"The Fourth Mizukage?!"
Shimura Danzō's voice rang out in disbelief, nearly hurling his cane from his grip.
A disbelieving gasp escaped Danzō Shimura's lips, nearly causing him to fling his cane across the room. Hiruzen Sarutobi had instructed him to rest, but he'd been roused from his sleep by an Anbu and summoned to the Hokage's office. He'd initially thought his old friend had a change of heart and was offering him some high-ranking position, only to be met with the news that Yuki Yoru was about to become the Fourth Mizukage.
That kid, barely fourteen, not even fifteen years old, has actually become the future Fourth Mizukage of the Kirigakure, and has already taken effective control of the village?
This old man is almost fifty, and the position of Fourth Hokage is still nowhere in sight!
Minato Namikaze gave Danzō a strange look. Yoru's demand for the Konoha to surrender and pay war reparations was far more pressing than his title of Fourth Mizukage!
"Is that what he said? For the Konoha to surrender to the Mist and pay war reparations..." Hiruzen Sarutobi said grimly.
"Yes, he said it was the absolute minimum, and if we couldn't even manage that, there was no need for peace talks," Minato replied, his voice heavy. "I tried threatening him, but he was completely fearless, even taking a 'one-for-one' stance against us..."
'The Land of Water has plenty of islands. Go ahead and bomb them. Of course, I do hope Konoha's climate is as warm as the Land of Wind's—otherwise, my ice sculptures might not melt so easily.'
Recalling Yuki Yoru's attitude, even Minato, with his usual composure, couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. Beside him, Shisui Uchiha gritted his teeth, fists clenched, his face ablaze with fury.
"Lord Third, we absolutely cannot agree to their demands!" Shisui exclaimed. "Those guys are clearly taking advantage of the situation. We're the winning side, yet they want us to surrender and pay reparations. This act will not only severely damage the Konaha's prestige, but it will also make the Kirigakure believe they have us cornered. If they then demand even more, are we supposed to agree to that too?!"
"Shisui is right!"
Danzō, recovering from his shock, looked at the Third Hokage and spoke in a low voice. He had always been a hardliner for the Konoha. Hiruzen calling him from his 'rest' clearly meant he wanted his stance.
"In my opinion, the Kirigakure has suffered heavy losses, with a severe shortage of troops, and their leadership has undergone a power change. At this time, they cannot and absolutely will not launch another war. This must be a bluff."
"Once we agree to surrender and pay reparations, not only might the Kirigakure take advantage of the situation, but other ninja villages will surely believe our village has reached its limit and is weak and easily bullied."
"At that point, all the major ninja villages will stir, and this war will likely escalate even further!"
"You also think we should refuse, then?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzō, taking a deep breath. "Alright, if that's the case, Minato, I'll have to trouble you to visit the Kirigakure again. I accept the condition of the Konoha surrendering to the Mist, but the specific terms of war reparations still need careful discussion. If possible, it would be best for both sides to sit down and talk in detail."
"What?!"
All three present looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in shock. Danzō was completely bewildered, then felt a wave of anger.
What do you mean, 'you also think we should refuse,' and then you immediately agree? What is the meaning of this, Hiruzen?!
Is my opinion so consistently worthy of your opposition?!
Danzō's face turned pale, then red, before he finally suppressed his rage and growled, "Hiruzen, are you really going to surrender?! You should be clear that once we surrender, not only will everything we just discussed come to pass, but you yourself will likely..."
Surrender...
Since the First Hokage founded the village, the Konohagakure had always been the most powerful and prosperous ninja village in the entire shinobi world.
Other villages coveted the Konoha's prosperity and repeatedly waged war against it, but they never gained any advantage from the Konaha's hands. The First Great Ninja War, the Second Great Ninja War...
And now, if the decision to surrender was made, the Third Hokage would become the first Hokage to surrender since the Konoha's establishment. Regardless of the premise, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would be forever nailed to the pillar of shame!
"I know, but we have no choice."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. He naturally understood Danzō's meaning, but what could he do?
