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Sasame left the room.
Only Shizune remained in the living room.
He blinked. "Where's Sensei?"
Shizune looked up. "An ANBU came earlier. Said Jiraiya-sama has returned, and the Hokage summoned her for a meeting."
Back so soon?
Which meant today would decide the Fifth Hokage.
Sasame's expression shifted slightly.
He'd been too busy last night and forgot to visit the Fire Daimyō.
But there was still time.
"Shizune-nee, I'm off to train!"
Sasame rushed to the door, slipping on his shoes.
"Eh? What about breakfast?" Shizune called after him. "I made it myself today!"
"Next time!"
The door shut behind him.
A flash of Flying Thunder God, and he materialized inside the Daimyō's residence.
Konoha had a dedicated mansion for the Fire Daimyō's visits—also called the Daimyō's Palace.
Sure enough, Daimyō Enjiō Marishi hadn't left yet.
Sasame exhaled in relief at the sight of the middle-aged man leisurely eating breakfast.
In the original timeline, the Fire Daimyō had never favored Danzō.
But with Danzō's scheming, contingencies were necessary.
The man wasn't a conventional shinobi—mind-controlling the Daimyō wasn't beneath him.
After a moment's thought, Sasame opted for Underworld Bringer over Kotoamatsukami.
The latter risked detection by any Hyūga present.
Underworld Bringer, however, wasn't a traditional genjutsu—it left no detectable chakra traces. Even the Byakugan might miss it.
His Eternal Mangekyō spun.
A pulse of Underworld Bringer struck the Daimyō, erasing all memories of any deals with Danzō—for one week.
But he'd still remember today's Hokage selection.
And Tsunade, the "Princess of Konoha," had deep ties to the Fire Daimyō.
Without external pressure, the choice was obvious.
Marishi felt nothing. Finishing his meal, he changed into formal robes and headed to the Hokage Tower under heavy guard.
Hokage's Office
Everyone had gathered.
Except Orochimaru.
"We searched Lord Orochimaru's residence. He wasn't there," an ANBU reported, kneeling.
Danzō's eye twitched.
What?
This wasn't the plan.
Unbeknownst to him, Orochimaru valued Uchiha Shin far more than Danzō's ambitions.
After Minato (Jiraiya's student) became the Fourth, Orochimaru had lost interest in the Hokage seat.
Combined with Shin's abduction, he'd completely forgotten about today.
"Dismissed," Hiruzen waved the ANBU away. "His absence changes nothing."
"We should delay," Danzō insisted, voice gravelly. "Orochimaru is one of the Sannin. The new Hokage requires his approval."
"Approval?" Jiraiya scoffed, glancing at Tsunade. "You think Orochimaru would object to Tsunade?"
"The Hokage isn't decided yet!" Danzō's tone sharpened. "She's not the only candidate!"
Jiraiya rolled his eyes.
Still clinging to power at your age?
Pathetic.
Hiruzen's gaze narrowed.
Danzō was acting strange.
He and Orochimaru had never been close. Why the sudden concern?
Unless… they'd colluded.
Hiruzen's fist clenched.
Everything since the Uchiha massacre felt orchestrated.
Danzō… if you've crossed the line, I'll end this myself.
"The Daimyō approaches!"
A voice boomed outside.
Hiruzen stood to greet him.
Marishi strode in, seating himself on the Hokage's chair without ceremony.
"Begin the vote. Let's settle the Fifth Hokage today."
"I nominate myself," Danzō declared, discarding pretense.
Even without Orochimaru, the odds favored him.
With Tsunade abstaining, the remaining voters—Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Koharu, and Homura—would split 2-2.
The deciding vote would fall to the Daimyō.
And Danzō had already secured Marishi's support.
Checkmate.
The Hokage seat is mine!
At sixty-two, he'd waited decades for this moment.
"I vote for Tsunade," Jiraiya said without hesitation.
The Sannin's bond ran deep.
And he despised Danzō's methods.
Under him, Konoha would rot.
"We vote for Danzō," Koharu and Homura chorused.
Hiruzen's eye twitched.
So it was a conspiracy.
Thank Kami Orochimaru hadn't shown.
"Tsunade has my vote," Hiruzen said, then turned to Marishi. "Your Excellency, the final decision rests with you."
"A tie. How intriguing."
Marishi studied Tsunade and Danzō.
The latter's greedy stare made his skin crawl.
"Tsunade is the better candidate," he announced.
"WHAT?!"
Danzō's chakra erupted, crushing the room in suffocating malice. "SAY THAT AGAIN!"
"DANZŌ!"
Hiruzen's roar shook the office. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!"
The Daimyō, a mere civilian, collapsed under the killing intent.
"You DARE betray me?!" Danzō ignored Hiruzen, his single eye bloodshot.
Hiruzen's face darkened.
So Danzō did bring the Daimyō here.
Now, with Marishi's sudden reversal, Danzō had snapped.
"ENOUGH!"
Hiruzen's Hokage cloak billowed as his aura slammed into Danzō's. "One more step, and I'll drag you to the interrogation unit myself! Must you humiliate us all?!"
Danzō shuddered, sanity returning.
With Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Tsunade present, fighting was suicide.
Koharu and Homura? They'd offer moral support at best.
"...My apologies. I overstepped."
Shoulders sagging, Danzō turned and limped out, cane tapping like a death knell.
Hiruzen exhaled sharply.
With ROOT disbanded, Danzō's influence was neutered. No need for further action.
"Forgive this disgrace," Hiruzen helped the trembling Daimyō up.
"A Hokage who can't control his own? No wonder you're retiring!" Marishi spat, face pale with fury. "The handover is tomorrow. I won't stay in this village a second longer!"
Hiruzen's jaw tightened, but he swallowed the retort.
Today's fiasco was Konoha's fault.
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