and Jiraiya had no reason to refuse her.
Moreover, that Naruto was indeed from the Grass Hidden Village, and the Grass Hidden Village was the first target of Konoha's declaration of war. It was hard to say whether the Grass Hidden Village was already controlled by Naruto. Then, Danzo, who only received intelligence from the Grass Hidden Village, was he colluding with that Naruto? This matter had to be considered.
Given this, sending a trustworthy person to monitor Danzo was also a very reasonable choice.
Thinking of this, Jiraiya said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "I have felt your determination. Let's discuss it in more detail later."
…
And just after the meeting ended, Danzo, in his own base, once again saw Naruto and his team.
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