The pressure on the front lines was increasing, and the Fire Daimyō was constantly pressuring him, providing less and less money and resources!
If this war couldn't be ended quickly, and if the Daimyō truly became desperate and cut off funds and supplies, the Konoha wouldn't even have enough money to fight, let alone feed itself!
And he also had to be wary of Yuki Yoru, that elusive human calamity...
His pressure was too great, so great that his body, which had long passed its peak and was gradually aging and decaying, could no longer bear it.
The Third Hokage's gaze fell out the window, where the rising sun shone on the Hokage Rock, carved with three stone faces.
He could become the worst Hokage, be mocked by countless people, even nailed to the pillar of shame.
But he could not allow the Konoha to be destroyed under his watch!
"Go, Minato, Shisui. I'll have to trouble you both with this mission again."
"We must resolve the Kirigakure situation quickly so we can focus all our efforts on the Iwagakure."
"…And one more thing."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag from his pipe, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke that obscured his face. "Since the Kirigakure has chosen Yuki Yoru... then our Konohagakure should also put the Fourth Hokage on the agenda."
"Wha— what?!"
Danzō was once again astonished. He had thought Hiruzen Sarutobi's recent actions, even taking command of his Root organization, were to centralize power for himself. Now it seemed his old friend, battered by successive blows, was ready to throw in the towel!
This absolutely won't do!
Danzō had already lost all credibility for underestimating Yoru's power on the Mist battlefield. He couldn't even propose himself as a candidate, let alone play a role in choosing the next Hokage.
No, the position of Fourth had to be delayed—until after the war ended and its aftermath faded.
Without hesitation, Danzō spoke in a cold voice, "Hiruzen, don't joke around. You should know what kind of time this is. Changing leaders before the war is even over – what about the morale of the forces on the front lines?!"
"Besides—you're not even that old!"
He added, more tactfully, "Yes, the title must be passed down eventually. But we don't have to follow other villages. Ōnoki's older than both of us and still in charge of Iwagakure. You're in your forties—still prime age for a shinobi!"
"He's right, Lord Third," Shisui added hastily. "You're still in your prime. You can lead Konoha for years to come!"
Due to the Mangekyo Sharingan and Wood Release, the Konoha's higher-ups were currently too sensitive about the Uchiha.
If, at this moment, the Third Hokage decided to replace the Hokage, causing those in their clan who had coveted the Hokage position for decades to go berserk and cross the Konoha's sensitive lines...
Shisui couldn't even bear to think about it!
No, the Fourth Hokage absolutely cannot appear at this stage. We must stall, we must stall!
Their successive rejections caused a slight change in Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression. He took a puff from his pipe, finally shaking his head. "Forget it. All of this can wait until the current matters are resolved. The immediate priority is to deal with the Kirigakure."
"Yes, Lord Third!"
Minato Namikaze and Shisui exchanged glances and quickly left the Hokage's office.
Danzō, observing the Third Hokage's demeanor, breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
No matter what, as long as he could stall, it would be beneficial to him.
"Hiruzen, you're just under too much pressure," Danzō said in a low voice. "Relax, don't overthink things. Everything will be fine. Both for the Konoha, and for you."
With that, Danzō also leaned on his cane and left the Hokage's office.
After Danzō left, Hiruzen Sarutobi withdrew his gaze from the Hokage Rock.
The rising sun streamed through the window, subtly illuminating his face.
Suddenly, he sighed.
"Yuki Yoru... If Sakumo was still alive, perhaps things wouldn't have come to this..."
He naturally understood Danzō and Shisui's thoughts, but he truly couldn't hold on much longer.
Shinnosuke's death. The loss of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio. Massive casualties on the Kirigakure front. The brutal stalemate with Iwagakure. And the specter of Yuki Yoru looming overhead like a sword of Damocles…
It wasn't that he wanted to relinquish power, but everything was simply suffocating him.
He needed a Fourth Hokage to share his burden.
Danzō?
