"Now, I suppose it's time for the Third to carry out the Will of Fire!"
After Aozora spoke, the higher-ups in the audience fixed their gazes on Hiruzen Sarutobi. They didn't speak, but the meaning in their eyes was unmistakable.
Seeing the silent pressure mounting against his mentor, Jiraiya stood up and pleaded, "My teacher isn't guilty of a crime deserving death! He simply made some mistakes. Fortunately, Aozora, you weren't hurt, and Naruto is safe too..."
Aozora sneered coldly, "So you're saying the sacrifices of White Fang and Hizashi don't count? So you're saying the grievances our Uchiha clan suffered mean nothing?"
Jiraiya could only remain speechless.
Nobusuke Sarutobi rose to his feet, shouting, "On what grounds do you dare threaten our honored father!"
At his words, other Sarutobi clan ninja present joined in protest.
"Hokage-sama's achievements are unparalleled!"
"Hokage-sama has given his entire youth to Konoha!"
"Can't his merits outweigh his faults?"
Aozora let the Sarutobi clan members rant for a while before speaking again. "When the Senju, Hatake, and Kurama clans have all declined or withdrawn from power, when the Uchiha and Hyuga grow weaker by the day, your Sarutobi clan thrives so vibrantly.
What a genius, keeping his clan strong while pretending to serve Konoha!"
The assembly looked at the six Sarutobi jonin present—including Nobusuke—and felt a sense of unease.
This was supposed to be Konoha's High-level Meeting after all—there were only four seats available even for the Uchiha clan who controlled the Police Force!
To qualify for this elite forum, one needed either high rank or exceptional strength. Yet aside from the Third and Nobusuke, how many powerful Elite Jonin did the Sarutobi clan actually have besides Hiruzen and Hidari Sarutobi?
Unknowingly, the Sarutobi clan had already been gradually infiltrating Konoha's administration.
What a truly selfless leader indeed!
The last traces of sympathy toward the Third Hokage vanished instantly from everyone's hearts.
Nobusuke Sarutobi quickly stepped forward. "Uchiha Aozora, stop slandering the Sarutobi clan and defaming Hokage-sama!"
"Slander?" Aozora shook his head. "Which word of mine was slander? Which sentence was defamation?"
After defending himself, Aozora turned to Torifu and said, "This is the best solution I've devised for Konoha. Of course, following normal procedures for interrogation and sentencing would also be acceptable."
Then he added, "After all, I'm just an ordinary villager of Konoha. Decisions regarding the fate of the Third should be left to you esteemed leaders to decide among yourselves!"
He passed the burden to them and closed his eyes peacefully, putting on a show of deep thought.
After a moment's consideration, Torifu calmly asked, "Hiruzen, choose for yourself!"
Looking down at Jiraiya and the Sarutobi jonin below, Hiruzen sighed deeply in his heart.
He had mastered hundreds—perhaps even thousands—of jutsu. He had forged a contract with the mighty Enma. He had studied unpredictable and powerful sealing techniques...
He called himself the Strongest Hokage, yet he'd never fought a single battle worth talking about. Even now, at this final moment of his existence, he hadn't even received an opportunity to fight.
There were his family, his clan, and his friends within Konoha. If he took action today, they would all be dragged into the conflict because of him.
Moreover, if he were to act today, Konoha would become the laughingstock of the entire Ninja World, for never before had the Hokage himself defected from his own village.
He felt deeply stifled. In that moment, he thought of Sakumo Hatake and Hizashi Hyuga...
What goes around comes around. When those two died because of him, perhaps fate had already planted the bitter fruits he was now reaping.
"It's time to uphold the Will of Fire..."
Whispering these words, he rose from the Hokage seat. This time, he straightened his back and formed a hand seal.
Aozora's Sharingan activated instantly, but detected only a faint trace of chakra movement. Sensing the situation, he murmured, "It shouldn't be an attack move."
Sure enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi soon lowered his hands and slowly walked out of the meeting room.
Jiraiya, Nobusuke, and others immediately followed him outside.
That afternoon, the Third Hokage was found dead in his home.
The official report stated that Hiruzen Sarutobi had been practicing Earth Release Ninjutsu at home when chakra loss caused heart hardening, leading to his death despite medical efforts.
According to the Fourth Hokage's last will, his funeral was handled simply, quietly commemorated at the Memorial Stone the following day, without interfering with the election for the Fifth Hokage.
The following day, at the plaza in front of the Hokage Tower—
Surrounding the plaza was a dense crowd, its noisy clamor reaching the skies, the tremendous sounds resembling continuous thunderbombarding the ears of everyone present.
