Danzo's funeral was also the farewell ceremony for the Third Hokage. The ruler who had presided over Konoha through storm and shadow for decades was finally stepping down.
After Danzo was buried, Hiruzen sat down before Danzo's grave. It seemed he wanted to have a private conversation with him, so he waved everyone else away.
The members of Minato's team went to Minato's home to discuss the matter of the next Hokage. They talked until dusk fell, and then each went their separate ways.
Kakashi bought a lot of groceries and returned home. He prepared a large, delicious meal, sat beside a photo of the White Fang, removed his mask, and began to eat slowly, mouthful by mouthful.
While eating, Kakashi said, "Father, I really want to invite someone over to eat this meal with me, but unfortunately, she's far away in the Village Hidden in the Mist in the Land of Water."
"But now, the ninja world is peaceful. I think, someday, I'll have the chance."
"Your way of doing things was never wrong. It wasn't you who was wrong, it was this ninja world."
"Obito was right. The former ninja world and the former Konoha weren't big enough to hold the weight of your beliefs. But I believe the future ninja world will keep getting better."
"One day, people like you who sacrificed yourselves won't be trampled underfoot, they'll be lifted high by the people."
As he finished speaking, Kakashi felt his consciousness blur. He found himself in another space, where, in the distance, he saw his father's back.
His father turned his head to look at him, eyes filled with determination and kindness, a gentle smile on his lips.
He raised his hand and waved, as though saying farewell.
Then, he turned around again, and his figure slowly faded into the distance.
Kakashi wanted to run after him, to say something to his father, but suddenly he stopped. He just stood there, watching his father's back disappear.
The living shouldn't disturb the lives of the dead too much. Kakashi had once thought of reviving his father, but now he suddenly understood, his father's regrets had already been completely resolved.
He murmured, "Father, may your spirit rest in peace."
At that moment, the heavy burden that had always weighed on Kakashi's heart seemed to lift completely along with Sakumo Hatake's departure.
———
Meanwhile, Rin and Obito had returned to the Nohara home. Treated warmly by her parents, they enjoyed a delicious dinner.
Afterward, the two naturally stayed over at the Nohara house, sleeping in Rin's room.
The night passed quietly.
———
The next day, on the rooftop terrace of the Hokage Building, Minato stood neatly dressed, looking down at the crowd gathered below and waved his hand.
The people immediately erupted into loud, enthusiastic cheers.
Minato's eyes grew firm. Becoming Hokage had always been his dream. Now that it was about to come true, his heart was filled not only with excitement but also with a deep sense of responsibility.
He understood even better now why, in another ninja world, during the Nine-Tails' attack, he had chosen to sacrifice himself to save the village.
That act carried love for Kushina, but undeniably, it also carried love for Konoha.
At that moment, Kushina appeared, dressed smartly in uniform, holding the Hokage's ceremonial robe as she jogged toward him.
Seeing her, Minato turned and said with concern, "Be careful, what if you hurt Naruko?"
Kushina laughed, "I'm not that fragile! Besides, Naruko's really happy that her father's about to become Hokage."
After saying that, she unfolded the ceremonial robe, came to stand before Minato, and carefully draped it over his shoulders.
In that instant, the white cloak emblazoned with the words "Fourth Hokage" shone dazzlingly under the sunlight.
Then, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, slowly approached, a long smoking pipe in his mouth. He took a deep drag and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
He said with feeling, "At last, I can smoke anytime I want, without hiding during work. Minato, becoming Hokage, you have the people's full support. From now on, Konoha is in your hands."
With that, Hiruzen handed the Hokage's hat to Minato.
Minato reached out with both hands, solemnly accepted his own hat, and placed it on his head.
The crowd erupted once more in thunderous cheers.
In the crowd, Anko grabbed Kurenai's arm excitedly, "Kurenai-senpai! I can't believe it, Rin-senpai's teacher actually became Hokage! Just two years ago, the Yellow Flash wasn't even that famous!"
Kurenai smiled and nodded, then couldn't help but tease, "Well, at least now I won't have to listen to Asuma complain that his father bought the Hokage position with money."
Anko tilted her head, a bit embarrassed, "Oh no, Kurenai-senpai, I totally forgot Asuma's father was the Hokage! Please don't be upset."
Kurenai looked puzzled, "Upset? Why would I be upset? I'm actually quite happy! Now I don't have to listen to Asuma talk all day about how his father's the Hokage, whatever that means."
"Now that his father's no longer Hokage, maybe he'll grow up a little."
Seeing that Kurenai wasn't at all down about Asuma, Anko became cheerful again. She turned to Shisui, who stood beside her, and habitually reached out to pat his head.
"Shisui, do you want to become Hokage someday?", Shisui, long used to Anko's head-pats, didn't react much. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I want to protect the village. But... maybe there's someone more suited to be Hokage than me."
Anko blinked her big eyes, "Who?"
Shisui said, "My cousin, Itachi. Even though he's still very young, he's already so filial. Obito-senpai once told me: family is a small village, and Konoha is a big village. Only by first loving your small village can you truly love the big one."
Anko tilted her head, "Is that so? Then I guess I should love my mom and dad... and Orochimaru-sensei, and Kabuto, and my junior Yuki too?"
"Though... loving Orochimaru-sensei feels kinda weird."
She shuddered a bit, remembering how last time Orochimaru-sensei had actually made her snacks out of lab materials.
Shisui shook his head. Seeing Kurenai looking at Anko with a strange expression, he quickly took Anko's hand and explained, "Kurenai-senpai, Anko's always been this weird, she's just got a lively personality. Please don't mind her."
Kurenai smiled gently, her beautiful red eyes full of kindness as she looked at Anko, "Of course I don't mind. We're good friends, after all. Shisui, take good care of Anko for me, alright? Make sure she grows up happy, never abandon her."
Shisui froze, slightly offended, "Kurenai-senpai, how could I ever abandon Anko?"
Kurenai noticed Anko still stuffing snacks into her mouth and teased, "You never know! She's as skinny as a bean sprout now, but if she keeps eating like that, she might turn into a big, chubby girl someday. Will you still stay by her side then?"
Shisui shivered, glancing at Anko, who, used to such jokes, didn't mind at all and kept munching away.
He smiled faintly, "If Anko wants to eat, let her eat. Even if she turns into a big chubby girl, I wouldn't mind."
As he said this, a blush rose on both their faces.