The thing is, everyone

knows

that the Hokage is stepping down. Jiraiya has been the interim Hokage for quite a while now, and Hiruzen has made no attempt to hide the fact that he 's retiring. It 's not a surprise; he 'd already pushed well past the term he initially wanted. Minato 's death had been an unforeseen misfortune that ended with him back in the seat he thought he 'd finally been freed from. Therefore, him announcing that he was stepping down was acceptable ' in that it was

expected.

What the public did

not

know was who would be the Godaime Hokage. Itachi 's promotion was not public knowledge, the Council decided it best not to put a target on the boy 's head before he came of age and took the seat. There was speculation, of course, and even some who thought that Jiraiya would eventually just take the seat.

Itachi being the future Hokage was

need-to-know.