If the first appointed members of the Elder Council had been the heads of Konoha’s major clans, no one would have objected.
Even if the Hatake clan head had been selected, most people would have accepted it.
But…
Hatake Sora?
What was that supposed to mean?
Everyone knew what kind of person Sora was.
He had practically no combat strength.
Other than living an absurdly long time, he had never accomplished anything noteworthy.
Sure, no one understood how he had somehow returned from the dead…
but even now, the chakra inside his body was pitifully weak.
As far as anyone could tell, he still wasn’t much of a shinobi.
And yet—
Hashirama wanted him on the Elder Council?
…
In truth, the idea of establishing the Elder Council had originally come from Tobirama.
He and Hashirama were brothers.
For his older brother, Tobirama was willing to do almost anything.
But that didn’t mean he agreed with Hashirama’s every decision.
Hashirama was simply too kind.
Far too many of his ideas were built around ideals that couldn’t realistically survive in such a cruel world.
Tobirama had seen Madara’s betrayal coming long ago.
He had wanted Madara eliminated before the situation deteriorated.
But Hashirama had repeatedly delayed taking decisive action.
If they had planned ahead—
if they had simply assassinated Madara before things reached this point—
Hashirama might never have suffered such severe injuries.
That was one of the reasons Tobirama had proposed the Elder Council.
It would act as a restraint on Hashirama.
No longer would his brother be able to force through unrealistic decisions based entirely on his own ideals.
Hashirama himself had never cared much about political authority.
If other people were willing to help shoulder the burden of governing Konoha, he was more than happy to let them.
And so—
the Elder Council had been approved.
There was just one thing Tobirama didn’t understand.
Why had Hashirama personally chosen Hatake Sora?
The old man had no strength.
What use was he?
Sora pointed at himself.
“Me?”
Tobirama answered stiffly.
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand it either.”
“But the Hokage personally wants you on the council.”
Sora raised an eyebrow.
Before he could say anything—
“Ahem.”
The Hyūga clan head cleared his throat.
“I have no objection to Tobirama Senju or Uzumaki Mito becoming members of the Elder Council.”
“Whether we consider their strength or reputation, both are qualified.”
He paused.
“But I don’t believe Elder Hatake is suitable.”
The Uchiha clan head immediately followed.
“I agree.”
“Hatake Sora may have lived for a very long time, but he isn’t truly a shinobi.”
“He doesn’t understand how brutal the shinobi world can be.”
“Nor does he understand how a single poor decision can cost dozens—or hundreds—of lives.”
“Giving someone without that experience a vote on Konoha’s most important decisions would be inappropriate.”
Sora’s eyelid twitched.
These two bastards.
When they came to my house asking about Madara, they were respectful enough to practically call me Grandpa.
Now they’re changing faces faster than turning a page.
Sora hadn’t particularly cared about joining the Elder Council.
But hearing them talk about him like that?
Now he was annoyed.
“I don’t think he should—”
A Senju elder had barely begun speaking when Sora cut him off.
“All right.”
“Stop trying so hard to make yourselves heard.”
“I haven’t even said whether I want the position yet.”
He swept his gaze over them.
“And you grandkids are already making decisions for me?”
The Uchiha and Hyūga clan heads frowned.
So did the Senju elder.
Several others looked displeased as well.
Being called “grandkids” certainly sounded insulting.
The problem was…
compared to Sora—
they genuinely were from his grandchildren’s generation.
Which somehow made it even more infuriating.
Hashirama, who had remained silent until now, finally looked at Sora with a warm smile.
“Then, Elder Hatake…”
“Do you want to join?”
Sora thought for a moment.
“Does being on the Elder Council come with a salary?”
“…”
Several people stared at him.
Hashirama nodded.
“Yes.”
“Thirty thousand ryō per month.”
Sora immediately straightened.
“There’s a salary?”
“Then of course I’m joining.”
He answered with complete seriousness.
“…”
“!”
“?”
Everyone around the table was speechless.
Anyone qualified to sit on the Elder Council was either one of Konoha’s strongest shinobi or the leader of an established clan.
Which of them would seriously care about thirty thousand ryō?
No one had even thought to ask about money.
But Sora had.
More importantly—
wasn’t everyone supposed to be discussing whether he was qualified?
