Chapter 634: Speaking Frankly (Confronting Someone Directly)
Chapter 634: Speaking Frankly (Confronting Someone Directly)
"We will now begin the vote of confidence for Uchiha Touhei!"
Shikaku Nara announced.
However, an eerie silence descended upon the hall.
The over two hundred Jonin present (along with nearly a hundred more at the border) did not rush to cast their votes. Instead, they quietly observed those around them.
Normally, no one would dare to vote for Touhei.
After all, his reputation as a rebellious troublemaker was well-known throughout the village.
Moreover, his actions against the Forest of Death were akin to severing ties with the Hokage lineage. Anyone who wished to continue their career in the village would never consider voting for him.
Facing this situation, Touhei crossed his arms and surveyed the hall.
Thud! Suddenly, a shuriken embedded itself into a target.
It was one of the Nara Clan's Jonin.
'As expected!'
Touhei's eyes flickered with a subtle wave.
He didn't have a close relationship with the Nara Clan, and their interactions were limited to normal business dealings in medicinal herbs. The Nara Clan had shown no signs of supporting him for the Celestial Tower.
So, for them to cast a vote for him, it couldn't possibly be because they found him handsome.
It had to be an order from the Hokage.
Fortunately, Naruto's earlier inquiry had made him aware of this possibility.
Otherwise, he might have genuinely believed that the Nara Clan was showing him goodwill, never suspecting the calculation behind it.
Thud, thud, thud! Following the Nara Jonin's vote, the others began to cast their votes as well.
Even the Jonin from the Root Division and the Shadow Division did the same.
Unanimous approval!
It was almost unbelievable.
Even Danzou, with his notorious reputation and various tactics, had never achieved a unanimous vote.
Yet, Touhei had managed to do so, and the hidden reasons behind it were too frightening to contemplate.
With this outcome, although the Daimyo had not yet confirmed the final Hokage candidate, Touhei could be considered the frontrunner.
In this situation, would the Kumo and Iwa Shinobi expect him to handle things?
Would the Celestial Tower consider supporting Konoha?
One could only say that he was about to become a scapegoat.
After confirming that someone was plotting against him, Touhei pointed with his right index finger.
Whoosh! A white flame pillar, like a laser, swept towards the target covered in shuriken.
Swish! Amidst the crisp sound of cutting, he severed all ten large targets with a single Flame Finger.
"Uchiha Touhei!" Tsukino Harumi glared at Touhei and demanded, "What do you mean by this?"
Not only her, but others were also extremely dissatisfied.
If they were suppressing you, then your outburst would be somewhat understandable. But with everyone voting for you, how dare you provoke them like this? It was truly intolerable.
"Nothing much, just that someone is getting in the way!"
Touhei seemed unaffected by the tense atmosphere as he strolled towards the only long table in the Jonin Hall.
In the entire hall, only the F4 behind this table were seated, symbolizing their elite status.
"Are you saying I'm in the way?"
Harumi struggled to contain her anger as she watched Touhei approach.
Clearly, she was preparing for an outburst.
"No, I wasn't referring to you," Touhei shook his head, and before the other's expression could soften, he added, "I meant all four of you are in the way!"
Speaking Frankly!
Touhei was now ready to settle the score.
The pent-up frustration he had endured for so many years was exhausting, and now he finally had the chance to let it all out.
As soon as he spoke, the hall became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
What audacity!
The Konoha F4 were the village's elite, the longest-serving group, with an unparalleled reputation and influence. Their status in the village was supreme.
Yet, someone had the nerve to call them 'in the way' to their faces?
Some wondered if they were under an illusion.
Even Tsunade looked at the group with an odd gaze.
She also found them irritating, but she wouldn't dare say it outright.
She never expected someone to have the guts to speak up.
Especially for Mizuhara Kaori, her mood was one of pure elation.
When the Tsuchigumo Country was destroyed, Konoha, despite having these elders present, didn't send a single reinforcement.
It should be known that the Tsuchigumo Country and Konoha had an extremely close relationship. Not only did the 'princess' of the Mizuhara Clan marry the First Hokage, but they also taught Konoha all their sealing techniques. Even Konoha's emblem was the Mizuhara Clan's symbol.
With such a close bond, they turned a blind eye when the Tsuchigumo Country was under attack, leading to the destruction of the Mizuhara Clan. This was a blood feud.
