Chapter 60: Various Konoha Factions Take Sides, Byakuya Strikes Powerfully!
At this time, the Chunin Exam venue was already in a mess.
With the Third Hokage dead, it was almost difficult to find a proper spokesperson for the entire Konoha.
"Jiraiya, you are Hiruzen's disciple. At this time, Hiruzen would most likely want you to take over his position."
At this moment, the Hokage Advisors Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, who had appeared from nowhere, began to discuss the candidate for the next Hokage.
"I've said it, I'm not interested in the position of Hokage."
"Moreover, I heard from Kakashi that when the old man finally left, he said he would entrust the heavy responsibility to Byakuya!"
Jiraiya simply shook his head after hearing this, rejecting the suggestion of the two Hokage Advisors.
"Jiraiya, how can you not see the situation clearly!"
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu naturally wouldn't agree to such a statement.
Giving the position of Hokage to someone who wasn't of their faction? How could that be possible!
"Koharu, Lord Mitokado, I think we should wait for Byakuya to return before making a decision on this matter!"
At this time, Kakashi stepped forward.
Byakuya had taken action to save his disciples, and Kakashi was personally present for the Third Hokage's final words.
To be honest, Kakashi wasn't particularly fond of these two so-called Hokage Advisors in front of him.
"I also believe we should wait until Byakuya arrives before making a decision!"
Ibiki Morino, the captain of the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force who held actual power in Konoha, actually chose to stand with Byakuya as well.
"Byakuya assisted us in killing Orochimaru's summoned beast, Manda. It's most appropriate to wait for Byakuya for this matter!"
Ibiki Morino, it must be said, held quite a bit of influence in Konoha.
With him saying this, even Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were left with no options.
"Absurd! Byakuya is young. Even if he is powerful, he is not suitable to be involved in today's discussion!"
"Clack, clack, clack!"
Danzo arrived at the Chunin Exams venue, surrounded by Root Ninjas.
"Besides, I don't think Jiraiya has any such intention, so let's not force him!"
Danzo said indifferently.
"Danzo, what were you and your Root doing when the invasion just happened?!"
Jiraiya could be said to be quite blunt with Danzo.
Jiraiya spoke without any politeness as soon as he arrived.
"Is that so? And what were you doing, Jiraiya!"
Danzo looked at Jiraiya with an impatient expression.
Among the remaining people in Konoha, Jiraiya was likely the only one who dared to speak to him this way.
"Jiraiya-sama and Byakuya's Shadow Clone helped us kill Orochimaru's Summoning Beasts!"
At this moment, Ibiki Morino naturally had to step forward to explain.
"By the way, Danzo, what were you and your Root doing?"
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado also began to shift their responsibilities.
After all, the greater the ability, the higher the rank, and the higher the rank, the greater the responsibility.
The two of them were merely Hokage Advisors in charge of the Logistics Department.
Unlike Danzo, who controlled his own Root organization!
"This old man was preventing other hidden Villages from taking advantage of the situation."
"Furthermore, the purpose of the Root organization is to eliminate obstacles that hinder the Village's prosperity from the shadows; naturally, you wouldn't be aware!"
It had to be said that Danzo was truly thick-skinned.
To actually be able to use such a set of rhetoric to fool everyone.
"Since Hiruzen has passed, we should discuss who will temporarily take charge of the overall situation!"
As soon as Danzo spoke, he revealed his true intentions.
With the Third Hokage dead in battle and a new Hokage not yet selected...
Someone had to step forward to preside over Konoha's situation.
"I've said it before, Danzo-sama. Before the Third Hokage-sama died, he said to let..."
"Enough, Kakashi!"
Before Kakashi could finish, he was directly interrupted by Danzo.
"Have you become muddled as well?!"
"Byakuya is only in his teens. How could he decide such an important matter!"
Danzo's only thought now was to use seniority and age to exclude Byakuya.
"Does Danzo-sama mean to say he looks down on these young people?"
Three clan heads walked toward them.
"Choza, Inoichi, Shikaku, what is the meaning of this!"
Danzo silently watched the three clan heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clan Alliance before him.
"We all know that Byakuya was the one who turned the tide and resolved this invasion by the Hidden Sand Village."
"If we discuss important matters without including Byakuya, wouldn't that be a bit inappropriate?"
As a clan head, Inoichi Yamanaka actually contradicted Danzo in public.
One must know that in the past, Inoichi Yamanaka wouldn't have dared to have an open conflict with Danzo!
This time, the three clans of the Ino-Shika-Cho actually stood together in opposition to Danzo.
"Although this child, Byakuya, has made outstanding contributions to Konoha and it's thanks to him that this was resolved..."
"But the current issue, after all, involves the selection of the Hokage..."
At this time, the two Hokage Advisors stepped forward to "speak for" Byakuya.
But anyone with eyes could see that the two of them didn't want Byakuya to participate in this meeting at all.
"Advisors, the Third Hokage personally said before his death to let Byakuya take charge of the overall situation!"
Yūgao Uzuki immediately retorted after hearing the two advisors' claims.
"Regarding this matter, all of our Anbu personnel were present!"
Yūgao Uzuki revealed her identity as an Anbu member.
It could be said that today's semi-public meeting was about to decide the next Hokage candidate.
"Byakuya is so strong, would anyone actually oppose him?"
In another corner.
Temari and the Konoha Genin were also watching this scene from the sidelines.
"Hmph, those people are just acting for their own selfish desires!"
Shikamaru guessed the other party's purpose without even thinking.
"What a headache!"
Seeing that the trouble was about to escalate, the key was that no one could really step forward to resolve it at this time.
"The following matters will be discussed by me and the Hokage Advisors; you will be notified of the outcome later!"
