Chapter 127: The Fourth Hokage
That night, many were destined for sleeplessness.
Ninja leaped across rooftops, bouncing about ceaselessly until dawn finally brought stillness.
A little past seven in the morning, Hiruko opened his refrigerator to find expired bread, spoiled milk, and several cups of instant ramen. He was the traditional type of ninja with zero domestic skills and virtually no interest in culinary pleasures.
Ritsu wasn't quite so spartan.
Good food could still bring tremendous enjoyment and comfort to one's spirit.
However, he hadn't reached the point of being picky enough to demand only the finest ingredients and most refined preparations. While gourmet meals certainly brought pleasure, instant ramen had its own appeal. After the master-student pair finished a simple breakfast and tidied everything up, Hiruko stayed home to train while Ritsu headed toward the Hokage building.
The agreed-upon time was eight o'clock.
But obviously, no one would arrive exactly on time. At seven o'clock, when Hiruko and Ritsu were still eating their instant ramen, people had already rushed to the Hokage building to wait.
At seven-fifty, the conference room doors opened.
Yesterday's attendees filed in one after another, finding their respective seats.
Jiraiya still occupied the head position, with Orochimaru and Akimichi Torikaze seated on either side.
"Everyone, I'll be presiding over today's meeting as well."
Jiraiya's expression looked somewhat exhausted—dark circles and deep bags under his eyes were clearly visible. Obviously, he hadn't slept well last night, or perhaps hadn't slept at all. He surveyed the room, saying in a low voice, "Everyone's here! Since no one's absent, let's get straight to business. Today's meeting has only one agenda item: due to the Third Hokage's impeachment and removal, we need to elect the Fourth Hokage as quickly as possible."
Everyone in the conference room stared intently at Jiraiya.
"The village has no fixed rules regarding Hokage elections. However, today's situation resembles the First Hokage's election, so I plan to follow that precedent. Does anyone have objections? If so, speak now. If you don't speak now, it means you agree by default. Any objections raised later won't be accepted!"
After finishing, Jiraiya cast an inquiring gaze over everyone, including Orochimaru. His focus centered particularly on Orochimaru and Hyuga Ritsu—if anyone would raise objections, it would be these two.
However, to his surprise, both Orochimaru and Ritsu remained silent.
The conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
After about a minute passed, Jiraiya cleared his throat lightly. "No one objects? Then we'll continue. Following the precedent from the First Hokage's election, we'll first confirm the Fourth Hokage candidates. Currently, there are two candidates for Fourth Hokage: Orochimaru-jonin and Namikaze Minato-jonin."
"These two were confirmed as candidates before the Third Hokage stepped down. Of course, if anyone feels there's a more suitable candidate, you may recommend them now—provided the recommended individual wishes to compete for Fourth Hokage. So... does anyone have new candidates to recommend? Self-nominations are also permitted."
Still, no one spoke.
This meeting was rapidly becoming Jiraiya's one-man show.
Though Jiraiya didn't enjoy being the center of attention at all, he just wanted to finish this quickly, get Minato into the Hokage position, then return to the frontlines to continue the standoff with Cloud ninja.
Honestly, back in the Land of Hot Water, he'd been annoyed by that monotonous, tedious life. But everything happening in the village made him miss those boring days stationed at the Hot Water frontlines immensely.
"Since no one's speaking, the Fourth Hokage candidates are confirmed as only Orochimaru-jonin and Namikaze Minato-jonin. According to the First Hokage election rules, we should now organize all villagers to vote, with the highest vote count winning the Fourth Hokage position. However—"
After stating the precedent, Jiraiya added a twist at the end.
He paused for several seconds before continuing, "If we follow the First Hokage's precedent completely, it might take considerable time. After all, Konoha's current population is many times larger than when the village was founded. Considering the village's special current circumstances—unrest among the people, the Hot Water frontline still facing Cloud ninja—we don't have time to waste. So... I hope those present will vote directly, representing the village's ninja and villagers."
After speaking, he first glanced at Ritsu, then turned to stare at his old friend Orochimaru beside him.
