Chapter 110 – Jōnin Council (Part 2)
At this moment, Orochimaru had become completely disillusioned with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He truly hadn't expected that his teacher would utter such words during the Jōnin Council.
Everyone present could clearly hear the implication in Hiruzen's words—he intended to sacrifice Kazane.
"Those three villages have already been defeated by us once. Even if we fought again, they still wouldn't be a match for Konoha.
Hokage-sama, I believe this matter must be considered more carefully."
Uchiha Fugaku stood up to speak. After the death of Uchiha Syōma, Fugaku had taken his place as the new clan head of the Uchiha.
The Uchiha clan and Orochimaru were now tied by mutual interest—they flourished or fell together. If Hiruzen wanted to move against Kazane, he'd have to go through them first.
Seeing Fugaku take the lead, many Jōnin who had been hesitant also began voicing their own opinions.
Many of them had fought alongside Kazane at the borders. Some had even been saved by him. Naturally, their loyalty leaned toward Kazane.
"Enough! This is a council meeting! Stop this chaos!"
Even with all his years of discipline, Hiruzen couldn't suppress his irritation at the rising objections.
He had already made his stance clear, and yet these Jōnin still dared challenge him this openly. Who exactly is the Hokage here?
Hiruzen had ruled Konoha for decades. His authority still carried weight. The council chamber quieted as all eyes turned toward Orochimaru—who had yet to speak.
As Kazane's teacher, surely he had something to say.
"Hokage-sama, what exactly is your position on this? Are you saying Konoha should surrender to the demands of the three great villages and hand over Kazane?"
Orochimaru deliberately pretended not to understand Hiruzen's implication, his tone laced with biting sarcasm.
The moment he spoke, Hiruzen's expression darkened.
Orochimaru's words were an open rebuke.
"Orochimaru, watch your tone—you're speaking to the Hokage."
Before Hiruzen could respond, Danzo stood up and reprimanded Orochimaru harshly.
But Orochimaru didn't even glance his way. His eyes stayed locked on Hiruzen.
Hiruzen hadn't expected his once-prized student to humiliate him so directly in front of everyone.
"The purpose of this meeting is to conduct a vote. It's all for the village's safety. Let's proceed. All those in favor of handing over Hatake Kazane, raise your hand."
Hiruzen said coldly, signaling the Jōnin he had contacted beforehand.
Despite the support Kazane had among many Jōnin, Hiruzen had been Hokage for over twenty years—he didn't sit in that seat for nothing.
Immediately, a swath of hands rose in support of the proposal.
But what made Hiruzen's face darken further was this—none of his three students had raised their hands.
He could understand Orochimaru and Jiraiya. Jiraiya had already expressed opposition earlier. But even Tsunade had not supported him.
Even Namikaze Minato, whom Hiruzen had high hopes for—and was preparing to name his successor—kept his hand down.
It left a bitter taste in his mouth. But still, the vote was enough to carry the motion.
BANG!!
"Enough!!! Old man, what do you think you're doing?! Are you even still Konoha's Hokage?!
Your actions would bring shame to every Hokage before you!"
Just when Hiruzen believed he had secured the outcome, Tsunade, who had remained silent throughout the meeting, suddenly rose from her seat and slammed her palm down—shattering the table before her as she roared at him.
The echo of splintering wood drew the attention of all the surrounding Jōnin.
When Hiruzen had announced the council's topic earlier, Tsunade had immediately recalled the conversation she had with Kazane days ago.
So it's true... everything he said about Sarutobi-sensei was true.
Her teacher was trying to eliminate dissenters. Just as Kazane had warned, now it was his turn.
Anyone who posed a threat to Hiruzen's authority… would be purged one by one.
And yet, Kazane's contributions to Konoha were undeniable.
In the battles against the three villages—if not for Kazane slaying Kitsuchi, defeating the Fourth Mizukage Yagura and his Mist forces, and killing the Third Raikage—who knew how that war would have ended?
Perhaps it would've been Konoha preparing to pay reparations right now.
But with the war won, the Hokage had decided to sacrifice Kazane in the aftermath?
Tsunade couldn't help but recall the fate of the Senju clan—and the Uzumaki, who had shielded Konoha from Kirigakure at great cost.
Sarutobi's actions had utterly shattered her faith in him.
Though the Senju clan now had only Tsunade left, her influence within Konoha was still immense.
The Jōnin in that chamber could not forget the First and Second Hokage—founders of the village.
In fact, in some circles, Tsunade's authority surpassed even that of Hiruzen.
After she spoke, many of the Jōnin who had raised their hands began slowly lowering them.
Hiruzen, standing at the front, found himself speechless.
At this point, it no longer mattered how the vote played out. Whether in favor or against—it was meaningless.
Tsunade had stood up for Hatake Kazane. She wasn't just Hiruzen's student—she was the granddaughter of the First Hokage.
Given her unique position, Hiruzen couldn't refute her words. Pushing the meeting any further would only humiliate him.
And after this… he finally realized something.
Somewhere along the way, his grip on Konoha had quietly slipped.
His three prized students… each one had turned against him.
One after another, they delivered blows he hadn't expected. But how dare they?!
---
That night
Hokage Office
The four familiar figures were once again seated around the Hokage's desk.
But this time, each wore a look of deep concern.
That afternoon's Jōnin Council had laid everything bare—exposing just how much power they had lost.
Konoha was no longer a place where they could dictate everything with a single word.
"Hiruzen, I told you. You'd regret your indecision. Look at the village now. Who even respects you anymore?"
Danzo sat with arms crossed, his gaze toward Hiruzen laced with discontent, mockery—and worry.
When Hiruzen had decided to hold the council, Danzo had already predicted this outcome.
What he hadn't anticipated… was Tsunade stepping in.
In some ways, she was even harder to deal with than both Orochimaru and Jiraiya combined.
It meant they were facing even more enemies now.
Hiruzen's three students had fully matured.
Orochimaru, already formidable, now had the full backing of the Uchiha clan—and stood beside top-tier shinobi like Hatake Kazane and Might Duy.
Jiraiya had always been strong. And after commanding tens of thousands during the war, his influence rivaled Orochimaru's.
As for Tsunade—not only was she the First Hokage's granddaughter, but she also had the entire Konoha Medical Corps behind her.