"The Four-Tails jinchuriki was defeated?"
An uproar filled the room, many faces paling.
Even those unfamiliar with tailed beasts firsthand knew of their immense power, often surpassing even ordinary Kage-level shinobi.
Without special countermeasures, the outcome could be disastrous, like the Fourth Hokage's death sealing the Nine-Tails.
After all, nobody could treat a tailed beast like a playful dog, except perhaps the First Hokage.
"Sarutobi, weren't the three villages pursuing Uchiha Kai?
Did they, along with the jinchuriki, fail to stop him?" Homura Mitokado exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency.
They knew Kai had the Three-Tails, but as Jiraiya explained, it was a decoy. Facing the Four-Tails jinchuriki and the combined forces of the three villages, the outcome should have been different.
"Hmph, read the scroll's contents before you make a fuss," the Third Hokage said with a sharp snort.
"But once you see it, you might not be able to speak at all."
Mitokado and Koharu Utatane eagerly unfolded the scroll. Their initial reaction was one of stunned silence.
After a long wait, the clan elders strained to see the scroll's contents, but the distance proved too great.
"Hyuga, read it quickly… those two idiots are speechless. Why aren't they shouting?
This suspense is killing me…" the Nara clan elder finally burst out, unable to contain his impatience.
Normally, such a classified scroll wouldn't be shown to others. But given the gravity of the situation, and the Third Hokage's willingness to let them know, the Nara elder dared to urge them.
"Hyuga, hurry up…"
"Yes, the Third Hokage allowed it, don't keep us waiting…"
The elders, eager for the news, urged the younger generation, who were equally captivated.
Many Hyuga clan members with Byakugan were present, but they dared not interfere, only watching intently.
"Since you old geezers insist, I'll indulge you," the Hyuga elder said, taking a sip of tea, his eyes widening as he activated his 360-degree Byakugan.
Psh!
He sprayed tea, springing back as if shocked, clutching his chest. His teacup slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor and shattering.
The sudden outburst stunned everyone. What could have been so shocking?
"Hyuga, what's wrong?!" The Nara elder reacted quickly, applying acupuncture to calm the agitated Hyuga elder.
"Damn it, nearly gave me a heart attack," the Hyuga elder said, clutching his chest. "But… holy crap, it was intense!"
"Defeating a tailed beast in sixty seconds, a jutsu with a ten-kilometer radius, and lightning from the sky… this is legendary!"
The elders were initially stunned by his incoherent, spittle-flying outburst, then erupted into chaos.
A ten-kilometer radius jutsu could easily cover half of Konoha. A tailed beast couldn't withstand it for sixty seconds. What level of power was this?
They finally understood the Third Hokage's meaning. Opposing such a monster was utterly terrifying.
The Third Hokage, who had been feigning sleep, slowly opened his eyes. "Who will take responsibility for this? Homura or Koharu?"
A heavy silence fell over the meeting hall. No one dared to challenge the Third Hokage's question.
They'd considered the possibility of exaggeration in the scroll's contents.
But unless they were fools, no one would fabricate a jutsu with a ten-kilometer radius, or the defeat of a tailed beast in sixty seconds.
The only logical conclusion was that it was all true. Such a detailed fabrication was simply beyond imagination.
"Heh, it seems none of you can answer that," the Third Hokage said coldly.
"Since further discussion is pointless, Minato Namikaze will be the Fourth Hokage."
"As for today's events, aside from Danzo and Orochimaru's actions, everything remains the same. If there are no objections, the meeting is adjourned."
The Third Hokage's gaze swept across the room. Homura Mitokado opened his mouth to speak, but Koharu Utatane stopped him with a shake of her head.
After a tense silence, the Third Hokage coldly snorted, turned, and left.
The remaining attendees breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Some astute clan heads quickly approached Minato Namikaze, offering their congratulations.
After several minutes, Minato found himself alone in the hall, a wry smile on his face.
"Minato, why the long face? You're Hokage now," Jiraiya said, clapping Minato on the shoulder.
As his teacher, seeing his student become Hokage was a source of immense pride.
Minato shook his head.
"Teacher, you're joking. This is probably the most underwhelming Hokage succession ceremony ever."
"Oh?" Jiraiya chuckled. "Minato, I didn't expect you to mind."
"Kai's actions have made the situation unpredictable. I appointed you because it's a critical time. No one else in Konoha is suitable."
This decision had been made by Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the Third Hokage after receiving Yagura's intel.
Hokage elections always caused turmoil. It was better to swiftly appoint a successor and prevent any ambitious individuals from seizing power, especially the Uchiha elders.
Minato shook his head. "Teacher, you're still here."
"In terms of experience and seniority, you're more suitable for being a Hokage.
If he were still here, I wouldn't stand a chance."
"Minato, you're flattering me," Jiraiya said, sighing.
"You're right. If he were still here, neither you nor I would stand a chance.
Unfortunately, his heart isn't in Konoha. We can only hope the other villages don't push him too far.
If they force him into opposition, the shinobi world will face a catastrophe.
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