During the meeting, Hiruzen volunteered to resume the position of Hokage, stating that he would only serve as a temporary replacement.
Danzo was truly furious now, feeling like a pawn who had been used without even realizing it. He thought he was on the same side with them all along—this betrayal cut deep.
Homura Mitokado responded first, "I support Hiruzen's return as Hokage. In this current situation, only he has the authority to keep everything stable."
Koharu Utatane also expressed agreement, saying, "I agree that Hiruzen should take up the Hokage role again. What about everyone else here?"
Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, Hiashi Hyuga, and other clan heads of the ninja clans voiced their support for Hiruzen resuming his role as Hokage.
Chinya and Orochimaru did not say a word.
Truthfully, Chinya didn't really care who became Hokage. If Danzo hadn't foolishly provoked him today, Chinya wouldn't have paid them any mind at all.
After all, Chinya's time remaining in Konoha had already entered its final countdown.
To be honest, if it weren't because Kushina Uzumaki was pregnant and about to give birth, and needed peace afterward to recover her strength, Chinya would have slammed the table and walked out today.
As for Orochimaru, Orochimaru simply found the whole thing boring.
What was the point of dragging him into this meeting?
Since Orochimaru had learned from Chinya about the plans of figures like Madara Uchiha, he considered the squabbles within the village as nothing more than childish games.
Whoever becomes Village Head doesn't matter; just end it quickly so he could go back to his research.
In the entire Meeting Room, aside from Chinya, Orochimaru, and Danzo, everyone else had declared their support for Hiruzen becoming Hokage.
As for Chinya and Orochimaru's opinions, no one was stupid enough to ask.
Right now, they were already thankful beyond words that those two stayed silent.
Homura and Koharu announced together, "Since no one objects, Hiruzen will temporarily assume the position of Hokage until the next successor is ready!"
After the meeting ended, Chinya stepped forward deliberately, standing before Danzo. With his triple tomoe Sharingan coldly staring, he threatened, "If you come looking for trouble with me again, I won't mind showing you what real trouble feels like—using my Sharingan. You know well enough that I am capable of it—or perhaps you'd like to test whether I actually can?"
Danzo stared back at Chinya with an icy expression and said, "Don't forget, this is still Konoha!"
Chinya smirked coldly, "Yes, this is Konoha. We both know each other too well. But when the real fight begins, do you really think either of us will care where we are? At that moment, neither of us would stop until the other is eliminated, right?
But… I'm confident I can eliminate you. Do you have the confidence to eliminate me, Danzo?"
A faint twitch ran across Danzo's face.
He recalled the image of Chinya activating Sage Mode right in front of him that day—the immense spiritual pressure and overwhelming power.
Eliminating Chinya... Danzo could think of no way to accomplish that at the moment.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi saw Chinya standing face-to-face with Danzo but had no idea what they were discussing.
Because of what had happened earlier, Hiruzen felt a slight pang of guilt toward Danzo.
If it wasn't Danzo, and if Chinya really ran for Hokage, although Hiruzen, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado would prevent Chinya from becoming the next Hokage, Hiruzen's plan to retake the Hokage position himself might have to be postponed.
After all, if Hiruzen stopped Chinya from becoming Hokage—just like he had once done with Orochimaru, whom Danzo had supported—and immediately proposed to retake the Hokage seat himself, it would make Hiruzen appear power-hungry.
Noticing that Sarutobi Hiruzen was talking with Chinya and seeing the anger barely concealed on Danzo's face, it was clear that Danzo had failed to get through to Chinya. Therefore, Hiruzen decided to give Danzo a hand.
"Danzo, Chinya," Hiruzen walked toward them and said, "I know there's tension between you two, but Konoha is currently in a critical period. We must set aside our differences, unite as one, and help Konoha overcome this crisis."
Chinya smiled slightly at Hiruzen. "Congratulations on your reappointment as Third Hokage. However, I need to take some time off recently; I hope the Third can approve."
Hiruzen nodded. "I understand. If that's the case, then Chinya, take the time you need to rest."
For Hiruzen, Chinya taking a break carried both advantages and disadvantages.
The upside was that Chinya had become uncontrollable; how to properly utilize him required careful consideration, otherwise the result could backfire and hurt himself.
The downside was naturally tied to Konoha's current situation—it urgently needed powerful ninja like Chinya to handle difficult missions.
First, it would boost confidence within the village. While the Hokage is the backbone, renowned shinobi like Chinya—who are well-known across the shinobi world—offer real reassurance.
Secondly, their presence could deter rival villages attempting provocative moves. Although the Yellow Flash remained unconscious, the Crimson-Eyed Asura was still active.
Still, since Chinya had voluntarily requested this, Hiruzen could only agree.
Chinya met up with Orochimaru afterward and left the Hokage Tower together.
Danzo, however, did not appreciate Hiruzen's intervention. He gave Hiruzen a glance filled with faint killing intent before turning around and leaving directly.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Uchiha Clan Estate.
Fugaku sat silently in his seat, looking deeply troubled.
Fugaku had pinned his hopes for the Uchiha Clan on Minato Namikaze, thinking he had a bright future ahead—never expecting that Minato would fall into a coma with no sign of when he might wake up.
This meant the Uchiha would face increasing difficulties within Konoha from now on.
With Minato unconscious, the communication bridge between the Uchiha and Konoha's leadership had completely collapsed.
During the Nine-Tails' attack, Hiruzen had refused their request to join the battle, which clearly showed he didn't trust them. And today's meeting hadn't even invited him—clear evidence that the Uchiha Clan was being isolated.
Though unsure about the meeting's content, any gathering capable of summoning all the heads of Konoha's ninja clans must be extremely important.
Fugaku believed this meeting probably had to do with figuring out Konoha's path now that Minato had been out for so long.
Moreover, Danzo would definitely take this opportunity to crack down on the Uchiha Clan while Minato Namikaze remained unconscious.
What Fugaku Uchiha truly feared was that if Minato stayed in a coma for too long, they might soon choose the next Hokage.
What if the next Hokage were Chinya...?
A shadow passed across Fugaku Uchiha's eyes as thoughts raced through his mind.
If Chinya became the Fifth Hokage, the Uchiha Clan would have no choice but to rise from ruin.
Shortly after, an Uchiha ninja entered Fugaku's chamber.
Fugaku asked, "Did you find out what today's meeting at the Hokage Tower is about?"
"The meeting at the Hokage Tower today," he reported, "is about selecting the next Hokage."
Fugaku's expression darkened. Would the village really appoint a new Hokage just seven days after Minato fell into a coma?
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