The moment Tsunade spoke, her words dripped with contempt for the title of Hokage. She was practically dragging the legacy of the past leaders through the mud.
What does she mean, a Hokage doesn't need a brain?
One of the reanimated Kage at the table glanced cryptically at his granddaughter, suspecting that Tsunade was secretly taking a shot at him.
Hashirama Senju shook his head, pushing the thought away, and lowered his voice to discuss the serious matter at hand. "If that little fellow Naruto were to become Hokage now, the Land of Fire's Daimyo probably wouldn't approve the appointment, would he?"
"Can we please not mention that troublesome relative of ours?" Tsunade rubbed her forehead and said helplessly, "Great-Grandpa, times have changed. The Daimyo's only real power now is to nod his head."
Of course, the Land of Fire's Daimyo would probably be thrilled for Naruto Uzumaki to become Hokage. With a kid like that in charge, he likely wouldn't have to worry about being strong-armed by ninjas in the future. Compared to ambitious and strategic ninja, the straightforward Naruto was actually much easier for the Daimyo's office to accept.
"Lady Tsunade, even if the Daimyo agrees, the village's Jonin probably wouldn't approve of a thirteen-year-old genin becoming Hokage, right?" Shizune's face was filled with worry as she tried to reason with her master. "I'm afraid it wouldn't even pass the Jonin vote. Although others might hold their tongues out of respect for you and Lord Jiraiya, there are still powerful clans to consider, like the Hyuga..."
"Those stubborn Byakugan users..." Tsunade couldn't help but shake her head. If it were any other Jonin, she could just stand there and they would obediently fall in line. But she knew the village's strongest clan, the Hyuga, would be troublesome.
It wasn't an impossible problem, though. The Hyuga clan had always been united on the surface. If she could persuade the current clan head, Hiashi Hyuga, it should be possible to get Naruto through the Jonin vote.
"Don't worry, the Hyuga clan might not oppose Naruto," Jiraiya shook his head, explaining to everyone present. "That kid killed the Mist Village's reconnaissance captain, Ao, and returned the Byakugan he stole to the Hyuga. Their clan shouldn't object."
"So, Pervy Sage, Granny Tsunade, are you guys really serious about nominating me for Fifth Hokage? Something feels a bit off..." Naruto Uzumaki looked up, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
Tsunade patted Naruto's head and said softly, "You're too young right now. You would just be a puppet pushed into the Hokage position."
Naruto's body stiffened, and his gaze swept gloomily over everyone at the table. "In that case, what do you guys think the Hokage title is..."
"A position," Tsunade said, slowly picking up the wine glass on the table. "Isn't that what you said yourself? Becoming Hokage is just the first step in your plan to change the ninja world. I've helped you complete it now, brat. Aren't you moved?"
"..."
Moved, my foot!
Naruto couldn't help but scratch his head. This wasn't what he had imagined at all. They wanted to use Tsunade as a temporary substitute, but she wanted to use him as a puppet.
"Alright, stop joking, little Tsuna," Hashirama Senju said, tapping the table. "Although we all believe Naruto will become Hokage someday, it's not now. No ninja village would let a thirteen-year-old genin inherit the position of Kage. It's just not something people would accept."
Bang!
The wine glass slammed heavily onto the table.
"I'm not joking, Great-Grandpa." Tsunade's fist slowly clenched as she spoke in a low voice. "What Konoha needs now is a powerful ninja. Why can't it be Naruto? Could he really do a worse job as Hokage than you did? Back then, you were always relying on Great-Granduncle's help!"
Hashirama Senju fell silent.
That was truly embarrassing to bring up. As the revered First Hokage, most of his administrative duties were actually handled by Tobirama Senju. Hashirama just used his power to deter anyone from daring to attack Konoha. The few policies he did manage to create were later modified and improved one by one by Tobirama before they could be implemented.
For example, Hashirama had proposed establishing the Konoha Ninja Academy, but after he tried to set it up himself, very few parents signed their children up. The plan almost failed. Fortunately, Tobirama took over. Not long after, the clans in the village began to send their children to the school, including the Uchiha, who had never been on good terms with the village leaders. The academy was finally on the right track.
