Inside the Hokage Building not far away.
The Third Hokage watched the departing figures and let out a soft sigh.
Just yesterday, he had formally submitted his request to step down to the Daimyō and the village elders.
His aging body, coupled with the recent Root incident, made him acutely aware that his control over ANBU was slipping. Konoha needed someone powerful enough to take charge of this tangled mess.
His first choice had naturally been Jiraiya.
But that free-spirited man had left behind only a single sentence:
"I'm not suited to sitting in that chair. But I can help you bring back the person who is."
"And it's about time that 'always-loses-at-gambling' woman returned."
—
One month later.
Konoha Village, the top floor of the Hokage Building.
The sky was exceptionally clear, without a single cloud.
Shinobi and civilians from across the village gathered below, cheers rising like a tidal wave.
Standing at the railing was a beautiful woman with brilliant blonde hair and a violet diamond-shaped mark on her forehead. She stood proudly against the wind.
Though she appeared youthful, the overwhelming aura she carried made no one dare underestimate her.
Senju Tsunade.
Lady Tsunade.
One of the Legendary Sannin.
Granddaughter of the First Hokage.
She rested one hand on her hip, removed the conical Hokage hat from her head with the other, and hurled it high into the air.
Under the sunlight, the kanji for "Fire" gleamed brilliantly.
"From this day forward!"
Enhanced by chakra, Tsunade's voice echoed throughout every corner of Konoha.
"I am the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure!"
"With my body as a shield, I will protect everything in this village!"
"Ooooooh—!!!"
Thunderous cheers erupted, shaking the sky.
Behind the crowd, on an inconspicuous rooftop.
Kakashi leaned lazily against a water tank, his eyes half-lidded as he watched the lively scene below.
"Jiraiya refused the position, so he brought Tsunade back…"
"Though there were a few unexpected detours, history has still returned to its original course."
His gaze swept across the crowd—Naruto cheering wildly, Sasuke trying to look indifferent but failing to hide the slight curve of his lips, and Haku smiling quietly behind them.
Kakashi touched the necklace at his chest.
"Some things, though… have already changed completely."
—
A few days later, in the afternoon.
At the entrance of Konoha's cinema.
Amid loud arguing and the dull clatter of a popcorn bucket hitting the ground, the cinema's closed doors were rudely shoved open from inside.
"How many times do I have to say this?! No shouting during the movie!"
The theater owner roared, then "escorted" several figures out as if throwing away trash.
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind them, nearly smashing into Naruto's nose.
"What was that about?! The Wind and Cloud Princess was about to use her ultimate move! I just yelled 'Go for it!'!"
Naruto stood on the street, dusty and indignant, still clutching a handful of popcorn he hadn't managed to eat.
"This owner has no respect at all! I'm the future Hokage!"
Sakura rubbed her forehead helplessly.
"It's because you kept shouting! Sasuke-kun, Haku, and I didn't even get to see the ending!"
Sasuke stood with one hand in his pocket, his face dark as a storm cloud.
He silently stepped a little farther away, clearly drawing a line between himself and Naruto.
"Idiot."
He ground out the words.
"You call that a shout? You practically tried to summon a Rasengan. The entire theater was staring at us."
"I couldn't help it! Sasuke, didn't you think the Wind and Cloud Princess was awesome?"
Naruto turned to the side.
"Haku, you think the owner went too far too, right?"
Haku, dressed casually and holding everyone's unfinished drinks, gave his usual gentle smile. His voice was soft and indulgent.
"Naruto-kun… the movie was exciting, but shouting really does disturb other people."
"Tch—"
Naruto pouted, clearly still annoyed.
The four of them loitered on the steps outside the cinema.
The midday sun was a bit blinding. Naruto looked up and spotted a huge poster plastered prominently on the theater wall.
On it, a heroic actress rode a white horse, glancing back amid snow and rainbows.
The Adventures of the Wind and Cloud Princess — the title was printed in bold letters.
Below it was the lead actress's name: Fuji Yukie.
"Whoa! It's the Wind and Cloud Princess!"
Naruto's attention instantly shifted.
"Next time I watch it, I swear I'll stay quiet!"
"Where does that confidence even come from…"
Sasuke muttered coldly. "And we've already been blacklisted."
"Ah! Damn it, it's all Kakashi-sensei's fault!"
Naruto suddenly remembered something, flopping down on the steps and clutching his head.
"He's the one who told us to watch the movie to celebrate Granny Tsunade becoming Hokage, but he hasn't even shown up!"
"If he were here, he'd definitely find a way to get us back in!"
"And he even told us to wait for him…"
Naruto stared at the ants crawling on the ground, grumbling.
"So slow… so slow… I bet he's slacking off and napping somewhere again."
"Talking behind someone's back will get your allowance cut, you know, Naruto."
A lazy voice suddenly sounded above them.
All four looked up at once.
Kakashi had appeared at some point in front of the Wind and Cloud Princess poster.
He was holding several skewers of freshly bought tri-colored dango, eating casually as he smiled down at the four genin.
"Yo. Looks like the movie was pretty intense. You were all so excited you ended up reminiscing about it out on the main street?"
Naruto pointed at him and shouted:
"Kakashi-sensei! You're late again! And we got kicked out because we were too excited—it's all your fault!"
"Well, well, no need to get so worked up."
Kakashi chuckled.
"How about I treat you all to barbecue later as compensation?"
Just then, a sudden commotion erupted from the far end of the street.
"Move aside! Get out of the way!!"
Rapid hoofbeats echoed as pedestrians scattered in panic.
A fine horse burst through the crowd like lightning, a figure slumped across its back.
It was a woman in an elaborate costume, her long hair streaming behind her.
Naruto's eyes widened. He pointed at the rider, then at the poster beside them.
"That's… the Wind and Cloud Princess?!"
"That's her! It really is the Wind and Cloud Princess!"
Behind her, several riders in similar costumes gave chase.
"Stop! Ms. Yukie! Please come back with us!"
Naruto's eyes sharpened instantly as he slipped into character.
"How dare you chase the Wind and Cloud Princess! You villains!"
"I'll blow you all away!"
He formed hand seals rapidly, chakra erupting.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
White smoke cleared, and dozens of Narutos appeared at once, forming an orange wall that completely blocked the pursuers' path.
"Wahahaha! You're not bullying the princess on my watch!"
The clones swarmed forward, throwing the chase into total chaos.
Kakashi watched the scene and shook his head in exasperation.
Then his gaze locked onto the horse still racing ahead.
Whoosh!
His figure vanished.
In the next instant, Kakashi appeared directly in front of the galloping horse.
Facing it head-on, his expression remained calm. His Sharingan flashed briefly, then faded.
"Hiiiii—!"
The horse sensed an overwhelming pressure and reared up violently, stopping less than a meter from Kakashi.
The woman cried out as inertia sent her flying forward.
Kakashi reached out and caught her smoothly in one arm.
The motion was effortless, fluid—like a perfectly choreographed movie scene.
Looking down at the Wind and Cloud Princess in his arms, Kakashi gave his trademark lazy smile.
"Yo, Your Highness."
"Reckless horseback riding violates Konoha's traffic regulations, you know."
---
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