MM Racing Chapter 196: Konoha Hokage Election
Chapter 196: Konoha Hokage Election
"Then I'll have two bowls of honey-glazed char siu ramen."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at the counter and said crisply.
Upon hearing this, Kakuzu smiled, his eyes crinkling, and replied loudly, "Alright, just a moment!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Kakuzu turned around and went straight into the kitchen to prepare ramen.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, the relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant led Sarutobi and Danzo to naturally begin chatting about the most pressing issues in Konoha at the moment.
"Sarutobi, with the recent Hokage election, has your Sarutobi clan decided on a candidate yet?"
Danzo turned his head, looked calmly at Sarutobi, and asked directly, his eyes showing a thoughtfulness beyond his years.
Sarutobi scratched the back of his head: "My father had already given instructions that the entire Sarutobi clan would vote for Lord Hashirama."
After saying that, he casually asked, "And you, Danzo? What are the Shimura clan's plans?"
Danzo shook his head slightly, his tone revealing a hint of helplessness: "Personally, I actually lean more towards Lord Madara; his approach to things is more in line with my own."
"But the clan has already given orders that the entire clan must unite to support Lord Hashirama, and I have no choice but to comply."
This situation is entirely due to a deviation in the plot.
Danzo Shimura's attitude towards the Uchiha clan underwent a dramatic change due to Manji's existence.
After all, the First Hokage was a member of the Uchiha clan. If the Uchiha clan were all wicked, wouldn't the two ancestors who co-founded Konoha become the source of evil?
This kind of logic is completely untenable.
"So that's how it is."
Sarutobi grinned, raised his hand and patted Danzo's arm, sincerely comforting him, "Don't worry, when we grow up a bit more and have the right to vote, we can choose the people we like ourselves."
At that time, the two were still young and did not have the qualifications to participate in the Hokage election vote, so they could only passively follow the family's arrangements.
Wanci listened silently to their conversation, nodding inwardly.
The ordinary people of Konoha ultimately failed to truly hold onto their precious vote, mostly just going with the flow without ever truly considering their own wishes.
Suddenly, Danzo turned to Manji, who was standing by the counter, and asked, "Shopkeeper, who do you commoners intend to vote for?"
He genuinely wanted to know the true thoughts of the common people of Konoha, since they constituted the vast majority of the population and their wishes should be taken seriously.
Wan Ci smiled and waved his hand, his tone calm: "We restaurant owners don't understand politics. We just follow the crowd's choices."
"Whether it's Lord Hashirama or Lord Madara, as long as they can let us do business peacefully and allow everyone to live a good life with enough to eat and wear, they are qualified to be the Hokage."
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes immediately showed agreement!
He casually picked up the Coca-Cola on the table, smiled, and raised his glass in a gesture of respect.
"The shopkeeper's words are very insightful; we should drink a large toast to him!"
"Hehe..." Danzo chuckled helplessly.
Commoners have always had pure and simple thoughts, only hoping for a stable life, unlike these family members who have to consider the pros and cons of choosing sides with their families in everything.
On one side is the powerful Senju clan, and on the other is the deeply rooted Uchiha clan. Every step must be carefully weighed.
"The noodles are here! Enjoy them while they're hot, they won't taste as good when they're cold!"
Just then, Kakuzu walked out of the kitchen carrying two steaming bowls of ramen and placed them steadily in front of the two of them.
The rich aroma of noodles instantly filled the air, carrying with it the sweet fragrance of honey-glazed char siu and the mellow flavor of bone broth, penetrating straight into the nasal cavity.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura's eyes lit up simultaneously, and they exclaimed in unison, "It smells so good! There's so much char siu! No wonder the First Hokage thought it was delicious!"
The two of them eagerly picked up their chopsticks and each took a small bite.
The next second, the two looked up and met each other's eyes, their eyes filled with barely suppressed surprise.
Wow! Holy crap! What a feast!
"This is delicious!"
Before the words were even finished, the two buried their heads in their food and began to eat heartily, thoroughly enjoying their meal.
Watching the two wolf down their food, Manji couldn't help but glance at Kakuzu and tease, "You didn't put drugs in this ramen, did you?"
However, Kakuzu didn't seem to understand Manji's joke.
Kakuzu replied honestly, "Old man, I'm an honest businessman. A gentleman loves money, but he earns it in a proper way. I would never do anything dishonest."
Looking at Kakuzu's honest appearance, Manji couldn't help but smile.
"Shopkeeper, your sweet drink is so delicious! Can I buy a few more cups to take home and enjoy slowly?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a sip of his cola and exclaimed in genuine admiration.
Wan nodded repeatedly: "Of course, but this drink is limited in quantity, and each person can only buy a maximum of two cups."
Kakuzu, who was standing nearby, raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
Hiruzen's face showed disappointment for a moment, but he immediately thought of Danzo beside him and his eyes lit up.
"Danzo~ Could you buy me a few drinks~"
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Danzo and pleaded softly.
Danzo looked at Hiruzen's unusually humble and pleading expression, and couldn't help but smile slightly.
Hiruzen willingly bowing his head and begging for help—such a scene is truly a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence…
"I just can't do anything with you, Hiruzen."
Danzo waved his hand dismissively, then calmly took out some money and handed it over: "Take this and buy it."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo had gone some distance,
Kakuzu casually opened a bottle of cola and drank it down, looking puzzled: "There's clearly a huge stockpile in the warehouse, why bother with limited sales?"
"Hehe, scarcity drives up value, it's just a business tactic."
Wanci stood with his hands behind his back and spoke slowly.
Kakuzu grew increasingly puzzled: "You've been in charge of Konoha for many years, holding the position of Hokage, and you control the village's finances. Logically, you should be incredibly wealthy. Why are you so meticulously managing your finances and running small businesses?"
He chuckled lightly twice, his expression indifferent.
"You don't understand, Kakuzu."
"Have you forgotten the famous quote I made back then?"
He stood with his hands behind his back countless times, his tone calm and confident:
"If you're going to be Hokage, don't get rich."
Kakuzu paused slightly, then nodded in realization: "Now that comes to mind... I do seem to have seen that sentence in an old newspaper."
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
On the Hokage Rock.
Ban and Hashirama stood side by side on the first-generation rock statue, looking down at the entire village.
The two remained silent, creating a subtle atmosphere.
"Madara, the Hokage..."
Hashirama was just about to start a discussion on this issue
However, Madara Uchiha quickly interrupted.
"Hashirama, no need for further explanation."
"Becoming Hokage is my dream, and it's your dream too. Let's have a fair and square competition and see if the villagers choose me or you."
Madara Uchiha said, his arms crossed.
Upon seeing this, Hashirama Senju immediately said, "Madara, if I am chosen, I will step down after a few years and hand it over to you. We can take turns."
Madara Uchiha's face darkened.
Even though I know Hashirama's heart is good, those words still sound really harsh.
What do you mean by "you were elected"? Are you so sure I'll lose to you?
They even gave it to me.....
Am I, Madara Uchiha, someone who has always been strong-willed and needs to yield to others?
They even took turns being Hokage
Do you think this is a street vendor selling rice and fried dough sticks?