Danzo waved his hand impatiently.
It could be said that among everyone present, only Jiraiya was considered relatively difficult to deal with.
"You're going to discuss it? Are you even worthy?"
A cold sneer came through.
All the murmuring voices in the venue were drawn toward it.
"It's Byakuya! Byakuya is back, that's great!"
Behind Byakuya were Might Guy and his Team 3.
As soon as these words were spoken, Danzo's entire face darkened.
"Byakuya, although you are Konoha's Number One Genius, that is no reason for you to disrespect your elders."
Utatane Koharu stepped forward to criticize him at this time.
One must know that the thing the two Hokage Advisors were most worried about was that Byakuya wouldn't take them seriously after becoming Hokage.
As it turned out, even if Byakuya didn't become Hokage, he didn't take them seriously.
"And what kind of things are these two?"
If Byakuya's attitude toward Danzo was one of utter disdain...
Then Byakuya's attitude toward these two was...
"Who the hell are you?"
"Byakuya, you!!"
Utatane Koharu was almost driven to death by Byakuya's attitude.
Having lived in luxury and status for so long, this was the first time someone had been so disrespectful to them.
"By the way, why didn't I see you two when the Hidden Sand Village invaded?"
Byakuya's words were like invisible needles, constantly piercing through their weak hearts.
"We are discussing who can take control of Konoha's current situation!"
Seeing that he couldn't gain any advantage in words...
Danzo could only stop using seniority as an argument.
The key point was that Danzo thought Byakuya was still young.
He couldn't possibly have a deep foundation in Konoha.
But Danzo had no idea how terrifying Byakuya's current reputation in Konoha actually was.
"I represent the Konoha Interrogation Force and vote for Byakuya to become the next Hokage!"
Since the topic was out in the open...
The people present simply stopped pretending.
Everyone, let's just vote.
However, this election might be the fairest one yet.
Because everyone had completely dropped their facades.
It was impossible for the Ino-Shika-Cho Clan Alliance to choose Danzo.
From the moment they stepped forward, they would only walk with Byakuya to the end.
"Ibiki, are you sure?"
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado were still thinking about trying to win over the vote in Ibiki's hand.
After all, what the other party controlled was Konoha's most crucial intelligence department.
Ibiki, however, merely shook his head indifferently.
His mind would not change again.
Ibiki Morino had always been a very calm person.
He knew deep down that under Konoha's current situation, only Byakuya could stabilize the state of affairs.
After personally witnessing Byakuya's strength, Ibiki was even more certain of this point!
"I also choose Byakuya to be the next Hokage!"
As the captain of the Hokage Guard Platoon, Shiranui Genma also cast his vote.
One must know that his so-called Hokage Guard Platoon, aside from being useful during the time of the Fourth Hokage...
Most of the other time, they were forced to just slack off.
To the point where everyone had almost forgotten that Shiranui Genma was actually part of Konoha's management.
The process of electing a Hokage basically involved the Land of Fire arranging a think tank to negotiate and hold a meeting with Konoha's management; Konoha would first propose several candidates through internal discussion and finally submit them to the Daimyo.
But it was clear that Byakuya wasn't particularly interested in the so-called Daimyo.
Danzo only gave a cold snort after seeing this.
He didn't believe the weight of these people could affect the Hokage election.
"I also choose Byakuya!"
At this time, Shikaku Nara, as the Commander of the Jōnin Squad, cast a crucial vote.
One must know that the Ninjas of the Jonin Council were almost all the elites of the entire Konoha.
"Shikaku Nara, don't speak too soon. Have you even asked for the opinion of the Jonin Council?"
Danzo still intended to win the support of several members of the Jonin Council for himself.
But he clearly overestimated himself.
"I support Byakuya! Only Byakuya can lead us!"
Might Guy said without hesitation.
For Byakuya, Might Guy already felt a heartfelt reverence.
Not only had the other party mastered the Eight Gates to the highest level, but he had also stepped in to help his students many times.
No matter what, Might Guy would choose Byakuya!
"I choose Byakuya too!"
Kakashi also stood on Byakuya's side.
"I support Byakuya as well!"
Kurenai Yuhi said with some emotion.
The last time she saw this little guy was right after he graduated from the Ninja Academy.
In the blink of an eye, seeing him again was already at the election for the Hokage.
Byakuya always manages to give others unexpected surprises... As all the Jonin chose to cast their votes for Byakuya.
No one was a fool; Byakuya had stepped in at the critical moment to save them, while Danzo only sought to benefit from the situation.
How could such a person become the Hokage?
Danzo panicked completely.
"Even if you have the support of the Jonin Council, you must know that Konoha is not composed of Jonin alone."
"How many clans are there!"
Danzo attempted to use Byakuya's status as a civilian to target him.
To his surprise, before he could even finish speaking, someone burst out laughing.
"Lord Danzo, I wonder if I have the qualification to cast a vote for Byakuya!"
Hyuga Hiashi stepped forward at this moment.
He had been hesitating about what reason he should use to step forward.
Unexpectedly, in the next second, Danzo actually gave him a pleasant surprise.
"Hiashi, you too..."
Danzo simply could not believe it; even Hyuga Hiashi, who had never even met Byakuya, would choose to vote for him.
"Lord Byakuya saved the Daughter of the Main House; we will not forget this kindness!"
Hyuga Hiashi said indifferently.
With the current situation being so clear, Hiashi naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.
"I want to vote for Byakuya too!"
A voice feigning maturity came through.
"Who is it now!"
Danzo wanted to see which small clan dared to cause him trouble at a time like this!
As everyone's eyes turned toward that direction.
Everyone's pupils constricted—it was actually him!
Loving Book So Far Check Out 80+ Chapters In Advanced At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FicTonic1