A/N: A small chapter about the election of the Fifth Hokage. Remember, it's no democracy, only clan heads and influential advisors have the right to vote. And Danzo has been removed from the council after the Uchiha massacre, in canon he only came back to light after the Kazekage arc IIRC.
X
Chapter 4
"Clan leaders, advisors, honorable members, you have been gathered today to discuss of the matter of the Fifth Hokage," began Shikaku Nara, the leader of the Nara clan, a man with a pineapple black haircut and a scar on his nose. "As the jounin commander, I will preside this meeting. Each clan head and advisor must suggest two names for the post. I will gather the papers and the two suggestions with the highest support will be debated. Please take a paper and a pen."
An ANBU distributed the material and disappeared. Everyone wrote their two suggestions and folded the paper before putting it in the urn passed around the table. When every paper was gathered, Shikaku opened the urn and turned it down for the papers to fall onto the table he was sitting at.
"Shikaku Nara one, Hiashi Hyuuga one," announced an ANBU after unfolding the first paper. "Shikaku two, Chouza Akimichi one. Shikaku three, Chouza two. Kakashi Hatake one, Shikaku four. Tsume Inuzuka one, Shikaku five. Kakashi two, Tsume two. Hiashi two, Chouza three. Hiashi three, Chouza Four. Shikaku six, Chouza five. Kakashi three, Tsume three."
Jiraya winked at the Inuzuka matriarch, who lifted an interrogative eyebrow.
"The debate will be between Chouza Akimichi with five votes and Shikaku with six votes. Please do not interrupt each other and use real arguments. Nara clan leader, please state your preference."
"Chouza Akimichi has been clan head for thirteen years. He led his clan to wealth and has influence over the whole village. His clan is deeply rooted into the village's economy. I trust him with leading Konoha to an era of wealth and peace."
"Akimichi clan leader, please state your preference."
"Shikaku Nara has my absolute trust. He has fifteen years of experience as the jounin commander on top of thirteen years as the Nara clan leader. He is smart, has a strategic mind and has every quality needed for a politic role such as Hokage. He will certainly use his intellect to keep Konoha from wars and engage the village into an era of progress."
"Aburame clan leader."
"Shikaku Nara is using logic to find solutions to every problem. He is the most fit for the role of Hokage."
"Yamanaka clan leader."
"Shikaku Nara is the best suited for the political role of Hokage. He will also make a great leader thanks to his intellect and his ability to find the best person for each task."
"Inuzuka clan leader."
"Shikaku Nara is too smart to be fooled by sweet promises and plots. I favor him."
"Hatake clan leader."
"Shikaku Nara for every reason cited previously."
"Hyuuga clan leader."
"Chouza Akimichi is better fit to assume this responsibility. The Nara men are well-known for being lazy and working as little as possible. The Hokage cannot be someone with such attitude."
"Advisor Homura."
"Chouza Akimichi has proven to be able to lead his clan to economical wealth in only thirteen years after the Kyuubi attack. Konoha is currently in a quite similar situation as it was at that time and needs a leader able to bring the village back to the first position between the five major villages."
"Advisor Koharu."
"Chouza Akimichi can grasp the importance of making the most profitable choices. In our current situation, Konoha needs a leader who can choose what will bring the village back to its' former glory the fastest, otherwise we risk being invaded again very soon by our old enemies."
"Jiraya."
"Shikaku Nara will lead the village to peace. He will excel in politics and village management. Chouza Akimichi could fit the role of his economic advisor to ensure the recovery of the Leaf but he would make a poor politician. Shikaku Nara will not let insidious whispers in his ear lead him on the path to destruction like our previous Hokage who let the Uchiha issue escalate until it went over the edge and close to civil war. I refuse to lead the village to a new clan massacre because I voted for a Hokage who can be influenced by advisors with ulterior motives."
Homura and Koharu managed to keep their poker faces but their eyes told a different story.
"I there are objections, speak now," declared the ANBU.
As nobody dared contest the results, the masked shinobi took a solemn tone.
"Following this council, Shikaku Nara has been appointed as the Fifth Hokage. Since Konoha is in need of a new leader immediately, the ceremony will take place tomorrow morning in order for our new Hokage to take his functions and start working on rebuilding Konoha."
"Thank you all for your presence and loyalty. I declare this meeting closed," concluded Shikaku.
X
Jiraya walked towards Tsume Inuzuka upon exiting the council room. She turned to face him.
"What was that about, Toad Sage?" she asked inquisitively.
"Well, I thought you had a chance of winning. I like your respect for your family and I believe that you would have made a great leader for the village, just like you have been leading your clan successfully. As a mother, you value lives more than any man can understand and I have seen enough deaths for a lifetime."
"Are you sure you didn't just want to have a female Hokage to write your next erotic book about? Not that I mind being appreciated by males, but it didn't seem that professional back when you winked at me."
"Who said it can't be both?"
He took his perverted expression, but then his face turned serious.
"I was really serious, Lady Inuzuka. Men are quick to forget the value of lives. Konoha needs someone who thinks like a mother. The previous Hokage all thought like fathers and look where it led us…"
"I can agree on that point. Thank you for your support, even if it didn't work. I suggest you come over tonight to exchange our points of view on what's best for the place where my clan lives…"
"I'd be honoured to join you tonight. Have a nice day, milady…"
"You too, sweet talker."
X
"What was that about?" asked someone with an uninterested tone.
"Nothing much, Kakashi," answered the bestial woman. "I think the next book of your favorite series will be published sooner than you expected. Apparently, the author has a thing for single mothers nowadays, hahaha!"
"I thought he was more interested in fresh ones, but I can see the appeal myself…at least you don't have to raise children afterwards when they're already young ninjas…"
"Do you really want Kuromaru to remove your useless appendage, Hatake? Your father was a man of taste, you're just a rude brat."
"Well, I don't mind being the hero of the next Icha Icha book, be it about single moms or other topics…"
"I think the author decided to write about his own life for this one, but I'll remember your words…"
A feral grin appeared on her lips.
"Don't be late tomorrow for the ceremony, it would appear bad for your clan to miss that," he said with a smile.
"Speak for yourself, Kakashi. How many times have you been on time these last ten years? I don't even remember one."
She left him and returned to her clan's district.
X
A/N: I know, it's short, but it's either that or no chapter at all today, so I've decided to go for a little background chapter that has its' importance on the village and thus on the world politics.