Pot-kage Ninja (TL)

For Sunagakure, mobilizing three thousand ninja troops was nearly their limit, while Konoha could easily raise an army of ten thousand. The disparity in strength was vast, yet Sunagakure had no choice but to act tough.

A village's Kage had died just like that—no body, no trace. Their carefully planned operation had become a laughingstock. Bow and apologize, then retreat? For the sake of pride, they had to double down.

They had to at least pretend to be resolute, or the morale within the village would collapse.

Sunagakure was gambling—betting that Konoha wouldn't dare to go to war.

Even if war broke out, they weren't afraid. If they couldn't win, they'd just retreat into the desert. Could Konoha really chase them across the vast wasteland?

Sunagakure was too poor to care. Poverty made them unafraid of war.

This kind of extortion was second nature to them—not the first time, and certainly not the last.

The Third Hokage ignored Sunagakure's war threats and instead launched a social offensive. He had Tsunade, Kakashi, even Naruto—anyone who could get through to him—take turns persuading Jiraiya.

Jiraiya wasn't his most favored disciple, but now, he had to be.

"Hey, the old man wants you to be Hokage. Why refuse? Because of the Toad Sage's prophecy?" Only Tsunade could ask so bluntly.

The two were drinking at a small tavern in the village, no attendants, just them.

This time, Jiraiya was serious. Over the past two days, Kakashi and Asuma had spoken to him. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Hyūga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans—even Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane had voiced their opinions. Danzo would certainly oppose it, but this time, he couldn't come up with a good reason to object.

Everyone wanted him to be Hokage. Only he didn't.

He took a sip of sake, finding it unusually bitter.

"I really don't have the talent for it. My personality isn't suited either... Sitting in an office all day handling paperwork like the old man? That's not what I want." A trace of fear flashed across Jiraiya's face—the thought of being stuck in an office doing paperwork was terrifying!

He loved—and was used to—a free-spirited life. He didn't want to chain himself to the village.

He'd rather be a protector than a ruler.

Tsunade knew him well. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"—she didn't want to be Hokage either, so she wasn't about to push Jiraiya into that pit. After a few more attempts at persuasion, she raised her cup, ready to drop the subject and keep drinking.

After all, the Third had asked her to try. She'd tried. If Jiraiya refused, what could she do?

Suddenly, Naruto burst out from some hidden corner.

He leaped onto the table between them, pointing at Jiraiya.

Naruto was furious. There was even a hint of disappointment in his gaze.

"Pervy Sage, why are you refusing to be Hokage? Aren't you one of the Legendary Sannin? Is becoming someone like the Third Hokage or the Fourth Hokage something to be ashamed of? I'll beat you up!"

Naruto lunged, claws and all. Tsunade quickly grabbed his collar, glancing outside the tavern where Kakashi stood with an awkward grin, waving at her.

Prophecies? Lack of motivation? All just excuses.

Jiraiya's lack of confidence in himself was the real issue—he always considered himself a failure.

After everyone's attempts to persuade him failed, sending Naruto became the only option left.

If Naruto's Talk no Jutsu had a 150% effect on Tsunade, it was 200% effective on Jiraiya. Seeing Naruto reminded him of his student, Minato Namikaze.

Neither Shikaku, the Third Hokage, Kakashi, nor Tsunade could match Naruto's impact at that moment. Under Naruto's hopeful gaze, Jiraiya was deeply moved. The words of refusal he had prepared faltered on his lips, showing clear hesitation.

He said he needed time to think it over seriously, then left alone.

While Jiraiya remained indecisive, Danzo was already taking swift action.

He secretly traveled to the capital of the Land of Fire and returned a day later. In the Third Hokage's hospital room, he produced an appointment document personally signed by the Lord of Fire Daimyo, approving Shimura Danzo as the Fifth Hokage after Sarutobi Hiruzen's resignation.

Danzo smirked triumphantly. "Hiruzen, the Daimyo's seal is authentic, isn't it?"

Mitokado Homura looked puzzled, unable to fathom how such a document had come about.

Lying weakly on the bed, the Third Hokage's eyes were clouded, but he knew his old comrade must have used some unknown method—this couldn't possibly be the Daimyo's true will.

"I don't know what ninja techniques you used on the Daimyo, but Danzo, you've crossed the line again."

Danzo didn't care. "What? You think I forged this? Then let's go to the capital together and hear the Daimyo declare his decision himself. How about that?"

The Third Hokage pondered silently, unable to figure out what technique Danzo had used to manipulate the Daimyo's will. The Daimyo was supposed to have capable ninja guards—had they just stood by? Or had Danzo bribed them too?

Exhausted, the Third Hokage felt dizzy after just a brief moment of thought.

He lacked the strength for a lengthy argument and could only shake his head weakly. "I don't agree. This is an unlawful order. The appointment of a village's Kage is recommended by the Ninja Village—the Daimyo only has the right to approve or reject it. This..."

He pointed feebly at the document. "...violates procedure."

Danzo tossed the appointment in front of him. "Will you reject the Daimyo's decree? The Land of Fire's reconstruction resources too?"

At the mention of money and rebuilding, Homura and Koharu Utatane hesitated.

The Daimyo's appointment still carried weight in their minds.

Konoha lacked funds, supplies, and manpower—all things the Daimyo controlled.

If they rejected Danzo's appointment as Hokage, would the Daimyo withhold these resources?

After a long silence, the Third Hokage decided to compromise temporarily to keep Danzo at bay. "This appointment doesn't follow procedure. I can step down, but after my death, convene a meeting in the capital to formally decide the next Hokage. Until then, you may act as interim Hokage."

Though it wasn't an outright victory, being acting Hokage was still a step forward. Satisfied, Danzo turned to the other two advisors.

Reluctantly, they nodded in agreement.

"Very well, I shall assume the position of acting Hokage. Hiruzen, you should serve as an advisor for now. Focus on recovering—the village still needs your wisdom and experience." Having obtained what he wanted, Danzo left the hospital room with a triumphant air.

The Third Hokage was no pushover. If you play dirty, I'll play dirtier. He immediately summoned Shikaku, and the two held a hushed discussion for over an hour.

The records in the Book of Seals were quite clear—Danzo had used Kotoamatsukami to control Mifune. The technique was undoubtedly powerful, but since it could be detected by the Byakugan, there was no need to over-mythologize it.