The inauguration ceremony was held in front of the Hokage Building.
A temporary platform had been erected with iron scaffolding, and above it hung a large banner reading:
Fifth Hokage Inauguration Ceremony
Villagers gathered on both sides of the streets and behind the warning lines, watching with mixed curiosity and excitement, treating the event as both a major occasion and a spectacle.
The Fire Daimyō had also sent a representative—Yukihira Seigen, his most trusted attendant—to attend the ceremony. He brought with him development funds allocated to Konoha for the next three years, totaling one billion ryo.
The funds were sealed in a large chest behind him, guarded by his escorts, waiting to be formally handed over to the new Hokage after the ceremony as a show of goodwill.
Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the venue together with Jiraiya. When he spotted Yukihira Seigen, his eyes lit up and he quickly stepped forward.
"Brother Seigen, Brother Seigen! You've come as well to witness the inauguration of Konoha's Fifth Hokage?" Hiruzen said with a chuckle.
Yukihira Seigen paused, finding the voice familiar. He looked up and nodded.
"So it's Lord Hiruzen. The last time we met was after the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself, when you resumed the position of acting Hokage."
He glanced at Hiruzen's attire and smiled lightly.
"Dressed so casually today—have you finally decided to take things easy? I've said it before, you're not young anymore. Stop pushing yourself. Even the Daimyō worries about your health."
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
He interpreted those words as ridicule—mockery for being forced out by a younger successor, and worse, an Uchiha. To him, it sounded like a veiled warning: don't get angry, don't collapse, and don't trouble others.
In truth, Yukihira Seigen meant nothing of the sort. He was simply advising an old acquaintance to rest.
Hiruzen smiled faintly.
"You're right. I am old. That's why the future of Konoha should be entrusted to my most outstanding disciple—Jiraiya."
"Jiraiya, come here. Meet Lord Yukihira. He is deeply trusted by the Fire Daimyō. To put it bluntly, when the Daimyō is absent, Lord Yukihira speaks with his authority."
The guard standing behind Yukihira Seigen stiffened instantly and shot a sharp look at Hiruzen.
Yukihira Seigen's expression turned cold.
"Hiruzen, that's going too far. The Daimyō and I are worlds apart—there is no comparison."
"Are you trying to sow discord between me and the Daimyō?"
His opinion of Hiruzen dropped sharply. By extension, his impression of the tall, white-haired man beside him—whose expression looked far too unserious—wasn't any better.
Jiraiya walked over, scratching his head. He hadn't understood what had happened earlier—only that the Old Man had called him over. Now, he was greeted by Yukihira Seigen's displeased expression and Hiruzen's faint smirk.
"Jiraiya, allow me to—" Hiruzen began.
"There's no need," Yukihira Seigen interrupted, waving his hand.
"We are here under the Daimyō's orders to establish friendly relations with Konoha's new Hokage—an Uchiha."
He glanced at Jiraiya.
"As for this student of yours—broad shoulders, thick waist, messy hair—he doesn't look anything like an Uchiha. There's no need for us to meet."
His tone was blunt and unapologetic.
Jiraiya scratched his head again, completely unfazed, while Hiruzen let out a cold snort, leaving Jiraiya in an awkward position.
Orochimaru's voice sounded nearby, filled with amusement.
"Heh. Teacher Hiruzen really is petty. Vindictive too—though he only dares to use words."
Jiraiya sighed. He had almost forgotten—there wasn't much time left for the Old Man anyway.
---
Atop a nearby rooftop, Tsunade sat with her legs crossed, overlooking the bustling scene below.
She didn't care who became Hokage—only whether that person would benefit Konoha rather than harm it.
She still remembered Minato Namikaze.
During the Third Great Ninja War, he had single-handedly turned the tide. With the Flying Thunder God Technique, he crossed battlefields instantly, killing enemies with a single strike and earning the title Yellow Flash.
More importantly, he had the support of the village.
That was why she had left Konoha without worry back then.
Konoha was her great-grandfather's legacy. She could not entrust it to someone unreliable.
Her second grandfather had already made one irreversible mistake. She would not allow history to repeat itself.
Shizune sat beside her, holding Tonton.
"Lady Tsunade, are you cold? I brought a blanket."
The morning wind on the rooftop was sharp.
Tsunade shook her head.
"Don't fuss, Shizune. I'm not some fragile girl. I endured far worse in the Land of Rain."
Shizune swallowed her words. She wanted to say that back then Tsunade was twenty-six—and now she was nearly fifty—but wisdom prevailed.
Age was a forbidden topic.
Tsunade rested one foot on the eaves, the other hanging freely. Her chin propped on her hand, she stared toward the approaching procession.
"He's here."
Shizune blinked. "Who?"
Tsunade didn't answer.
Her gaze locked onto the man at the front of the procession—wearing the Hokage's sacred robe.
She recognized that Chakra instantly.
Even the necklace around her neck began to tremble.
Inside it, green Chakra gathered, briefly forming a figure.
The figure opened its eyes and muttered softly:
"Madara… so you really weren't dead. I knew it."
In the next instant, the Chakra vanished completely.
At the front of the Uchiha ranks, Uchiha Ran paused mid-step.
"Ding. Remnant soul of Senju Hashirama detected. Target lost."
The system's mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
Ran's scalp went numb.
A remnant soul of Senju Hashirama?
Had Hashirama left behind a contingency plan as well?
Minato Namikaze had survived by forcibly borrowing the Nine-Tails' Chakra through sealing techniques. Hashirama's wife, Uzumaki Mito, was a master of sealing arts far beyond Minato.
If Hashirama had truly left something behind…
And if it was meant to target him—
That would be disastrous.
"Hokage-sama, is something wrong?"
Hyūga Hiashi's voice pulled him back to reality.
Ran steadied himself and smiled.
"It's nothing. I was just lost in thought."
Then he asked calmly, "Hiashi, are our arrangements complete?"
Hiashi nodded without hesitation.
"Everything is in place. No matter what happens today, this Hokage seat will be yours."
(Author's Note)
Hello my Lovely Handsome and Beautiful Reader been a while.
There have been many comments about the chinese names in this book as the anime Naruto itself is a Japanese anime which I couldn't fix before due to my busy schedule including exams etc hope you all understand.
I Have been working on it and you will start seeing the results soon and also for the patreon thing I will properly update it too once the chinese names are fixed and I will update you guys when it's properly set up.
Hope you all have a good reading experience and Please continue supporting this book as usual and Thank you all of you.