A content smile spread across Akimichi Torifu's face.
"Feeling good. Let's... let's go. Back to the clan..."
The members of the Akimichi clan exchanged glances. Ignoring the reactions of the other clans, they lifted Akimichi Torifu and departed.
Kawasaki noticed Akimichi Torifu's exit. The man had been a Consultant Elder for so many years, yet he hardly ever attended any meetings.
Could he have been ostracized?
Thinking about how low-profile the Akimichi clan had been all these years, and how slowly they had developed, it was not at all what one would expect from the family of a Consultant Elder.
Kawasaki felt certain of his guess.
He brought his focus back to the present, seeming to accept the Third Hokage's explanation. With a look of apology, he addressed Hiruzen.
"Oh, so that's how it is. It seems I misunderstood you, Lord Third."
Then, Kawasaki leaned into the microphone.
"In that case, I'd like to congratulate Lord Orochimaru on his successful election as the Fifth Hokage!"
After speaking, Kawasaki waved a hand and commanded, "All Uchiha, let's go!"
With that, Kawasaki leaped from the stage. Fugaku pulled a somewhat bewildered Sasuke along. Itachi and Shisui followed closely behind. Yaoyue was muttering curses under his breath, but his voice was low and restrained.
The other Uchiha clan members rose in perfect order, and the large group left the plaza.
Tsunade gave the Third Hokage a deep, meaningful look before waving a hand as well. All the medical-nin followed her. Shizune went down and led a dazed Naruto away. Another large crowd trailed after the Uchiha clan.
As one of his subordinates, Number One, fell in line behind him, Orochimaru let out a cold snort. Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, he too began to walk away.
Kakashi glanced back at the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage was truly corrupt and dark.
The Konoha elders and clan heads seated on either side of the display screen remained motionless.
Hyuga Yuto was responsible for a portion of the venue's security today. Seeing that even the newly elected Fifth Hokage, Orochimaru, was leaving, he quickly looked toward his superior, Hizashi.
Hizashi closed his eyes for a moment, signaling for him to remain calm.
Yuto gave a slight nod and returned to maintaining order.
The Third Hokage had finished his pipe, and his expression was once again placid. He walked to the microphone, his voice calm as he spoke.
"I declare that Orochimaru has been successfully elected as the Fifth Hokage."
Beside the stage, confetti cannons fired with a series of pops.
Suddenly, a few people in the crowd below began to cheer, but they failed to inspire many others. Only a small minority celebrated, while most people simply looked bewildered.
The elders on the stage wore formulaic smiles and clapped lightly.
Noticing the lukewarm atmosphere, the Third Hokage waved his hand. The crowd below immediately fell silent. He seemed pleased by how quickly they had obeyed.
"The Fifth Hokage will officially take office on the third of the month, two months from now. I declare today's Fifth Hokage election a complete success!"
With that, the Third Hokage descended the stage with steady steps.
He walked into the Hokage Building behind the stage, where the Daimyō, who had been drinking tea and eating snacks earlier, had fallen asleep. The Third Hokage nodded slightly, then gave a meaningful look to the Anbu guard standing nearby.
The Anbu gently woke the Daimyō.
The Daimyō, feigning a deep sleep, let out a yawn. "Ah, Lord Third Hokage, my apologies," he said with an apologetic tone. "Old age makes one so drowsy."
The Third Hokage smiled amiably. "Yes, yes, it certainly does. I often find myself dozing off at my desk as well."
The Daimyō chuckled in agreement. "Has the Fifth Hokage been chosen?"
"He has," the Third said with a smile. "My student, Orochimaru, was the victor."
The Daimyō clapped his hands together. "Excellent, excellent! I've always said Orochimaru was a man of great talent. With him as the Fifth Hokage, I can rest easy."
The Third Hokage continued, "Konoha will hold the inauguration ceremony in two months. I imagine the Daimyō will be quite busy around that time."
The Daimyō put on a regretful expression. "Ah, yes, I will be. I'm afraid I won't be able to attend and offer my congratulations in person. Please, convey my best wishes to the Fifth Hokage for me."
Only then did the Third Hokage nod in satisfaction.
...
The moment the Third Hokage announced Orochimaru as the Fifth Hokage, a notification sounded in Kawasaki's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for significantly altering Tsunade's life trajectory.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Hundred Healings Jutsu x1]
A faint smile touched Kawasaki's lips as he walked. It seemed Orochimaru's position as Hokage was now secure.
After the Third Hokage left, the elders hastily made their exits, followed finally by the heads of the Hyuga and other ninja clans.
The commoners below were left with expressions of doubt, confusion, and suspicion.
Anko had just gone through another revelation. If the Third Hokage had once been a figure of shining righteousness in her eyes, the last incident had stripped away his perfect halo, revealing him as a politician.
But after today, Anko finally understood just how deeply his true nature was hidden.
Could it be?
Was Master Orochimaru also just a puppet for Lord Third?
A wave of fear washed over Anko.
The crowd in the plaza was beginning to thin out. Just then, a small hand grabbed hers.
Anko snapped back to reality. A little girl with red hair and red eyes was holding her arm. Anko remembered her; she was one of Orochimaru's new recruits, a child named Karin.
What did she want?
Karin smiled brightly. "Anko-senpai, Master Orochimaru sent me to get you."
Anko's face was a mask of disbelief. How did her master recognize her when she had gotten so fat?
"Get me?" she asked timidly. The last thing she wanted was for Orochimaru to see her in this state.
Karin tugged at her hand. "Hurry up, don't keep him waiting."
Reluctantly, Anko allowed herself to be pulled away.
Around the plaza, spies from the various factions exchanged glances, their eyes glinting with excitement. They never expected to witness such a major event today. They only needed to bring the intelligence back; dedicated analysts would then sift through it for valuable information.
The less astute spies might conclude that the Sarutobi clan had quietly amassed a huge number of shinobi. They would then wonder: was Orochimaru merely a puppet for the Third Hokage?
Those with more analytical minds, however, found the situation far more interesting. Konoha's political corruption had been laid bare for all to see.
The Sarutobi were not a clan with a Kekkei Genkai. To train a single Jōnin was a massive investment of time and money, but the real issue was that it was impossible for them to produce so many individuals with the necessary aptitude.
That left only one possibility: political fraud.
Of those one hundred-plus Jōnin, how many were genuine, and how many lacked the skills to qualify for the rank? Outsiders had no way of knowing, but everyone believed that Konoha would surely investigate the matter internally.
Major changes were coming to the village. Though none of them knew exactly what the final outcome would be, for now, the agents in the field could only communicate their anticipation with their eyes.