Homura Mitokado's thoughts raced.
He had never imagined that anyone would question Hiruzen Sarutobi's status, so he had made no preparations to deal with such an argument. Caught off guard, he could only try to come up with a response on the spot.
But Homura had held the position of Konoha Elder for decades—he was far from incompetent. Very quickly, he found a point of breakthrough.
Looking at Uchiha Ren, Homura said:
"Captain Ren, although Hiruzen is no longer Hokage, he is still the Acting Hokage."
"As long as the Fourth Hokage has not yet taken office, the Acting Hokage may exercise all the authority of the Hokage."
"You wouldn't deny that, would you?"
Ren smiled faintly.
"In the absence of a Hokage, the Acting Hokage may indeed exercise all the Hokage's authority. I certainly won't deny that."
"But…"
Homura's eyebrows twitched.
At the word "but," his heart skipped a beat.
Ren spread his hands casually.
"But I do not recognize Hiruzen Sarutobi as Acting Hokage."
Before Homura could question him, Ren calmly explained:
"Yes, when Hiruzen Sarutobi announced at the emergency jōnin council that he would step down, he also mentioned that he would become Acting Hokage."
"When the Hokage speaks, naturally I would not dare to disobey."
"But up to this moment, the Hokage has never issued a formal written order confirming that position…"
Ren paused deliberately before continuing with a faint smile.
"Oh right—Hiruzen Sarutobi is no longer Hokage, is he?"
"So he isn't Acting Hokage either."
The implication was explosive.
Homura's mind reeled.
Ren continued calmly:
"As far as I remember, becoming Acting Hokage requires two conditions."
"First: the request must be proposed at a Jōnin Council meeting and receive over fifty percent approval votes."
"Second: one must report to the Fire Daimyō and obtain the Daimyō's approval."
Then Ren smiled meaningfully.
"At the emergency jōnin meeting back then, fewer than thirty percent of the village's jōnin were present."
"Most of them were still stationed at the border frontlines and hadn't returned to the village."
"A meeting like that simply cannot decide a matter as significant as appointing an Acting Hokage."
"Besides, we didn't even vote."
"And I believe Hiruzen Sarutobi never sought the Daimyō's approval for the Acting Hokage position either."
Ren looked directly at Homura.
"Elder Homura, Hiruzen Sarutobi hasn't fulfilled even the two most basic requirements."
"How am I supposed to recognize his identity as Acting Hokage?"
Homura felt as if he had been stabbed several times in the chest.
Ren had occupied the moral high ground in just a few sentences. There was almost no way to refute him.
The problem was that Homura and the rest of Konoha's leadership had long grown used to making decisions in small meetings.
Over the years, the so-called Konoha's Four Elders could decide major matters casually, without ever worrying about strict procedures.
Now someone was suddenly using those very rules and procedures to limit their authority.
Homura felt like utterly at a loss—there was simply nowhere to sink his teeth.
Meanwhile, Shimura Danzō was trembling with excitement.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi lost the identities of Hokage and Acting Hokage, the outcome would be overwhelmingly beneficial for him.
More importantly, Hiruzen would no longer be able to suppress him through his position.
After all—
Danzō was still a Konoha Elder and Hokage Advisor.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi?
At best, he was just the principal of the Ninja Academy, the head of the Education Department, and the leader of the Mission Assignment Office.
Nothing more.
For years Hiruzen had suppressed Danzō with his authority as Hokage whenever their opinions conflicted.
But now?
Danzō could hardly wait to confront him again.
Would Hiruzen Sarutobi really dare to act arrogantly in front of a Konoha Elder now?
At that moment, Ren turned to Danzō and asked with a smile:
"Elder Danzō, would you recognize such an Acting Hokage?"
Danzō's expression remained cold.
But he answered firmly:
"I also do not recognize Hiruzen Sarutobi as Acting Hokage."
Homura's eyes widened in shock.
"Danzō, you—?!"
It felt as if a blade had stabbed straight through his heart from behind.
His gaze toward Danzō was filled with disbelief.
If this were only Uchiha Ren's opinion, the situation might still be manageable.
But now Danzō, a Konoha Elder, had openly taken the same stance.
That meant they absolutely had the ability to turn this claim into reality.
Homura stared at Danzō.
Though he spoke only three words, the meaning behind them was heavier than a thousand sentences.
"Danzō… you…"
But Danzō ignored him completely.
Instead he said calmly:
"I suddenly remembered something."
"Some time ago, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, verbally removed me from my position as a Konoha Elder and restricted the activities of Root."
Danzō sneered faintly.
"In that case, it appears that order was merely a momentary remark by the Third Hokage."
"If rules and procedures are to be followed strictly, then such a command clearly doesn't count."
At that moment, if circumstances allowed, Danzō would have loved to throw his head back and laugh.
Uchiha Ren was a genius.
He had actually found such a brilliant method to restrict Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Give him a little time, and Danzō was confident he could completely push Hiruzen out of the political stage.
Homura's old face flushed red, and his breathing grew rapid.
He no longer had the mind to argue further.
He needed to return immediately and discuss countermeasures with Hiruzen.
After a long silence, Homura finally stood up.
"Very well."
"We will leave it at that for today."
Then he added:
"Tomorrow morning at 9 a.m., the village will hold a Jōnin Council meeting to discuss the election of the Fourth Hokage."
"Captain Ren, I hope you won't be late."
Ren smiled calmly.
"Not at all."
He watched Homura leave the room.
"Take care."
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