Chapter 203: The Real and the False Hokage
The savage shockwave swept across the entire Daimyo's palace. A single Tailed Beast Bomb fell, and this seat of power — passed down for a thousand years — was reduced to ash in an instant.
Sasuke's control was impeccable. He'd contained the blast radius with precision.
One strike, and only the palace compound was obliterated.
Everything beyond the walls was completely untouched.
Those walls had become a border between two worlds.
On one side — the peaceful, undisturbed homes of ordinary citizens. On the other — a nightmarish expanse of rubble and ruin.
As it had always been. As it was now.
"Wh-who are you people?"
The round-faced boy Sakura had unceremoniously dumped on the ground looked up at the four figures before him in panic.
"You're Minamoto Musashi, correct?"
"The Seven-Tails attacked the Daimyo's palace. Before the Daimyo died, he entrusted me with his final will."
"He chose to perish with the palace."
"From this moment forward — you are the Daimyo."
Sakura tossed the decree onto him. The boy's face contorted with bewilderment.
Father died with the palace?
He's the Daimyo now?
The sheer volume of information turned the eleven-or-twelve-year-old's brain to porridge.
He scrambled to open the decree. Familiar handwriting filled his vision.
My beloved son — if you read these words, know that I am with you in spirit.
The Land of Fire has endured for a thousand years. Today, it faces a calamity unseen in all those centuries.
As Daimyo of the Land of Fire, I bear the weight of our people upon my shoulders, and so I shall stand or fall with this capital.
But though I may die, the people must not perish.
Without a Daimyo, the Land of Fire will descend into chaos unlike anything it has known.
By fortune's grace, I encountered the Konoha shinobi Haruno Sakura, and I have entrusted her with delivering this decree.
I pray that my beloved son will rally, ascend to the Daimyo's seat, and steady the nation.
The seventy-eighth Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
Final words of Minamoto Yōta.
The decree was remarkably brief — hasty, even. But the boy named Minamoto Musashi looked at his father's last letter and felt his eyes burn with tears.
Quiet sobs escaped his lips.
Sakura glanced at Musashi, then looked up at the Seven-Tails hovering in the sky.
"Watch him."
She gave the order to Kushina, then rocketed skyward toward the Tailed Beast.
Kushina acknowledged quietly, then turned her gaze to the boy clutching the decree and crying softly.
In the shinobi world, it wasn't only shinobi who possessed chakra — everyone did. The difference was simply how much.
Kushina could feel the boy's negligible chakra reserves, and they felt remarkably... pure.
He seemed like a good kid. Or perhaps more accurately — a pushover.
Having fired its Tailed Beast Bomb and leveled the palace, the Seven-Tails made no further moves, simply hovering motionless in the sky.
The entire capital had been thrown into chaos by the blast. Crowds of people were fleeing the city. But that didn't mean everyone had left.
A considerable number of fearless rubberneckers were still staring up at the Seven-Tails with open curiosity.
What Sakura needed to do now was subdue the Seven-Tails in front of all these witnesses.
Sever any visible connection between herself and the beast.
And so, under the eyes of the watching masses, Sakura and the Seven-Tails staged a "life-or-death battle" — complete with furious "exchanges," intense "back-and-forth," several Tailed Beast Bombs that "missed" and detonated harmlessly in the clouds, and a final "all-out punch" from Sakura that the Seven-Tails "couldn't withstand," sending it crashing in defeat onto the ruins of the Daimyo's palace.
As it hit the ground, Sasuke seamlessly released his control over Fū's Tailed Beast transformation.
Looking down at the girl on the ground — human again, curled up and unconscious — Sakura casually pulled a burlap sack from her equipment pouch, stuffed Fū inside, and slung her over one shoulder.
When Sakura returned to the group, Musashi had stopped crying.
"You're Haruno Sakura."
"What... what should I do now?"
Looking up at the woman who'd just performed that spectacular feat of taking down the Seven-Tails, Musashi was utterly lost. He turned to Sakura instinctively.
