Both Fuyōna and Jiraiya stared at one another, seeming to have entered an unwilling showdown as they each weighed one another up.
"I take it you are here for the selection of the next Hokage?" Jiraiya then asked, seeming to break the silence, already knowing that he was expected.
Fuyōna was glad he did as he was falling short of jokes he could use to try and break the ice between them.
"That's right, I am," Fuyōna said with a smile.
"Then why the need for a disguise, you know full well you can enter the village without one, as per the alliance agreement, if anything, it makes it seem as if you are up to no good," Jiraiya said, keeping his arms crossed over his chest.
"Please, I simply wanted to take a small stroll through the village and eat without drawing any attention, is that a crime?" Fuyōna asked, playing the innocent card.
"No... But why the interest in Naruto?" Jiraiya then asked, not missing a thing.
Fuyōna could tell right away that the boy meant a lot to him, even though they had yet to meet.
Fuyōna sighed before he pointed down to his stomach.
"I think you know why." He then said, getting a questioning look.
"It's simple really, we Jinchūriki tend to look out for our own," Fuyōna said, seeming to give him an appropriate answer.
"Is that right," Jiraiya said, sensing no ill will in his words.
"Alright then, how about we head to the meeting together?" Jiraiya then asked, meaning it not so he could keep an eye on him, but so they could chat a little.
Fuyōna picked up on that right away, nodding to him.
"Of course, it would be my pleasure," Fuyōna said in response, extending his hand for the toad sage to lead the way.
With that, both of the sages, unknowing to Jiraiya of course, headed towards where the secret meeting would be taking place to decide the next Hokage.
Fuyōna could tell that he had questions regarding the alliance, and what he planned to do about the war with the Stone and Cloud.
"You must know that the only reason we are at war is because of the alliance that you and the 3rd Hokage entered into." He said, stating the obvious.
Fuyōna sighed, nodding his head.
"I am... Both I and Hiruzen had discussed the issue many times over, however, neither of us was willing to break the alliance due to the disagreement or views of others. However, with his death now I am not so sure it could be for the best." Fuyōna said bluntly.
Jiraiya was impressed by Fuyōna's honesty and seemed to relax a little, coming to understand that he was the man that the 3rd had said he was, having a small flash back to when his teacher had told him about it.
-Flashback-
Jiraiya had returned to the village after the first battle against the Sand, having only found out about the war on one of his adventures travelling around the world. He had naturally returned to the Leaf village, hoping that he would be able to help and see his old master.
"Well, looks like you've certainly aged, sensei," Jiraiya said, sitting on the windowsill with his arms crossed as the third Hokage sat smoking his pipe.
The Hokage had known he was there the whole time and simply smiled.
"To what do I own the pleasure, I didn't think I would see you back so soon, Jiraiya?" Hiruzen said, turning to face his old student.
"Well, I simply thought I would pop in for a visit, after all, it had been quite a few years." The toad sage said, coming through the window and into the office.
"It has indeed," Hiruzen said, turning to look at his old student, feeling proud of him.
"I'm glad you stopped by Jiraiya. In fact, there are somethings I would like to discuss with you." He said, offering Jiraiya a seat.
"Well, I gathered that by what's going on." He said suddenly getting serious.
"Another war... And forming an alliance with the Mist. What exactly has been going on while I have been away?"
Hiruzen chuckled a little, seeming to let the seriousness of the conversation disappear before he took a seat.
"Listen carefully Jiraiya. There are some things I need you to do for me if anything should happen..."
-End of flash back-
"Giving that, I believe that it is too late for that now. I highly doubt that even if you did break your alliance with us that the Stone and Cloud would cease their war effort." Jiraiya said, scratching his chin.
Fuyōna had to agree, knowing that they had wanted an excuse for war for some time, knowing that it only generated income and wealth for the already wealthy of their nation.
The two of them continued to chat about the political views of their villages, seeming to come to a better understanding of one another, as they both walked towards the meeting.
Soon enough they had arrived, seeming to have lost track of time with their chatting.
