When the patriarchs of the major clans, Hyuga Hiashi, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and others...heard Guts speak, they were visibly taken aback.
What he said was blunt, even disrespectful...but when they thought it over carefully, they had to admit he wasn't wrong.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other elders were pushing sixty.
How many more years did they really have left? Ten? Maybe fifteen at best?
In contrast, Guts was young, powerful, and undeniably rising.
It was clear to everyone that sooner or later, he would take control of Konoha's future,and when he did, he would hold that power for decades.
Even if supporting the elders today could bring peace for the next ten years, what happened after they were gone?
If Guts held a grudge, their clans could suffer for the next fifty.
No one wanted to gamble on that.
Hyuga Hiashi was the first to break the silence.
"The Hyuga Clan believes Lady Tsunade is the most suitable choice."
As his words echoed through the room, other clan leaders quickly followed:
"The Inuzuka Clan agrees."
"The Akimichi Clan supports this decision."
"The Nara Clan as well."
"The Abura Clan, too."
Even Uchiha Fugaku, who had remained silent until now, furrowed his brow. After a long sigh, he finally spoke.
"The Uchiha Clan... also agrees."
Fugaku knew the truth. With so many clans behind her, there was no way he'd be chosen for Hokage. Better to fall in line and save face.
In a matter of monts, more than two-thirds of the clan representatives voiced their support for Tsunade.
In the world of shinobi, power mattered—but strength mattered even more.
And Guts had both. Along with ti.
When the elder council saw the shift in atmosphere, their faces were twisted in displeasure.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward and said, voice calm but tight.
"This matter still requires further discussion. We should also gather the villagers' opinions. For now, let's adjourn."
Guts didn't say anything. But deep inside, he scoffed.
When you ordered the Uchiha massacre, did you ask the villagers for their opinion?
Still, he didn't press Hiruzen. Not now. The ga was already won.
One by one, the clan leaders and council mbers filed out of the Hokage building.
Outside, Guts stretched and turned to Tsunade.
"The old n want to drag things out, but the outco's already decided. Unless they try to assassinate you, they can't stop it."
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him.
Just then, Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya walked over.
Jiraiya spoke first, his tone casual.
"Tsunade... I've decided to hit the road again. Do so traveling. Work on a new book."
He expected a protest. Maybe a sarcastic comnt. But Tsunade only glanced at him and said
"Oh."
Jiraiya's confident grin froze on his face.
anwhile, Guts clapped a hand on Minato's shoulder.
"Thanks for earlier. I owe you one. If you're ever in a life-or-death situation, I'll make sure to save you."
Minato gave him a sideways glance, one eyebrow raised.
"That sounds… oddly specific. What if you didn't get my support earlier? Would you just let die?"
Guts grinned. "Don't think about it too hard."
Minato replied modestly.
"I genuinely believe Lady Tsunade is more suitable for the role."
"Good man. Well then, see you two later."
Guts waved goodbye to the student-teacher pair and confidently grabbed Tsunade's hand as they walked away.
Jiraiya stared after them, expression shattered.
"She didn't even try to stop ..."
---
That evening, the group gathered for dinner. When Kurenai and Anko heard the news about Tsunade's nomination, they practically jumped out of their seats.
"Wait, wait...Tsunade-sama is going to be Hokage? That's amazing!"
Anko exclaid.
"I can't believe it!"
Kurenai added, eyes wide.
"I didn't want the job,"
Tsunade muttered, shooting a glare at Guts.
"He's the one who forced into it."
"Well~" Guts grinned, slipping an arm around her shoulder,
"Your grandfather built this village, didn't he? That old monkey Hiruzen has ruled it long enough. Ti to pass the torch."
Tsunade gave him a look but said nothing.
Then, Anko's expression shifted as she rembered sothing.
"Oh right—Guts, I was hoping Shisui could help train in swordsmanship, but... the Uchiha Clan won't let near him anymore."
She frowned.
"I've t with him before, and it was never a problem. But lately, they've been blocking at the door."
Tsunade instantly caught on.
"The Uchiha were one of the founding clans of Konoha. But now, they've seen three Hokage co and go, and none of them were Uchiha. They're getting anxious."
Guts leaned back in his seat, eyes half-lidded.
"Can't bla them. Sure, the Second Hokage and the elders suppressed them from the shadows, but they also haven't produced a single Kage-level shinobi in decades."
"Now that Shisui's showing potential, they want to groom him into their own candidate for Hokage," he added.
Anko and Kurenai stared, both a little out of their depth.
They were strong kunoichi, sure—but politics at this level was sothing else entirely.
---
Two weeks passed.
From Guts' perspective, the three follow-up Konoha summits were a total waste of ti.
Jiraiya had already left the village.
Minato, for his part, had clearly stated he believed Tsunade was the better choice.
Even if Hiruzen and the elders wanted to push Minato forward, they no longer had the leverage.
The clan leaders had made their stance clear. The old n could promise ten, maybe fifteen years of political favors. But Guts? He had decades ahead of him.
No one wanted to risk fifty years of cold treatnt from him just for a short-term gain.
By the fifth eting, the conclusion was set in stone.
Senju Tsunade would beco the Fourth Hokage.
A date was chosen for the succession ceremony.
---
The celebration was grand.
All of Konoha gathered outside the Hokage building. Colored ribbons fluttered in the wind. The air buzzed with excitent.
Familiar faces...Kurenai, Might Guy, Kato Shizune, and others stood among the crowd, cheering with genuine joy.
On the rooftop, under the bright sunlight, Tsunade stood tall as she received the Hokage hat with the word "Fire" written on it from Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.
Guts and Namikaze Minato stood side by side, both smiling but for different reasons.
Minato smiled out of hope, for the future of the village.
Guts smiled with pride. His plan had succeeded. Well... less of a "plan" and more brute force, but the result was the sa.
Now all that remained was completing his final goal...
Doing Tsunade in the Hokage office.
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