Even without the display he'd just witnessed, Musashi knew Sakura's name. Her battlefield exploits were famous enough to reach even a boy raised inside the palace walls.
And now, having personally captured the "culprit" — his trust in Sakura deepened further.
Sakura studied the seemingly guileless boy, eyes narrowing slightly, then spoke with unhurried calm.
"A shinobi has brazenly attacked the Daimyo's palace. The capital is no longer safe."
"I recommend you return with me to Konoha — to prevent any further attempts on the new Daimyo's life."
Musashi agreed without a moment's hesitation.
"Alright. I'll do as you say."
Then his gaze fell on the burlap sack containing Fū, undisguised hatred in his eyes.
"What about her?"
"She was merely a puppet. The true mastermind is someone else entirely."
"Which is precisely why returning to Konoha with me is the safest option."
Sakura fielded his questions without missing a beat.
Musashi raised no objections.
Entrusted with his father's dying will by the previous Daimyo. Personally rescued from the apocalyptic blast. Then watched this woman capture the Seven-Tails with her bare hands.
Each layer had built the foundation of trust in his heart.
Konoha shinobi Haruno Sakura — loyal, dependable, supremely powerful, devoted to the nation. A model for all shinobi!
"Alright. Let's move."
— One Day Earlier —
The whole of Konoha had sunk into an eerie atmosphere.
Every shinobi was questioning reality.
It was all because of the announcement posted from the Hokage Building.
The Fifth Hokage had been confirmed. The appointee: Root commander Shimura Danzō.
Most Konoha shinobi might not have known Danzō well before — but three years ago, his name had become very familiar.
This was the commander who'd suffered a catastrophic defeat in the Land of Rivers.
And the announcement made no mention whatsoever of the dazzling Haruno Sakura.
Kakashi stood in the crowd with his hands in his pockets, reading the posted notice. His visible eye betrayed nothing.
"This Shimura fellow seems a bit... old, doesn't he?"
A shinobi beside Kakashi scratched his head uncertainly.
"I hear he was the Second Hokage's student, same as the Third."
"Um... but what about Lady Sakura?"
"Isn't Lady Sakura still young?"
"Sixteen is way too young to be Hokage."
"But this Shimura is over seventy, isn't he?"
"The longer you live, the more experienced you are — that just proves Lord Shimura's capability, doesn't it?"
"But Lady Sakura has already been handling the Hokage's administrative duties for ages..."
"What do you know? That was just the Third Hokage training his student."
Listening to the chatter around him, Kakashi sighed quietly and turned to leave.
There were Root operatives in the crowd.
Even though Sakura had taken over Hokage administrative duties, even though Konoha's entire governance apparatus had been completely overhauled with dramatically improved efficiency in public services — everyone praised how quickly things got done now — Danzō could sweep it all aside with a single phrase: training his student.
And that worked for one reason alone: Sakura was too young.
When the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had assumed office at twenty-two, it had been considered astonishing.
A sixteen-year-old becoming Fifth Hokage? One dismissive line about "too young, needs more seasoning" was enough to nullify an entire record of military and administrative achievement.
But that was also the only angle Danzō had to attack.
Kakashi walked the streets alone, wanting to find Sakura and ask what she thought about all this.
After all, back on the battlefield, Hiruzen had made it crystal clear to Kakashi: This girl is the future Hokage. Protect her at all costs.
But Sakura wasn't at her house. Wasn't at the training grounds. Wasn't at the Hokage Building. The pink-haired girl was nowhere to be found.
The only thing Kakashi noticed, as he left the Haruno residence, was the surveillance. He glanced up and frowned.
Someone was watching the Haruno house. ANBU... Root?
"Kakashi."
Just as Kakashi was heading toward Hiruzen's to check on things, a voice stopped him.
"Lord Jiraiya?"
Kakashi blinked at the man behind him.
"Got a minute to talk?"
Jiraiya's expression was grim, which made Kakashi's stomach drop.
In a private room at a Konoha bar, Jiraiya deployed a barrier to confirm no one was listening, then spoke.
