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Among the Konoha Police,
Uchiha Setsuna looked at Uchiha Toki with a curious look and asked:
"Toki-sama, are we really going to put Tsunade in the position of Hokage?"
Toki glanced at Uchiha Setsuna sideways and said lightly:
"Push her for what, do you know where Tsunade is?"
Setsuna was stunned: "Where?"
Toki: "How do I know?"
Setsuna: "Uh..."
Toki looked at his subordinate, who clearly lacked critical thinking, and said helplessly:
"We launched Tsunade as a delaying tactic, to stall Sarutobi Hiruzen from taking charge of Konoha again."
"Where Tsunade is? It doesn't matter. Whether she comes back or not, as long as the number of votes is high enough, we have a reason to resist Sarutobi becoming Hokage."
"Let those fence-sitters play democracy with us."
"Didn't Danzo say they want to let the Anbu take over the duties of the Konoha Garrison?"
"Without a Hokage, that group of guys are nothing but idle civilians. Understand?"
"In the next period, let the clan members canvass votes and advertise throughout Konoha."
"Whether Tsunade returns or not, she must have the most votes."
Setsuna's eyes lit up as he grasped the plan:
"So that's the case, as expected from a clan elder! I'll give the orders now!"
Toki waved him off, scolding impatiently:
"Get on with it! Use your brain more often, don't just think about fighting all day. What good is that? In this world, it's about power and influence. Look at Hatake Sakumo. Did fighting get him anywhere? Dead or dead."
Setsuna wasn't offended, nodding repeatedly as he listened to Toki's words:
"Got it, patriarch! I'll remember!"
Following Lord Toki meant feasting every three days! Who else could rattle Konoha F4 so effortlessly? This treatment was far better than anything Fugaku could offer.
So, under Toki's orders,
The Konoha Garrison began promoting Tsunade's candidacy across Konoha Village.
They not only spread the word about Tsunade's glorious achievements and her life-saving deeds, but also promised reforms to Konoha's existing problems once she became Hokage.
The cherry on top: they offered one pound of eggs for every vote cast in favor of Tsunade.
And so, a month later…
Tsunade's vote count crushed the other Hokage candidates by an overwhelming margin.
In the Hokage Building's conference room,
The shinobi gathered once more.
This time, even the tables and benches had been removed from the conference room by the Uchiha clan.
Konoha F4, sitting on the floor like everyone else, looked at Toki with murderous glares.
Mito was so furious his face turned blue, slamming the floor and shouting:
"Don't push it! This is the Hokage election!"
Uchiha Setsuna, filling in as the voice for the Uchiha, looked smugly at Konoha F4 and retorted:
"Everyone's just a bunch of confused civilians. We simply helped spread the word about Tsunade-sama's glorious deeds. What's wrong with that?"
"Did we say anything false?"
"The masses are clear-eyed, aren't they? Shouldn't this be reported to the daimyo?"
Mito pointed at Setsuna in a fit of rage:
"You bribed them with eggs!"
Setsuna gave him an odd look and responded:
"Our speech took up everyone's precious time. What's wrong with giving them some eggs? Don't you have the spirit of unity in Konoha? The Will of Fire? Peace?"
Mito, flustered, opened his mouth:
"You, you, you… Poof~!"
Setsuna quickly stepped back and waved to the others:
"You see, I didn't even touch him, and he's coughing up blood! He should retire already. This Elder's Group isn't even an official department."
"Sarutobi clan Patriarch, you too. Our patriarch is right, you've retired already. This Elder's Group you started should be disbanded. Every new regime changes its officials; you can't keep using the old blade to chop down the new officials."
"Now look at us all sitting on the floor together. How harmonious. How much Will of Fire! Why don't you understand? Big family, we are logging tired!"
Koharu: "Poof~!"
Nara Shikaku watched in disbelief as Iron Fire managed to enrage two elderly councilors to the point of spitting blood.
Where on earth had Toki found this guy? His mouth alone was a weapon of mass destruction.
Not only did he clear the room of tables and chairs early in the morning, but now he was making people faint from sheer frustration.
Setsuna turned again toward Danzo, who was preparing to jump in at any moment.
"You…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly snapped:
"Tsunade isn't even in Konoha!"
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