The Election of the Third Hokage
*FLASHBACK*
The Council Meeting After Tobirama Senju's Death
The heavy atmosphere in the council chamber reflected the shock and unease following the sudden loss of Hokage Tobirama Senju. The council members sat around the large, oak table, their faces etched with both grief and the uncertainty of the decision they now had to make. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, Torifu Akimichi, and Homura Mitokado returned from the mission to report Tobirama's death, and the weight of the village's future hung over them.
The room fell into uneasy murmurs, the air thick with tension as the council began their discussions. The late Hokage's last words had been clear—he named Hiruzen Sarutobi the third Hokage—but many of the clan heads were reluctant to accept that decision. The stakes were high; Konoha's leadership would shape the future of the entire village.
Aiko Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha clan, was the first to speak up, his voice strong and unwavering.
Aiko Uchiha:
"Tobirama's final words may have named Hiruzen, but his decision was made in the heat of battle. We are not obligated to follow his word, not without a proper council vote. We need to consider what's best for the future of this village. The Uchiha clan has long been loyal, and we are ready to take on the responsibilities of the Hokage position."
The murmurs grew louder as Aiko's words landed, but the other clan leaders held their ground. The Hyuga clan head, Haru Hyuga, was next to speak, his tone steady but resolute.
Haru Hyuga:
"The Hyuga clan has fought for this village for generations. Our strength is unparalleled. If Konoha is to move forward, we need leadership from a family with the power and the will to secure our future. Hiruzen Sarutobi is not the only option. It is time for a new Hokage, and the Hyuga clan is ready to take our rightful place in this discussion."
The room grew quiet as the Hyuga and Uchiha representatives made their stance clear, both clans hoping to secure the Hokage's position for themselves. But there were still other voices to be heard. Torifu Akimichi, the head of the Akimichi clan, stood up next, his voice loud and commanding.
Torifu Akimichi:
"The decision must not be rushed. I say it's time for an election, not a simple handover of the title."
The other leaders nodded, and Koharu Utatane spoke next, echoing Torifu's sentiment.
Koharu Utatane:
"Danzo and I agree. We must have an election. The position of Hokage must be earned. We cannot allow a mere name to dictate the future of the village. I will stand by whoever the council chooses, but we must have unity in this decision. We cannot afford to follow in the footsteps of a dying man's wish without due deliberation."
Danzo Shimura, as always, remained as a voice of caution and pragmatism, his usual scowl deepening.
Danzo:
"The decision should not be based on sentimental loyalty. We are in a critical time, and we need a leader who can manage this village's internal struggles as well as the ever-present external threats. The Hokage's position should be decided through due process, not based on someone's final words."
With this there was enough votes for an election process. The vote was called, and one by one, the clans cast their votes.
The Yamanaka clan head, a young but sharp-minded woman, was next to speak.
Yamanaka Clan Head:
"The Yamanaka clan has always been about communication, about connecting the village. In this time of uncertainty, we believe the stability of the Sarutobi clan is what Konoha needs most. We vote for Hiruzen Sarutobi as Hokage."
The Yamanaka's support for Hiruzen added to the weight of the Sarutobi faction's influence, but it wasn't enough to shift the tides.
The Nara clan, represented by Shikadi Nara, stood next, his brow furrowed as he considered the decision.
Shikadi Nara:
"We Nara have always believed in practicality over emotion. But this decision is too important to be made out of loyalty or bloodline. It is time for the clans to come together. I vote for Sarutobi."
Torifu Akimichi:
"The Akimichi clan has long served Konoha's interests. We will not choose based on bloodlines alone. We need someone who understands the village's needs, who can unite us all. We will also vote Sarutobi."
The three clans were now in agreement—and Sarutobi was in the lead. With this, the Uchiha and Hyuga desire to see the Hokage's position was crumbling.
But unexpectedly many of the smaller clans were split between the Uchiha and Hyuga. Fuma, Kurama, and Hatake voted Uchiha. While Aburame, Lee and shimura voted Hyuga. With Kohaku voted Sarutobi, this last vote would decide the winner as sarutobi or a revote with Hyuga.
The Inuzuka clan was the last to cast their vote. Haru Hyuga had assumed that the Inuzuka clan would side with the Hyuga, as they had always followed the strength of the Hyuga family in the past. But the head of the Inuzuka clan, a large and proud man named Kenta, rose to speak with the room's full attention.
Kenta Inuzuka:
"We've fought for Konoha, bled for this village. The Sarutobi clan has always been there for us, fought alongside us in every battle, and stood by us when others would have turned their backs. Tobirama's last words spoke of trust, of a bond forged in battle. Our loyalty, our honor, our duty—it belongs to Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi is our Hokage."
