Chapter 45: Even If There

What should we do?

Mizumon En and Tounin Koharu stared at each other, sitting on pins and needles.

Moreover, since when had Rojie’s fingers begun tapping the table in a rhythmic pattern?

This wasn’t tapping the table anymore.

This was their countdown to death!

As two advisors of the Hidden Leaf’s dove faction, they once again did not disappoint, making the exact same choice as before.

They had surrendered.

It was truly path dependency.

To bully them was to squeeze a soft persimmon.

Mizumon En broke the silence first, declaring his loyalty: “Since this is Hokage Hiruzen’s final will, we naturally support it.”

“We will endorse Itachi as the Fifth Hokage.”

After speaking, he turned to Tounin Koharu.

“Koharu?”

Tounin Koharu said nothing, merely nodded, tacitly accepting the matter.

Rojie, seeing both advisors support him—the new sun of the Hidden Leaf—naturally smiled in satisfaction.

“In that case, please, Advisor Mizumon, go meet the Daimyo and nominate me as the Fifth Hokage.”

“My shadow clone will accompany Itachi.”

In the early days of the Hidden Leaf’s founding, everything was still in its infancy, institutions incomplete, procedures far less cumbersome than today.

At that time, the Land of Fire’s influence over the Hidden Leaf was relatively limited.

The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, as founding elders, held immense prestige.

Thus, even when Tobirama Senju merely verbally designated Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Third Hokage, no one dared question it.

Of course, this also had to do with Hiruzen Sarutobi being not only a member of Tobirama Senju’s personal guard but also his student.

But as time passed, the Hidden Leaf grew, and its institutions gradually became refined.

Now, selecting a new Hokage requires three steps.

First, nominate the Hokage.

The previous Hokage, senior advisors, squad leaders of the Jonin, and even representatives of the Anbu all have the right to propose candidates to the Daimyo.

Second, appoint the Hokage.

The Daimyo selects a candidate from the nominations and officially announces the new Hokage.

Once appointed by the Daimyo, that person is effectively the new Hokage, wielding corresponding authority.

But to formally become Hokage, one final step remains: the Jonin vote.

The new Hokage must receive a majority vote of confidence from all Jonin to be officially confirmed.

Throughout the entire Hokage succession process, the two advisors’ roles are indispensable.

That is why Rojie kept them alive.

Otherwise, Rojie would have already become the Great Day of Khorne and slaughtered them all.

After all, people are the root of all problems—eliminate the enemies, and the problems vanish.

Mizumon En frowned, as if trying to muster one last bit of defiance: “Nominating a new Hokage requires the Daimyo to convene a meeting. I alone cannot possibly…”

Before Mizumon En finished speaking, Rojie slammed his hand on the table.

The village remnants of Danzo Shimura have not yet been purged; the Hidden Leaf is in peril. A new Hokage is urgently needed to restore order. I’m certain the Daimyo will understand.

Itachi’re still stalling? Itachi two are clearly Danzo’s remnants.

“This…”

Mizumon En heard Rojie’s threat, opened his mouth, then helplessly nodded in agreement.

As a puppet, one should know one’s place.

If he dared act as he once did, Mizumon En feared he’d be stabbed in the back with seven kunai and die by suicide.

So he obediently followed Rojie’s shadow clone out of the Hokage’s office.

Seeing Mizumon En leave, Tounin Koharu rose to depart as well.

Rojie stopped her.

Did she think the Hokage’s office was a public toilet?

Come when she pleased, leave when she wished?

Did she think she was worthy?

“Advisor Tounin, if Itachi have nothing else to do, please remain in the office for now.”

Tounin Koharu glared at Rojie, demanding: “Are Itachi trying to imprison me?”

Rojie said nothing, merely stared at her silently.

If it were old Lady Tsunade, he’d be happy to play along.

But…

Tounin Koharu?

She was no better than the swimsuit version of Chiyo.

Barely shaped like a human.

Rojie kept her locked in the office primarily to secure the position of Acting Hokage.

He couldn’t just sit here waiting for the Daimyo’s appointment.

Before the official appointment, the authority of the Acting Hokage was crucial.

And this old woman clearly had more backbone than Mizumon En.

Pretending not to understand what was obvious.

Under Rojie’s gaze, Tounin Koharu felt a wave of helplessness and finally sat back down.

At that moment, Rojie suddenly sensed something and turned toward the office door.

There, escorted by his shadow clone, entered Nara Shikamaru and Yamato Inoichi.

As soon as they stepped inside, their eyes locked onto the corpse of Danzo Shimura lying on the floor—both pupils contracted, shock flashing in their eyes.

Is old man Danzo dead?

This is truly… cause for celebration.

Seeing this, Rojie spoke: “My shadow clone has already explained the details to Itachi.”

“Danzo Shimura conspired with Orochimaru to orchestrate the Hidden Leaf’s collapse. Acting on the Third Hokage’s final orders, I eliminated him.”

Here, Rojie paused slightly, his gaze shifting to Yamato Inoichi.

His brilliant intellect activated!

“Yamato, Clan Chief, take Danzo’s corpse to the Analysis Unit to extract intelligence.”

“Check whether any of Danzo’s remnants remain hidden within the village.”

In Rojie’s view, Danzo and Orochimaru had long been colluding; even if Danzo hadn’t directly participated in the collapse plan, he must have known far too much about its inner workings.

Intelligence extracted from Danzo’s mind would not harm Rojie—it would instead nail Danzo firmly to the pillar of shame.

Moreover, perhaps the two advisors had their own secret dealings with Danzo.

Even if they didn’t, couldn’t we just smear them with dirt?

Rojie’s good father-in-law would surely catch on.

Yamato Inoichi nodded, stepping forward to seal and carry away Danzo’s corpse.

At that moment, Tounin Koharu could no longer sit still—she suddenly spoke to stop him: “No. Danzo was a high-ranking official of the Hidden Leaf; his mind holds many secrets. They cannot be exposed.”

Rojie turned to Tounin Koharu.

“Advisor Tounin, Itachi’re making this very difficult for me.”

Tounin Koharu sighed.

“As head of the Root, Danzo performed many dirty tasks for the Hidden Leaf. Those deeds must never be revealed, or they will shake the village from within and without.”

Some things seem weightless until weighed—then even a thousand jin won’t be enough.

Moreover, Tounin Koharu feared she herself might be dragged into it.

As if resigned to her fate, she spoke: “Rojie, nominating a Hokage will take several days. I nominate Itachi as Acting Hokage to manage the village’s affairs.”

Rojie’s face lit up with a satisfied smile: “Then, as the Advisor commands.”

He gestured to Nara Shikamaru to bring a document, placing it before Tounin Koharu for her signature.

Tounin Koharu took the document, scanned it quickly, then bit her lip and signed her name.

What a humiliating day.

(End of Chapter)