I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 326 Attendees and Reserve Hokage!

Hokage Building.

"News has come from the front lines of the Land of Rain that Iwagakure has taken the initiative to cease hostilities, and Sunagakure is following suit."

Hiruzen Sarutobi tossed the intelligence scroll in his hand onto the table and looked at his three old friends.

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the war should be completely over."

Konoha's efficiency in obtaining intelligence was not as good as Kirigakure's, which personally dispatched numerous messengers.

However, with the existence of the "Summoning Jutsu," Konoha's response time to other villages wasn't too slow.

Now that Kirigakure has taken the initiative to seek peace, Iwagakure has immediately ceased hostilities, and Sunagakure is following suit.

The situation regarding Konoha's external wars is extremely favorable.

As for the only remaining Hidden Cloud Village...

Who doesn't know that the Hidden Cloud Village had completely "gone silent" after the previous battle in the Land of Hot Springs?

Strictly speaking, the Cloud Village's "ceasefire" actually started earlier than the Kirigakure's!

The four Konoha officials present were aware of the situation in Kumogakure, but they all tactfully avoided discussing the matter.

Because once it comes to Kumogakure, the dark figure who is nominally "stationed" but actually "isolated" in the Land of Hot Water is a key figure that cannot be avoided.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, a Konoha genius with such great achievements—no, he should now be called a Konoha legend—didn't know how to face or deal with him...

Let's just let it go!

"This is just the end of the war in the sunlight."

Danzo Shimura's tone was very indifferent, and he seemed to have no joy at the impending end of the Third Shinobi World War.

"The friction and conflict in the darkness will never cease."

"Danzo, your thoughts are truly dark."

Koharu Utatane glanced at Danzo Shimura, whose body was still mostly wrapped in bandages.

"The war will be over soon, and we should all relax."

You idiot!

Danzo Shimura glanced at Koharu Utatane indifferently, a deep-seated contempt flashing in his eyes.

To be honest, he didn't think much of Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, even though they had been teammates for a while when they were young.

In Shimura Danzo's view, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, like Hiruzen, had been basking in the sunlight for too long and had forgotten what a dark and heavy profession the ninja really was.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu are too far removed from darkness...

Just as this thought flashed through Shimura Danzo's mind, Mitokado Homura happened to speak up.

"Hiruzen, Madara Uchiha... what exactly happened?"

Mitokado pushed up his reading glasses and steered the conversation back on track.

"Didn't you say you personally disposed of Madara Uchiha's body? How come he's resurrected and even attacked the Third Mizukage in Kirigakure?"

"Could it be that Madara Uchiha can be resurrected many times?"

Upon hearing Mitokado Homura's words, Shimura Danzo shut his mouth completely and stopped participating in the conversation in the meeting room.

Although he certainly knew more about Madara Uchiha's condition than the other three people present!

"I did use Fire Release to destroy Madara Uchiha's body before, and I also checked the condition of that body."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said uncertainly.

"But just like the Second Hokage back then, he also witnessed Madara Uchiha's corpse with his own eyes. However, it turned out that the 'Madara Uchiha corpse' was just a fake."

"Actually, I had similar concerns when we were disposing of the body before, worrying that Madara Uchiha might come back to life again. This just confirms that worry and speculation..."

"How exactly did Madara Uchiha manage to do all that?"

Xiaochun was very confused when she changed dorm rooms.

"Could it be related to the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan?"

While Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane were discussing Madara Uchiha's condition, Danzo Shimura closed his eyes and pretended to rest.

"Madara Uchiha's resurrection is indeed related to the Sharingan!"

Several thoughts flashed through Shimura Danzo's mind, along with the image of the mysterious one-eyed Uchiha.

That's right.

Danzo Shimura had contact with the one-eyed Uchiha and even made a small deal with him.

After returning from the Land of Hot Water, Danzo Shimura secretly contacted the One-Eyed Uchiha and even provided him with a map of Minato's team's operational route.

When Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara's team went to the battlefield in the Land of Hot Springs to support the front lines, it was thanks to the route map provided by Danzo Shimura from the rear that the Hell Valley incident occurred.

Obito Uchiha was also fortunate enough to awaken his Sharingan during that attack.

The reason why Shimura Danzo was willing to make a deal with the one-eyed Uchiha.

It was because the one-eyed Uchiha promised to attack Nara Rangsuke, who was stationed in the Land of Hot Water, after the transaction was completed, and to take away the Five-Tails from him!

Danzo Shimura originally believed him because the one-eyed Uchiha had always used the identity of "Uchiha Madara" when he contacted him, and had also displayed incredible abilities and methods.

however……

After the Hell Valley incident, not only did the One-Eyed Uchiha disappear completely, but Nara Ranke was also completely unaffected!

