"First, Shinnosuke's position as Anbu Commander cannot be touched, nor can he be sidelined. He must hold real power."
"If anything happens to Shinnosuke, I will hold you, Danzō, responsible."
Danzō's expression was very ugly upon hearing this. Is a Hokage who cannot fully control the Anbu still a Hokage?
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Nara Shikaku stated their positions one after another.
This proposal was very much to their liking. Danzō's thinking was too extreme. To let him completely control the real power of the Hokage would probably not be a good thing for them either.
"What, Danzō? Are you afraid Shinnosuke won't cooperate with your work?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a half-smile.
"I agree," Danzō said through gritted teeth.
If he couldn't completely control the Anbu, he still had Root. At worst, he would use the Hokage's authority to expand Root's power.
Important missions concerning himself would be handed over to Root, while the Anbu could handle the regular Anbu missions.
"Alright. My second condition is to make Kogetsu the Hokage's Advisor and also in charge of the Police Force."
"What are your opinions?" Hiruzen said, looking around.
"Agreed."
"As the future Sixth Hokage in waiting, the position of Hokage's Advisor is very suitable for Kogetsu to gain experience and cultivate a mindset and vision that encompasses Konoha, the Land of Fire, and the ninja world," Homura was the first to state his position, even giving a good reason.
"Agreed. A combination of old and young is very reasonable," Koharu said with a smile, following closely behind.
"Agreed," Shikaku did not say much, simply stating his attitude.
"I agree," Danzō agreed rather readily.
This was because Kageyama Kogetsu had helped him with a very useful idea and had taken action, and he had not seriously competed with him.
For him to become Hokage while his partner in cooperation got nothing was not very reasonable.
Kushina?
Although she was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, she was ultimately just a woman, not enough to reward his merits.
"By the way, Kogetsu is being trained as the future Sixth Hokage. He is the light, not the darkness. You must understand this, Danzō," Hiruzen said, half as a reminder, half as a warning.
Homura, Koharu, and Shikaku acted as Hiruzen's echo chamber, continuing to express their support.
"I know," Danzō said with a displeased expression.
That guy's life is so good. He gets to be the Hokage's Advisor and doesn't have to do any dirty work. How enviable.
"Alright. The Land of Fire conference doesn't need to be reconvened, and I won't cause trouble at the Jonin confidence vote meeting."
"You're not supporting me?" Danzō said, somewhat in disbelief.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile, "When did I promise to support you?"
"Not causing trouble is the greatest support. If you can't even get the support of the majority of the Jonin, what kind of Hokage would you be?"
"Besides, you have so many people supporting you. You don't need me."
Homura, Koharu, and Shikaku were a little embarrassed upon hearing this. They lowered their heads slightly and remained silent.
"To pull this on me... you're ruthless, Hiruzen," Danzō said, very displeased.
Hiruzen couldn't be bothered with Danzō. He looked at his son, "Send someone to call Kogetsu over."
"Yes, Father."
Before long, Kageyama Kogetsu arrived.
After a round of greetings, Hiruzen recounted the results of the Land of Fire conference, his subsequent arrangements, and the agreement they had all reached.
Kageyama Kogetsu felt a little ashamed and a little moved after hearing it...
He had originally intended to get the position of Hokage's Advisor directly from Danzō, but he hadn't expected Hiruzen to take the initiative to fight for it for him, and to clearly establish his status as the Sixth Hokage in waiting.
A man is not a plant; how can he be without feelings?
Things have already come to this. It's not good to change the plan.
After things have settled, I'll have Hiruzen recover his health as soon as possible and ensure that his family lives out their natural lives.
There were too few ninja who could live out their natural lives. The Kage of the various villages, even someone as strong as Senju Hashirama, did not live out their natural lives.
With him around, it would be very difficult for Hiruzen's family to die completely. As long as their souls were still there, they could be resurrected.