"Jiraiya, why are you looking at me?"
Orochimaru asked with a smile.
"As one of the candidates, I want to know—are you willing to accept this alternative method?"
Jiraiya didn't mince words, asking directly.
"Of course I'm willing. It's quite a good method."
Orochimaru's gaze swept around the conference room. "Everyone present is either a department head or clan leader. Each person has a group standing behind them. All together, we can truly represent all of Konoha. Minato, what do you think?"
Finally, he directed the question straight at Minato.
"Orochimaru-senpai is absolutely right. I also support this method. We don't have time to dawdle. We must elect the Fourth Hokage as quickly as possible to restore order to the village. Regardless of who ultimately becomes Lord Fourth Hokage, the Hokage position absolutely cannot remain vacant this long!"
Minato's words rang with conviction.
His complexion also wasn't great—faint dark circles and eye bags indicated he probably hadn't slept last night either. But he was younger than Jiraiya, and a powerful vision supported him, so he still appeared spirited and radiant.
In contrast, Orochimaru—also a candidate—still emanated that unapproachable cold aura. Living up to his name, he truly resembled a snake, inspiring fear.
"Both candidates have no objections. What about everyone else?"
Jiraiya was somewhat surprised by Orochimaru's agreement.
However, he currently had no spare energy to investigate why Orochimaru agreed. As long as Orochimaru had no objections, this was unquestionably good news for him and Minato.
Last night, he'd visited the Sarutobi clan, talking through the night with their clan head. Meanwhile, Minato had contacted the Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Aburame, Inuzuka, and many other families. They were confident of obtaining support from half the people present.
"Jiraiya-senpai, I have a question."
Ritsu raised his hand.
Jiraiya's heart sank, understanding trouble had arrived. He took a deep breath, asking calmly, "Hyuga Clan Head, what's your question?"
"Those of us sitting here can genuinely represent Konoha—that's not an issue. However, the question is: will the voting be one person, one vote? If so, that doesn't seem quite fair! My Hyuga clan has numerous members. Our jonin numbers are unmatched throughout the village. Can my single vote as Hyuga Clan Head representing so many clansmen directly equal the Nara clan's vote?"
After speaking, Ritsu quickly looked toward Nara Shikaku. "My apologies, Shikaku-senpai. I'm not targeting anyone—just using this as an example."
"No problem. I understand what you mean, Hyuga Clan Head."
Nara Shikaku smiled faintly. He didn't appear angry that his Nara clan had been pulled into the comparison—or rather, he had absolutely no confidence to get angry at Ritsu, who'd publicly defeated the Third Hokage.
Besides smiling, he had no other options.
But Jiraiya wasn't flustered. Last night, Nara Shikaku had already pointed out this problem. After agreeing to support Minato's ascension to Fourth Hokage, Shikaku had actively helped strategize for Minato and provided a solution to this issue.
"Hyuga Clan Head, I've considered that point as well. In fact, that's what I was about to address next. I'll allocate vote counts based on each clan's proportion of jonin relative to all village jonin. Civilian ninja votes will be evenly distributed among department heads. What do you think of this method, Hyuga Clan Head?"
Jiraiya asked.
"In that case, I have no objections. Jiraiya-senpai, please continue!"
Ritsu quieted down.
This method wasn't without issues, but Ritsu wasn't here today to actually sabotage things. As long as the Hyuga clan's rights weren't damaged, that was sufficient. No need to nitpick and cause trouble.
Because he also eagerly anticipated quickly finalizing the Fourth Hokage, thoroughly transforming the Third Hokage into the past, into words in history.
Seeing this, Jiraiya's heart relaxed slightly. Good thing Ritsu wasn't being unreasonable. Not daring to delay further, he said rapidly, "The vote allocation has been finalized. Kakashi, distribute the documents."
He directed Hatake Kakashi, standing in the conference room corner, to work.
The white-haired youth wearing a mask distributed documents he'd been holding to everyone. Though called documents, they were actually just two thin pages listing each person's specific vote count, with calculation formulas appended.
