In just a few short days, the entire Konohagakure was like a pot of boiling water, completely in turmoil.
First, news somehow spread that Kumogakure might break the alliance, and then the Hokage-sama's death was suddenly announced.
Along with this news, members of the Shadow Guard Squad who had escaped death also arrived at the Village.
But before the people of the Village could celebrate the safe return of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Shadow Guard Squad members, a shocking scandal suddenly spread: the Shadow Guard Squad had abandoned the Hokage and fled back to the Village on their own.
And that wasn't all. Just as people were half-believing, half-doubting, the Uchiha Clan suddenly appeared, openly stopping Hiruzen Sarutobi on the street and demanding to know the whereabouts of Uchiha Kagami.
"Why were there six of you when you left Konoha, but only five when you returned?"
"Why is the only missing Shadow Guard Squad member a clansman of our Uchiha Clan!"
And Hiruzen Sarutobi's answer was that they got separated during the pursuit by Kumogakure.
Pursuit! Hiruzen Sarutobi actually said "being pursued," pursued by Kumogakure!
Soon, Hiruzen Sarutobi's answer was deliberately interpreted by certain individuals and spread throughout the entire Village like wildfire—
Not only did the Shadow Guard Squad abandon the Hokage and flee, but they also scattered, even losing one of their own!
Is the one who got lost alive or dead now?
Unknown!
No one knew how these rumors started, but they spread like a forest fire throughout the entire Village, uncontrollably.
It even gave Hiruzen Sarutobi the illusion that the rumors hadn't started because of him, but were just waiting for him to return to the Village.
Illusion! It must be an illusion!
As public opinion grew increasingly turbulent, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had only recently returned to the Village, had no choice but to gather a large number of Ninjas, mainly Chunin and Jonin, in front of the Hokage's Office Building and personally clarify the rumors spreading within the Village.
They did not abandon the Hokage; Hokage-sama actively requested to stay behind, and Second Hokage also designated Hiruzen Sarutobi to inherit the position of Third Hokage.
"It is indeed our inescapable duty as the Shadow Guard Squad to protect Hokage-sama, and we have never thought of shirking or avoiding this crucial responsibility..."
"At that time, the situation was critical. We were not only members of the Shadow Guard Squad but also Hokage-sama's disciples and subordinates. Obeying Hokage-sama's orders was our top priority..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood on the plaza in front of the Hokage's Office Building, earnestly explaining their difficulties to the assembled Ninjas, and it did sound somewhat convincing.
But how to put it... Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's given truth alone, there's nothing wrong with it. After all, Senju Tobirama is not someone who fears death, and in a critical situation, he might indeed make such a decision.
However, viewed in the current climate of public opinion... In the face of a powerful enemy, Hokage-sama chose to stay behind alone to save the Shadow Guard Squad, and was then brutally murdered by enemy Ninjas, with his body's whereabouts unknown.
After the five members of the Shadow Guard Squad fled back to the Village in disarray, they immediately claimed to inherit the position of Third Hokage based on Hokage-sama's dying wish?
Look at it yourself, is this even a human thing to say?
Do you bastards even have hearts?
Are you even human?
Moreover, when did our Konohagakure ever have a succession method of "designating the Hokage"?
Even an founder like Hashirama went through the proper election process.
According to the formal procedure proposed by Tobirama back then, wasn't it to first nominate Hokage candidates, then convene all Jonin in the Village for a Jonin confidence vote election, and finally report the results to the Daimyo?
To put it bluntly, wasn't it precisely with this voting method that Tobirama managed to vote Uchiha Madara out, allowing Hashirama and himself to become the First and Second Hokage, respectively?
Those two brothers, in their ascension and succession, knew to adhere to the system, follow procedures, and be fair, just, and open.
How is it that with you, Hiruzen Sarutobi, you can ascend to the position of Hokage based on a dying wish of unknown authenticity?
Thus, after Hiruzen Sarutobi publicly recounted "Second Hokage Senju Tobirama-sama's dying wish," what he received was the unified silence of the Ninjas.
Even some of the Chunin and Jonin who were also from the Sarutobi Clan didn't have the nerve to openly support Hiruzen Sarutobi's succession as Third Hokage.
Even these fellow clan Ninjas felt that what he was doing was perhaps a bit too much.
Tobirama-sama's body wasn't even cold yet... In the end, it was Nara Shikatsune, a Jonin of the Nara Clan, who timely stepped forward and smoothed things over for Hiruzen Sarutobi, stating that Tobirama-sama's dying wish was not a designation, but merely a nomination for Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's reaction was also quite swift. Although he still didn't understand the detailed ins and outs, he immediately promised publicly to become Hokage through a complete and formal process.
He stated that gathering everyone at this time was merely to relay Tobirama-sama's dying wish, and absolutely not to skip the Jonin confidence vote, and expressed his grief over Second Hokage's demise and his hatred for the Kumogakure Ninjas.
He promised that after the Hokage election, whether he became the Third Hokage or not, he would immediately rush to the front lines to avenge Second Hokage against the Kumogakure Ninjas.
Yes, it was "Kumogakure Ninjas."
Because Kinkaku and Ginkaku did not claim to be rogue Ninjas; they launched a genuine "armed coup."
In fact, if this armed coup had succeeded, Kinkaku might now be the Third Raikage.
Thinking of those two monstrous figures, covered in crimson Tailed Beast Chakra and wielding what were said to be "Ninja Tools used by the Six Paths Sage," the young Hiruzen Sarutobi found it very difficult to imagine who could defeat or even kill them.
After Hiruzen Sarutobi's quick thinking and solemn declaration, most of the Jonin expressed their approval of him as a Hokage candidate and agreed to formally initiate the Jonin confidence vote five days later.
Including Hiruzen Sarutobi, any Konoha Village Jonin could nominate themselves or be nominated by others to become a "Hokage candidate" and participate in the Hokage election five days later.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also hurriedly descended from the rooftop of the Hokage's Office Building, packed up all his personal belongings that he had just brought into the Hokage's Office Building, and even put a seal on the main door.
Without looking back, he pulled Nara Shikatsune and plunged into the Nara Clan's territory.
He wanted to ask what exactly had happened in Konoha during his absence.
Why had the "Third Hokage position" personally designated by Tobirama-sensei depreciated to a "Hokage candidate spot" in just half a day?
Why did not a single Konoha Ninja accept the "Second Hokage-sama's dying wish" that he relayed word for word, with many even showing expressions of deep suspicion?
This was not at all what he had expected!