On the rooftop of a high-rise building beside the Hokage Tower—knowing how lively the election day would be—Fugaku had reserved this spot beforehand to give the Uchiha clan a foothold from which to observe the event.
On the rooftop, all the Uchiha jonin approached the balcony railing, watching the surging sea of people below.
Usually strict-faced and expressionless, Fugaku showed visible excitement and tension on his face today.
Shisui was the same; even more excited than Fugaku, one might think it was Shisui running for Hokage.
Other Uchiha jonin also abandoned their usual stoic expressions, their eyes shining with excitement.
Seeing this, Aozora couldn't help shaking his head lightly, though this time, he didn't feel like dampening their spirits.
The Hokage title was every Konoha ninja's dream, especially the long-held dream of generations within the Uchiha Clan. Now, seeing Fugaku about to fulfill it, their excitement was understandable.
As the election was about to begin, Aozora approached Fugaku and reminded him, "Clan Leader, please stay calm later."
Fugaku rolled his eyes and replied, "Do you actually think I need a reminder?"
"Fair enough."
Aozora nodded, but still asked, "You didn't bring the Hokage robe the clan prepared for you, right?"
Fugaku responded dryly, "Relax. I know the other villagers are still wary of us Uchiha."
At this point, Aozora finally smiled. "Then good luck, Clan Leader, on becoming the Fifth Hokage!"
Fugaku patted Aozora's shoulder gratefully. "Thanks to you!"
While they were talking, suddenly two loud thunder-like booms rang out across the plaza.
Colorful flower petals rained from the sky, signaling a favorable omen for the Fifth Hokage Election.
"We're off first!"
Before the words had fully faded, eager Uchiha jonin had already vanished one after another, reappearing swiftly in the plaza. Instantly, only Aozora remained alone on the rooftop.
Standing atop the building, Aozora clearly saw how everyone in the plaza had arranged themselves.
There were mainly two factions in the crowd—one standing behind Fugaku, the other behind Jiraiya.
The election had not even begun, yet the outcome was already obvious. The number of ninja supporting Fugaku far exceeded those behind Jiraiya.
In fact, after Hiruzen Sarutobi's sacrifice, Jiraiya originally wanted to withdraw from the Fifth Hokage race. However, Torifu, Fugaku, and others had dragged him into this political spectacle under the banner of "for Konoha's sake."
Torifu wanted to soften the impact of the Third's passing, while Fugaku aimed to make his ascension to Hokage appear more fair and justified.
Overseeing the election was Torifu, who handled matters swiftly and concisely, quickly announcing the start of voting without unnecessary chatter.
The voting process still used the same ballot boxes as those used during the Elder Council Election. Aozora and Fugaku, however, felt no concern that there might be any foul play within the ballot boxes.
With Hiruzen dead, it was obvious that Fugaku would become the Fifth Hokage. No one dared provoke the Uchiha clan by causing trouble at this point.
The voting proceeded smoothly. Jonin cast their solemn votes with dignity.
The upper-ranked ninja voted quickly; within minutes, all had cast their ballots.
As the jonin completed their votes, the previously noisy Hokage Plaza suddenly fell silent.
Whether villagers, ninja watching from the sidelines, or the jonin themselves who had just cast their votes, everyone's eyes were now fixed upon the ballot box.
As the crowd held its breath, Torifu opened the ballot box and let staff begin counting the votes immediately.
Unlike the Elder Council Election, the Hokage election did not reveal the exact vote counts — only the final result would be announced.
Time ticked away, causing sweat to form in the palms of villagers and ninja alike waiting below.
Even Fugaku, certain of victory, could not help but feel his heart pounding faster.
Finally, Torifu received a slip of paper from the staff.
After glancing at it, he declared without hesitation, "The winner of this Jonin Confidence Vote—is—Fugaku Uchiha!"
In an instant, thunderous applause erupted across the Hokage Plaza. Many members of the Uchiha clan even burst into tears.
Although Jiraiya had known the outcome beforehand, his expression still dimmed slightly. Heaving a sigh, he activated the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from the plaza.
Meanwhile, Fugaku stood frozen for a moment before his face finally broke into an unrestrained smile.
He took the Hokage outfit from Kosuke and leapt onto the rooftop of the Hokage Tower.
Moments later, wearing the Hokage Hat and dressed in the Sacred Robe of Office, Fugaku stepped to the edge of the Hokage Tower's rooftop.
"From today on, I will lead Konoha!"
"I am Konoha's Fifth Hokage—Fugaku Uchiha!"
Instantly, Fugaku's booming voice rang out across Konoha!
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