Naruto: Limitless Sage

The villagers of Konoha—

Watching Danzo and the others—

Suddenly saw the cold, composed expressions return to their faces.

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

Could it be… that the Third Hokage and Danzo Shimura still had a countermeasure?

Just moments ago, those same villagers had looked on with despair, as if Konoha's fate had already been sealed.

Even Iruka and the other Leaf shinobi who had cast their votes for the Third Hokage…

Now had a flicker of hope return to their eyes.

They believed—no, knew—that Hiruzen Sarutobi would never allow himself to lose to Uzumaki Naruto like this.

On the other side stood Kakashi, Minato, Kushina, and others…

All firmly aligned with Naruto.

Including Naruto himself.

As for what the Third Hokage, Danzo, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane would do next—

None of them were worried.

Because—

Everything was going according to Naruto's plan.

They had already made every preparation necessary.

Even if the Third Hokage had some hidden trump card or secret tactic...

It wouldn't matter.

They could no longer match the strength Naruto's side had now assembled.

Which is why Kakashi, Kushina, Minato—and even Naruto himself—didn't move to stop Danzo.

Instead, they welcomed it.

Let Hiruzen, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu bring out whatever they had left.

Because only then…

Could they be crushed in every area where they thought they still had an edge.

Only then—

Could all their lingering hopes be completely extinguished!

At that moment, all eyes were fixed on the Third Hokage, Danzo, and the elders.

Everyone waited for their next move.

Because if even now—after everything—they still couldn't close the vote gap...

Then today—

The title of Hokage, the leadership of the entire Hidden Leaf Village—

Would truly pass to someone else.

A new generation—

Would rise.

About ten minutes later—

The Third Hokage, Danzo, and the others received confirmation from their respective clans.

All the jōnin from their clans...

Had gathered and arrived.

And the moment they appeared—

Shock rippled through the entire scene!

The villagers in the stands, Iruka and the other Konoha shinobi—

Even the younger generation like Sasuke, Sakura, and Hinata.

The Sannin: Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade.

Kakashi, Minato, Kushina.

Heads of major clans—Hiashi Hyuga, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi.

Even the reanimated First Hokage and Second Hokage.

The nobles from the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and other smaller nations.

They all saw it—

A flood of elite ninja, each exuding a powerful presence,

Appearing behind the Third Hokage, Danzo, and their allies.

There was no longer any doubt.

It was clear whose side they were on.

And with their arrival—

The Third Hokage, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane

All regained their confidence.

They stood tall.

Calm and composed.

The jōnin they had summoned—

Were not just any shinobi.

They were the elite of the elite, handpicked and trained within the noble lineages of their clans.

These weren't the kind of shinobi who got sent on standard village missions.

These were the clans' trump cards.

And now—

Danzo straightened his back.

He was the first to speak, turning toward Naruto's side:

"Let me introduce them," he said coldly. "These shinobi behind us are all jōnin of Konoha."

"These jōnin," he continued,

"Come from the Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, Utatane clans, and several others loyal to the village's true foundation."

Unlike the Hyuga, Nara, or Yamanaka clans, who were more public-facing and bound by alliance...

These clans were different.

They operated from the shadows.

And on the battlefield—

They thrived through individual power and ruthlessness.

The Sarutobi clan, for example, was held in high regard.

But what most didn't know—

Was how much of their strength was deliberately hidden from the public eye.

And now—

As soon as Danzo spoke…

The entire arena erupted!

The villagers could hardly believe it.

That the Third Hokage and Danzo still had this many elite supporters hidden away?

It was no wonder they had earned such respect and reverence all these years.

"The Third Hokage will win!!!"

"Third Lord! You are our eternal Hokage!!"

"Let's go, Danzo-sama!!!"

In an instant—

Cheering filled the audience, echoing across the grounds.

A surge of faith and desperation, now turned into fervent support.

Iruka and the Leaf shinobi—

Could only watch, stunned.

As more and more jōnin suddenly appeared in support of their side—

The high-ranking elders finally let out a breath of relief.

But then—

Uzumaki Naruto's side pulled off something that felt like a magic trick.

They somehow summoned over 500 jōnin out of nowhere.

Not only did this close the vote gap—

It crushed it.

The overwhelming disparity left them completely stunned.

And a dreadful thought took root—

What if Uzumaki Naruto really does become the Fifth Hokage?

Then what about the jōnin and clans who had voted for the Third Hokage?

Would they meet a good end?

Even if Naruto himself didn't retaliate…

Even if he stayed true to his ideals—

They couldn't be sure about his subordinates.

