159: Natsuki Snaps at Mitokado Homura; Danzo Rejoices Secretly. These Two Siblings Are Creepy as Hell.

With Itachi and Kisame's retreat, the area gradually quieted down.

 The flood caused by the Water Style ninjutsu slowly dissipated as well.

"Is everyone alright?"

Now that the battle had concluded, the Elder Council finally emerged. 

Utatane Koharu pretended concern as she helped several wounded ANBU ninja up.

"With Lord Natsuki here, we're mostly unharmed," the ANBU replied perfunctorily. "However, Kakashi is still unconscious, and Jonin Asuma sustained serious injuries."

Due to the Hokage's death, they temporarily obeyed Hokage advisors Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.

This was also one of the reasons Danzo didn't dare act rashly.

The other reason was that the major clans in Konoha habitually followed the Hokage's orders.

Without a Hokage, Konoha, as a massive war machine, couldn't properly function.

"You really don't realize the difference until you're put side by side with him. Natsuki truly is incredible," Asuma exclaimed, supported by an ANBU member while receiving medical attention from Koharu.

The nearby ANBU all nodded simultaneously.

Several months prior, when they accompanied the Third Hokage to deal with the terrifying Beast that suddenly appeared in Konoha, they had already witnessed this young man's extraordinary strength.

Who could've imagined he'd become even stronger now? They couldn't even gauge the depth of the boy's true abilities anymore.

Unfathomable—this word probably best described someone like him.

"You've all seen it. Konoha is incredibly vulnerable right now. Even random nobodies think they can bully us now," Mitokado Homura loudly seized the opportunity.

"Although Sunagakure has officially surrendered, the Third Hokage's death has encouraged other major hidden villages to stir trouble, repeatedly testing us.

"Thus, appointing a new Hokage is currently our most urgent priority."

Mitokado Homura then looked up at Natsuki floating in mid-air.

"After much discussion and considering the current situation, we believe Yuhi Natsuki is most suited to become the Fifth Hokage.

"Yuhi Natsuki, are you willing to become the Fifth Hokage and bear the responsibility of protecting Konoha?"

As soon as this was said, everyone stared at Natsuki.

No one had imagined someone so young could become Hokage.

But during extraordinary times, extraordinary measures were understandable.

Right now, with threats on all sides, only someone undeniably powerful could shoulder such a heavy burden.

If not him, who else? Kakashi Hatake, famous but knocked out cold by Itachi Uchiha in one hit?

Or Sarutobi Asuma, son of the Third Hokage? 

He had the qualifications but was severely injured just facing two rogue shinobi earlier. 

Clearly, he couldn't guard Konoha or inherit the Hokage title.

If they appointed Asuma, the whole ninja world would laugh at Konoha. What kind of Hokage couldn't even handle two rogue ninja who invaded his own village?

Just as everyone cast hopeful gazes toward Natsuki, he suddenly frowned, looking down from above at Mitokado Homura, and harshly scolded:

"Insolent! Is my name something a cowardly, death-fearing old fool like you can speak so casually?"

Caught completely off guard, Homura almost choked on his breath.

He had prepared himself for two possibilities: either this kid would happily accept the position out of vanity, or he'd refuse out of laziness and distaste for trouble.

Either way, Homura had his responses planned. But he never expected Natsuki would suddenly turn his hostility toward him.

This boy's mind was far too unpredictable. Could someone like him, once made Hokage, even be controlled as they intended?

Seeing the strange looks the ANBU members cast his way, Homura coughed violently before retorting in a hoarse voice, "Cough cough… I'm cowardly and afraid of death? If I were so cowardly, why would I be standing here?"

As a Konoha elder, people would normally give face to his words, whether reasonable or not. Yet Natsuki mercilessly replied, "Oh, you're here alright, but only after all the fighting ended, right?"

"In recent years, whenever Konoha faced troubles, wasn't it always you old geezers hiding in the rear, only coming out afterward to maintain appearances?"

"You...you...cough cough cough…!"

Homura was so enraged he nearly passed out from lack of breath.

At his side, his decades-long partner Koharu immediately saw through his act. 

He was just pretending, too furious to respond properly. 

Still, they were allies. She had to step up now and suppress this brat's arrogance.

Just as Koharu took a step forward, preparing to reprimand Natsuki for his disrespectful attitude toward Elder Homura, Yuhi Kurenai hurriedly stepped between them, cutting Koharu off.

Looking up at her younger brother, Kurenai shouted,

"Natsuki! Come down here immediately! How can you speak to the elders like this? Even if they haven't contributed much, at least they've worked hard to live all these years!"

Koharu nearly fainted from sheer anger at Kurenai's words. 

Did this imply that their decades of loyal service to Konoha weren't worth a damn? 

What was wrong with this pair of siblings, why were their words always so unsettling?

She opened her mouth wide, ready to unleash her verbal assault. 

But before she could say anything, Kurenai quickly turned around, bowing with an apologetic smile.

"My sincerest apologies, Lord Homura, Lady Koharu. Natsuki is still young and speaks too bluntly. He's indeed not suitable to become Hokage."

If this troublemaker brother of hers really became Hokage, Konoha wouldn't even need enemies—the village would collapse from the inside. 

Besides, Natsuki was too naive. 

How could he handle these crafty old schemers? Protecting her younger brother was Kurenai's top priority right now; declining this nomination was the correct move.

Koharu, who hadn't yet said a single word, just closed her mouth but immediately wanted to open it again.

What a clever girl—she claimed her brother spoke bluntly, indirectly validating everything he had said! It appeared as if she apologized, yet she was clearly shielding him!

So many people were watching. 

If she didn't retort, how would the elders raise their heads in the future? In that case, she'd first teach this older sister a proper lesson.

Just as Koharu sharply inhaled, ready to lash out.

"Ha!"

Another figure suddenly stepped in front of her, completely cutting off her chance to speak. Koharu's face gradually turned purple.

"Elder Koharu, there's no need to stoop to their level."

Danzo smoothly blocked Koharu's words, turning around with a gentle smile toward Kurenai.

"On the contrary, Natsuki's temperament is exactly what's needed in a Hokage during times like these.

"Right now, Konoha's people are anxious and fearful. We need someone who can bravely step forward and lead from the front.

"And as for us old-timers… well, we really can't charge ahead anymore."

Earlier, when Natsuki berated Homura, Danzo had nearly burst into laughter.

He didn't particularly care who became the Fifth Hokage, but whoever it was couldn't side with the Homura-Koharu faction again. Only then would he get the opportunity to manipulate things behind the scenes.

At the critical moment, he'd rely on the Kotoamatsukami Mangekyō Sharingan he'd seized from Shisui Uchiha to completely flip the situation, allowing Konoha to be reshaped according to his vision.

For now, he'd simply go along with this kid's wishes and elevate him.

After Konoha stabilized, and once all these fools had outlived their usefulness, he'd use Kotoamatsukami to control Natsuki, sending him and every opposition faction into mutual destruction.

Then he could comfortably step into the role of Hokage himself!