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Chapter 207: The Fifth Hokage [17]
Chapter 207: The Fifth Hokage [17]
"...'
Feng Ye's words caused an awkward silence among the elders gathered for the meeting.
To everyone's surprise, a ninja actually volunteered, approaching Tsunade with indifference, despite her face turning green.
"Alright, that's enough fooling around..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, spoke up to defuse the situation. "Elder Tsunade merely suggested reducing last month's expenses. Are there any other issues to discuss?"
A brief silence fell over the room.
Many eyes turned to Feng Ye.
It was at this moment that Uchiha Fugaku calmly spoke up. "The Third Hokage, it has been a month since the Fourth Hokage's funeral. It's not appropriate to burden you with the village's affairs any longer. I believe it's time we decide on a candidate for the Fifth Hokage."
This statement caused a noticeable change in the expressions of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade, and Mito Menka. A similar thought emerged in the minds of these three elders.
What needed to be addressed had finally arrived.
Uchiha Fugaku paused before continuing calmly, "I propose that Jonin Feng Ye be nominated as the Fifth Hokage. What do you think, Third Hokage?"
The room fell silent once more.
Tsunade spoke up, her voice deep and serious. "Jonin Feng Ye's achievements and strength are more than sufficient for the role of Fifth Hokage, but isn't he a bit too young?"
It was only a matter of time before Feng Ye became the Hokage, and Tsunade knew she couldn't stop it. She could only try to delay it as much as possible.
Hyuga Hizashi, sitting on the other side, added his opinion. "There have been cases in the Five Great Shinobi Nations where fifteen-year-old ninjas have become Kage. By next year's official inauguration, Jonin Feng Ye will also be fifteen. Moreover, as the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, I believe no one is more suitable than Jonin Feng Ye."
The way he addressed Feng Ye had already changed to "Feng Ye-sama."
In Hyuga Hizashi's opinion, it was a done deal that Feng Ye would become the next Hokage.
"Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Feng Ye, who was sitting there, and felt like retorting, "Have you ever heard of a jinchuriki letting their tailed beast lounge outside the village watching TV all day?!
But the Nine-Tails was unique in that its chakra could be divided easily.
Mito Menka hesitated before speaking. "There's no issue with Jonin Feng Ye becoming the Fifth Hokage. However, I suggest that Jonin Feng Ye first familiarize himself with the village's internal affairs and temporarily take on the role of the Hokage's assistant. We can proceed with the handover when the time is right."
He had discussed this matter with Tsunade, and they agreed that if they could delay it, they would. If they absolutely couldn't, they would have to give up and retire to enjoy their old age.
"I don't think that's necessary," Nara Shikaku disagreed, setting down the documents in his hands. "When the Third Hokage took office, there was no handover process either. Currently, every department in Konoha is stable, and it would be easier to get accustomed to things as they come during the tenure."
Tsunade frowned. "But that was during a time of war..."
Yuhi Kurenai spoke up, her voice deep and serious. "Advisor-sama, don't forget that the peace we enjoy now is because of Feng Ye-sama."
As Kurenai spoke, other ninjas in the vicinity voiced their agreement.
Aside from a few ninjas who were die-hard supporters of Sarutobi Hiruzen and had unpleasant expressions, the other ninjas, along with the clan heads, almost unanimously expressed their support.
Since the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, Konoha hadn't witnessed such a unanimous agreement among the major clans in a long while.
"What do you think, Feng Ye?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, his voice somewhat stiff as he looked at Feng Ye.
Feng Ye smiled and said, "My age is indeed a bit young, so it may not be suitable for me to become the Hokage so early. However, I've thought about something that I believe is worth announcing.
His fingers froze instantly.
"Hokage-sama, what is written here? Please read it aloud." Fugaku Uchiha calmly addressed Hiruzen.
Hiruzen's fingers twitched as he glanced at Feng Ye, then at the two advisers, Danzo Shimura and Homura Mitokado. That glance made Danzo and Homura sense that something was amiss.
"Hokage-sama, please read it out loud," Hiashi Hyuga urged in a deep voice.
Other ninjas in the vicinity echoed his request.
Hiruzen surveyed the chaotic conference room and reluctantly began to read aloud the contents of the document.
It detailed how Danzo and Homura, during their tenure as advisers to the Fire Shadow, had siphoned off tens of billions of ryo from various economic activities in Konoha.
In fact, this fund was Konoha's dark money.
A large portion of it was allocated by Danzo and Homura to support Danzo's right-hand man, Root, and to fund the activities of some of Konoha's Anbu.
Even so, the two advisers had not kept their hands completely clean, as a significant sum had also ended up in their personal coffers.
Normally, these transactions would not have come under scrutiny, as Konoha had been under the control of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and Homura. However, the village had changed significantly since those days.
The room fell silent as everyone turned their gazes toward Danzo and Homura.
While the attendees were aware of the existence of these dark funds, they also knew that Danzo and Homura, as the individuals managing this money, would have inevitably lined their own pockets.
The ashen faces of Danzo and Homura confirmed as much, and they attempted to justify themselves, but their words caught in their throats.
"Interrogation squad," Feng Ye said calmly into the silence.
"Here!" The captain of the interrogation squad stood up.
Feng Ye waved his hand. "Take them away and interrogate them thoroughly. We need to confirm the flow and destination of every sum of money."
"Yes!"
The captain of the interrogation squad stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Advisers, please come with me."
Danzo and Homura glanced at Hiruzen, wanting to say something, but Feng Ye flicked his finger, shooting an air bullet that struck the two men.
Bang!!
Danzo and Homura flew backward, crashing into the wall and spitting out mouthfuls of blood.
"Feng Ye...you!" Hiruzen stood up, his face twisted with anger.
Feng Ye glanced at him indifferently. "I believe it's better to carry out the appropriate punishment after the interrogation is complete. What do you think, Third Hokage?"
Hiruzen's face was rigid, and he finally sat down with a resigned expression as he surveyed the cold gazes around the room. "Very well, let's do that."
He had long anticipated this day.
But he never expected Feng Ye to strike so ruthlessly.
This was far from merely stripping Danzo and Homura of their power and status; it was about nailing them to the pillar of shame...a fitting payback for what they had done to Sakumo Hatake.
(End of Chapter)
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