After shutting down her great-grandfather, Tsunade didn't spare a glance for the startled and shrinking Hashirama. Instead, she turned to Jiraiya. "Hey, Jiraiya, have you also become as conservative as an old man? Naruto is your disciple!"
Her conviction was stronger than anyone else's. Ever since she had personally witnessed Naruto's strength and heard his ideals, she believed he was the most suitable person to be Konoha's Hokage.
Jiraiya pondered for a moment and then nodded. "I will try to persuade the two village consultant elders. If they don't agree, you will still have to step up as the Fifth Hokage. Konoha really needs a leader who can calm people's hearts..."
"Don't worry, they'll agree," Tsunade said, clenching her fists with a fierce smile. "Two of the Sannin and the resurrected First Hokage are supporting Naruto. Plus, he's the son of the Fourth Hokage, and he's incredibly powerful. No one in the village should object."
Somehow, the blonde kunoichi had managed to persuade everyone present to agree to her somewhat unbelievable proposal.
"Tsk, Fifth Hokage, huh?" Naruto muttered, thinking about what people would call him. It felt a little strange.
"There's still a long way to go," Tsunade glanced at Naruto and snorted. "Hmph, there's no precedent for this. To convince the consultants, Koharu Utatane and the others, I might have to use my fists..."
Shizune shivered beside her. "Lady Tsunade, they're old people..."
There was indeed no precedent for a thirteen-year-old genin becoming the Kage of a major ninja village. But soon, there would be.
-----
In another corner of the ninja world, in a village shrouded by wind and sand, several ninjas were slumped over a conference table. They were silent, and blood slowly pooled on the tabletop. They had clearly died right where they sat.
The red-haired boy at the head of the table had his legs crossed, his face grim as he swept his gaze over everyone present. "Does anyone else object to my proposal to become the Fifth Kazekage?"
Baki, the Jonin standing behind Gaara, frowned. He was somewhat dissatisfied with his student's slaughter but still wanted to win back the villagers' support. "Everyone here should be well aware that after the Fourth Kazekage was assassinated, our village no longer has a Kage-level ninja."
He continued, "Gaara can, at the very least, control the One-Tail and protect the Sand Village. Moreover, Elder Chiyo and Elder Ebizo have also agreed to my proposal."
"..."
A group of Sand ninjas fell into silence. It was truly embarrassing, but after the Fourth Kazekage's death, their village couldn't even find a successor. In the end, they were only left with the volatile Gaara. They had also asked the two old consultants who had been around since the time of the First Kazekage, but the elders had no interest in the position.
Finally, a ninja tremblingly spoke. "It was always Lord Fourth Kazekage who provided the money. Now the village's funds are about to run out..."
Gaara glanced at Baki beside him and, just as he was taught, answered, "Tomorrow, I will go to the Land of Wind's Daimyo and have him allocate funds."
"But the Land of Wind's Daimyo has been giving all his missions to Konoha... If we do this, won't we provoke Konoha's hostility?" someone objected. "We just attacked Konoha not long ago. To go and demand funds from the Daimyo now will start another war, won't it?"
Baki, his hands behind his back, saw that Gaara wasn't answering and quickly responded for his student. "Rest assured. Based on my understanding of Konoha, they will understand our actions. I have also communicated with Konoha's Hokage advisors about this..."
"Then shall we go and prepare for the succession ceremony?" A group of ninjas slowly raised their heads, carefully looking at each other.
The red-haired boy clenched a mass of sand in his hand, his eyes cold. "It's best to be quick. Don't make me wait."
-----
Bonus:
Tsunade: The Sand Village has a thirteen-year-old Kazekage. It's perfectly normal for Naruto to become Hokage!
Homura Mitokado: What kind of place is the Sand Village? They have no one else. Konoha is different!
Tsunade: Fine, I'll personally send you to the hospital, and I'll even be your attending physician...
Homura Mitokado: Don't be so crude. Do you think I'm afraid?
Tsunade: I heard that Kazekage named Gaara killed the people who opposed him at the Jonin meeting. Do you think Naruto is a pushover, too?
Homura Mitokado: ...