"Well, looks as if we have arrived," Jiraiya said, seeing the Anbu guard around the perimeter, even though they did their best to conceal themselves.
"It would appear so," Fuyōna said, also clocking the amount of security.
"Please, after you," Jiraiya said, extending his hand for Fuyōna to go first.
Fuyōna excepted, not getting any sense of danger from him or his surroundings and walked towards the entrance.
Once inside they were greeted by more guards, members of the federal lord's personal squad, called the twelve-guardian ninja, made apparent thanks to the sash of cloth they each wore bearing the kanji for fire on it.
"Welcome, Lord Mizukage and master Jiraiya." One of them said.
Fuyōna didn't recognise either of them but greeted them all the same.
"Please come inside." They then said after verifying their identity.
Fuyōna did just that, walking into the main meeting room to see that many of the members had already arrived, including the feudal lord, the head of the Nara and Yamanaka clan, the Aburame clan, the Akimichi clan and members of the elders and the head of the Anbu black ops.
"Well, it looks like almost everyone is here," Jiraiya said, greeting everyone that was worth greeting.
Fuyōna couldn't help but notice the dirty looks he was getting, however, he proceeded to his seat at one of the heads of the table with the feudal lord, being the only Kage in the room of course.
Soon enough the head of the Hyuga clan entered the room, also taking his seat along with a few of the final elders who had arrived after him, leaving only one person left.
Suddenly the door opened and everyone in the room was alerted to the presence of one man, all of their eyes being drawn to him.
"Ah... Fugaku, glad you could make it." Homura, one of the head elders said, greeting him.
"Thank you, I do apologise that I am late." Fugaku then said, walking into the room, being accompanied by his son, Itachi, who took his place, standing behind his father.
Fuyōna and Itachi's eyes meet, with Fuyōna nodding his head ever so slightly to the young Uchiha, getting a small greeting back.
"Very well. Now that everyone is here, we can start the meeting to select the next Hokage." Koharu, the other head elder said as she stood beside Homura.
All of the heads of the village and their clans were now present in the meeting, along with the fire daimyō, and one of the legendary sannin, the toad sage himself, who all agreed that they could start the meeting.
"First off, I would like to welcome the Mizukage to this meeting, seeing that it was the wish of the 3rd Hokage that he be here today as we select the next Hokage," Homura said, trying to clear the air a little.
Everyone remained silent but greeted him with a small bow of their heads, knowing his reputation and power, demanding respect in its own right, even if he had been requested by the late Hokage.
"I would also like to welcome each of you personally, as you know. The death of the 3rd Hokage at the hands of the Raikage was a shock to us all." He went on to say, flashing a quick glance over to Itachi before he took a breather.
"However, you are here today because you are the leaders of our great village, giving our people a voice and helping to guide it. Therefore, the choice and candidates of who will become the next Hokage is ultimately down to you." He said, finishing his piece before he allowed Koharu to say her part.
"With that said, I am sure that each of you will have your own opinion on who you would like to put forwards as the next candidate, so let us not waste any time." She then said, leaving the floor open for them to speak.
"Before we start, is it really alright that the Mizukage be here? I understand the 3rd wished it so, but to have a foreign kage present in this meeting." Inoichi Yamanaka said, keeping his arms crossed.
"That's enough, Inoich." Shikaku Nara said, keeping his arms crossed over his chest.
"It's a drag, but the will of the Hokage is not something for us to deny," Shikaku then said, seeming to bring the argument to a close with one sentence.
Fuyōna agreed with him, knowing that Ao and the others would feel the same if the situation was reversed. However, Fuyōna simply sat and remained quiet, deciding it would be best if he said nothing for now.
Inoichi sat back against his chair and frowned, keeping quiet now that Shikaku had said his piece about it.
"Very well... Onto the matter at hand." Koharu then said, seeing that no one else had anything to say about the matter.
The daimyō was busy fanning himself, paying no notice to the small bickering that had been taking place before he closed his fan and placed it down.
