The somewhat haggard Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly opened his droopy eyelids completely.
Looking at several people who came to his office together, there were even his apprentices and disciples.
In the past two days, he heard shouts and curses from outside, asking him to step down. Although these people did not represent all the residents of Konoha, each one made him feel cold all over.
He was the once-loved Third Hokage, a powerful ninja hero in the entire ninja world.
When did he actually become the target of abuse from the villagers of Konoha?
If she knew the confusion in his heart, Sheren would definitely tell him.
This is the influence of public opinion. Do you know why he was once as strong as Hatake Sakumo and finally chose to hang himself?
Because Danzo, like Toneri, both know that people's words can be feared.
Some things, if you say them too often, even if they are not true, they will eventually become true.
By the time Sarutobi Hiruzen reacted, it was already a little too late.
It would be much better if Minato was still in Konoha now. After all, he suddenly had one more choice. In such a situation where he was forced to go to the palace, he could still choose Namikaze as his first choice.
But Toneri just took advantage of the time when Minato was away and chose to attack.
All of this is still his fault. Because he chose to believe Danzo's words, he sent Minato to the front line to replace Orochimaru. He thought that by keeping Orochimaru by his side, he would be able to keep an eye on him, and maybe there would be a chance to bring Orochimaru back.
Pills correct evil and return to righteousness.
As a result, Minato couldn't tell his origin at the front line, so he lost the right to choose.
In fact, part of the reason why he is so passive is because he has always cared about Konoha.
Minato was not allowed to come back because he was worried that something might happen on the battlefield in the Land of Rain, which would cause heavy losses to Konoha. He contacted Onoki of Iwagakure Village in order to end the war as soon as possible and Konoha couldn't afford it.
Everything is for Konoha.
The idea given to him by Mito Katobu and Koharu Koharu was to summon Minato Namikaze back from the front line and directly pass the position of Hokage to Minato Namikaze, thus making Toneri's plan come to nothing.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen only hesitated for a few minutes before giving up this option.
After all, he put Konoha above everything else.
Bang——
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't speak, but Koharu Koharu and Mito Kaden who had been sitting in the Hokage's office for the past few days couldn't stand it anymore.
What is this for?
Forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to resign as Hokage?
If Sarutobi Hiruzen really doesn't want to be Hokage anymore, what will the two of them do?
It is not so easy to accept the power that I have become accustomed to holding in my hands. It is not so easy to hand it over again.
"Asshole! Toneri, do you know your identity? How dare you talk to the Hokage like this?!"
This time, Xiaochun decided not to be patient anymore and wanted to speak out for her rights!
At this moment, it seemed to her that the light of righteousness was shining on her!
Hearing someone making noise, Toneri frowned and turned his head, his scarlet Mangekyo Sharingan spinning.
An illusion was thrown directly in her face, making her self-righteous character pay the price.
thump--
Just a look, Xiaochun went to bed and knelt on the ground with eyes wide open, her body trembling slightly, it seemed that she must have suffered a lot of mental trauma.
"You!" Mito Katoyan pointed at Toneri.
He had never seen such an arrogant person, who actually dared to attack the Hokage's advisor in front of the Hokage.
Standing behind Toneri, Uchiha Fugaku's eyes were filled with light. This was the first time he had seen the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan.
Just an illusion has such a powerful effect.
If he knew that his son, Itachi Uchiha, could torture a person's spirit for seventy-two hours with just one look and turn on Tsukuyomi, he didn't know what his reaction would be.
It should be... very exciting.
After all, Mito Kado was impulsive. Originally, Toneri disliked him far less than Koharu, who had a bad mouth. As long as he didn't open his mouth, Toneri wouldn't do anything to him.
But now, he has made a decision, and his actions this time represent not only him alone, but also the huge interest groups behind him.
Just in the past two days, the news that Konoha and Iwagakure signed an alliance spread.
Many family leaders in Konoha have smelled different flavors from it.
Originally, in their opinion, Toneri was indeed the person who had the greatest hope of becoming Hokage, but until this hope turned into reality, it was just a hope.
Last time, Hatake Sakumo was still the one with the greatest hope?
what's the result?
It died within a few days.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen has passed his prime, he is still only in his fifties and can still sit in the position of Hokage for several years.
So they are not in a hurry at all.
Before the dust settles, anything is possible and we cannot take sides prematurely.
But after learning the news, everyone couldn't sit still. As public opinion fermented, they saw what might happen next.
This is to make Sarutobi Hiruzen resign as Hokage to apologize!
After confirming this possibility and the high probability that it would occur, families in Konoha, large and small, knew that they could no longer wait and see.
Although the icing on the cake is far inferior to providing help in times of need, if there is not even the icing on the cake, then the center of power in Konoha may not have anything to do with them in the future.
Therefore, this time Toneri came to Sarutobi Hiruzen's office. Although he only brought a few people with him, there was actually a large interest group behind him.
On the wooden floor, three wooden branches quickly grew, like Armstrong spiraling up, tightly binding him.
Even his mouth was directly blocked by a wooden branch.