"I have no objection. We'll do as you all have decided," Kageyama Kogetsu said with a serious expression.
"Danzō, don't say I didn't give you a chance. The Jonin confidence vote meeting is moved to three days from now."
"That's it then. Everyone is dismissed. Go back to your posts and do your work."
The group bowed and then left.
Hiruzen also got up to wash, preparing to go to the Hokage's office while he was still clear-headed, to do his best to stand his last post.
...
Danzō did not return to Root, but went home to think about how to pass the Jonin confidence vote with a high number of votes in three days...
Yes, in Danzō's view, simply passing was not enough.
The more votes, the more glorious, the more it would show his legitimacy, the more it would show that he was the people's choice, and the greater his power would be after becoming Hokage.
Too few votes would undoubtedly be a bad start to his Hokage career. How could he allow that?
Although three days was not a short time, it was not long either. To pass with a high number of votes, he had to get the support of powerful figures.
In Konoha now, in Danzō's view, there were only five and a half people who could be called powerful.
The three old comrades counted as three, Kageyama Kogetsu counted as one, Nara Shikaku counted as half, Sarutobi Shinnosuke counted as half, and Hyuga Hiashi counted as half.
Among these people, besides Hiruzen and Kogetsu, he had already gained their support.
As long as he gained the support of one more powerful figure, he would surely be elected with a high number of votes.
With Hiruzen not making his position clear, he could influence a portion of Hiruzen's supporters through Homura, Koharu, and Shikaku.
By this calculation, getting Kageyama Kogetsu's full support would be the most effective. But what benefits could he offer in exchange?
Kageyama Kogetsu was not one to act without benefit, but he was not far from it. To go and talk to him with empty words would probably not be enough to get him to agree...
But if it was a trade of benefits, then what benefits should he offer?
Money?
The other party didn't seem to be short of money.
Policy, business?
Most of them had already been given out to win over the heads of the various ninja clans.
A beautiful female ninja?
What kind of beautiful female ninja could be compared to the value of his full support?
And in just three days, it would not be easy to find a beautiful female ninja of matching value.
Power?
Hokage's Advisor and in charge of the Police Force, his power was already great enough.
To let him be in charge of another department would be to give him too much power!
Danzō thought long and hard. After a moment of struggle, he made a decision.
First, he would go and talk to him nicely, make some big promises. If that didn't work, then he would have to do that.
...
The night before the Jonin confidence vote meeting, close to midnight, in the center of the Forest of Death.
After Kageyama Kogetsu arrived, he said with a displeased expression, "Couldn't you have scheduled this earlier?"
"Look what time it is now."
"I still have to go to work tomorrow."
Danzō squeezed out a smile, "My apologies, my apologies. I've been too busy lately. The closer it gets to tomorrow, the busier I am."
"Alright then. If you have something to say, say it quickly. I want to get back to sleep with my girlfriend as soon as possible," Kageyama Kogetsu said lazily.
"I need your full support tomorrow."
"As long as you fully support me, everything will be negotiable in the future," Danzō said with a serious expression.
"Heh heh... this is not part of our deal."
"It's not impossible for me to fully support you, but what about the benefits?" Kageyama Kogetsu said with a smile.
"Didn't I say? After I become Hokage, everything will be negotiable," Danzō cursed inwardly, but squeezed out a smile on his face.
"Making empty promises?"
"I want benefits that are delivered in advance or immediately. I don't accept IOUs."
"If you go back on your word after you become Hokage, I won't have any good way to deal with it," Kageyama Kogetsu said with a slight frown.
Alas... no choice. It seems I can only use Kotoamatsukami.
Fortunately, I can barely use it now. I'll plant a seed first, and then officially activate it when the meeting starts tomorrow.
In the time it takes to say one sentence, in that special occasion, the Konoha sensory ninja shouldn't be able to detect it.
"Ah!"
The moment Danzō activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, he cried out in pain...
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