Everyone in the meeting room froze for a moment at Kaede's words.
What's more surprising was that someone actually responded and began walking toward Koharu Utatane, completely ignoring the way her face had turned an alarming shade of green.
"Alright, that's enough joking around…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen tried to smooth things over with a helpless sigh. "Elder Koharu was only suggesting that to reduce Konoha's economic expenditures from last month. Now then, are there any other matters on the agenda?"
The room fell into a brief silence.
Many people turned their eyes toward Kaede.
It was then that Uchiha Fugaku spoke up calmly, "Lord Third, it's been a month since the Fourth Hokage's funeral. It's not proper to have you continue managing the village's affairs. I believe it's time we formally decide on the candidate for the Fifth Hokage."
His words caused the expressions of Hiruzen, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado to change simultaneously. The same thought occurred to all three of them:
The inevitable has arrived.
Fugaku paused, then continued with composure, "I propose that Jonin Kaede be appointed as the Fifth Hokage. What do you think, Lord Third?"
Another brief silence followed.
Koharu Utatane spoke with a serious tone, "Jonin Kaede's achievements and strength certainly qualify him to become the Fifth Hokage. However, isn't he still a bit too young?"
She understood that it was only a matter of time before Kaede took the title of Hokage. She couldn't stop it, at best, she could try to delay it.
From the other side, Hyuga Hiashi added, "There's precedent in the Five Great Shinobi Villages for a 15-year-old becoming a Kage. By the time of the formal appointment next year, Kaede-sama will be fifteen. Moreover, as the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, no one is more suitable than him."
He had already started referring to Kaede as Kaede-sama.
In Hiashi's view, Kaede becoming Hokage was set in stone.
"The Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki…"
Hiruzen glanced at Kaede, suppressing the urge to complain in his heart: Have you ever seen a Jinchuriki who makes their tailed beast watch TV outside the village every day?!
But then again, only the Nine-Tails had such unique traits, its chakra could be divided and shared freely.
Homura Mitokado hesitated for a moment before saying, "There's no real issue with appointing Jonin Kaede as the Fifth Hokage, but I suggest he first familiarize himself with the village's internal administration by serving as Hokage's aide. We can arrange a proper transition later."
He and Koharu had discussed this and reached a consensus, delay if they could, and if it became impossible, just step aside and retire.
"I don't think that's necessary."
Nara Shikaku put down the document in his hand. "When the Third Hokage took office, there was no transition process either. All departments in Konoha are stable right now. Learning as he leads will actually help him adapt faster."
Koharu frowned. "But that was during wartime…"
Yuhi Kurenai spoke solemnly, "Elder, don't forget, the peace we enjoy now was brought about by Kaede-sama."
Her words were echoed by other nearby shinobi.
Aside from a few loyalists still clinging to Hiruzen, nearly all the others, including the clan leaders of Konoha, voiced their unanimous support.
Since the days of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, it had been a long time since all the major clans of Konoha had agreed so completely on something.
"What's your opinion, Kaede?"
Hiruzen turned to Kaede stiffly.
Kaede smiled. "It's true that I'm still a bit young, so perhaps it's a little early for me to be Hokage. However, there's something I've been thinking about… and I believe it's best to make it public."
As he spoke, he pulled out a document and tossed it over to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen caught it and gave it a glance.
His fingers froze.
"Hokage-sama, what's in the document? Please read it aloud," Fugaku said in an even tone.
Hiruzen's hand trembled slightly. He looked at Kaede, then glanced over at Koharu and Homura. His gaze made the two advisors feel a sinking dread in their stomachs.
"Please read it aloud."
Hiashi's voice was low and commanding.
The other shinobi in the room also urged him.
Hiruzen looked at the completely uncontrollable conference room. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but in the end, he stiffly began to read the contents of the document.
It detailed the funds that Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had skimmed off over the years while serving as Konoha's advisors, a total exceeding several billion ryo!
In truth,
This money was part of Konoha's black operations fund.
A large portion had been diverted to fund Danzo's Root organization and other Anbu operations.
Even so, the two advisors had clearly been embezzling, skimming off a portion for themselves.
Normally, this would never be investigated, because the village was still under Hiruzen and his old guard's control. But that Konoha no longer existed.
The meeting room was dead silent.
Everyone turned to look at Koharu and Homura.
Most in the room already knew this fund existed, Konoha's shadow budget. But they also understood that there was no way the two advisors had kept their hands clean.
Their expressions confirmed it. Both looked pale and angry, wanting to defend themselves, but unable to say anything.
"Interrogation Division."
Kaede's calm voice cut through the silence.
"Present!" The captain of the Interrogation Division stood up.
Kaede waved his hand. "Take them. Question them thoroughly. I want every ryo of that money accounted for."
"Yes, sir!"
The captain walked over to Koharu and Homura and said coldly, "Elders, please come with me."
The two looked toward Hiruzen, wanting to say something, but before they could speak, Kaede flicked his finger, launching a blast of compressed air that slammed into both of them.
Boom!!
They flew backward and crashed into the wall, coughing up blood.
"Kaede… you, !"
Hiruzen stood up in shock.
Kaede met his gaze calmly. "I think it's better to wait until the interrogation is complete before deciding on appropriate punishment. Don't you agree, Lord Third?"
Hiruzen froze, glanced around at the cold, unsympathetic eyes staring back at him, and finally slumped back into his seat.
"…Fine. Do as you will."
He had long expected this day to come.
But he hadn't expected Kaede to strike so ruthlessly.
This wasn't just stripping Koharu and Homura of their positions, it was nailing them to the pillar of shame.
And thinking back to what had happened to Hatake Sakumo back then…
One could only call it poetic justice.
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