"Mei Terumi returned to Konoha yesterday — and Danzō immediately had her arrested on charges of being a foreign spy."
Kakashi's eyes went wide.
"That's insane!"
A spy?
What a joke!
During the battle in the Land of Frost, if Mei hadn't held off Killer Bee, the entire Konoha command post would have been massacred — and both Ino and Kushina, who'd played critical roles, would have been killed!
After that, against the Eight-Tails, against Kakuzu — Mei had made enormous contributions!
If she was a spy, then please — send more like her!
"How is she now?"
Thinking of that woman in blue, Kakashi's mind raced.
"She's fine. Didn't resist. She's cooperating fully and is being held in the Interrogation Division."
"Because of her war record, the interrogators haven't dared use any coercive methods on her."
Jiraiya gestured for Kakashi to stay calm, then continued.
"It's not just Mei. Ino Yamanaka also received a visit from the Interrogation Division."
"They claimed the girl had been implanted with a puppet technique by hostile forces and needed to be detained. Even Inoichi himself wasn't spared."
Jiraiya's words made Kakashi's fists clench.
This was absurd.
Ino was one thing, but Inoichi?
A veteran jōnin who'd mastered the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques — and the head of the Yamanaka clan himself!
The idea that he'd been implanted with a puppet technique by the enemy was laughable.
"They even showed up at the Senju compound trying to arrest Kushina. But since Kushina's not in the village right now, Tsunade threw every last one of them out."
At the mention of Tsunade, Jiraiya couldn't help a wry smile.
"Even Kushina..."
The picture was now perfectly clear to Kakashi.
Danzō was purging dissidents.
"He doesn't dare move against Tsunade or me yet. But it should be our turn any—"
Knock knock knock.
Before Jiraiya could finish, someone rapped on the door.
Without waiting for permission, the door was shoved open by force.
Three operatives in ANBU-style uniforms with striped masks — Root members — appeared before them.
"Hatake Kakashi — you are suspected of being implanted with a puppet technique by an unknown hostile force. You are required to come with us immediately."
"Here is the detention notice."
Before either Jiraiya or Kakashi could speak, the Root operative produced a document bearing the Interrogation Division's stamp of approval.
"What a joke."
Kakashi murmured, then quietly rose to his feet.
He chose not to resist. Right now, the charges were fabricated. If he actually fought back, the fabrication would become "real."
Jiraiya watched in silence, then drained the cup of sake before him in one swallow.
He hated this. Hated everything about it.
And it wasn't just Kakashi and Mei's group. Even the surveillance detail around Naruto's home had doubled.
Jiraiya and Tsunade were being left alone for now because of their personal influence — but Jiraiya knew it was only a matter of time.
He stood, pulled a bill from his pocket, laid it on the table, and walked out.
He hated this kind of thing. But that didn't mean he'd sit around waiting for the axe to fall.
Suppressing dissent. Detaining the innocent. Anyone with even the slightest connection to Sakura — except for Jiraiya and Tsunade — had received a visit from Root.
Danzō was clearly determined to leave nothing to chance before assuming the Fifth Hokage title.
Hokage... Is the Hokage title really that alluring?
Jiraiya shook his head. He needed to find Tsunade.
The old man couldn't take any more shocks. Only Tsunade — granddaughter of the First Hokage — had the standing to counter Danzō.
Senju Compound
Warm emerald light radiated from her hands as Tsunade treated Hiruzen's body, with Shizune quietly assisting beside her.
"Honestly — at your age, what are you doing getting this worked up?"
Tsunade scolded Hiruzen even as her medical ninjutsu continued without pause.
Hiruzen said nothing.
The Daimyo had personally named Danzō as Hokage. Everything Hiruzen had worked toward now felt like a cruel joke.
And Sakura had left the village with Kushina and Sasuke, leaving him utterly at a loss.
He didn't know what Sakura was planning. But he knew Sakura.
She was absolutely not the type to take a hit lying down.
"Any word on Sakura?"
Hiruzen asked.
"No."
