Chapter 165 Mochizuki Souji! Mochizuki Souji!
"Teacher Tobirama, please forgive your unworthy student for making this choice!"
"..."
Tobirama stared coldly at Danzo, saying nothing.
Danzo had really gone all out to use even him...
Even though they hadn't seen each other for many years, Danzo still held Tobirama in high esteem.
Seeing this, he felt a little flustered and dared not continue speaking.
He turned back to the Jonin and said:
"Everyone, Mochizuki Souji's starting point may be good, but in any case, making ninjas live like ordinary people is too much of a change, and the consequences are unpredictable.
Attempting to abolish the daimyo is a violation of our ninja traditions and is undoubtedly a heinous act of treason!"
"Therefore, please support me in becoming Hokage!"
"I will live up to everyone's expectations!
Not only will I continue Konoha's current prosperity, but my goal is to lead Konoha to even greater heights!"
"Those who wish for Konoha to become a better place, please support me!"
As he continued, Danzo's voice became more impassioned.
He felt that he had performed exceptionally well, and it was rare for him to speak such a language that he was not usually good at.
"Sarutobi, your schemes and tricks are useless against me!" Danzo thought smugly.
Sarutobi glanced at Danzo, and seeing that he didn't intend to continue, he said to Souji:
"Mochizuki Souji, it's your turn."
"Yes."
Souji also looked at the Jonin, but unlike Danzo, he didn't first thank the three Hokage on the stage. Instead, he spoke directly:
"Fellow Jonin, and fellow citizens of Konoha, I believe you have all heard of me or discussed the changes I proposed recently, so I will not say any more."
"I only have one sentence to say."
"Should we continue the life of endless fighting among ninjas, where even powerful Jonin live in constant fear and could die at the hands of the enemy at any moment during a mission?
Or should we accept the change and pursue a more stable and peaceful life?"
"Now is the time for everyone to make a decision."
After waiting for a while, Sarutobi asked Souji:
Is that all you have to say?
"Yes."
"Oh well."
Sarutobi nodded slightly and addressed the crowd in a loud voice:
"The Jonin trust vote has officially begun!"
"All Jonin, please come out and vote in order."
"First place, Nohara Shinnosuke."
As soon as he finished speaking, an old man stepped out from among the Jonin.
Every ninja has a number, and the higher the ranking, the older they are.
This Jonin Nohara's number is at the very top, and he is older than the Hokage Sarutobi.
He is a veteran from the same generation as Hashirama and Tobirama.
Shinsuke Nohara looked at Souji and Danzo one by one, and finally spoke with a serious expression:
"I vote for Mochizuki Souji!"
Sarutobi nodded slightly.
A large whiteboard was located below the stage, used for taking notes.
A simple straight line was drawn in the middle, with "the names " of Souji and Danzo written on the left and right respectively.
The Chunin in charge of taking notes then wrote a stroke under Souji's name.
While it may seem simple to announce one's decision publicly in front of everyone, this approach can help avoid the possibility of being cheated or deceived by various ninja techniques.
Danzo frowned slightly when he realized that the first vote wasn't for him.
The Souji watched calmly, without making any comment.
In the crowd, Tsukiyo held her small hand tightly, looking at Souji with great nervousness.
Although things happened very suddenly, and she didn't quite understand the future of ninjas, she still unconditionally supported Souji and hoped that Souji would win smoothly.
"The next one is Oguri Tomohisa."
The old Jonin named Oguri Tomohisa also stepped forward, looked at Souji and Danzo, and said:
"I vote for Danzo Shimura!"
Danzo's face immediately showed a hint of smugness.
"Next up, Yamashita."
Although there have been Jonin trust votes before, this is the first time that a choice has to be made.
Originally, at the beginning of Konoha's establishment, Hashirama's personal intention was to make Madara Uchiha the First Hokage, so that Madara and the Uchiha clan, who were relatively resistant to outsiders, could have a deeper connection with the various ninja clans that joined in forming Konoha.
However, due to the situation at the time and the lack of trust in the Uchiha clan, Tobirama proposed to elect the Hokage through a vote of trust among the Jonin.
Even the Uchiha clan believed that Konoha was founded by Hashirama, and that Hashirama was superior to Madara in terms of ability, character, and vision.
As a result, Hashirama became the First Hokage without any obstacles.
After Hashirama, when Tobirama succeeded him, no one could match him in terms of support, and he became the Second Hokage without any difficulty.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, gained Tobirama's complete approval when Tobirama's team was in dire straits.
Because Sarutobi was the first to express his willingness to risk his life as bait for his comrades, he was chosen to become the next Hokage.
With Tobirama's approval, the vote that Sarutobi took upon returning to Konoha was also a mere formality, with no opponents.
The three Hokage had no rivals, and their Jonin trust votes were more of a ceremony to show that they were the people who had the right to choose them than a selection process.
Therefore, it can be said that this was the first real vote.
"Kiryu Ryoma".
"Goro Majima."
"Isamu Shindo".
One by one, the Jonin took turns stepping forward to vote for their preferred candidates, as instructed by Sarutobi.
"Mochizuki Souji!"
"Shimura Danzo!"
Soon, a total of forty Jonin completed their votes.
On the scoreboard, Souji received 21 votes, and Danzo received 19 votes.
Souji's eyes showed only slight surprise, but Danzo couldn't help but frown.
It's a 50/50 situation... with Mochizuki Souji even having a slight lead?
How so?
Danzo's expression was grim, his mind filled with countless thoughts. At that moment, Mitokado Homura whispered to him:
"It's only just begun, don't rush. It's probably because the older generation is more war-weary, while the younger generation is likely more belligerent and more focused on strengthening Konoha..."
"Hmm...you're right, that should be it..."
Danzo felt that this analysis made sense, so he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
As the ninja numbers increase, the Jonin who emerge become increasingly younger.
After the first forty Jonin, those who have emerged now are middle-aged people around forty years old.
These Jonin also announced their decisions one by one.
"Mochizuki Souji!"
Mochizuki Souji's triple strike!
The ten newly selected Jonin initially took turns voting for two people, but the last three all voted for Souji!
The ratio of these ten votes was a staggering six to four!
Six votes for Mochizuki Souji!
He only has four!
Danzo immediately lost his composure! He glared at the record board with a vicious look in his eyes, gritting his teeth!
Currently, there are fifty votes, with Mochizuki Souji having twenty-seven and him having twenty-three.
Not only did they not catch up, they actually widened the gap!
"This...this is impossible!?"
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End of this chapter..