The sleepless night that had kept countless people awake finally passed, and dawn broke on the day of the Jōnin confidence vote.
Morning light pierced the thin mist, painting the Hokage faces of the First and Second on the mountain a brilliant gold. The normally bustling Konohagakure was filled today with an uncommon solemnity.
Today would decide the village's future.
Even before the official start of the Jōnin Assembly, shadows of many shinobi were already converging from all corners of the village.
Nara Shikajō was among the first to arrive. Seeing that most of his own clan had yet to appear, he quietly took up position in an inconspicuous corner, watching the gathering crowd with his usual calm, analytical gaze.
A few minutes later, Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared.
His steps were steady, his expression grave. From the end of the street, he came shoulder to shoulder with Shimura Danzō, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Akimichi Torifu.
With his arrival, many shinobi seemed to find their pillar of support—quickly clustering behind him until a large, dense group had formed.
Seeing the sight, a faint smile surfaced on Hiruzen's face.
Moments later, Shikajō's attention shifted toward a new formation approaching from another direction—
Uchiha Isshin, head of the Uchiha clan, was leading his people forward.
His face still bore its usual proud arrogance, but on closer look, his gait carried a heaviness it had lacked before.
The Uchiha, though arriving later than others, marched in the most immaculate formation: over thirty clan members in crisp Police Force uniforms, the red-and-white fan emblem on their backs gleaming vividly in the morning sun.
It was clear they took great pride in their identity as members of the Uchiha Police Force.
At that moment, Senju Mori and his group arrived as well.
Senju, Hyūga, Hatake, Gekko…
Jōnin from various clans naturally gathered around him, quickly forming a force strong enough to rival Hiruzen's—and in stark contrast to the Uchiha, who stood isolated and alone.
Mori's gaze swept across the crowd and finally settled on Uchiha Isshin, standing not far away. He walked toward him with an easy smile.
"Good morning, Clan Head Isshin."
Isshin halted, brows faintly furrowed.
Mori's calm smile, glowing in the morning light, struck Isshin as unbearably irritating to look at.
"What brings you here?"
His tone carried that same familiar arrogance.
Mori raised a hand unhurriedly and pointed toward the Hokage Rock in the distance.
"I wonder if Clan Head Isshin has noticed... there seem to be an unusual number of birds perched on the stone faces this morning."
Hearing this, Isshin instinctively looked toward the Hokage Rock but saw nothing different from usual, inwardly cursing Mori for making a fuss over nothing.
However, in that moment his gaze shifted, he inadvertently took in the sizable crowd gathered behind Sarutobi Hiruzen. His expression instantly darkened.
Mori spoke again, his tone mild but laden with meaning.
"It seems what I said yesterday wasn't wrong after all."
Isshin was silent for a long moment before finally giving a stiff nod. Without another word, he walked past Mori, leading his clan swiftly toward the Hokage Building.
Across the wide plaza before the building, the Uchiha clan marched in step behind him—
and behind them, there were no other allies, no other clans joining their proud but solitary ranks.
Watching the Uchiha clan's ranks gradually disappear into the distance, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered across Senju Mori's face.
"What a straightforward fellow…"
...
Time passed in tense anticipation. As the morning sun rose higher, its warmth grew ever brighter and more dazzling. Finally, the Jōnin Assembly—the meeting that would determine the future of the village—officially began.
Given the current political climate within Konoha, finding a truly neutral shinobi to preside over the proceedings was no easy task.
After a heated debate, it was decided that Sarutobi Sasuke, father of Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Senju Tōka, one of the few female Jōnin of the Senju clan, would co-chair the meeting.
The conference room inside the Hokage Building was solemn and austere.
Light streamed obliquely through tall windows, casting geometric patterns across the polished floor.
At the front of the room stood a raised platform for the moderators, behind which hung the portraits of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Their gazes seemed almost to pierce through time itself, silently watching this gathering that would shape the future of Konoha.
Below the platform, several long dark tables were neatly arranged. For this meeting, more than 140 seats had been added—filling nearly every corner of the chamber.
Seated at the moderators' podium, Sarutobi Sasuke, an elder who had lived through the chaos of the Warring States period, spoke slowly, his voice deep and steady as still water:
"Today, we are gathered here for the future of Konoha.
May each of you uphold the Will of Fire—
think carefully, judge wisely, and carry forward the spirit of those before us."
Immediately after, Senju Tōka's clear, cold voice rang through the hall:
"The Jōnin Assembly commences now! According to procedure, the esteemed Jōnin may now nominate candidates for Hokage."
After a brief silence, the short, stout Akimichi Torifu was the first to stand, stating solemnly:
"I nominate Sarutobi Hiruzen. Hiruzen is steady and capable, deeply knowledgeable in village affairs. He is the ideal candidate to maintain the village's stability and continuity. For him to succeed as Hokage was also Lord Tobirama's final wish."
However, as soon as he finished, a faint, derisive snort came from somewhere:
"Hmph… the man who abandoned the Hokage, you mean?"
"Silence!"
Sarutobi Sasuke and Senju Tōka's voices overlapped sharply.
"Aside from nominations, no clamorous discussion!"
"The meeting will continue."
A moment later, under many surprised gazes, Hyūga Sōgo rose proudly to his feet and declared in a loud voice:
"I nominate Senju Mori.
Jōnin Mori is brave and decisive, unmatched in strength.
He slew the Kumo's Gold and Silver Brothers in battle and avenged Lord Tobirama's death.
His power and reputation are more than enough to lead Konoha forward."
The Hyūga clan was clearly sparing no effort to secure their long-awaited foothold in Konoha's upper ranks.
Immediately after, a Jōnin from the Uchiha clan abruptly stood up and said coldly:
"Uchiha Aoba. I nominate Jōnin Uchiha Isshin."
With that, he sat back down without another word.
"...?"
Compared to Hyūga Sōgo's earlier speech, Uchiha Aoba's curt nomination drew far more stares—filled with curiosity and disbelief.
But after a few moments of awkward silence, the other Jōnin quickly looked away, unwilling to dwell on the stony faces of the entire Uchiha delegation.
Still, the Chūnin in charge of recordkeeping dutifully wrote down Uchiha Isshin's name, as procedure required.
After another brief pause, Senju Tōka spoke again:
"Are there any other Jōnin who wish to nominate additional candidates?"
When no one else rose to speak, she exchanged a glance with Sarutobi Sasuke. Then, in unison, they solemnly announced:
"Then, the Jōnin confidence vote—officially begins!"