This put Shimura Danzo in a very awkward position.

He once suspected that he had been deceived by some inherently evil Uchiha villain...

To this day, Shimura Danzo still doesn't know the true identity of the one-eyed masked Uchiha. He only knows that the other party is definitely a living person, not an "edo-gen" like Uchiha Kagami.

News has arrived from Kirigakure that the Third Mizukage has been attacked by Madara Uchiha.

Danzo Shimura also read the secret letter written by the Third Mizukage through Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Could that one-eyed Uchiha really be Madara Uchiha?"

Just as he said before, he was severely injured in the battle at the Valley of the End, to the point that he even lost one of his Sharingan eyes...

"The aged and blind Madara Uchiha seems indeed incapable of dealing with the Third Mizukage... but this doesn't explain the disappearances of the Third Tsuchikage and the Third Raikage!"

Perhaps because he was used to being the mastermind behind everything, Danzo Shimura always felt that the truth behind this matter might not be as simple as he imagined.

Unfortunately, there was a severe information asymmetry.

Even if Shimura Danzo had doubts, he couldn't find any direction to his suspicions.

No matter what, the "mysterious disappearance" of the Third Kazekage, the Third Tsuchikage, and the Third Raikage is an established fact!

Now, Kirigakure is spreading the news that "the Third Mizukage was attacked by Madara Uchiha".

It's hard not to connect Madara Uchiha with his other disappearances...

While Shimura Danzo was pondering the issues related to the One-Eyed Uchiha and Uchiha Madara.

Hiruzen Sarutobi ended the discussion.

Debating how Madara Uchiha was resurrected is pointless.

The most important thing right now is to represent Konoha and attend the Second Five Kage Summit!

Although the ceasefire agreement has not been fully signed, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others are already planning to attend the Five Kage Summit!

Taking advantage of the Five Shadows Conference to end the war completely might be a good idea.

The time and place for the Five Shadows meeting have not yet been discussed.

Right now, Konoha can only make one decision.

"Hiruzen, who do you plan to take to the Five Kage Summit?"

Xiaochun's words immediately caught the attention of the others in the meeting room.

Even Shimura Danzo instantly opened his single eye, staring intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face twitched slightly.

Perhaps Koharu's question about switching dorm rooms was unintentional.

However, he was still able to understand the underlying meaning behind Koharu's actions.

Only the "Kage" can represent the village at the Five Kage Summit.

The people accompanied by "Shadow," whether called "guards" or "attendants," are almost all successors recognized by "Shadow."

In other words.

Koharu Utatane's question was about who Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to make his successor!

He became the Fourth Hokage of Konoha!

Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane all knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to step down from his post and elect a new Hokage after the Third Shinobi World War.

However, there is no consensus on who should be chosen as the Hokage.

From a traditional perspective

The selection of the Hokage can be decided unilaterally by the previous Hokage.

Just as Hashirama Senju designated Tobirama Senju.

Just like Tobirama Senju's designation of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But tradition is tradition.

The biggest difference between the Third Hokage and his predecessors was that the Third Hokage had several "elders" around him who shared his power.

Especially—Shimura Danzo!

"Hiruzen".

Danzo Shimura spoke in a low, somber tone.

"I think Orochimaru is a very good ninja. He is steady in his methods, has comprehensive abilities, and has a high reputation. He is the most suitable candidate to be a follower."

Before the Third Shinobi World War began, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado all believed that the future Fourth Hokage would be born from among the Legendary Sannin.

Considering Tsunade's mental illness...

The choice for the Fourth Hokage will likely be between Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

Danzo Shimura favored Orochimaru.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado are more inclined to support Jiraiya.

However, after the start of the Third Shinobi World War, two more dazzling "stars" rose in Konoha.

A shadow of darkness.

Yellow flash.

In terms of strength and prestige alone, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, and Nara Rinkazu all possessed the qualifications to become the Fourth Hokage.

And what truly determines who among them will become the Fourth Hokage...

It depends on Hiruzen Sarutobi's own choice.

Now that the war is over, the Hokage position is about to change hands.

At this critical moment, the importance of any special factors that might affect the position of the Fourth Hokage is self-evident.

He accompanied the Third Hokage to the Second Five Kage Summit.

The identity of this attendant almost explicitly indicates the choice of the Fourth Hokage!

This is also why Shimura Danzo took the initiative to recommend Orochimaru.

but……

"I prefer Minato."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and said calmly.

"Minato Namikaze? He's too young!"

"When I first became the Shadow, I wasn't that old."