Despite the fortunate escape of the few surviving members of the Mizuhara Clan, not a single one of them came to Konoha.
At this moment, Touhei directly mocked the Konoha leadership to their faces, and Kaori Mizuhara's lack of applause was already a significant restraint.
"How dare you insult the Hokage!" Danzou shouted.
Even if he desperately wanted to pull the other party down from the Hokage's throne and take his place, it didn't mean he would remain unmoved when witnessing their humiliation.
Enma Hayate was the only one Danzou could kill or backstab. If anyone else dared to do such a thing, they would become his mortal enemy.
"No, he's just the acting Hokage!"
Touhei directly pointed at Enma Hayate and spoke the truth that no one dared to reveal.
Indeed, Enma Hayate was not the Hokage.
After the incident with Minato Namikaze, he temporarily acted as the Hokage, but he never expected that this temporary position would last for over a decade.
It was as if he had no shame.
"You..."
Danzou was at a loss for words.
"Is the acting Hokage not the Hokage?"
Mizuki Gen spoke up, naturally wanting to defend Enma Hayate.
As the Hokage, Enma Hayate couldn't personally get involved in this face-off, so they had to become his mouthpiece.
"That's right, the acting Hokage is still the Hokage, but look at what he's done since taking office!"
"First, when Orochimaru defected, he deliberately let him escape. Then he sent the Shadow Division to pursue him, knowing how many people died at Orochimaru's hands. The Konoha Collapse Plan caused losses, and he should take full responsibility!"
"Also, when the Kumo Ninja Squad leader intentionally died at the Hyuga Clan, he was prepared to hand over the Hyuga Clan leader, which led to the suicide of Hyuga Hisashi. I wonder how the Second Hokage would view this matter!"
"If I remember correctly, the Second Hokage died at the hands of the Kumo Shinobi. His disciple bowed to them, and I wonder if his coffin can still be closed!"
"Besides, the Uchiha Clan only has one surviving orphan. Don't tell me you upper echelon don't know about this, do you think everyone is dead?"
"And just a few days ago, we lost to the Suna Shinobi!"
"Defeated by the Kumo Shinobi, then the Iwa Shinobi, and now the Suna Shinobi. We've lost too many times!"
"You are the worst upper echelon Konoha has ever had. You should apologize to the villagers. I say you are in the way, what's wrong with that?"
...
After Touhei's speech, Enma Hayate fell into silence.
Among the Jonin surrounding them, many agreed with what Touhei said.
Because these were all facts.
From these perspectives, since Enma Hayate took on the role of the acting Hokage, he hadn't done anything good.
All of it was shameful.
He was completely submissive to the outside but struck hard internally.
"Shut up!"
Tsukino Harumi interrupted.
"These were all for Konoha, and Enma Hayate is just the acting Hokage. His authority is restricted, so this situation arose!"
She blatantly lied.
Restricted authority? Everyone knew that the Konoha F4's power was absolute. How could she say such a thing?
"Fine, then let's not talk about the acting Hokage phase!"
"When he, Enma Hayate, was the Hokage, he sold out the Tsuchigumo Clan, leading to the annihilation of the Mizuhara Clan!"
"Later, he turned a blind eye to the Root Division's slander of the White Fang, causing the White Fang's tragedy. He also 'sacrificed' the Uchiha Chouhou's lineage. Weren't these things done during his tenure as Hokage?"
...
Touhei's itemized reckoning was like a slap in the face.
Due to the secrecy of the ninja world, not many people knew about these matters, or perhaps not all of them.
"Nonsense! White Fang committed suicide out of guilt for abandoning his mission. What does that have to do with Enma Hayate?"
Tsukino Harumi refuted.
As long as she could successfully refute one matter, it would prove the accusations false, and it would also cast doubt on the other accusations. So, she chose the White Fang incident to counter.
Because she knew very well that Enma Hayate was genuinely innocent.
"Is that so!" Touhei's eyes caught a glimpse of a dazzling white hair, and he shouted, "If a mission fails, one should commit suicide to atone. Shouldn't you be the ones to atone?"
"What does this have to do with us?"
Tsukino Harumi was puzzled, not understanding why the mention of the White Fang incident was directed at her.
Upon hearing this question, Touhei felt extremely excited.
Because he had been setting up for this question all along.
(End of Chapter)
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