How had this suddenly turned into a salary negotiation?
Hashirama smiled brightly.
“Then welcome to the Elder Council.”
“I hope we’ll work together from now on and build an even more prosperous Konoha.”
At that point, several clan heads immediately realized something was wrong.
Hashirama was clearly determined to put Sora on the council.
Their minds began moving quickly.
I understand.
Whether Hatake Sora is strong doesn’t matter.
What matters is his vote.
Hashirama personally places him on the Elder Council, so out of gratitude, Sora will naturally support Hashirama’s decisions.
And if the Hatake clan head also joins…
that’s another vote.
Add Tobirama and Mito.
Hashirama himself controls five votes.
From the moment this council is established, Hashirama could already control nine votes.
Unless the council contains more than nine additional members willing to oppose him…
the Hokage still effectively decides everything.
No.
Hatake Sora absolutely cannot be allowed to take that seat.
The Uchiha clan head, Hyūga clan head, and several others were all seasoned political figures.
They reached essentially the same conclusion almost immediately.
“Lord Hokage, I believe—”
The Hyūga clan head had just started speaking when Hashirama interrupted him.
“How about this?”
“We’ll appoint the remaining members of the Elder Council first.”
“Once everything has been decided…”
Hashirama looked around the room.
“If any clan still believes Elder Hatake lacks the strength required for the position, that clan may send one representative to challenge him.”
“Whoever defeats Elder Hatake will take his seat on the council.”
“What do you think?”
Several people’s eyes immediately lit up.
“That works.”
Excitement spread through the room.
Though there was also some confusion.
Hashirama looked far too calm.
At the moment, Sora did possess chakra.
But it was extremely weak.
At most, he had reached genin level.
Meanwhile, the weakest people present tonight were already jōnin.
Almost anyone here should have been able to defeat him.
Sora sighed.
“Hashirama, that’s pretty heartless.”
“An old man finally finds a job with a salary, and now I’ve got to fight just to keep it?”
Then he smiled.
“Still…”
“That does sound kind of fun.”
Sora slowly looked around the room.
“Anyone unhappy with me?”
“Come fight.”
He shook his head with exaggerated disappointment.
“You grandkids really never stop causing trouble.”
“Hmph.”
Someone standing behind one of the clan heads muttered quietly,
“Trying to act tough when he can’t back it up.”
Sora ignored him.
Tobirama then began reading out the remaining members of the newly established council.
The Grand Elder of the Senju clan.
The clan heads of the:
Uchiha.
Hyūga.
Sarutobi.
Nara.
Yamanaka.
Akimichi.
Inuzuka.
Aburame.
Kurama.
Hatake.
And Shimura clans.
Alongside them were six of the strongest independent shinobi in Konoha:
Kusanagi Ichirō.
Yūhi Meikō.
Hayate Aokumo.
Morino Kyū.
Mitarashi Kuroko.
Uzumaki Mizune.
With that—
the first incarnation of the Konoha Elder Council consisted of twenty-one members.
Almost every major clan leader attending tonight had received a seat, along with six of Konoha’s strongest shinobi who did not represent one of those clans.
Once the appointments were settled, no one wasted any more time.
The entire group headed directly toward a training ground.
It was already deep into the night.
The streets were mostly empty, so very few villagers noticed the unusual gathering.
…
Training Ground
Sora walked directly into the center.
He looked around.
“So?”
“Who’s first?”
Then he smiled pleasantly.
“Just one warning.”
“If Grandpa accidentally cripples one of you…”
“Don’t complain that I didn’t treat my grandkids gently.”
“I’ll go!”
A figure appeared across from him almost instantly.
Sora recognized him.
It was the son of the Uchiha clan head—
the same middle-aged man who had accompanied his father to Sora’s home several days earlier.
But unlike during that visit, there was no respect in the man’s eyes now.
Only coldness.
And undisguised contempt.
Sora glanced toward Hashirama.
Then—
without anyone realizing what he was actually doing—
he activated the system.
50/50 ability, activate.
Target locked:
Hashirama Senju.
[Random selection…]
[Dragon Ball World — Son Goku.]
[Calculating combat power…]
[Suppressing power…]
[Combat power adjusted to equal Hashirama Senju.]
[Activation complete!]
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