Tsunade answered bluntly.
Unlike Hiruzen, Tsunade was far more interested in seeing how Sakura would handle Danzō.
"Hah..."
Hiruzen had lost count of how many times he'd sighed.
He should have taken Danzō down the moment the man's forces were routed. Then none of this would have happened.
"Relax. Sakura isn't the reckless type. She'll find a way."
Tsunade patted Hiruzen's shoulder, then signaled to the people waiting outside that they could enter.
Hiruzen looked at Tsunade with a conflicted expression.
Yes, Sakura wasn't reckless. But relax?
How was he supposed to relax?
"How are you feeling, Hiruzen?"
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane walked in, looking at the bedridden old man with concern.
"I'm fine. The priority right now is finding Sakura."
Hiruzen shook his head.
At that, both Homura and Koharu sighed helplessly.
Danzō's moves had caught them completely off guard.
They hadn't even dared tell Hiruzen about Danzō's mass purges, for fear of triggering another blood-spitting episode.
"All we can do now is wait for Sakura to return."
"She's always been steady and deliberate. Try not to worry, Hiruzen."
Homura could only offer consolation.
Truthfully, if Danzō had simply staged a naked coup, Hiruzen could have ended it even from his sickbed.
One quiet word — Shimura is a traitor; all Konoha shinobi are to execute him on sight — and countless ninja would have fallen on Danzō as one. Ten lives wouldn't have been enough.
But Danzō had the Daimyo's Hokage decree.
A legitimate, officially sanctioned Hokage decree. It gave Danzō's actions the force of law.
The moment the Daimyo's seal had been stamped on that document, Hiruzen had ceased to be Hokage.
The current Hokage was Shimura Danzō.
An inauguration ceremony wasn't what made someone Hokage — the ceremony was merely a public announcement. The decree was what counted.
But given this situation, how could Sakura possibly break through...
Homura found his thoughts drifting to the pink-haired girl who'd walked out that door.
Those eyes of hers — not a shred of respect for the Daimyo.
If she had actually...
Homura's mind spun into chaos. He wanted to discuss it with Hiruzen, but then he remembered the mouthful of blood the old man had coughed up — and swallowed the words.
The next day.
Clear skies, bright sun. The whole of Konoha was decorated with lanterns and banners. The sound of ceremonial cannons echoed endlessly overhead.
Today was the new Hokage's inauguration. Every villager had gathered voluntarily in front of the Hokage Building, packing the area to capacity.
Shimura Danzō stood atop the Hokage Building's rooftop terrace in high spirits, the Hokage's hat upon his head, gazing down at the sea of people stretching as far as the eye could see.
At last...
At LAST!
This day has finally come!
He hadn't been able to find Pinky anywhere despite turning Konoha upside down, which left a small knot of unease in his chest.
But it no longer mattered.
The game was decided.
As far as Danzō was concerned, God himself could descend and it wouldn't change a thing.
"In the sixty-fourth year of Konoha..."
His gaze swept the crowd, searching for Hiruzen's figure. He didn't find that familiar shadow.
A small pang of regret.
Hiruzen...
If not for the Hokage title, we'd probably have been the closest of friends for life.
But this isn't my fault.
Blame the world, if you must.
Only I have the right to lead Konoha. Only I can bring Konoha to the heights of glory it deserves!
Watch me in these final moments, Hiruzen.
Konoha will flourish under my hand!
"With the Third Hokage gravely ill, I, Shimura Danzō, now assume the mantle of Fifth Hokage."
"I shall lead Konoha back to the glory of the First Hokage's era!"
"I shall—"
"What about Sakura?"
As the crowd listened in silence to Danzō's inaugural address, an ill-timed voice rang out.
Danzō frowned with displeasure.
But with all eyes on him, he couldn't afford to lash out.
"Haruno Sakura is still too young. She is not yet qualified for the Hokage title."
He narrowed his eyes at the voice in the crowd.
Inuzuka...
Kiba opened his mouth to say more, but a hand clamped firmly over it.