"Be quiet, Hokage-sama didn't even speak. Don't be so overbearing." Toneri said calmly, continuing to look at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Regarding his behavior, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not say anything. He looked a little haggard and kept frowning.
His lips trembled slightly, and he who had been silent finally spoke slowly.
His voice seemed a little hoarse, probably because he hadn't spoken for a long time.
"Is this...the feeling Sakumo faced back then?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not respond to Toneri's words, but instead spoke about his feelings at this time with a complicated expression.
Hearing this, Shiren was stunned for a moment, and then a slightly complicated expression appeared on his face.
He nodded lightly, then quickly shook his head, "It's a similar feeling, but his feelings must be much more serious than yours now. You know, he couldn't bear to hang himself at the time. Sandai, do you think you will hang yourself now?"
"
Hearing Toneri's words, Sarutobi Hinaga looked at him blankly.
After a long time, a touch of bitterness appeared on his face again.
"It turns out that there are some things that you really need to stand in the other person's environment to feel.
Toneri, you understand this very well, you understand the opinions of the masses very well, so you are so concerned about Sakumo's death, right? Not only because he once taught you, but also because only you understand how he felt at that time.
Now that I have had a similar experience, I suddenly understand why you started to be hostile to Danzo from that moment on."
Only after Sarutobi Hiruzen experienced the violence of public opinion did he understand how uncomfortable Hatake Sakumo was feeling at that time.
In response, Shiren just curled his lips silently.
Can't you stand it after just this?
If Hiruzen Sarutobi had experienced online violence and real public opinion violence like him, he would understand that this is completely childish.
However, he knows very well how much influence public opinion, something that seems like just a few words, can play.
Once he becomes Hokage, things like public opinion must be solely in his own hands.
Finished with emotion.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression changed, and the haggard and decadent look he had just seen was gone.
His eyes became very sharp, like two sharp knives staring straight at Toneri, and said word by word:
"Sheren, are you trying to force me to abdicate?"
At this moment, he seemed to have once again transformed into the powerful ninja hero in the ninja world.
However, Toneri is not giving in now, and even takes a step forward, "Uncle Third Generation, I think this is the best explanation for all the residents of Konoha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded undeniably in agreement.
He originally had this idea, but his plan was to wait until the end of the Third Ninja War, not now.
No matter how selfless a person is, no matter how considerate of others, when asked to let go of the huge power in his hands, it is not so easy to accept it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen asked again in a deep voice: "Then who do you think is the most suitable candidate for the next Hokage?"
"I!"
Toneri almost didn't think about it at all. He was making calculations and plans this time, wasn't it just for the sake of the position of Hokage?
"Konoha promotes democracy. If you, Third Generation, think that my abilities are not qualified, why not ask the people outside who they would choose?
No matter who they choose, I will accept it!"
Seeing the smile on Toneri's face that was full of his own, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent again.
"Okay! Let me see how popular you are in Konoha!" Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand and walked directly out the door.
At the same time, following his actions, several ANBU hidden outside the office quickly left and summoned all Konoha residents to the square in front of the Hokage Building, saying that they had something important to announce.
Toneri didn't hesitate and followed Sarutobi Hiruzen out.
Uchiha Fugaku looked at Orochimaru who looked indifferent, and then looked at Toneri who looked confident.
Nowadays, arrows are not just as simple as winding, this time the arrows have already been shot.
Even if you don’t succeed this time, you will succeed!
In the end, only Koharu, who was kneeling on the ground and still in a daze, was left in the office, and Mito Monobu, who was restrained by the wood escape, "whimpering" but unable to move.
I feel abandoned by the whole world.
Soon.
A large number of people gathered in the largest square in Konoha.
Crowds of people.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was wearing a Hokage hat and a large royal robe, was holding the pipe in his mouth with one hand and holding his other hand behind his back, standing on the high platform of the square.
Shiren stood one step behind him.
In front of so many Konoha residents, you still need to have the respect you deserve.
The Konoha residents and ninjas below seemed to have noticed something. The whole place was silent, except for their eyes fixed on Toneri with a look of admiration in their eyes.
"Ahem..." Sarutobi Hiruzen took out his pipe and coughed lightly.
The noisy square fell silent.
"Third Hokage-sama, are you planning to pass the position of Hokage to Toneri-sama?"
Suddenly, among the silent crowd, someone shouted.
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately looked in the direction of the sound, but found that because there were too many people, it was difficult to determine who was shouting.
"The Third Hokage-sama is going to pass the position of Hokage to the Wooden Toneri! Toneri-sama will be our Fourth Hokage!"
Another voice sounded.
"Really?"
"Is this true? Is the Third Generation really going to step down as Hokage?"
"Is the Fourth Hokage really Toneri-sama?"
"..."
Immediately afterwards, many people who did not know the truth screamed in surprise.
Sometimes, to inspire a group of people to speak, all it takes is someone to start the conversation.
And often the people who start these things are what the people of the house call...trustees!
But the effect was unexpectedly good. Only a few people started, but the whole square cheered like a festival.
"The fourth generation! The fourth generation!"