"Yes, let us move on to business then. Who are the candidates for the next Hokage?" He asked, seeming to want to hurry things alone.
Shikaku slowly stood from his seat, being the jonin commander of the village.
"I put forwards master Jiraiya for the position of Hokage." He said, seeming to get many who agreed with him.
"Yes, the student of the 3rd Hokage, and master of the 4th. An excellent choice." The daimyō said, looking at him.
"I'm afraid I have to decline the offer." Jiraiya suddenly said, getting a strange look from everyone.
"I'm not really cut out to be Hokage." He simply said, waving his hand as he seemed to bat the idea off.
"But master Jiraiya, if not you then who?" Inoichi said, also agreeing he was best suited for the role of Hokage.
Jiraiya looked over towards the elders and then back to the heads of clans who sat around the table.
"There is only one man here who is strong enough to lead the village through another war," Jiraiya said, looking over to Fugaku, who remained quiet, knowing that his name would have been brought up.
"I nominate, Fugaku Uchiha." Jiraiya then said, getting a small gasp from the elders.
"Ahh yes, Fugaku Uchiha. I do believe your name was brought up when trying to decide on who the 4th Hokage would be." The daimyō said, his memory clicking.
Everyone in the room knew that Fugaku was the only other person in the room that was on the same level as Jiraiya, and for his recommendation to come from the toad sage himself, well, no one could argue with that.
"What about lady Tsunade, surely she should be considered?" Koharu said, knowing that Danzo would be turning in his grave if one of the Uchiha became the next Hokage.
However, Jiraiya sighed.
"Tsunade could be a good pick to become the next Hokage. But like me. She currently has no interest in this war or the position of Hokage. That is the reason that I nominate Fugaku." Jiraiya said, placing his counterargument.
"Well, you will find no argument from me." The daimyō said, happy to make the decision.
"What do you think, lord Mizukage?" Jiraiya then asked, seeming to surprise everyone else in the room.
Fuyōna could feel all eyes on him as they waited for a response. He had been watching carefully, trying to sense if anything felt off, or afoot. Knowing that Danzo had used genjutsu to get his way in the five Kage summit, hoping that Fugaku wouldn't try the same thing.
"I was asked by the 3rd Hokage to be here today, not only to honour our friendship and alliance but to also ensure that the next Hokage and I would see eye to eye. Therefore, I would be honoured to recommend Fugaku Uchiha to become the 5th Hokage, just as Jiraiya has." Fuyōna said.
"Very well, it's settled then." The daimyō said as he clapped his hands together.
"Unless anyone has anything else to add?" He then said, seeing that not everyone seemed happy about the decision.
"No sir, I think I speak for all of us in welcoming Fugaku as the next Hokage." Shikaku suddenly said, getting a slow nod from the others, not waiting to argue amongst themselves in front of the daimyō, including the elders.
"Very well. I shall see you on the day of his coronation." The daimyō then said with a cheerful tone, standing to his feet, causing everyone else in the room to stand and pay their respects to him.
Once the daimyō left, everyone else in the room sat back down, looking over to Fugaku as he stood.
"Before any of you say anything, I already understand the history between the village and the Uchiha clan. Please, allow me to reassure you that I will do everything in my power to protect this village, our village. The Village that we all worked so hard to build together, from anyone that threatens it, by any means necessary." Fugaku said, causing everyone in the room to listen to his inspiring words.
"I understand that the clan and village have not always seen eye to eye, but as one of the founding clans of our village, and the first Uchiha to take the title of Hokage, I will let nothing stand in my way to obtain peace, no matter what." He then said, looking into Fuyōna's eyes for a moment.
No one dared to say anything back, knowing that they could not argue with his devotion to the village. Doing so would only make them look jealous of wanting the position for themselves.
"Very well... It is decided then." Homura said, getting a nod from the other elders in the room.
"Fugaku Uchiha. You will be the 5th Hokage."
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Alright that's the end of this chapter!
I hope you enjoyed it and as always have a great day!