The room fell into stunned silence. Haru Hyuga, who had assumed he had the Inuzuka vote, looked sharply at Kenta. The Inuzuka clan's loyalty to was to the Hyuga clan for generations so this blow had been deep, but to give the final vote for Hiruzen was an unexpected blow.
Kenta's voice rang with finality as he cast the last vote for Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The result was clear—Hiruzen Sarutobi, with the last vote cast by the Inuzuka clan, was now the third Hokage of Konoha.
Hiruzen, who had remained silent throughout the proceedings, took a long, steadying breath. The weight of the decision was upon him, and the room was filled with a mixture of relief and unrest. He had been chosen—not by inheritance, not by mere bloodline—but by loyalty, by the voices of the clans who believed in the future of Konoha.
As the council adjourned, the tensions remained high, but Konoha had its leader. The next steps for the village would not be easy, but the Sarutobi clan would carry the weight of leadership forward, with the burden of guiding Konoha through the trials ahead.
The council chamber was still buzzing with the aftermath of the vote. The decision had been made—Hiruzen Sarutobi was the new Hokage. The room, divided just moments ago, now seemed to settle into uneasy silence. But one voice rose above the rest, cutting through the air like a blade.
Haru Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga clan, stood from his seat, his face tight with frustration. His normally composed demeanor had cracked, replaced with visible outrage. The Inuzuka clan's decision to cast the final vote for Hiruzen had shocked him to his core. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he glared across the room at the Inuzuka representative, Kenta.
Haru Hyuga:
"You... You dare! After all these years, after everything we've fought for, you stand with the Sarutobi?"
The other clan heads shifted uncomfortably as Haru's voice echoed through the chamber. The Inuzuka clan had always been seen as loyal, but this? This was a betrayal in the eyes of the Hyuga clan. Haru's gaze locked onto Kenta Inuzuka, who stood stoically, his posture unwavering despite the anger directed his way.
Haru Hyuga:
"The Hyuga have fought beside the Inuzuka for generations! We've protected each other, shared blood in battle, and shed tears for one another. We've been the backbone of this village, together—and you turn your back on us for him?"
Kenta's gaze never wavered, though a flicker of emotion passed through his eyes. He was not shaken, but the anger in his voice was unmistakable when he finally spoke.
Kenta Inuzuka:
"You think we don't understand loyalty, Haru? You think we don't recognize the history between our clans? But loyalty isn't about following blindly. It's about what's right for the village—what's right for Konoha. We didn't side with Sarutobi out of some misplaced loyalty. We sided with him because he is what Konoha needs. He is what this village needs."
Haru's lips curled into a sneer, the veins on his temple pulsing with barely-contained rage. The room was quiet now, the council members holding their breath as the tension between the two clans grew thick.
Haru Hyuga:
"You, of all people, should know the importance of tradition. The Hyuga clan has always been the most powerful. We have earned our place in Konoha's hierarchy—we should have been the ones to lead! And now, you've thrown away everything we've built together for the sake of a Sarutobi!"
Kenta Inuzuka's tone grew colder, his words carefully chosen.
Kenta Inuzuka:
"Your clan doesn't own Konoha, Haru. It's not a kingdom. It's a village, built by many hands, many clans. Don't think I don't know, don't think I don't know what you would have turned Konoha into under the rule of Hyuga. I have no interest of seeing my family being branded like servants. The You can call it a betrayal, but to us, it's a stand for what's right."
The silence in the room was deafening. The Hyuga clan head's eyes narrowed in disbelief as he processed Kenta's words. He couldn't fathom why the Inuzuka, of all clans, would defy them now, at this critical moment. The tension was palpable, and his voice came out harsh, a command.
Haru Hyuga:
"You are a fool, Kenta. The Hyuga will remember this. We will remember your choice."
Kenta didn't flinch. The weight of his words hung in the air like a challenge, a finality.
Kenta Inuzuka:
"Remember it all you want. But we made our decision, and it was the right one. Hiruzen Sarutobi is our Hokage now. And Konoha will be stronger for it. I stand by my vote."
The Hyuga clan head held Kenta's gaze for a moment longer, his fury barely restrained. He turned sharply, walking toward the door, his footsteps loud in the otherwise still room. His words were quiet, but the venom was clear.
Haru Hyuga:
"We shall see, Inuzuka. We shall see."
The door slammed shut behind him, leaving a trail of tension in its wake. The room remained still, with only the quiet murmurs of the council members breaking the silence. The Inuzuka's decision had made a powerful statement—and the Hyuga clan would not forget the insult so easily.
Kenta Inuzuka stood tall, unyielding. He knew the storm had only just begun. But for the moment, he had secured his village's future. The cost would be high—but Konoha would endure. His clan would endure.