He looked over irritably — and found his sister glaring at him with sharp, warning eyes.
Tch...
Kiba clicked his tongue.
"This old man carries on the will of the First and Second Hokage..."
With Kiba silenced, Danzō's speech continued.
"...Through countless trials, I have turned the tide and saved Konoha from the brink of disaster."
"And thus—"
Down in the crowd, Naruto stared blankly up at the old man on the rooftop terrace, utterly confused.
Wasn't Sakura supposed to be the Fifth Hokage?
Why is some decrepit old geezer up there instead?
That guy looks weak as hell. If someone like THAT can be Hokage, then so can I!
Naruto scratched his head and scanned the crowd for Sakura.
She wasn't there.
At a time like this, Sakura wasn't here?
Then where was she?
And it wasn't just Sakura — Kakashi-sensei, Ino, none of them were here either.
Even Grandpa Third was missing...
Konoha Main Gate
"Finally. Hopefully we're not too late."
Sakura looked at the familiar gate ahead and allowed herself a small sigh.
She could have moved faster, but having to accommodate Musashi — a civilian — had forced her to slow down.
"Is this the place?"
Musashi gazed at the unfamiliar village of Konoha with wide, curious eyes.
This is where he'd be living from now on?
"Yeah."
Sakura looked up at the gate and nodded.
"Sakura?!"
Kotetsu Hagane, manning the gate as always, nearly fell over at the sight of the pink-haired girl.
"What's wrong?"
Sakura looked at the ever-dutiful gatekeeper with mild confusion.
Kotetsu rushed forward and quickly briefed Sakura on everything that had happened in Konoha over the past two days.
As a reasonably capable chūnin, Kotetsu knew about Danzō's inauguration today and that people had been searching for Sakura. But the business with Mei, Kakashi, and the others was above his pay grade.
"I see..."
Sakura rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Isn't this perfect timing? Take him down in front of everyone."
Hikaru spoke up dismissively from beside her.
None of this was really her concern. But wherever Sasuke went, she went.
A full-time personal bodyguard, through and through.
Which was how she'd gotten dragged into this mess.
Sakura didn't disagree with Hikaru's assessment. She simply led the group into Konoha with a calm expression.
The streets were completely deserted. Not a single pedestrian in sight.
Everyone had gone to attend the new Hokage's inauguration.
As they passed a certain corner, Sakura glanced in a particular direction.
"Your parents and little Mirai are all home."
"But there are quite a few people surveilling them."
Kushina spoke quietly.
"Mm."
Sakura nodded, then led the group onward toward the Hokage Building.
Up on the rooftop terrace, Danzō's speech was finally winding down.
"Today — this old man, direct student of the Second Hokage—"
"Fellow student of the Third Hokage—"
"Assumes the mantle of Fifth Hokage!"
"Konoha shall reach even greater heights because of me!"
"If anyone has questions, speak now!"
"This old man shall answer each and every one, holding nothing back!"
The moment Danzō's words fell, a voice immediately rose.
"Where's Sakura?"
And who else could it be but Naruto?
"This old man does not know Haruno Sakura's whereabouts. That matter is unrelated to the Hokage succession."
Danzō responded at a leisurely pace.
"Then I have a question."
"Can someone who once tried to assassinate the Third Hokage — and who used genjutsu to manipulate the Daimyo — really ascend to the position of Fifth Hokage?"
A voice — completely out of place — detonated in the crowd like a thunderclap.
"And furthermore—"
Each word carried intelligence so explosive it could stun a person senseless. The crowd instinctively parted around the source of the voice, revealing the speaker.
Pink hair flying, the girl who'd vanished for two days stood before everyone once more.
"Compared to a traitor like you — I..."
"...am the real Hokage."
The entire assembly went blank.
The man atop the Hokage Building called himself Hokage. The girl standing before the crowd also called herself Hokage.
Danzō's gaze and Sakura's collided in midair.
In that moment, every eye was on them both — and no one knew what to do.
The real Hokage and the false?
Which was real? Which was false?
☆☆☆
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