Over 500 elite ninja, now his loyal followers...

Wouldn't at least some of them target their families or suppress their power?

They understood this reality very clearly.

Which is why—

At this moment, aside from the Third Hokage and the elders themselves,

No one wanted Naruto to lose more than those who had already cast their vote.

The Hyuga Clan Head, the Akimichi Clan Head, the Yamanaka Clan Head, and other noble leaders—

Upon seeing the arrival of the Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane clans' jōnin—

Maintained composed expressions.

But deep within their eyes—

A flicker of fear could be seen.

Because they knew.

These jōnin were not ordinary.

The Third Hokage and Danzo's factions had always feared the powerful bloodline clans.

And naturally, the reverse was also true.

There had always been a clash of interests between these two sides.

Konoha's clans had long been divided—

Those aligned with the old guard, the so-called Konoha leadership, like the Sarutobi and Shimura clans…

And those like the Hyuga and the now-fallen Uchiha, clans with deeper, purer bloodlines and more visible power.

They were all ninja.

But to put it bluntly—

They couldn't even "pee in the same pot."

Up in the stands—

Shikamaru Nara, calm as always, gazed at the new wave of jōnin with a neutral expression.

But his mind was already working several steps ahead.

"…Just as I expected," he muttered inwardly.

Using his sharp intellect, he began analyzing the situation:

He thought about the ninja clans represented by the surnames of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and the other elders.

He realized—

The jōnin who had already voted on behalf of those clans were ordinary Konoha jōnin.

But Konoha had more than just those.

For instance, the Nara clan also had its own trained jōnin—shinobi who had yet to vote.

And just like that—

It became obvious.

The Third Hokage and Danzo still had forces in reserve.

This allowed them to temporarily hold their ground.

But...

On the other side stood Minato, Kushina, Kakashi—and most crucially, Naruto himself.

As they looked at the newly arrived jōnin backing the Third Hokage, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu—

Their expressions didn't change at all.

There was no hint of surprise.

No flicker of panic.

Because—

Naruto had already anticipated this move.

That's why they could face it so calmly.

Then—

Kakashi stepped forward, responding coolly to Danzo's proud declaration.

"Well then," he said evenly, "by all means, have them vote, Lord Danzo."

With that, he even made a polite "after you" gesture.

His tone, his posture—

Not even a trace of concern.

Danzo, seeing this—

Didn't hesitate.

He turned to the jōnin standing behind him and gave the order:

"Begin voting for Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Yet deep inside—

A cold unease began creeping in.

Why were they so calm?

Kakashi.

The Fourth Hokage.

Uzumaki Naruto.

Uzumaki Kushina.

All of them.

They didn't flinch.

They didn't show a shred of anxiety.

And that—

Troubled him deeply.

Even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi himself, couldn't help but question:

Just what does Naruto have planned?

Why does he still look so confident?

But at this point—

It didn't matter.

Following the votes cast by high-ranking ninja clans like the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Mitokado families—

The vote gap between the Third Hokage and Uzumaki Naruto…

Had finally been erased!

And now—

After all the newly arrived jōnin had finished casting their votes—

Kakashi stepped forward and double-checked the results several times before announcing:

"Current vote count!"

"Five hundred and sixty-four votes for Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Five hundred and eighty-two votes for the Third Hokage!"

At this moment—

With the jōnin from his own faction casting their ballots, the Third Hokage had pulled ahead.

Not only had he closed the gap…

He had surpassed Naruto's total.

On the stage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane—

All wore visible expressions of relief and delight.

Even if Naruto's side had rallied over 500 jōnin—

They were still too green.

They couldn't compare to the entrenched foundation that Hiruzen and the elders had cultivated in Konoha over decades.

Off to the side—

Shikamaru, Hinata, and others from the younger generation watched nervously.

Seeing Naruto fall behind in the vote count—

A wave of anxiety washed over them.

This is bad!

Things have reached this point, and now even the votes have been overturned?!

What could Naruto possibly do next to catch up?

At that moment, not even they knew what other aces Naruto might be holding.

Even Orochimaru—

Usually calm and calculating—

Couldn't help but feel wary.

The interest group led by the Third Hokage had just pulled hundreds of jōnin from their respective clans into the arena.

It was...

Impressive, to say the least.

Among the clan heads—

Hiashi Hyuga, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, and others—

Watched the situation unfold without much surprise.

After all—

If removing the Third Hokage were easy,

He wouldn't have held the position for so many decades.

