Chapter 217: Abdication!

"I don't want it!"

Uzumaki Raiden's response left Hiruzen Sarutobi momentarily stunned. He gazed at Raiden in surprise, the moonlight casting a soft glow on the young man's face.

After a long silence, Hiruzen finally asked with a puzzled expression,

"Why?"

"I've heard people say that you want to change the ninja world."

"If you become Hokage, wouldn't that bring you one step closer to your goal?"

"Your strength and talent have already been proven on the battlefield. If you were to take the mantle of Hokage, I believe you could do even better than I have. So, why refuse?"

Hiruzen took out his pipe from somewhere, placed it in his mouth, took a deep breath, and exhaled a puff of purple smoke.

"I do want to be Hokage... but the time isn't right," Raiden replied, looking up at the sky and letting out a sigh.

Hiruzen's offer made it clear—he was seriously considering stepping down. From his words, Raiden could tell that Hiruzen genuinely hoped for him to take over.

For Hiruzen, Raiden becoming Hokage would be ideal. After all, Raiden was his disciple, powerful, and had achieved great feats in battle.

While Hiruzen expected some hesitation, he hadn't anticipated such an unusual reason for refusal—"The position of Hokage would become a hindrance."

"A hindrance? What do you mean?" Hiruzen's brows furrowed as he asked.

"The responsibilities of being Hokage would tie me down with day-to-day affairs," Raiden explained.

"I know I'm strong now, but I'm still not strong enough. There are too many enemies I can't face yet."

Raiden sighed softly. He was still young, with much room for growth. While he could already stand his ground against formidable foes like the Third Raikage, it wasn't enough.

The enemies he would face in the future far surpassed the likes of the Third Raikage. Uchiha Madara's power was on an entirely different level. The outcome of the Five Kage's battle against Madara was proof enough—he didn't want to end up being asked, "Would you like to dance too?"

Instead, Raiden wanted to be the one gripping Madara's collar and saying, "Your dancing isn't good enough."

"Not strong enough...?"

Hiruzen's expression grew complicated as he processed Raiden's words. He regarded his disciple seriously.

"This obsession with strength at such a young age... it's not a good sign."

"Maybe I haven't taught him enough. I can't let him stray from the right path," Hiruzen thought to himself.

Just as he was about to offer his guidance, Raiden interrupted his thoughts.

"Sensei, why don't you come inside?"

"You've never visited my home properly in all these years."

"It feels like we haven't had a real conversation in a long time."

Unknowingly, their walk had brought them to Raiden's house, a quiet courtyard beside the waterfall. Hiruzen paused in reflection.

Since the passing of Uzumaki Mito, Raiden had lived here alone, later being sent to the battlefield at a young age. The harsh words spoken by the Shimura clan members at the funeral echoed in Hiruzen's mind, lingering like a shadow.

"...Yes, it has been too long."

Following Raiden inside, they sat in the tea room. Raiden's household was well-stocked, and the tea served to Hiruzen was of the finest quality. The rich aroma helped calm his heart.

The two sat in silence, sipping their tea, watching the night pass as they engaged in quiet conversation.

The Next Morning

The Jonin meeting was held in the Hokage building.

Raiden, sporting dark circles under his eyes, arrived early. The conference room was mostly empty, and he found a random seat, closing his eyes to rest.

As more people trickled in, they saw him resting and instinctively kept their movements quiet, finding their seats without making a fuss.

Before long, the room was full. The three elders and Hiruzen Sarutobi entered. As he passed Raiden, Hiruzen gently tugged his sleeve to wake him.

Standing at the front, Hiruzen cleared his throat and addressed the gathering:

"In the past years, our village has suffered great losses in the Third Ninja World War."

"Even children were sent to the battlefield under my orders... countless lives were lost."

"This is all my responsibility."

"And now, I am growing older. I no longer have the energy to lead Konoha."

"Therefore, I have decided to step down as Hokage and allow the younger generation to lead Konoha into a brighter future."

Gasps of shock filled the room. No one had expected Hiruzen to step down so easily.

Some of his loyal supporters had spent the previous night devising plans to defend his position, but with his straightforward declaration, all their efforts became meaningless.

Among the crowd, Uchiha Fugaku's eyes gleamed with excitement. He took a deep look at Raiden before composing himself.

Gradually, the gathered Jonin realized the gravity of the situation and began considering where to place their loyalties.

Hiruzen continued, "Now, let everyone present voice their thoughts and propose their preferred candidates."

Although Hiruzen had opened the floor for discussion, Danzo's expression darkened. Hiruzen's words, emphasizing "younger generation," effectively ruled him out as a contender.

However, Danzo had come prepared.

"I propose Orochimaru as the Fourth Hokage!"

His voice cut through the murmurs, and all eyes turned to him. Unlike others who were still weighing their options, Danzo had acted decisively.

As his words settled, conversations erupted across the room. Even Hiruzen glanced at Orochimaru with a slight frown.

"Danzo-sama recommends Orochimaru-sama... That's not a bad choice!"

"Orochimaru-sama's battlefield achievements are undeniable! I support him!"

"But Orochimaru-sama's presence can be... unsettling for some."

Just as the discussion leaned toward Orochimaru, another voice interrupted.

"I believe Uzumaki Raiden is a more suitable candidate!"

Uchiha Fugaku stood up, his voice clear. The Uchiha present remained silent, indicating that this was a collective decision by the clan.

"Raiden-sama? Isn't he too young?"

"Bastard, do you know how many enemies Raiden-sama has defeated on the battlefield?!"

"I support Raiden-sama!"

Fugaku's proposal sparked fresh debates, shifting the focus to a new contender.

As voices clashed in the conference room, the battle for Konoha's future began.

(End of this chapter)