"Sacrifice others! Sacrifice others!"
"Wood Release! Wood Release!"
Cheers and cheers kept making waves in the square.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at this scene blankly. He just coughed. How did it end up like this?
Toneri, who was standing beside him, had a smile on his face.
Counting that Sarutobi Hiruzen would want to make a final attempt, he had already arranged for someone to take the lead at the critical moment.
Facts have proved that even Shiren himself may not have expected that his voice among the masses would be so high.
Looking at the scene below, a slightly bitter smile appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face again.
He knew that this time, he really had no extra choice. Sheren had already calculated every step he had to take.
He slowly took off the hat that he had kept on his head, representing the highest power of Konoha.
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's action, the cheers in the square suddenly stopped.
Everyone held their breath and prepared to witness this historic scene.
Sarutobi Hiruzen also took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at Toneri who was standing behind him and was obviously much taller than him.
He had imagined countless times that he would hand over the hat representing Hokage to the next Hokage of his choice, but he never imagined that it would be like this.
In this helpless situation, hand over the position of Hokage.
To put it mildly, this meant that someone had forcibly snatched the position of Hokage from him.
His friend and colleague Danzo has been coveting the position of Hokage for so many years, and has been fighting openly and secretly with him for so many years, but he has failed.
However, Toneri seized the opportunity, took advantage of the crowd, and took over the position of Hokage, representing Konoha's supreme power, from him.
Slowly hand out the hat in your hand.
Toneri took the Hokage hat.
The audience cheered again, but this time the content of their cheers was exactly the same.
"The Fourth Hokage! The Fourth Hokage!"
"The Fourth Hokage!"
"The Fourth Hokage!"
"..."
To others, it sounds like...
"Always take my sister! Always take my sister!..."
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, sometimes, knowing too much is not a good thing.
Get this slightly strange thought out of your mind.
He gently put the Hokage hat, which Sarutobi Hiruzen had worn and represented the highest authority in Konoha, on his head, and opened his arms to welcome everyone's cheers.
As he opened his hand, trees quickly sprung up from the ground around the square, forming a dome made entirely of trees, surrounding the square.
Wood escape!
Originally, most people had only heard that Toneri could escape, but had never seen it, but there were so many people who said it, that they all believed it no matter how much they didn't want to believe it.
But now that I have seen it with my own eyes, it is more credible than any rumors.
Looking at the cheering people in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi also felt Toneri's popularity in the hearts of everyone in Konoha.
This is definitely not something that can satisfy so many people by making two major contributions at once.
Only then did he remember that except for this time, Toneri had indeed made great contributions to Konoha many times. It was only natural for him to inherit Hokage.
It was only because of Danzo's death that he felt like he had eaten shit.
Sighing softly, "Sheren, no matter how many prejudices we have, or how many things I have done to make you dissatisfied, I hope you can just keep your opinion of me on me instead of spreading it.
to the entire Konoha.
I admit that I did a lot of dissatisfying things during this period. Even when I look back now, I think it’s ridiculous.
Putting down the position of Hokage now may be a good thing for me and Konoha.
I won’t tell you anything about where you want to go, I just hope that you can protect Konoha and the homes of so many people who support you.”
No matter how Toneri took over the position of Hokage from him.
Whether it is relying on hard power, relying on means, or even relying on ability, or all three.
None of this is important anymore, the important thing is that from this moment on...
He is already Hokage!
Now that you have become Hokage, you must assume the responsibilities of Hokage.
Toneri nodded and looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly, "Don't worry, Third Generation Uncle, I can do it.
Although my method may not be considered aboveboard, I am forced to do so and I don’t want to become a rebellious nin. I have many friends here.”
The point is, he made so much money before and bought so many properties in Konoha. If he defected, all of them would be burned down.
This is all money!
Hearing Toneri say this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression softened.
He raised his hand and patted his shoulder gently.
"From now on, you will have to bear the entire Konoha on your shoulders."
It was hard to accept it at first, but now that the power has been completely transferred, it is not so uncomfortable.
And he no longer had to use his short body to carry such a large Konoha, but he felt a lot more relaxed.
My waist is straighter and I don’t feel haggard anymore. I won’t be out of breath anymore when I walk up to the sixth floor in one breath.
This is what it feels like to completely release stress.
Toneri didn't say that he wanted to keep him to help, nor did he emphasize that he wanted to retain some power.
From today on, he can finally live a life of retirement, going home every day to urge his son to have grandchildren.
Even... maybe he can give Asuma a younger brother.
After all, my back is healed.
"Okay, I won't be here to share the cheers you should enjoy today, Yondaime." Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile, put his hands behind his back, and jumped towards the direction where Orochimaru was standing outside the high platform.
"Thank you, Third Generation." Toneri looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen's back and said with a smile.
Immediately afterwards, he took over the godly robe that had been prepared in advance.
When you become Hokage, you don't have to wear the Hokage hat, but it always feels a little less flavorful without wearing the god robe.
Listening to the cheers, the eyes of Koharu and Mito Kadobu who were sleeping in the Hokage's office were dull.
