Senju Hashirama was stunned at first, a trace of confusion rising in his eyes. He truly couldn't understand why the Great Elder had specifically called on him by name.
But since Great Elder Arisu had personally spoken and chosen him, this heavy trust placed on his shoulders was something he naturally couldn't let down.
"Alright, I'll go."
Senju Hashirama nodded firmly, his tone resolute.
Izuna, standing nearby, couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked in a clear voice, "Great-Grandfather, then when do you plan to hold the Hokage inauguration ceremony?"
Hearing this, everyone in the room also turned their gaze toward Arisu, quietly waiting for this pillar of Konoha to give his answer.
A gentle smile appeared at the corner of Arisu's lips as he slowly spoke, "There's no rush for this matter."
"The most urgent task right now is to spend a few years stabilizing the foundations of each clan, so that all the major ninja clans can truly accept Konoha and pledge their loyalty to it from the bottom of their hearts."
"Before that, I will remain Konoha's Great Elder, not the Hokage."
After hearing this, everyone bowed in unison and responded together, "Understood!"
———
A few days later, Senju Hashirama returned to Konoha from Uzushio Hidden Village, though his expression looked somewhat strange.
Inside Konoha's core council office, there was no one else present. Only Arisu, Hashirama, and Uchiha Madara were seated.
"Great Elder, the clan leader of Uzushio Hidden Village, Uzumaki Ashina, has already agreed to form a peace alliance with Konoha."
"However, he proposed that the two clans must form a marriage alliance, and… and he specifically named that his daughter should marry me."
Senju Hashirama clenched the corner of his clothes, the tips of his ears turning slightly red as he spoke, carrying a hint of shyness and helplessness.
Uchiha Madara, standing to the side, raised his brow slightly when he heard this. A trace of amusement flickered in his eyes as he spoke leisurely, "Hashirama, this trip of yours to Uzushio Village wasn't a loss at all."
At Madara's teasing, Hashirama's face immediately flushed red. He hurriedly waved his hands in explanation, "I don't even know how it turned out like this."
"It's probably because the Uzumaki clan and the Senju clan have always had a tradition of intermarriage."
"Clan Leader Uzumaki Ashina approached me for discussion because he valued that connection…"
Arisu looked at Hashirama's embarrassed appearance, a faint smile forming on his lips as he asked in a deep voice, "Then what's your impression of the Uzumaki girl?"
"For the stability of Konoha and the alliance between the two clans, are you willing to agree to this marriage?"
Hearing that it concerned Konoha's greater situation, Senju Hashirama immediately put away his shyness.
His expression turned extremely serious as he spoke without hesitation, "I'm willing!"
Hashirama paused, his tone softening slightly with a hint of genuine approval. "That girl is called Uzumaki Mito. After interacting with her, I feel she's excellent in every aspect."
Arisu nodded slowly and made the decision on the spot, "In that case, I will make the call and approve this marriage."
"I oppose this marriage!"
Uchiha Madara interrupted, his tone full of vigilance. "Who can guarantee this isn't Uzumaki Ashina's scheme?"
"Hashirama's nature has always been straightforward and sincere. He's the easiest to manipulate."
Madara crossed his arms, his entire demeanor cold and scrutinizing as he continued calmly, "If there are hidden calculations behind this…"
"In the end, it might turn into, poor Hashirama being toyed with in the palm of Uzumaki Mito's hand…"
Arisu and Hashirama both looked at Madara with strange expressions upon hearing this.
"Madara… I don't think that'll happen…", Senju Hashirama scratched his head as he said.
"Don't worry. With me backing this, nothing will go wrong with this matter.", Arisu said.
Hearing this, Uchiha Madara could only nod.
———
In the years that followed, Konoha underwent many changes, with various new policies being implemented one after another.
Senju Hashirama got married, and Konoha formed a marriage alliance with Uzushio Hidden Village.
Seeing this, the ninja clans of various nations all breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that Konoha might use this momentum to unify all forces.
At the same time, Arisu spent five years gradually stabilizing the internal forces of Konoha's various clans.
The core policy he implemented was to deeply bind the vital interests of all major ninja clans with Konoha, cutting off from the root any possibility of betrayal.
Arisu instructed the Akimichi clan to run barbecue and grilled meat shops, relying on their clan's strengths to establish their livelihood.
The Nara clan specialized in venison, deer antlers, and other valuable medicinal materials.
The Yamanaka clan took charge of floristry and flower-related industries.
Members of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans were mostly appointed as ninja instructors.
The Hatake clan was incorporated into the Anbu and intelligence departments, each fulfilling their roles.
From that point on, the interests of all clans were intertwined, forming a close bond where "harming Konoha meant harming themselves."
With the addition of various symbols, totems, and ideological promotion, everyone's recognition of and sense of belonging to Konoha deepened continuously.
The establishment of the Ninja Academy further ensured that the younger generation of each clan would, from childhood, genuinely identify with Konoha, greatly stimulating their sense of belonging and honor.
Even the stubborn conservatives within the clans went through several changes in attitude,
From initial resistance and rejection, to critically enjoying Konoha's benefits, then to complete submission, and finally taking the initiative to comply.
After tasting real benefits, they constantly spoke of "our Konoha," boasting about how strong and glorious it was.
Over these years, Arisu's prestige among the clans grew ever higher. Clan leaders actively sought to build good relations and devotedly attached themselves to him.
Throughout Konoha, from common civilians and major ninja clans to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the nobility, all held him in deep respect and admiration.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire praised, "The Great Elder is truly the pillar that steadies Konoha!"
Clan leaders also admitted, "With the Great Elder here, we can rest at ease."
Konoha's civilians praised from the bottom of their hearts, "The Great Elder's achievements have long surpassed the Sage of Six Paths! With a mortal body, he stands shoulder to shoulder with the gods!"
In the hearts of Konoha's people, the Sage of Six Paths would always rank second.
Because the top position already belonged to Great Elder Arisu.
After stability was achieved, the long-awaited inauguration ceremony of Konoha's First Hokage finally began in grand fashion.
The entire village mobilized. All residents put down their tasks and flooded from streets and alleys toward the ceremony plaza, leaving the entire village empty.
Only the ceremony grounds gathered into an endless sea of people, creating an unprecedented spectacle of deserted streets and packed crowds.
It wasn't just Konoha's people who came wholeheartedly. From distant nations across the ninja world, major ninja clans all sent important envoys, traveling thousands of miles to Konoha.
First, to pay solemn respect to this legend of the ninja world.
Second, to sincerely learn Konoha's new ninja village system.
Everyone wanted to personally witness the demeanor of this legendary figure who created Konoha and brought stability to the ninja world.
At the ceremony site, banners fluttered and ceremonial music thundered. The magnificent arrangements and surging crowds complemented each other, creating an overwhelmingly grand scene, unprecedented in the ninja world.
On the high platform, Arisu stood tall, extraordinary in bearing, dressed in the Hokage's robe.
Even though he was already an old man, his presence still overshadowed everyone present.
Countless gazes below were fixed entirely on him, filled with fervent admiration and support.
At the moment the ceremony was completed, thunderous cheers and shouts swept across all of Konoha.
"First Hokage!!!"
"First Hokage!!"
"A new era has arrived!!"
The villagers of Konoha raised their arms and shouted in unison, their voices piercing the sky.
Everyone celebrated freely, welcoming Arisu as he officially took office as Konoha's First Hokage.