Ritsu received his copy and scanned it, his gaze quickly locking onto his own name.
"Seventy-nine votes total. I have fourteen—nearly twenty percent? Not bad!"
Ritsu smiled with satisfaction.
Though the Hyuga clan struggled to produce top-tier experts, their jonin numbers remained consistently high. Moreover, they weren't substandard jonin—all were qualified jonin skilled in taijutsu.
In other words, according to this calculation method, the Hyuga clan's jonin numbers approached one-fifth of all village jonin.
In contrast, Uchiha Fugaku—
He held only four votes. This meant the Uchiha clan's jonin didn't even reach one-third of the Hyuga clan's jonin. Of course, even so, the Uchiha remained one of the village's top clans. Families like the Aburame and Inuzuka each held only two votes.
The Ino-Shika-Cho clans combined only totaled ten votes.
However, the Sarutobi clan commanded respect with a full five votes. Their jonin numbers exceeded even the Uchiha clan's. Setting aside specific combat power and looking only at numbers, the Sarutobi clan was Konoha's second-largest clan after the Hyuga.
"Does everyone have no issues with their vote counts?"
After waiting approximately five minutes, Jiraiya spoke up again.
"Jiraiya-senpai, let's vote quickly! We have no objections."
Ritsu called out loudly.
Though many weren't pleased being represented by Ritsu's "we," they truly had no objections. They could only pinch their noses and accept being represented by Ritsu.
Seeing this, Jiraiya didn't hesitate. "Then let's begin voting. Kakashi, prepare yourself and keep records."
The voting method was recorded ballot.
Hatake Kakashi positioned himself before a whiteboard nearby, holding a marker. He wrote down both Orochimaru and Namikaze Minato's names on the board.
Seeing Kakashi ready, Jiraiya directed his gaze toward Akimichi Torikaze beside him. Though Torikaze came from the Akimichi clan, right now this elder represented not the Akimichi but held three votes representing civilian ninja.
This revealed the voting's manipulation. Fairness and justice had never existed from the start.
"Torikaze-senpai, you first?"
"Three votes supporting Minato."
Akimichi Torikaze answered frankly.
Kakashi immediately wrote the number 3 after Namikaze Minato's name.
Next, without Jiraiya calling names individually, they proceeded in seating order around the circle. And unsurprisingly, Minato had numerous supporters while Orochimaru's supporters were genuinely few.
When it was nearly Ritsu's turn, he glanced at the whiteboard. Minato had already obtained thirty-six votes—nearly half.
The next voter was Uchiha Fugaku.
He held four votes.
"Four votes for Namikaze Minato."
The moment Uchiha Fugaku spoke, he ended this election. Even though Ritsu's fourteen votes hadn't been cast yet, Minato had already received thirty-six plus four—totaling forty votes.
And the total vote count was seventy-nine.
In other words, with the Uchiha clan declaring support for Minato, the Fourth Hokage candidate was already decided. Orochimaru had missed his chance by a hair. Minato had achieved his wish.
However, voting still needed to continue.
The process had to be completed to confirm Namikaze Minato's legitimacy as Fourth Hokage.
"Fourteen votes for Orochimaru-senpai."
Ritsu said casually.
Though his support was now meaningless, he'd promised to support Orochimaru's Hokage campaign. Even if Orochimaru himself had lost interest in the Hokage position, Ritsu still needed to fulfill his promise.
Ultimately, Minato achieved overwhelming victory with fifty-one votes to Orochimaru's twenty-eight.
"Voting concluded."
Jiraiya's expression became animated. He declared, "From this moment forward, Namikaze Minato-jonin is our Konoha's Fourth Hokage!" After speaking, his gaze moved warily back and forth between Orochimaru and Ritsu.
But to his surprise, Ritsu looked completely indifferent, while Orochimaru smiled broadly, as if genuinely happy for Minato!
Though somewhat puzzled, Jiraiya's heart still breathed a long sigh of relief. Regardless of what these two were thinking, as long as they were willing to acknowledge and accept this result, that was the best possible outcome!
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