Even the First and Second Hokage looked on with interest.

Leaders from the Sand Village.

The Daimyō of the Land of Fire.

The noble representatives of various smaller countries...

All stared toward the stage—

Now wondering the same thing:

What will Uzumaki Naruto do next?

In the stands—

Konoha's villagers and shinobi, including Iruka—

Burst into cheers as the tide turned in the Third Hokage's favor.

Laughter, clapping, shouts of praise—it echoed throughout the venue.

The village's old loyalty ran deep.

And with this sudden reversal—

Their spirits soared.

But even now—

Naruto and his group remained calm.

Not a single trace of panic appeared on their faces.

Just then—

Among the Third Hokage's group, Koharu Utatane, one of Konoha's elder advisors—

Sensed this moment as a chance to press forward.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Crush Naruto's wild ambitions in one final move!

Koharu turned her sharp gaze toward the clan leaders who had yet to cast their votes—

Hiashi Hyuga, Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi, and others.

They hadn't yet declared where they stood.

But she hadn't forgotten them.

She knew full well—

That based on sheer numbers and the influence of their clan's jōnin—

These remaining clan heads would determine the final outcome.

And as one of Konoha's top officials...

She wasn't about to let that slip by.

Hyuga, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi—

Their vote would seal Konoha's fate.

Even though there had long been tension between the powerful clans and Konoha's upper leadership—

In the end, these ninja still relied on the village to survive.

They were once supporters of the Third Hokage.

And now, the moment had come.

"Clan Heads of Hyuga, Nara, Yamanaka, and all others,"

Koharu Utatane spoke confidently from her place among the elders.

"It's your turn to cast your votes."

In her mind, there was no doubt.

With even a shred of political sense, the remaining clan heads would never vote for Naruto.

After all—

Would they really choose to hand over the Hokage seat to some reckless brat?

How laughable.

At that moment—

Hiashi Hyuga, Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and the other clan leaders exchanged glances.

None of them responded right away.

But everyone watching—the crowd, the elders, the shinobi, and the foreign dignitaries—

Knew:

Their decision would determine the next Hokage.

Would it be Uzumaki Naruto?

Or the Third Hokage once again?

This wasn't just about one man's dream—it was a decision that would shape the future of the entire village.

They had to consider everything:

Their clans' interests.

The long-term consequences.

Whether they'd place their faith in a rising generation—

Or preserve the old one.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane fixed their gaze on the clan leaders—

The silent message in their eyes was clear:

Vote for us. Now.

But in that strange stillness…

It was Naruto's side that suddenly made the next move.

Kurama—the Nine-Tails sealed within Naruto—grinned and took a step forward.

"Hey," he called out to the hesitant clan heads.

"If you're still struggling to make a decision…"

"Then allow me to make it for you."

With that—

He gave a signal.

And the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, used the Flying Thunder God Technique to summon an entire squad of prepared jōnin onto the scene.

Yes—

Within the ranks of the Hyuga, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and other clans—

There were many shinobi who had already made a secret pact with Kurama and Naruto.

Not out of manipulation.

But because it aligned with their own interests.

And now, the moment had come for them to take a stand.

As these powerful jōnin appeared behind Naruto—

Kurama introduced them to everyone, just like before.

The crowd stared in disbelief.

Even more votes?!

From the Hyuga clan, the first to step forward was a respected elder—Hyuga Hiroichi.

Without waiting for his clan head's decision—

He walked confidently to the front and declared:

"I support Uzumaki Naruto."

His voice rang out loud and clear.

Then—

One after another, jōnin from the Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and other clans followed suit.

No waiting.

No hesitation.

They stepped forward…

And raised their hands.

"I vote for Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Same here!"

"I stand with Naruto!"

One after another—

Elite shinobi of every background stood on Naruto's side.

They didn't wait for permission.

They acted.

They voted for Naruto with conviction.

Even their own clan heads—

Hiashi, Shikaku, Inoichi—

Could only watch as their subordinates made the choice for them.

And all around them—

Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Danzo Shimura.

Homura Mitokado.

Koharu Utatane.

Hiashi Hyuga.

Shikaku Nara.

Shikamaru.

Hinata.

Orochimaru.

Iruka.

The Sand Village envoys.

The daimyō of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind.

Even the reanimated First and Second Hokage—

Everyone stared, dumbfounded.

No one had expected this.

Not even the village elders.

They thought they held the loyalty of the clans.

But here, in full view of the world—

The will of the new generation stood tall.

And it bore one name:

Uzumaki Naruto.

...

TN:

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