Chapter 266: Debate
Konoha was thrown into chaos.
What was originally confined to the opposition between Nawaki and Orochimaru gradually evolved into a debate across the entire village.
Following Hiruzen and Danzo "stating their stances," the heads of various other clans were also successively "forced to state their stances."
Inside the Senju clan compound.
Nawaki felt slightly guilty; they had blown this matter way out of proportion.
Masahiko didn't even look up. "Anyone with a bit of status in Konoha has stated their stance... Hmm, let's add one more person to your camp. Just say Jiraiya, who is traveling far away, sent a letter expressing his support for you."
Nawaki's expression was exaggerated. "Is that really okay? Great-Great-Grandpa..."
"Just do as I say."
...
Land of Rain.
"Fire Release: Ha-choo!" Jiraiya demonstrated hand seals, but was interrupted by a sneeze, spitting out a small flame from his mouth.
"Teacher, this jutsu of yours..."
"Ahaha..." Jiraiya scratched his head. "Someone in the village must be missing me. Don't mind it. Let's continue. I will only teach you for one more month. Whether you can change this war-torn country is up to you!"
"Yes, Teacher!"
...
Konoha Village, inside the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen and Danzo exchanged bitter smiles, both clear in their hearts that this must be Masahiko's doing.
They should have been alert when the two of them were first dragged into the water, but the subsequent series of actions was simply too fast. Now that the entire Konoha was involved, it was indeed becoming somewhat difficult to wrap up.
After a long while, Hiruzen sighed. "What should we do now? We can't let this continue, otherwise Konoha will be in danger of splitting."
Recently, people had already started fighting over these debates, and it was becoming almost impossible to suppress.
Danzo's face was gloomy. He was indeed the one who started this, but Hiruzen also had a tacitly approving attitude. But looking at Hiruzen's current meaning, he wanted Danzo to figure out a solution.
"Yo, you two, both here?" Masahiko walked in with a radiant smile; the building guards had completely "ignored" him.
Hiruzen stood up, looking as if nothing had happened. "Elder Masahiko, you are here."
"Elder Masahiko." Danzo also offered a greeting.
Masahiko waved a hand, knowingly asking, "You both know about the debate in Konoha these past few days. Have you thought of a way to resolve it?"
The two exchanged a glance and cursed inwardly. Don't you know how the debate started?
"Elder Masahiko, how do you think it should be resolved?" Hiruzen asked helplessly.
Masahiko smiled. "Konoha Village has always upheld the principles of fairness, justice, and openness. This time is the same. The truth becomes clearer the more it is debated!"
The two exchanged a glance. "It's already being debated..."
"It's not open enough!" Masahiko revealed an enigmatic smile.
...
Three days later.
The Konoha Stadium was packed, with no empty seats.
Masahiko's voice spread throughout the entire stadium via an amplification barrier.
"Gathering half the residents of Konoha Village here today is for the question everyone has been debating recently: what is more important, the mission or comrades."
"This question has been debated for nearly a week, yet neither side has completely defeated the other. It has already seriously affected Konoha's stability and harmony."
As Masahiko spoke, he frowned slightly, feeling these lines were a bit awkward. Clearing his throat, he continued.
"Today, here, we will put an end to this incident."
"The few people in front of me are all important figures in Konoha Village, and their views on this matter are very clear."
"Having them debate to put an end to the recent turmoil, I assume everyone has no objections?"
"Now I announce, Konoha Village's First Debate Conference officially begins!" Masahiko smiled and said, "Please welcome Elder Danzo Shimura, who supports the mission as the priority, to clarify his views!"
Danzo: "..."
He had a curse word he didn't know if he should say. He had been confusedly led by Masahiko to bring the situation to this point.
"Elder Danzo seems to have nothing to say, so please welcome our beloved Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to clarify his views!"
Hiruzen stood up with a bitter smile, glanced at his good buddy Danzo, said a silent apology in his heart, and started preaching the Will of Fire again.
In such a public setting, very few people dared to say they would abandon comrades for a mission, and the higher one's status, the truer this was.
With a high status, one commands many subordinates. Even the most loyal subordinate would feel a grudge upon hearing that their leader might abandon them for a mission.
...
A farce came to an end, with the side choosing comrades as the priority winning a complete victory.
"This time, I'm going to have to dig up Tobirama's coffin lid." Masahiko smiled and shook his head. "When I see him again later, I must properly mock him for this."
"What kind of garbage ideology is this, making ninjas completely devoid of human touch? You can find a way to salvage a mission, but if comrades are gone, they're truly gone."
As Masahiko thought this, he suddenly felt something was wrong. Recalling Tobirama's personality, and adding the fact that Hashirama seemed to still be alive when he said that sentence, "Could it be..."
Inside the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen let out a long sigh and spoke, "Konoha will probably suffer quite a loss this time. When Teacher Tobirama said 'ninjas must prioritize the mission' back then, it was more of a statement to attract civilians to issue missions."
Danzo didn't speak, standing by the side with a gloomy face.
"But this is good too. Konoha is no longer in the embarrassed state it was back then. Letting ninjas value comrades more will actually be more beneficial for Konoha's future development." Hiruzen continued speaking to himself.
After a long while, Danzo finally snorted coldly, "Hiruzen, do you still harbor illusions this time? Elder Masahiko is clearly showing he wants to support Nawaki Senju to become the Fourth Hokage. And Minato Namikaze hasn't been involved in this incident at all. I fear he truly intends to take him back to the Land of Whirlpools, along with the Nine-Tails inside Kushina Uzumaki."
If Masahiko knew, he would definitely scream injustice.
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment. "Later, for the peace talks in the Land of Earth, have Minato lead the team, with Shikaku and the others assisting..."
...
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, two years passed.
During these two years, Masahiko lived in seclusion in the Taobao Shop, watching the tides rise and fall...
That wasn't the reality. Masahiko participated in almost every major and minor event in Konoha, just to scrounge up some Witness Points.
But ultimately, the results were minimal. Over two years, he only brought in 80 Witness Points, the majority of which came from Obito becoming a Chunin and Kakashi becoming a Jonin.
"Still short 300 points. Minato becoming Hokage should bring quite a few. Where should I make up the rest later?"
Masahiko sighed.
Minato becoming Hokage was practically set in stone in his mind. He didn't even need to do anything. Over the past two years, every one of Minato's mission experiences would be spread around, and the evaluations were often "perfect."
"So Hiruzen's preference is indeed Minato. Is it Kushina's influence?" Masahiko also had suspicions.
"I'll ignore him for now. The hidden chess piece from back then is finally showing results." Masahiko weighed a letter in his hand. Written on it was: "Meet at the old place." The signature was a row of jagged teeth.
Recalling Tsunade's strange expression when she delivered the letter, Masahiko sighed deeply. "Ameyuri Ringo, are you trying to gross me out?"
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