Chapter 310: Minato, You Do It
Rasa's worries were also what everyone else had on their minds at the moment.
But Uchiha Dali was extremely confident. He smiled faintly and said, "Even if I lent him ten lives, he probably wouldn't dare show his face before me now."
"You all must understand, Otsutsuki Isshiki's goal is to plunder this world's chakra. And no matter what move he makes, he absolutely won't escape our perception."
"Under these circumstances, unless he's completely brain-dead, he won't dare run wild here."
Uchiha Dali couldn't even be bothered to explain that his perception, his Observation Haki, had long since enveloped the entire shinobi world.
Nothing that happened, no matter how small, could escape his senses.
Hearing this, Rasa and the others visibly let out a sigh of relief.
"We'll follow your command. Whatever you tell us to do, we'll do."
At this moment, the Fourth Raikage suddenly spoke up.
His words immediately made the expressions of the other leaders present turn strange.
Because everyone could hear the meaning behind his statement.
Uchiha Dali gave the Raikage a meaningful look.
He hadn't expected that the one with the sharpest eyes here would actually be this big, rough brute.
Before Dali could respond, Ōnoki spoke up.
Looking at Uchiha Dali seriously, he said, "Since everyone's gathered here, it's the best opportunity to make certain things clear, so we won't have trouble in the future."
Everyone immediately perked up their ears.
They knew that whatever Ōnoki was about to say was very important.
Uchiha Dali looked at him with a half-smile, and sure enough, Ōnoki continued, "Now that the new nation has been established, it needs a leader that everyone can respect and acknowledge."
"Only then can we be led to a brighter future."
"Lord Third Tsuchikage, who do you intend to have lead this nation?" the Fourth Raikage asked in a low voice.
But Ōnoki merely glanced at him and ignored the question, continuing, "Earlier, when everyone agreed to unite and form this new country, I recall Lord Fourth Hokage, you once said: the ruler of the new nation should be whoever is most capable."
He had only spoken halfway when Koharu Utatane was already losing patience.
She said gruffly, "So what you mean is, who should be the leader? Don't drag out what we all already know."
"Just state your answer directly."
At this, Ōnoki looked at her.
But instead of the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere everyone expected, he simply nodded and, under everyone's gaze, continued:
"I believe Lord Fourth Hokage is the most suitable candidate. My reasons are mainly threefold…"
"First, his strength is currently the greatest in the shinobi world. I don't think anyone can dispute this. And just like a village is led by its strongest as Kage, the ruler of a nation should also be the strongest—only then can he protect and lead everyone."
"Second…"
Ōnoki listed three major points in favor of Uchiha Dali, focusing on his strength, his character, and his standing.
In short, his words brimmed with praise.
Everyone had thought he was trying to stir trouble, but unexpectedly, his answer was this.
Now, as they carefully considered his words, everyone found themselves nodding in agreement.
The Fourth Raikage spoke second: "I agree. Let the Fourth Hokage be the leader of the new nation."
"No other reason—just because he saved my life!"
It was a blunt, simple reason.
At this point, everyone already knew which way things were going.
In truth, their opinions hardly mattered.
As long as the five Kage agreed to make Uchiha Dali the leader, the smaller nations' leaders had no choice but to go along.
Following the Raikage, Rasa also spoke up.
"To be precise, Lord Fourth Hokage saved all of us—he saved the entire shinobi world."
"If not for him standing against Otsutsuki Isshiki and driving that ambitious man away, by now we'd all probably be fodder for the Divine Tree."
Though he wasn't too clear on what exactly the Divine Tree was, nor how terrifying it might be, just hearing that it could use roots to absorb all the chakra in the world was enough to instill fear.
Hearing this, the others also nodded one after another.
The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, was the fourth to raise his hand: "I agree with everyone's view. I support Lord Fourth Hokage as the leader of the Land of Five Elements. If anyone has objections, speak now."
He swept his eyes across the room.
Naturally, no one dared say a word.
At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, also spoke: "Since everyone agrees you're the most suitable candidate, you needn't decline. Just follow everyone's will."
Uchiha Dali felt a bit helpless.
Truthfully, he didn't want to shoulder such responsibility.
With his strength, having or not having such a title didn't matter in the slightest.
So instead of accepting, he turned his gaze to Minato Namikaze.
"I believe Minato is even more suitable than me to govern a country."
"What? Me?"
Minato was startled, pointing to himself.
Dali smiled and went on: "If it's fighting, I may be skilled. But to manage an entire nation—one that now unites the whole shinobi world, covering every land—that's beyond me."
"Just being Hokage has already given me headaches."
He waved his hand while speaking. "So, as a genius and a rising star, shouldn't you help me share some of this burden, Minato?"
Minato was still at a loss.
This decision—to make Uchiha Dali the new nation's leader—had been made unanimously by elders far more esteemed than himself.
So instinctively, he looked to Hiruzen and the others.
Fortunately, the wily elders were quick to catch on. Since Uchiha Dali was unwilling, they smoothly went along with his words and nodded.
"If it's you, that would indeed be a good choice. Minato, since Lord Fourth Hokage himself has said so, you should accept being this nation's leader," the Fourth Raikage said.
"I have no objection."
Rasa quickly followed suit.
"I also agree."
"I too recognize this decision."
"..."
Very soon, everyone unanimously approved Minato Namikaze as the new nation's leader.