UTBW: Ch. 84

On the stage, in the corner, Genma's expression was stiff. He was only a chunin now and did not have the right to vote. But because he was the custodian of the Hokage robes and hat, he was allowed to attend the meeting as an observer, just not permitted to speak.

At this moment, upon hearing Junichi's words, he didn't know whether he should step forward or not.

"Hmm?" Junichi noticed his lack of movement and swept his gaze toward him.

Being stared at by him... Genma's hair stood on end, and he immediately thought of the fates of those who had gone against Junichi. A chill ran down his spine, and he no longer hesitated. He quickly stepped forward.

"Hokage-sama, please." He bowed and respectfully presented the Hokage robes with both hands.

"At least you know your job." Junichi chuckled and casually picked up the Hokage hat, tossing it lightly in his hand.

This item was just a simple bamboo weave. But its true importance lay in what it symbolized. Once this hat was in his hand, every ninja in Konoha had to bow before him.

Unless someone wanted to defect from the village, otherwise, everyone had to obey Junichi's orders.

"We agreed before that Danzō would be judged by the Fifth Hokage." Junichi looked down at the crowd with a smile. "Now, I am the Fifth. I sentence him to death. The former high-ranking officials who either failed to report or were negligent also bear responsibility. But considering their poor health, they will be stripped of their positions, that will suffice."

Silence fell below. All the jonin lowered their heads.

Indeed, it had been agreed that Danzō would be judged by the Fifth Hokage, but everyone knew that was just a stalling tactic by the Third Hokage. But now Junichi was the Fifth Hokage, and it was too late for anything. He could now stir up clouds with a wave of his hand.

"Seems like there are no objections." He nodded with a smile, dismissing the former leadership so lightly, as if it were nothing.

After a pause, he added, "The interrogation of Root should also be brought forward."

"Guy." He suddenly called a name.

In the crowd, a man with a bowl-cut hairstyle, thick eyebrows, and wearing a green jumpsuit raised his head cautiously.

"I appoint you as the chief interrogator for Root's crimes. Effective immediately." Junichi said to him.

Guy frowned, his expression complicated.

"Are you going to defy the first order of the new Hokage?" Junichi's voice suddenly turned cold.

Guy's face shifted slightly, and he immediately lowered his head. "No."

"Then why haven't you accepted?" Junichi snorted coldly, his tone full of pressure.

Guy froze.

The other jonin looked at him with complex expressions. The atmosphere grew tense.

A silent pressure fell on him. He couldn't refuse, because this was the Hokage's order!

"…Yes, Hokage-sama." He stayed silent for a few seconds before finally lowering his head.

Not far away, Kakashi sighed inwardly, a look of sympathy on his face.

"Good." Junichi nodded in satisfaction, the nuclear weapon known as the Eight Gates user was now in his hands, at least partially.

One had to admit, having the moral high ground felt good.

"Additionally, with the leadership removed, it's only natural their loyal subordinates may be tainted. But I'm not in the mood to investigate. Just submit a voluntary resignation letter, and I'll approve all of them." He looked around at the other jonin, smiling.

At once, all the jonin wore expressions as if they had swallowed dung. The old leadership, headed by the Third Hokage, had controlled Konoha for decade, their influence ran deep.

It could be said that every department head was one of the old guard's trusted subordinates. And these loyal subordinates were naturally among the jonin present. After all, for decades, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been Hokage, of course they had aligned themselves with him. And now, all of it was dismissed by just a single sentence from Junichi.

Decades of investment and cultivation, all gone up in smoke!

"Objections?" he asked while gazing down at the people below.

As his gaze swept over them, every jonin lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

He held both moral authority and overwhelming power. There was simply no way to oppose him. No matter how stifling it was, they had to endure it.

"We will comply with your orders." A civilian-born jonin was the first to give in, speaking submissively. "I'll write my resignation application and leave by this afternoon."

With someone speaking up, the rest of the jonin followed suit.

"So will I."

"The entire Aburame clan will resign."

"We follow you."

In an instant, three-quarters of Konoha's departmental leadership was emptied. Even eight seats on the Jonin Council were voluntarily vacated.

"Excellent." Junichi's smile grew more pronounced, these people were more sensible than expected. Of course, another way to describe them was opportunists. While not the bourgeoisie, their weakness was on full display, just like the aristocratic families of ancient dynasties.

It didn't matter who sat on the throne, they'd always rely on the nobility to run the country.

"Tsunade, Jiraiya…" Junichi's gaze shifted to the two who had remained silent, smiling faintly. "You've both traveled long and far to return to the village, and must be exhausted. As it happens, the Third Hokage is bedridden and needs care. As his disciples, it's only proper that you personally attend to him. So I won't assign you any positions."

Tsunade and Jiraiya's faces turned dark with fury. This was a reasonable excuse, but it perfectly sidelined both of them, rendering them unable to interfere in the village's administration.

However, there was no way they would accept this.

"Enough!" Tsunade was the first to glare at the other jonin, all of whom had once pounded their chests and made bold promises. And now, when it counted, they had all flipped to Junichi's side.

Traitors!

"I don't accept you as the Fifth Hokage!" she declared angrily, her gaze sharp and piercing as it locked onto Junichi, whose expression remained calm and carefree.

"Are you questioning the daimyō?"

"No, I'm questioning you!"

Tsunade tore away all pretense, coldly saying, "The daimyō has always been close to the Senju clan. There's no way he would appoint an Uchiha as Hokage. I suspect you've done something to the daimyō. Until the truth is revealed, I absolutely do not recognize you as the Fifth Hokage!"

Her words fell, and murmurs rippled through the jonin present. Many had flickers of suspicion in their eyes. They had thought of the possibility before, but no one had the guts to say it out loud.

Look what happened to the four "great" clans.

"There are some lines that must not be crossed," Jiraiya spoke up too, staring seriously at Junichi. "You've overstepped."

The other jonin began to stir slightly, exchanging glances with each other.

Only… Kakashi quietly looked at Junichi, and saw that the Uchiha clan leader was calm, poised, and utterly unbothered.

He silently shook his head. It couldn't be that simple.

Junichi wouldn't have left such an obvious flaw.

"So, what you're both saying is, you suspect I used genjutsu on the daimyō?" Junichi asked with a light chuckle.

"I didn't say that!" Tsunade snapped, her face cold. "I just disagree with the result!"

Jiraiya nodded as well.

"This isn't how it's supposed to go. There has never been a case in history where the daimyō bypassed Konoha and directly appointed a Hokage."

The other jonin grew restless as they listened.

"To put it plainly, you're still suggesting that the Uchiha did something to the daimyō," Yuki said. "But if you're going to talk, you'd better have evidence."

He looked at the two of them with a half-smile, the corners of his lips curling into a mocking sneer.