Pot-kage Ninja (TL)

That evening, the villagers enthusiastically discussed many heroic deeds of Jiraiya.

Having long served as a frontline commander during wartime, Jiraiya possessed formidable strength and an approachable personality. He was extremely popular among ninjas, especially civilian-born ones, many of whom believed his ascension to Hokage was a natural and widely anticipated event.

While the clan heads remained silent, several branch families voiced their support. The Hyuga Clan's branch family, for instance, declared that only Jiraiya could become Hokage and save Konoha.

Danzo was furious.

This tactic was all too familiar to him. Back then, the Third Hokage had used similar propaganda to ensure Minato Namikaze surpassed Orochimaru in public image, reputation, and achievements, ultimately securing the title of Fourth Hokage.

Now, Danzo realized his own weakness—he wasn't even on par with Orochimaro. At least Orochimaru had fought on the frontlines for years and commanded numerous subordinates. But Danzo? He had always lurked in the shadows. No matter how much he claimed to have accomplished, who could verify it?

Danzo had no choice but to prove through action that he was the only suitable candidate for Hokage.

If he lacked achievements, he would simply manufacture one.

Returning to Root, he immediately began mobilizing his forces.

All ninjas under Root's command, secretly trained civilian ninjas, and affiliated clans—including the Yamanaka and Aburame Clans—were summoned.

Third, you said becoming Hokage requires merit, didn't you? Fine. Just wait. Once I annihilate the Sound Ninja Village and force Sunagakure into retreat with overwhelming victory, let's see what else you can say!

The title of Acting Hokage wasn't prestigious enough to command the clans directly. Any attempt to rally them now would only result in excuses, damaging his authority. So, he only summoned his own subordinates.

Swift and decisive—eliminate the Sound Village, then distribute some benefits to the clans to secure their support. With that, his position as Hokage would be solidified.

At seventy years old, he still had enough political acumen for this.

Root ninjas poured out in full force.

The Yamanaka Clan dispatched 150 ninjas, all led by Yamanaka Fu.

Neither Inoichi nor Ino participated. Danzo understood their hedging strategy—the Ino-Shika-Cho Formation was too influential to suppress, so he could only try to win them over.

The Aburame Clan's response was far weaker. Their clan head, Aburame Shibi—Shino's father—personally led the contingent.

A veteran Jonin, Shibi had once been teammates with Minato Namikaze and Akimichi Choza in their youth.

Wearing sunglasses and carrying a large gourd on his back, Shibi, much like his son Shino, had a low presence and rarely spoke.

Inoichi had the privilege to refuse the summons, but Shibi didn't. As Acting Hokage, Danzo's orders were absolute—if Shibi didn't come, Shino would have to.

Several minor clans also sent ninjas. Once the assembled force exceeded 800, Danzo, Yamanaka Fu, and Aburame Torune made their appearance.

"Target: the Sound Village in the Land of Rice Fields. Move out."

Danzo wanted to wear the Hokage hat, but with all three village advisors opposing it, he didn't push the issue.

As the group departed the village, Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu remained at the gates. Danzo's forces didn't bother with exit procedures, and the two gatekeepers pretended not to see them, allowing the large contingent to leave unimpeded.

"Cough, cough..." The Third, seated in a wheelchair and pushed by an Anbu ninja, intercepted Danzo at the crossroads.

After lowering his voice, he said, "Danzo, sending troops at this time will inevitably trigger a chain reaction and disrupt the balance between various factions. Have you considered this?"

Danzo sneered, "Hiruzen, drop your hypocritical act. What does the Shinobi World need? After forty years as Hokage, you still haven't figured it out. The Shinobi World needs iron and blood, needs power! Peace can never be achieved through negotiation."

"Danzo, you'll regret this."

"Hmph, Hiruzen, I am the Hokage!"

After this classic exchange, the self-proclaimed "Acting Fifth Hokage," Old Man Shimura Danzo, waved his hand, and the large force quickly departed from the Hidden Leaf Village.

With Danzo and his loyalists successfully lured away, the Third Hokage immediately began working. Messengers constantly traveled between the village and the border. As representatives of the Ino-Shika-Cho Formation who maintained friendly relations with Gaara, Shikaku personally made two trips.

For the final negotiation, Jiraiya himself took action, leveling half a mountain before finally reaching an agreement with Ebizo. The two ninja villages reaffirmed their unbreakable alliance, after which Sunagakure withdrew its troops.

While Sunagakure licked its wounds, the selection for Konoha's Fifth Hokage reached its most critical stage.

The Third Hokage set aside the Daimyo's orders—something he would normally care about. But now that he was dying, the village took precedence. Some formalities could be left for future generations to address. Political figures feared personal grudges the least.

Having followed rules his entire life, the Third broke them in his final moments. Meanwhile, Danzo, who had flouted rules all his life, tried to play by them at this crucial juncture—only to be outmaneuvered by the Third.

Seizing the perfect opportunity of Danzo's absence from the village, the Third Hokage sacrificed what little dignity he had left to secure the firm support of Koharu Utatane and Mitokado Homura. He also made numerous political deals with various ninja clans to gain their approval for the new Hokage.

Using the argument that Danzo's rise would bring disaster to Konoha and the entire Shinobi World, he finally persuaded Jiraiya.

Like a duck forced onto a perch, Jiraiya couldn't quite describe his feelings as he mechanically accepted the Hokage's hat, becoming the village's Fifth Hokage.

His teacher was the Third, his student was the Fourth, and now, completing the circle, he returned as the Fifth. The whims of fate left him wondering—could someone like him really be Hokage?

The Ino-Shika-Cho Formation, Kakashi, and Asuma said he could.

Tsunade said he definitely could.

Naruto cheered him on with loud, enthusiastic shouts.

Jiraiya's emotions were complicated.

On the afternoon of his inauguration, the Third Hokage shared many of the village's secrets with him.

No one knew exactly what was said during those two hours, only that Jiraiya's furious cursing never stopped—he railed against the Third, against Danzo.

The Third Hokage passed away at the Sarutobi family's old residence on the evening of the second day after Jiraiya assumed office.

Ino's one-month estimate had been overly optimistic.

For someone of his age, especially as a ninja—a profession riddled with injuries—his condition had been masked by chakra. But with half his soul gone and most organs failing, his body could no longer produce chakra. Without it, a lifetime of accumulated injuries erupted all at once.

The Third Hokage felt that his wishes had been fulfilled—he had taken Orochimaru with him in his final moments and passed the Hokage position to Jiraiya.

In truth, he had also wanted to take Danzo with him, but his Body Stat simply couldn't hold on any longer.

Jiraiya might seem scatterbrained, but his wisdom ran deep. The Third believed Jiraiya was fully capable of handling his old comrade.

With that last lingering breath finally released, he was gone.