Nara Shikakaku continued reading:
"Second agenda item: the rotational conscription for fortress jōnin and daimyō guardian jōnin."
These out-of-village postings were essential to Konoha's broader influence.
"Any jōnin summoned to these duties must not refuse under any circumstances."
Yako's mood steadily soured as the names were read.
Border fortress duty was a thankless assignment—no one wanted to be stationed in remote, dangerous outposts. But guardian jōnin for daimyō? Those were coveted positions.
Fire Daimyō guardians: all from the Sarutobi Clan.
River Country: Mitokado Homura's son and Utatane Koharu's daughter.
Whirlpool Country: Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi members.
Grass Country: all from the Shimura Clan.
Only Hot Water Country had two civilian guardian jōnin.
These elites, paired with Hyūga, Inuzuka, and other specialist clans, formed the "guard corps."
It was plain favoritism. And the higher-ups weren't even pretending to hide it anymore.
Guardian jōnin were first to receive mission intel from daimyō, and had the power to recommend candidates for missions affecting national interests.
With their referrals, S-rank missions came easier.
And S-ranks weren't always high-risk assassination jobs—many were sensitive diplomatic assignments or confidential security details.
The five elite clans monopolized these roles, fed missions to their own, and climbed ranks faster.
More S-rank completions = quicker promotions = more guardian slots.
A perfect feedback loop.
Everyone else? Lucky if they could even smell the scraps.
Yako glanced toward Tsunade and the front row. None of them raised a single objection.
It had been like this ever since Hiruzen became Hokage.
Others had opposed the system in the past—
…but they had either disappeared, or folded under pressure.
No one protested now.
Shikakaku kept going through more agenda items—important for village operations, yes—but everyone in the room knew what they were really here for.
The Jōnin Promotion List.
This would be the bloodbath.
"Ninth agenda item," Shikakaku announced.
"The postwar Jōnin promotion candidates."
Yako straightened in his seat.
This was it.
"Following recommendations from battlefront commanders and vice-commanders, 41 tokubetsu jōnin were nominated for promotion.
"After Hokage-sama's review, 20 have advanced to formal evaluation. I will now read the names."
The list was… scrambled.
Good. If it were alphabetical, it'd expose how disproportionately the elite clans were benefiting.
But Yako, listening carefully, parsed it anyway:
Sarutobi Clan – 5
Ino–Shika–Chō Clans – 4
Shimura Clan – 2
→ Elite clans: 11 total
Uchiha, Senju, Hyūga – 1 each
→ Founding clans: 3
Civilians – 6
But even the civilian names were high-level loyalists.
Yako frowned.
Nowhere on the list were Hatake Sakumo's candidates: Shinma and Shirakumo Hayama.
The room fell silent. Every clan leader was mentally recalculating faction power.
Then—
Tsunade stood up.
"Lord Hokage," she said, voice sharp, "my recommended candidate—Senju Miraki—did not make the list. I want an explanation."
The chamber froze.
Shikakaku opened his mouth—
"Lady Tsu—"
But she cut him off immediately:
"Miraki served on the frontlines of Grass, River, and Whirlpool. She performed 411 surgeries during the war. Do you understand what that means?
Over 220 of those patients returned to battle within days.
Lord Hokage, tell me—what more does she need to do to deserve promotion?"
Tsunade had recommended three Senju clan members:
One died from a relapse of old injuries.
One—Senju Koie—had just been released from ANBU review.
Only Koie had made the list. Not Miraki.
Yako felt a pang of guilt.
He'd personally sabotaged Miraki's chances.
The high table—Sarutobi, Shimura, and the others—glared at Tsunade.
They still called her "princess" out of habit, but the Senju clan was barely holding on.
No one respected that title anymore.
Shikakaku feigned shuffling papers:
"Senju Miraki was involved in a serious medical incident.
The victim's father detonated explosive tags at the hospital.
Due to the incident's severity, her nomination was suspended."
Hatake Sakumo rose next:
"I recall Miraki vividly. On the battlefield, she was top-tier—her surgeries and antidote formulations unmatched.
Saying she was worth two whole squads might be generous—but calling her equal to one full unit is still an understatement.
We should wait for the hospital's investigation before passing judgment."
Then came the unexpected twist—
Uchiha Kagen, the clan head, spoke:
"As vice commander in Whirlpool, I saw Miraki asleep against a pillar, half a ration pill in hand, after completing three surgeries.
If she weren't Senju, I'd have nominated her myself."
The chamber rippled.
It was one thing for Sakumo to defend Tsunade—he'd done it before.
But the Uchiha?
For years, they'd maintained a stoic neutrality in public debates.
This was the first time Uchiha Kagen had ever openly challenged a decision at a Jōnin council.
And their choice of battleground?
A medical ninja. Not a fighter. Not someone politically sensitive.
Perfect.
Miraki was sympathetic, overworked, and a symbol of wartime sacrifice.
Even the skeptics felt it.
Yako, behind his ANBU mask, narrowed his eyes on Hiruzen.
The alliance was real.
Senju, Uchiha, and Sakumo had made their move.
Just as the Third prepared to respond—
Orochimaru stood up.