Chapter 3 - 3: The Bowing Hokage Advisors
Hokage Office.
Two ANBU stood at the entrance. When they saw Tsunade enter, they said nothing. However, when Hikari tried to follow, they blocked his path immediately.
"By order of the Elders, unauthorized personnel are not permitted inside!"
Hikari took a step back, signaling that he meant no harm.
[Elders... aren''t they just those two old dogs, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu!?]
[Damn, I almost forgot about that old schemer, Shimura Danzō. I''ll let them have their way for now, but if they dare cross me, I''ll make sure to kill them allter.]
Upon hearing Kamizuki Hikari''s inner thoughts about killing the Elders, Tsunade''s first instinct wasn''t to stop him but rather to consider how to minimize the impact of their deaths.
As soon as she entered the Hokage Office, she saw Nara Shikaku reviewing documents. Meanwhile, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu sat there sipping tea, looking extremely pleased with themselves.
''These two geezers probably aren''t even Jōnin-level anymore.''
After evaluating their threat level, Tsunade scoffed internally.
These old fossils had the audacity to live off the achievements of her grandfather''s student during the wars, monopolizing credit while sittingfortably. They brought nothing but disgrace to the Senju name.
Suppressing promising young talents, eliminating political rivals-such relics were better off dead.
"You two don''t seem too happy to see me back. Now you''re even meddling with the Hokage''s personal ANBU. If that''s the case, why don''t you two take the Hokage''s seat instead?"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged nces before asking, "Where is Jiraiya?"
"Guarding the vige gates." Tsunade replied dismissively. "Better to keep him busy than let him sneak off to the bathhouses and embarrass the Sannin any further."
Nara Shikaku raised an eyebrow but continued pretending not to hear anything.
"Someone, go summon Jiraiya! Tsunade, how could you be so reckless? Wasting valuable resources like this-how can we trust you to handle the Hokage''s duties alone?"
"Exactly! We had nned to retire, but seeing how things are, it looks like we''ll have to assist you for a while longer."
The two shameless Elders yed off each other,pletely ignoring the growing displeasure on Tsunade''s face.
[This is hrious.]
[These two fossils are good at nothing but internal politics.]
[All they ever did was shift between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō, ensuring their own power remained untouched. And yet, they think they contributed so much to Konoha.]
[To be a good Hokage, you just need to control the hospital, the intelligence division, the jonin corps, and the ANBU. As for the ninja academy, that can wait until you''ve solidified your power.]
Understanding their motives, Tsunade no longer felt rushed.
ncing at Nara Shikaku, who remained silent, she knew this was a test for her. Nara Shikaku wasn''t just the leader of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio but also the head of the jonin corps. The jonin were the vige''s true treasures, the ones with the real power to elect the Hokage.
"Since you two are so familiar with this position, why not choose one of you to be Hokage? You''ve been Hokage Advisors for so many years; surely the shinobi of Konoha hold you in high regard. Shikaku, begin gathering the Jōnin for an internal vote."
At those words, Nara Shikaku almost burst outughing.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu immediately turned pale.
To be Hokage, one needed both reputation and strength.
They had neither.
Maybe in their younger years, they could hold their own among elite Jōnin. But after decades of idleness, they probably couldn''t even beat an elite Chūnin, let alone qualify as Hokage.
If an election were held, the Jōnin would have to bepletely blind to choose them.
"Tsunade, we called you back because we want you to be Hokage. As for the role of Hokage Advisors, we only wish to assist you, as we worry that you''re too young to manage everything on your own."
Tsunade smirked. "If I am the
Hokage, do the ANBU follow my orders or yours? Since when do I
need your approval to bring my own
people into the Hokage Office?4t
seems to me that your role as Advisors has surpassed that of the Hokage."
"That''s not it at all! Some information is too sensitive for outsiders," Mitokado Homura quickly argued.
Tsunade ignored him and turned to open the door. "Hikari, Shizune,e in."
One of the ANBU reached out to block them.
[Why keep someone like this around? Might as well beat them up!]
''Super Strength!''
Instinctively, Tsunade trusted Kamizuki Hikari''s thoughts and threw a punch. The ANBU member was sent flying, crashing into the wall.
"Kogō! Are you alright?!" Mitokado Homura rushed over to check on the injured ANBU.
Seeing this, Tsunade turned to the remaining ANBU. "Which n are you from?" Utatane Koharu''s expression darkened as she stepped forward. "Tsunade, that shinobi is a loyal Konoha ninja. Do you n to betray the vige by attacking your own people?"
[Oh, please! You nted your n members in ANBU to manipte it from the shadows. Are you trying to seize ssified Hokage information, or do you secretly want to be Hokage yourself, you old hag?]
Tsunade had never been particrly adept at political maneuvering, and in the past, she could only endure being attacked from the moral high ground But now, Kamizuki Hikari''s inner thoughts provided her with the perfect counter.
"Your actions don''t match your words. The ANBU is directly under the Hokage''smand. By cing your own people in it, are you trying to undermine the Hokage and take control yourselves?"
[Oh? Tsunade''s catching on. That''s the way to deal with these shameless old geezers!]
Taking a step forward, Kamizuki Hikari added, "The Hokage is the true leader of Konoha. Aren''t you afraid of inciting public outrage by overstepping your bounds?" "You insolent—!" Mitokado Homura began, but as he turned to scold Hikari, he met his gaze.
In that instant, it was as if he was staring into the eyes of Senju Tobirama himself.
[Mental Pressure!]
If Tobirama had been alive to see their actions over the years, death would have been the least of their worries. Under Tobirama''s ruthless hand, they would suffer punishments far worse than death.
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
Both Elders fell to their knees, frantically performing dogeza.
"Sensei! The fall of the Senju n had nothing to do with us! It was all Sarutobi''s
doing!"
"Yes, yes! It was all Hiruzen! We tried to stop him, but we failed. He was the
Hokage, and we were just figureheads!"
"Please forgive us, Sensei!"
"Please don''t kill us!"