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Skipping the Daimyo entirely – would the Daimyo have objections? Absolutely. But even with objections, he could only swallow them. After several years of dealing with Kazuki, the Daimyo knew his temperament all too well.
If Kazuki said you weren't getting involved, then you weren't getting involved. If you dared to interfere, he will chop off your meddling claws – and leave you with nowhere to even plead your case.
Treat Kazuki the way one treated the Third Hokage? Impossible. Besides, the Leaf Village was currently in a period of strength and ascendancy. Only a fool would go groveling and kissing up to the Daimyo at a time like this.
The Sixth Hokage had officially assumed office. On that very day, every clan in the Leaf Village received the news. Reactions varied. However, the one common thread was bewilderment, because the village hadn't even convened the Elder Council. In other words, Kazuki hadn't just skipped all the tedious procedures, sidelined the Daimyo, and ignored the council – he'd essentially said: I'm informing you all directly that I am already the Hokage. I'm not calling you to a meeting to tell you I'm going to be Hokage.
Upon receiving the news, the various clans each reacted differently: some were confused, some astonished, some wore pained expressions, and others cheered with joy. And Kazuki had truly accomplished it in a single step. Convene an election meeting? Nonexistent. Get lost and play with your toys. I don't have the time to waste on such nonsense.
"The Sixth Hokage has been selected?"
"It seems like there wasn't an election assembly... did I miss the time?"
"...You didn't miss it. There truly was no election assembly. The Sixth Hokage simply skipped it. After all, we're in extraordinary times." Shikaku was ever reliable. The public announcement clearly explained why Kazuki had bypassed so many steps to directly become Hokage.
Sitting on the Hokage's throne – it wasn't that he didn't want to follow procedure; rather, time and the current situation simply didn't allow it. The shinobi world was still steeped in chaos. The Sixth Hokage's assumption of office could only minimize the intermediate steps. After all the explanations, the villagers of the Leaf still found it somewhat preposterous, but ultimately, they could accept it. After all, the announcement had clarified everything: it wasn't unwillingness, but a lack of time and appropriateness to engage in such formalities.
The Hokage battle robe was completed the very next day. Kazuki directly changed into it. Yet he didn't even bother to step out onto the rooftop for a walk and a few words, remaining seated in the Hokage's office, dealing with official business as if he wasn't the one who had just become Hokage.
Isn't our Lord Hokage's ascension a bit too... perfunctory?
Don't look at me. I don't know either. If you've got the guts, go try persuading him.
After their recent time together, Kakashi's wariness toward Kisame had gradually eased. Though he still didn't entirely trust the man, at least he wasn't radiating hostility as he had initially. Now, the two of them stood outside the Hokage's office door, staring at each other, communicating with their eyes. Their roles had also been upgraded from Advisor's guards to Hokage's guards.
In just two short days, their positions had shifted from guarding an Advisor to guarding a Hokage. The change felt a bit too fast – so fast that Kakashi felt like he was dreaming. And that was just their own position changes.
What was truly absurd was that the man sitting in the Hokage's office had gone directly from Hokage's Advisor to Sixth Hokage, with absolutely no ceremony whatsoever. He simply wore the Hokage battle robe, announced to everyone that he was now Hokage, and then... that was it. Nothing more. The bizarre thing was, despite how ridiculous this was, almost no one found it problematic. Everyone seemed to accept the result, even if they'd been initially taken aback.
To put it in perspective, Kakashi had been present for the entirety of Minato's ascension to Hokage. Compared to Minato's endless troubles and countless procedures, Kazuki becoming Hokage was like child's play.
Tailor a Hokage battle robe, issue a public announcement, then wear the robe and sit in the Hokage's office.
Done!
Becoming Hokage was somehow easier than getting married. No, more accurately, it was even more effortless than arranging a casual hookup. Throw on the robe, and that was it. Not only Kakashi and Kisame – even Shisui and Itachi's minds were reeling. They had imagined all sorts of scenarios for Kazuki becoming Hokage. Their expectations had been built up so much that the sheer anticlimax left them figuratively throwing out their backs.
"Lord Hokage, the Kazekage and Mizukage request your presence in the conference room." With Kazuki's prompting, the peace talks between the Mist and Sand Villages had finally made progress – and at a blistering pace. Within two short days, they were on the verge of concluding. Kazuki hadn't participated in the negotiations for the past two days, simply lending them the conference room and letting the two villages hash things out themselves. And now, the negotiations had produced a result.
"I'll be right there." Kazuki exhaled, picked up the Hokage's seal, stamped the documents he had just reviewed, and rose to his feet, stretching with a huge, languid stretch. He made no effort whatsoever to maintain the image of a Hokage. Comfort came first. Itachi and Shisui lowered their heads, their faces taut, repeatedly telling themselves they saw nothing.
"Let's go." After loosening up, Kazuki led the way, heading straight for the second-floor conference room.
"It seems your discussions went well." Entering the conference room, Kazuki made his way toward the head seat. Those seated in the room watched the man striding confidently forward with peculiar expressions. Both Rasa and Mei Terumi had risen to their positions as Kazekage and Mizukage during extraordinary times, having squeezed out their competitors.
Even then, they had streamlined many troublesome procedures, though the essentials couldn't be skipped. They'd thought they were already the epitome of efficiency. Today, they discovered they were mere amateurs – not even qualified to stand beside Kazuki. Kazuki had shown them what true speed meant. Put on the Hokage battle robe, issue the announcement. Done. I'm Hokage now.
As Kazuki took his seat, Mei Terumi remarked with a smile, "Your village's method of electing a Hokage is indeed... unique."
"That's because I don't need pomp and circumstance to prop myself up, nor do I need to put on airs. I can sit in this position with perfect ease and hold it steady as a rock. Even the Daimyo can't make a single sound of protest," Kazuki shot back, glancing sidelong at Mei Terumi and shutting her down completely.
Unique? That's because I have the ability. Do you?
Without the Land of Water's Daimyo nodding his head, could you have become Mizukage? Without competing against others, without your clan and subordinates supporting you, could you have ascended? If you wanted to bypass all those troublesome procedures and do it in one step, how many people would approve? Do you possess the confidence and strength to do such a thing?
"Damn you..." Mei Terumi, who had only meant to tease, found herself thoroughly blasted. After briefly comparing herself to Kazuki, she couldn't help but curse out loud. Rasa remained as steady as a mountain. Having suffered too many losses, he had zero interest in stirring up trouble or butting heads with Kazuki. He was more than happy to watch Mei Terumi eat humble pie. At the same time, he silently congratulated himself for not acting recklessly, or the one getting their face slapped would have been him.