"Your resignation has been approved."
The moment Shin's voice fell, the look of shock on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face lasted only an instant.
Immediately after, a surge of ecstasy filled his heart, and even his taut nerves relaxed.
'It's done!'
He shouted in his heart.
'This Daimyo is, after all, too young.'
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself.
'He might have seen through my superficial tactic of retreating to advance, but he didn't realize that this retreat was to ensure the most stable handover of power for the Hokage lineage!'
This meant the Hokage position would transition smoothly into Minato's hands.
Konoha's foundation, not only remained unshaken, but would become even more stable due to Minato's achievements and prestige.
However, he didn't know why, but a complex and unspeakable emotion welled up in his heart.
Twenty-seven years.
From the prime of his youth to old age, he had dedicated his entire life to Konoha.
From now on, that Hokage hat, symbolizing the village's highest will, would no longer belong to him.
Shin looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's complex expression and sneered in his heart. 'Old fox, you've already swallowed the bait. I will let you be happy for a little longer.'
Minato Namikaze's heart was stirred, and he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with deep respect.
'The Third Hokage has paved the way for the village and for me.'
Shin stood up, his face filled with sincerity and emotion. "I just thought about it carefully, and my heart is also filled with emotion."
His tone carried a sense of reminiscence.
"I remember, you took over the heavy burden of Hokage in Konoha Year 20, from the hands of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, right?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously nodded. "Yes."
"And this year is Konoha Year 47."
Shin let out a long sigh, gesturing with his hand. "Twenty-seven years!"
"For a full twenty-seven years, you dedicated the most precious years of your life to the village, to the Land of Fire. Third Hokage, you have worked hard."
These words, full of respect, filled Hiruzen Sarutobi with a sense of being acknowledged, and the slight disdain that arose from achieving his goal faded a little.
Even Minato Namikaze felt deep admiration.
Shin continued, "A meritorious official like you is now resigning due to war losses. If I were to simply approve it like this, wouldn't it make me, the Daimyo, seem cold and heartless?"
"However, your body truly needs rest, and it's time for the younger generation to take charge."
Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shin asked for his advice. "Third Hokage, in your opinion, who is most suitable to succeed the Hokage position in Konoha today?"
'It's here!'
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart settled!
The other party not only agreed to his abdication but also voluntarily handed him the right to recommend the next successor!
What immense trust! What immense respect!
'It seems Yuhi Shinku's description was completely wrong!'
His last trace of doubt vanished, and with a solemn expression, he unhesitatingly pointed behind him.
"My lord, I recommend Minato Namikaze! He is the most suitable to take over the Hokage position."
"Elaborate!"
"Minato, in this great war, swept through the battlefield with his Flying Thunder God Technique, killing countless enemies. He is known as the Yellow Flash, and his reputation shakes the entire shinobi world! Iwagakure even issued an order that anyone who sees the Yellow Flash may abandon their mission and flee!"
"He is loyal to the Daimyo and the village, cares for his comrades, and his strength and prestige are sufficient to take on the position of Fourth Hokage!"
"Yellow Flash!"
Shin's gaze fell on Minato Namikaze, and he praised, "His illustrious reputation, I have heard of it. I am very relieved to have such a hero serve as Hokage."
"Good, it shall be as you say. At the inauguration ceremony the day after tomorrow, I will officially appoint Minato Namikaze as the Fourth Hokage."
The dust has settled!
Minato Namikaze was thrilled and bowed deeply. "Thank you for your trust, my lord!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart, which had been anxious all the way, finally completely relaxed, and his old face immediately broke into a wide smile.
"Third Hokage, you have found another talented individual for the Land of Fire! You have toiled your entire life for the country, and now that you have retired with honor, as the Daimyo, I must not treat a meritorious official shabbily."
Shin immediately decided, "From today onwards, your salary and benefits will be doubled! I will send people to immediately renovate your mansion in the capital, and all servants, maids, and expenses will be borne by my Daimyo Manor!"
"From now on, you only need to enjoy your golden years and this honor."
These words greatly comforted Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This was not only respect but also a transcendent status.
Even without real power, what did it matter?!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was moved to tears of gratitude. "Thank you, my lord!"
Since the Daimyo valued him so much, he thought, the other purpose of his visit today would surely be easily resolved.
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile became even more sincere, and he said, "Your kindness is boundless, and I am eternally grateful. However... there is one more matter concerning Konoha's foundation, which I must speak of."
"Oh?"
Shin looked at him with interest, thinking to himself, "It's finally here!"
"Third Hokage, just speak directly."
"It's about the reduced budget."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, putting on a worried expression for the country and its people.
"Konoha is the shield of the Land of Fire. The cultivation of the shinobi, the execution of missions, and the defense of the village all require money. A twenty percent reduction would truly... make the village's operations difficult to maintain."
He thought that these heartfelt words, coupled with the good atmosphere just now, would surely make the Daimyo relent.
However, the smile on Shin's face had already faded.
"Third Hokage!"
He was not angry, his tone was calm, yet incredibly serious. "My reduction of Konoha's budget is not aimed at you, but is a national strategy."
"Come, follow me!"
He stepped forward and took Hiruzen Sarutobi's arm, pulling him to the table, and pointing to a document, said, "Do you know what this is?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head blankly.
Shin unfolded the document and showed it to him. Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head and clearly saw the contents inside.
It recorded loss reports from all over the country, including population and property, with lines of cold, shocking numbers.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless, clearly startled by the numbers on it.
"The war is over."
At this moment, Shin's voice slowly drifted over.
"You only see Konoha's war losses, but have you seen the entire Land of Fire?"
"Have you visited the border towns? They were destroyed by war, a scene of desolation."
"Have you asked in the rural villages? How many families there have lost their children and husbands, leaving only orphans and widows."
"The civilians of the Land of Fire need to recuperate! The destroyed towns need to be rebuilt! The displaced civilians need to be resettled!"
"Don't these things require money?"
Shin suddenly turned around, his gaze piercing like a torch, directly into Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart!
"Every single penny must be used effectively! The most important thing now is to appease the people and rebuild their homes! Not to let a shinobi village that has already won the war continue to maintain its massive wartime expenses!"
This series of words, along with the shocking war damage report, struck Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze like heavy hammers.
They had never considered this issue from this perspective.
In their eyes, the village's interests were above all else.
But at this moment, the people's livelihood, as spoken by the Daimyo, was the foundation!
"Third Hokage."
Shin's tone softened, but his subsequent words seemed somewhat critical.
"Konoha is the sharp blade of the Land of Fire, the pride of the nation."
"But..."
"Konoha cannot only know how to demand from the nation, but not understand the Daimyo's difficulties, nor the suffering of the myriad people."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly turned pale.
His lips trembled, wanting to argue, but he found himself unable to utter a single word.
This sentence was too heavy.
It was equivalent to directly nailing Konoha, and him, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to the pillar of shame for contending with the people for profit!
Minato Namikaze, standing by, was struck as if by lightning.
He wanted to refute, but he couldn't speak.
Because every word the other party said stood on the moral high ground, its legitimacy irrefutable.
Both of their backs were instantly soaked with cold sweat.