Uchiha Yoichi interrupted the clan members behind him. This was pre-agreed to sway those neutral Jonin towards supporting Hatake Sakumo.
Even the Sannin and the Uchiha Clan Leader made back-to-back recommendations, coupled with recent newspaper rumors outside, there's no question as to who the most suitable ninja for the Fourth Hokage is, right?
Orochimaru and Uchiha Yoichi directly made the choice for them!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened again. By now, he understood; it wasn't that the Uchiha clan wanted the Hokage position for themselves, they wanted to select a Hokage ally.
It was long known that Hatake Sakumo had a good relationship with Uchiha Yoichi—so good that the Uchiha clan didn't even question Kakashi's Sharingan, but he had overlooked this connection.
Sarutobi Hiruzen believed the Uchiha clan would grasp the Hokage position tightly, and indeed, the Uchiha were previously desperate for power just as he thought.
But now.....
Hatake Sakumo's face also displayed some embarrassment, although he knew Uchiha Yoichi hoped he would become Hokage, this was too flattering.
"...In that case, if there's no one else, the candidates for the Fourth Hokage will only be Namikaze Minato and Hatake Sakumo."
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a sense of foreboding. Had he known earlier that Namikaze Minato's final opponent would be Hatake Sakumo, he would have prepared ahead of time.
But at this stage, he couldn't cancel the election and push it to the next time; besides, the Daimyo Mansion had already received the message and would probably arrive by tomorrow.
"Let's start the voting."
Then the Jonin voting began, and with each vote cast, Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart sank further.
Namikaze Minato was truly excellent, but it also depended on whom he compared with.
Against Orochimaru, Uchiha Yoichi, perhaps he could rely on connections and other aspects; but when facing Hatake Sakumo, the vote difference was substantial.
Aside from the Ino-Shika-Cho and Sarutobi's four clans' ninjas, only a little over thirty Jonin voted for Namikaze Minato, and in the end, Namikaze Minato's total vote count was only eighty-one.
On the other hand, Hatake Sakumo's vote count was as high as one hundred and forty-three, a gap of over sixty votes, really quite large.
"The voting results are out, the Daimyo will arrive in Konoha Village tomorrow, and then the....participate in the meeting."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke calmly, referring to the village's advisors and the Jonin class leaders.
Uchiha Yoichi wouldn't be able to attend the final Fourth Hokage selection meeting tomorrow, but it no longer mattered, as the Daimyo had long been convinced by him.
Now Sarutobi Hiruzen might still consider the Daimyo his last hope, but when the Daimyo selects Hatake Sakumo as the Fourth, he'll want to crush his pipe in frustration.
As Uchiha Yoichi predicted, after ending the Jonin meeting, Sarutobi Hiruzen called Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Danzo, hoping they would persuade the Daimyo tomorrow to choose Namikaze Minato as the Fourth Hokage.
By now, Sarutobi Hiruzen was too tired to dispute with Danzo, knowing that when Danzo recommended Orochimaru, the leak about the Hokage election was also from him.
But Danzo had also been played by Orochimaru, his disciple had long mingled with the Uchiha, and Danzo hadn't even realized it.
Danzo's expression was also grim, realizing that he had been tricked by Orochimaru as if being played for a fool; back then, he agreed so well, yet got his face thrown at the Jonin meeting.
'Orochimaru, Uchiha Yoichi, you truly deserve to die!'
Danzo now also understood that to continue preserving the Root, getting Namikaze Minato as Hokage was the best choice, at least he could still use Sarutobi Hiruzen to get Namikaze Minato to agree to retain the Root.
If Hatake Sakumo were to take over, this issue would be difficult.
——————————————
"What's wrong with you? Why are you so down after coming back?"
Seeing Namikaze Minato return and simply sit on the couch without saying a word, far from his usual 'Little Sun' demeanor, Kushina asked with concern.
"Kushina, I might not become Hokage."
Namikaze Minato said somewhat powerlessly; if the competitor had been Orochimaru, he would have had the confidence to contend, but now the opponent was Hatake Sakumo, supported by both Orochimaru and Uchiha Yoichi.
Namikaze Minato currently had no confidence at all.
"It's okay if you don't become Hokage; you can aim for the Fifth."
Kushina immediately comforted, then switched to a fierce expression: "If you don't become Hokage, does that mean you won't marry me?"
"Of course not, it's just that I want to become Hokage so I can lift the restrictions on you!"
Namikaze Minato explained, making Kushina laugh immediately, then she said to him, "It's okay, I believe you'll find a way."
"Kushina...."
Namikaze Minato said moved, and then regained his confidence.
On the other side.
Uchiha Yoichi also returned home. So far, the Fourth Hokage election was essentially concluded, and he no longer needed to worry.
After Hatake Sakumo becomes Hokage, the village definitely won't stall the Uchiha clan's Jonin applications anymore.
"You're back."
Seeing Uchiha Yoichi return, Uzumaki Minami smiled and walked out to greet him, her belly growing day by day.
"Mm, the Fourth Hokage election took place today, there are two candidates, and the result will come out tomorrow."
Uchiha Yoichi said casually, then saw Nohara Rin walking out from inside the house.
Nohara Rin came out and nodded with a slight bow towards Uchiha Yoichi, feeling a bit embarrassed for having stayed for dinner today, and now wanting to ask Uchiha Yoichi for a favor.
After Uchiha Yoichi went inside, Uzumaki Minami gave Nohara Rin a signal, but seeing the latter still somewhat embarrassed, she took the initiative to speak for her: "Lord Yoichi, Rin has something to ask of you, could you help her...."
Uchiha Yoichi looked at Nohara Rin and asked, "What is it?"
"Well, I heard that Lord Yoichi has a method for rapidly increasing strength, and I want to become stronger, so I was hoping, could you please guide me...."
After speaking, Nohara Rin bowed deeply. She knew her actions were abrupt, but a series of events happened because she was too weak and got captured.
Plus, Uzumaki Minami kept encouraging her, so Nohara Rin gathered the courage to ask Uchiha Yoichi about getting stronger.
Furthermore, Uzumaki Minami even assured Nohara Rin in the morning that, even if just for her sake, Uchiha Yoichi would help her out.
Uchiha Yoichi pretended not to understand and asked, "You want to get stronger? You're a medical ninja, right? Why do you suddenly want to become stronger?"
"Because even as a medical ninja, I must have the ability to protect myself, otherwise I'll just become a burden to my teammates!"
Nohara Rin took a deep breath, her expression resolute, and said, "I don't want to be a burden to my teammates anymore and have friends die because of my lack of strength... So please, Lord Yoichi, guide me."
"I understand, it's an excellent idea, I can teach you."
Uchiha Yoichi nodded to Nohara Rin and said, "For regular training methods, you can ask any Jonin, they will tell you, and even Minami should have told you, so it doesn't matter if I say it or not...."
"However, I have another method to increase strength, very suitable for a ninja like you."