Chapter 180: Acting Hokage?
Sunagakure mobilizing three thousand ninja was close to their limit. Konoha could easily muster an army of ten thousand. The disparity in strength between the two sides was enormous. The reason Sunagakure was being so tough was because they had no other choice.
The village's Kage had died without a trace, disappearing without a body. Their meticulously planned operation had become a laughingstock. To bow in apology and retreat directly? For the sake of their reputation, they had to stand firm to the end.
They had to put on a tough front, even if it was just an act, otherwise the morale within the village would crumble.
Sunagakure was gambling, betting that Konoha wouldn't dare to start a war.
Even if war broke out, they weren't afraid. If they couldn't win, they could just retreat into the desert. Could you really cross the vast sea of sand to pursue them?
Sunagakure was simply too poor. They were in a desperate situation, and being poor meant they weren't afraid of war.
Engaging in such blackmail was something they were very familiar with. It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last.
The Third Hokage disregarded Sunagakure's war blackmail and launched a personal network offensive. He had Tsunade, Kakashi, and even Naruto, anyone who could get through to him, take turns trying to persuade Jiraiya.
Jiraiya wasn't his most satisfactory disciple, but right now, he was the most satisfactory disciple. Whether he was or not, he had to be!
"Hey, the old man wants you to be Hokage, why are you refusing? Is it just because of the Great Toad Sage's prophecy from Mount Myōboku?" Only Tsunade would ask so directly.
The two were drinking at a small pub in the village, without any attendants, just the two of them.
Jiraiya was quite serious this time. Kakashi and Asuma had both talked to him over the past two days. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Hyūga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans, as well as Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, had all expressed their opinions. Danzō would definitely disagree, but this time he couldn't come up with any particularly good reason to object.
Everyone wanted him to become Hokage except for himself.
He took a sip of his sake, finding it somewhat bitter.
"I really don't have the talent for it, and my personality isn't suitable either... Like the old man, sitting in the office dealing with paperwork all day? That's really not what I want." A hint of fear appeared on Jiraiya's face. The thought of him dutifully sitting in an office handling official duties was simply terrifying!
He enjoyed and had become accustomed to a free and unrestrained life. He really didn't want to confine himself to this village.
He preferred to be a protector rather than a ruler.
Tsunade understood his character well. She wouldn't impose on others what she herself disliked. Tsunade didn't want to be Hokage, so naturally, she didn't want to push Jiraiya into that pit of fire either. She offered a couple more words of persuasion, then raised her sake cup, preparing to continue drinking and steer the conversation away from the topic.
Anyway, the Third had asked her to help persuade him, and she had tried. If Jiraiya didn't agree, what could she do?
Suddenly, Naruto burst out from a hidden corner.
He jumped directly onto the table in front of the two of them, pointing his finger at Jiraiya.
Naruto was very annoyed, and a hint of disappointment even appeared in his gaze as he looked at Jiraiya.
"Ero-Sennin, why are you refusing to become Hokage? Aren't you one of the legendary Sannin? Is becoming someone like the Third Grandpa and the Fourth Hokage something to be ashamed of? I'm going to beat you up!"
Naruto charged forward, flailing his arms, but Tsunade quickly grabbed his clothes, while also glancing outside the pub. She saw Kakashi standing there with a sheepish grin, waving at her.
What prophecy, what lack of motivation, those were all just excuses.
Jiraiya lacked confidence in himself. He had always considered himself a failure, and that was the key issue.
Everyone had tried to persuade him without success. At this point, deploying Naruto was a last resort.
If Naruto's Talk no Jutsu had a 150% effect on Tsunade, its effect on Jiraiya was 200%. Seeing Naruto reminded Jiraiya of his student, Minato Namikaze.
At this moment, neither Shikaku, the Third, Kakashi, nor Tsunade had as much impact as Naruto. Seeing Naruto's expectant eyes deeply moved him. The words of refusal he had prepared finally began to waver.
He said he needed to think about it seriously, and then left alone.
While Jiraiya was still hesitating, Danzō had already begun his clandestine operations.
He secretly traveled to the capital of the Land of Fire and returned a day later. In the Third's hospital room, he produced a letter of appointment personally signed by the Land of Fire's Daimyo. The Daimyo agreed that after the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stepped down, Shimura Danzō would succeed him as the Fifth Hokage.
Danzō was smug as he asked, "Hiruzen, there are no issues with the Daimyo's signature, are there?"
Mitokado Homura looked bewildered, unable to understand how such a document had come into existence.
The Third lay in his hospital bed, his eyes very cloudy. He knew very well that his old comrade had definitely used some means he wasn't aware of. This was definitely not the Daimyo's true intention.
"I don't know what kind of ninjutsu you used on the Daimyo, but Danzō, your actions have once again crossed the line."
Danzō didn't care at all. "What? Do you think I forged this? Then let's go to the capital together and have the Daimyo personally state his decision. Would that work for you?"
The Third pondered to himself, unable to figure out what ninjutsu Danzō had used to change the Daimyo's will. Logically, there should be quite capable ninja around the Daimyo. Were they just watching this happen? Or had those ninja also been bought off by Danzō?
The Third's energy was failing him. He only thought for a while before feeling dizzy.
He didn't have the strength for a long speech and could only shake his head. "I don't agree. This is an unlawful order. The appointment of a village's Kage is recommended by the ninja village. The Daimyo only has the right to agree or disagree. This of yours..."
He pointed weakly at the document, "...doesn't follow procedure."
Danzō threw the letter of appointment in front of him. "The Daimyo's appointment, the reconstruction funds for the Land of Fire, are you going to reject all of these?"
Mentioning money and reconstruction, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu hesitated.
The Daimyo's appointment still held some weight in their minds.
Konoha lacked money, resources, and manpower in all aspects, and the Daimyo possessed all of these.
If they rejected Danzō's Hokage appointment, would the Daimyo then refuse to provide these things?
The Third thought for a long time. To keep Danzō in check for now, he could only temporarily take a step back. He said, "This appointment doesn't follow procedure. I can step down, but after my death, you can go to the capital to hold a meeting and officially determine the Hokage candidate. During this time, you can temporarily serve as the Acting Hokage."
Although it wasn't a complete victory, an Acting Hokage was still a Hokage. Danzō was satisfied with this. He looked at the other two advisors.
The two could only nod in agreement.
"Good, then this old man will serve as the Acting Hokage. Hiruzen, you can be an advisor for now. Take good care of your health. The village still needs your wisdom and experience." Having obtained what he wanted, Danzō left the hospital room triumphantly.
The Third Hokage was not an honest man who followed the rules. If you make the first move, I'll make a counter-move. He immediately called for Shikaku, and the two of them discussed something in low voices for over an hour.
The Fourth Databook clearly states that Danzō used Kotoamatsukami to control Mifune. This technique is definitely very powerful, but it can be detected by the Byakugan, so there's no need to overly mythologize it.