While trustworthy, in his eyes, the dark corners were where his old partner truly belonged. He wasn't suitable to be the sheltering tree in the sunlight.
Homura, Koharu? Loyalty was sufficient, but their abilities were lacking.
Tsunade?
Her background, ability, and combat strength were all excellent; she was indeed a good candidate. But now, due to her hemophobia, she had left the village.
As for Jiraiya...
Thinking of his disciple who was most like himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply.
Jiraiya was undoubtedly a choice no less excellent than Tsunade, but unfortunately...
"Is Orochimaru the only one left?"
Orochimaru was indeed a very suitable choice. His strength, cunning, and charisma were all maxed out. Moreover, Orochimaru had been holding the line on the Stone battlefield, and his achievements and reputation within the village were very good.
But...
He'd grown too close to Danzō. Since pulling Root out of Danzō's hands, Hiruzen had uncovered too many things. Human experimentation. Secret studies of Wood Release. And Orochimaru's fingerprints were all over it.
It wasn't the time for doubt.
But that doubt… was growing.
"Besides them, who else is there..."
Suddenly, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up, and a supremely suitable candidate immediately came to mind!
A top-tier Konoha genius with high resolve, immense potential, and a young age; a leading figure on the battlefield with immense renown!
Most importantly, that kid was also someone who inherited his will... no, someone who inherited the Will of Fire, and he respected and trusted him enough.
This way, even if he gave up his position, everything would still be under his control!
"Minato Namikaze..."
"You won't disappoint me, will you...?"
Meanwhile, before Minato could even deliver Hiruzen's surrender offer to Kirigakure, another powerful figure had already reached the village.
The Daimyō of the Land of Water had arrived
Almost the day after the Third Mizukage delivered all the information to the Land of Water's Daimyō – including the changes that had occurred in Kirigakure, his resignation due to culpability, and Yuki Yoru's petition to become the Fourth Mizukage – the Daimyō swiftly arrived in Kirigakure
Unlike the other nations, the Land of Water's daimyo and Kage didn't merely cooperate—they were tightly intertwined.
Due to the Bloody Mist policy and the nation's unique geography, over a third of the country's economy relied on missions performed by Kirigakure shinobi.
"I know you are shocked, but everything is as I reported."
The Third Mizukage recounted the general causes and consequences of the Kirigakure, without shirking any responsibility.
In the disbelieving eyes of the Land of Water's Daimyō, the Third Mizukage let out a faint sigh. "As a criminal of the Kirigakure, I am no longer fit to hold the title of 'Kage.' Moreover, Yoru's power has completely surpassed mine, so I hope you can certify Yoru as the Fourth Mizukage."
"This is truly an unbelievable fact. If you hadn't told me yourself, I would have thought this was a play, and a comedic one at that..."
Controlled by Sharingan for decades? Was there any story more absurd?
"I have also seen Yoru's power through battle reports. I am pleased that the Land of Water has such an outstanding genius... but, regarding his age, isn't it... Of course, I'm not saying it's bad to have a young leader manage the Kirigakure, but you all know the current situation of the Kirigakure. Young people have hot tempers, and if they act on impulse..."
The village was in ruins, and after lifting the bloody mist, it needed stability above all else.
Having the Third Hokage, who had corrected his past mistakes, continue to rule would actually be very good. But letting Yoru, this fourteen-year-old brat, take over... anyone would have some reservations.
"I understand your concern."
The Third Mizukage glanced at Yoru beside him. "However, Yoru's wisdom and strategic vision are absolutely among the best I have ever seen. Furthermore, even if he did act on impulse and do something... I believe, with Yoru's current power, he has the capital and confidence to do so."
"You might not know this, but decades ago, when I attended that meeting in the Land of Iron with Lord First... I saw that person... someone who, by himself, pacified everything. And now, I feel that same sensation from Yoru again!"
"Is that so? Then there's nothing more to say."
The Daimyō nodded. With these words spoken, he had no further reservations.
"Prepare the Fourth Mizukage's succession ceremony, everyone!"