Chapter 219: I Am the Hokage!
The troubles Jiraiya encountered were far from just this one incident.
In the following days, every day Jiraiya had to face many similar matters.
Previously when watching his teacher handle government affairs, making various compromises and concessions, always making decisions that seemed difficult to understand—but now when it was his turn, he truly understood how difficult being a village's Hokage really was.
"Ah, no wonder that Uchiha Yasushi was so certain I'd definitely be assimilated, transformed into a politician like Teacher Sarutobi!"
Jiraiya sighed, raising his sake gourd and pouring liquor into his mouth.
Those beside him who could listen to his troubles weren't his usual friends, but a great toad.
Those who could drink alongside him were mostly all dead already.
An indescribable sense of loneliness made Jiraiya's spirit extremely depressed.
Gamahiro raised his large bowl, gulping down the liquor, then set it before him, grabbing the sake jar himself to pour more.
"When the Third was young, he was called the God of Shinobi, managing all the village's various clans obediently."
"You're now in your prime. You can completely properly reorganize the village, letting the village develop toward the good side."
"You also needn't listen to those shinobi clans spouting nonsense there. You must remember—you're the Hokage. The one making final decisions is you."
"As long as you make a decision, even if they're unhappy, they can only listen."
"You're right! I must persist in being myself, absolutely won't compromise with reality!"
After Jiraiya made up his mind, he clinked his sake gourd against Gamahiro's large bowl, throwing his head back to drain it in one gulp.
Then he casually tossed the sake gourd, dusted off his pants and stood up, quickly returning to the office. From the drawer he pulled out that pile of accumulated documents, picked up his pen, and began approving them in rapid succession.
Whatever he felt must be done—even if all other shinobi clans opposed—he'd still sign off on his orders, commanding below to forcibly pass them, implementing the orders downward.
Whatever he felt was wrong, he'd uniformly veto, resolutely disagreeing.
This way, speed indeed immediately increased. Documents accumulated over many days were all completed in just an hour or two.
After signing off on the documents, Jiraiya immediately felt greatly refreshed. He slapped his pen on the desk, calling out loudly:
"Someone come! Send all these documents to the Hokage advisors. Have them quickly supervise implementation without error!"
"Yes!" An ANBU shinobi immediately appeared, accepting orders and taking the documents away.
Jiraiya leaned back in the wide Hokage chair behind him, crossed his legs, wondering whether he should also get a crystal ball like his teacher's to occasionally supervise Konoha Village's internal security affairs.
Hehe...
Thinking of happy matters, Jiraiya couldn't help grinning, the corners of his mouth seemingly seeping some crystalline liquid.
Who knew that before he could transform his beautiful dream into reality, chaotic footsteps sounded outside—many people coming this way.
Knock knock!
The door sounded. The ANBU outside spoke: "Lord Hokage, many jonin have come requesting an audience."
"Ahem..." Jiraiya quickly sat up straight, wiping the drool from his mouth corners, arranging his expression to display a dignified appearance before speaking: "Please let them in."
The office door opened. A crowd of jonin filed in.
Jiraiya invited everyone to sit in order, then pretended ignorance asking: "Ah, why has everyone come? Has some important matter occurred?"
"Lord Hokage." Under everyone's gazes, Nara Shikaku had no choice but to speak first with a bitter smile: "Those documents you signed off on earlier—many methods truly need discussion. Better if everyone deliberates first before deciding!"
"No need to discuss." Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively, speaking decisively: "The village currently needs rebuilding desperately. How many important matters need doing? Where's the time to waste on meetings?"
"I know many methods here have harmed various shinobi clans' interests, but everyone knows the village's current situation—there aren't so many perfect solutions."
"Rather than wasting time weighing back and forth, better to be straightforward—I'll make the decisions!"
"The village's current situation is extremely dire. All major shinobi clans must yield more interests to the lower classes. Only this way can the village recover vitality and vigor fastest."
"All clans' interests were harmed, so conversely speaking—all clans' interests weren't harmed!"
"What? Can it be explained this way?" The jonin crowd immediately erupted, speaking up to dissuade: "Lord Hokage, doing this will severely harm the major shinobi clans' feelings!"
"Lord Hokage, shinobi clans are also part of the village! You can't cut shinobi clan flesh just to let those civilian shinobi eat their fill!"
"Lord Hokage—"
"Enough!" Jiraiya abruptly stood, slapping his palm on the desk. His tall body leaned forward, staring intently at these many jonin, shouting loudly: "This matter is thus decided. No need for any discussion!"
"What you need to do now is implement according to the detailed plans formulated by the strategy department, not waste words with me here!"
"You remember clearly..."
Jiraiya's gaze swept left and right, kingly aura overflowing.
"I am the Hokage!"
Instantly, everyone was immediately suppressed.
They exchanged glances with each other, thinking of having someone stick their neck out to push back this Hokage's "chaotic orders," or at least perform a "storm out slamming doors" routine to diminish this new Hokage's prestige.
But looking left and right, they couldn't find anyone with sufficient prestige or strength to step forward.
Those truly powerful shinobi who could stand equal to the Sannin had long since died in previous wars.
Those sitting here now were all new jonin rapidly promoted during war. Whether in strength or merit, they fell far short of that batch of old jonin who'd participated in the Third War.
Even arguing with the Hokage—that only happened because Jiraiya had just become Hokage with a relatively soft personality, allowing them to gradually test boundaries.
Politics was a game of mutual probing and compromise.
Previously through their constant offensives, they'd already gained many benefits. Now that the Hokage suddenly asserted himself, it was their turn to yield.
"We understand. We'll act according to Lord Hokage's orders."
All shinobi clan jonin exchanged glances, then obediently lowered their heads, expressing submission to Jiraiya, this new Hokage.