NOVEL NEXT Chapter 312: Become A Villager? This Is Easy!
"You??"
Hearing Finn's words, the people of Konoha Village were shocked and confused. What is this outsider doing, meddling in our affairs?
"Our village chooses the Hokage, not some outsider!" Mitokado Homura immediately spoke up, firmly rejecting Finn's suggestion. There was no way an outsider could become Hokage in Konoha.
"Yeah! This is impossible! The Hokage should always be from Konoha!"
"Exactly! It's always been someone from our village who holds that position."
"Even though you're strong, you're not from Konoha! How can this even be possible?"
With Mitokado Homura leading the charge, the rest of the villagers joined in, agreeing with his stance.
Finn shrugged casually, a smile playing on his lips. "Well, that's not quite how it works. Isn't Tsunade from your village?"
He glanced around at the villagers, waiting for a response.
"Of course!" they answered in unison.
No one doubted Tsunade's identity—she was the granddaughter of the First Hokage. If she wasn't considered one of their own, no one in the village would be.
"Alright then," Finn continued. "You've confirmed Tsunade's identity, right? Well, I'm the one who holds her debt, and she's in my service until it's paid off. Since we're basically family, doesn't that make me part of Konoha too? If I'm part of your village, then why shouldn't I be able to become Hokage?"
Finn's words hung in the air, and for a moment, the villagers were speechless.
Is this really happening? they thought. Can he really be serious?
"No, no! You're twisting the facts!" one of the villagers finally objected. "You're only Tsunade's master because she owes you gambling debts, not because you're actually part of the village! Even if you were her master, that still doesn't make you a Konoha villager!"
"Exactly! There's no blood relation between you and Tsunade. How could that make you a member of the village?"
"You're grasping at straws here. You can't just claim to be part of Konoha Village based on that!"
Finn chuckled at their objections. "Let me ask you something. How many of you married someone from another village? Or someone who wasn't even a ninja? Did they not join the village because of their relationships?"
The room fell silent as Finn's words hit home.
"Uh..." One of the villagers hesitated.
"How could there be no outsiders in the village?" Finn continued, his voice calm but confident. "People from other villages, or even ordinary people who marry into Konoha—how many of them are now considered members of the village?"
Everyone stood still, realizing the truth in Finn's words. There were indeed many outsiders in Konoha, both ninjas from other villages and civilians who had integrated into the community.
"So, why not me?" Finn pressed on. "If I'm accepted like anyone else, then why can't I be Hokage?"
Utatane Koharu stood up, her voice measured but firm. "You're right that people marry into the village and become part of it. But that's through marriage, and those people integrate into the village. You, on the other hand, don't share the same relationship."
"Yes," Hyuga Hiashi added, "Your situation is different. I don't mean any disrespect, but your connection to the village isn't the same as those who marry in."
"Oh?" Finn raised an eyebrow, leaning in. "So if I were to marry someone from this village, then would you accept me as part of Konoha?"
A murmur ran through the crowd as people considered the question.
"Well, if you marry someone from the village, then yeah, I guess you would be recognized as one of us," one person muttered.
"Exactly," Finn said with a grin. "Now, that's what I wanted to hear."
He raised his voice slightly, using his Conqueror's Haki to impose a subtle pressure on the room, calming everyone's scattered thoughts. "I just need a clear answer. As long as I'm with someone from Konoha, will you recognize me as one of your own?"
The villagers looked at each other, hesitant but contemplative.
After a long pause, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance, then nodded in agreement.
"Yes," Mitokado Homura said at last. "That's the rule. If you were to marry into the village, you would be considered one of us."
Finn's face lit up with a satisfied smile. "Great! Now that we have that settled, why don't I just find someone from the village?"
The room buzzed with excitement.
Such a powerful person joining the village—this was an unexpected and thrilling prospect. Although many had not seen the full extent of Finn's strength, his actions against Shimura Danzō had made an impression. His power was clearly beyond that of a typical Kage-level ninja.
The village had been in decline for some time, but with someone like Finn at the helm, it could rise rapidly.
The younger generation was particularly excited. They wanted a strong leader who could bring new life to the village. However, the older generation was less thrilled at the thought of an outsider becoming Hokage. They felt it would be a slap in the face to their own abilities, as though the village had no one qualified to lead.
Still, no one dared to openly oppose Finn, and the conversation remained civil.
After a brief discussion among the village's higher-ups, Utatane Koharu turned to Finn and asked the crucial question: "So, do you have someone in mind from our village?"
Finn smiled and nodded, pulling Tsunade toward him and giving her a playful look. "Well, I already have someone in mind. Isn't she right here?"