Ten days later.
Inside the brand-new Hokage Building.
Constructed specifically for the inauguration of the Fifth Hokage, the new Hokage Building rose five stories high. The first floor, much like the old one, was still designated for the mission department.
On the second floor were the Finance and Human Resources departments of Konoha. These were currently overseen by Nara Shikaku, who managed both sectors. Matters typically passed through his hands before being submitted to Kaede for final approval and signature.
The third floor housed the central surveillance room of Konoha. Here, a vast network of monitors displayed feeds from hidden surveillance points scattered across the village. The shinobi stationed here reported directly to the Hokage and remained on high alert, ready to notify the Konoha Military Police at the first sign of trouble.
The fourth floor was the Hokage's office and the most heavily guarded area of the building. Two Uchiha and two Hyuga shinobi were permanently stationed here, keeping watch around the clock. This floor also safeguarded critical items such as the Scroll of Seals.
At the top,
The fifth floor was Kaede's personal residence, the official living quarters of the Fifth Hokage.
As a private space, this level was not covered by any surveillance. It was constructed with the highest-grade soundproof materials and enveloped in a barrier that even the Uchiha and Hyuga clans would find difficult to penetrate.
In truth, the building had more than five levels. Two underground floors, B1 and B2, had been constructed as auxiliary spaces, though they hadn't been activated yet.
Additionally,
The first floor had no direct connection to the underground levels. The only access point to B1 and B2 was hidden within a specific office on the fourth floor.
This mirrored the layout of the former Anbu facilities. Though Kaede had dissolved the Anbu, after some thought, he decided to retain the original infrastructure.
Leaving some underground space open always proved useful.
At that moment, on the fifth floor of the Hokage Building, inside a spacious room, Kaede stood before a tall, full-length mirror. Draped over his shoulders was a brand-new white Hokage cloak, embroidered with the words "Fifth Hokage."
Behind him, Nohara Rin was gently touching up his silver hair with meticulous care, while Yuhi Kurenai sat to the side, making final adjustments to his facial makeup.
"That should do it."
"It's just an inauguration ceremony, not a wedding," Kaede said with a slightly helpless look as he glanced at the time. "We're about to start."
"Still, you can't be careless about it."
Rin smiled sweetly, then tied the Konoha forehead protector around Kaede's head and adjusted it carefully. Stepping back two paces, she said, "All done."
Kurenai also set her tools down.
Kaede stood up and turned once in front of the mirror. Looking at his reflection, he showed a hint of satisfaction.
Rin and Kurenai both found themselves momentarily dazed as they looked at Kaede in his Hokage robe. His presence at that moment was overwhelmingly magnetic.
His body had matured to that of a twenty-year-old. Thanks to his mastery of the Sage Body, the slightly bronzed skin tone from his intense Lightning Release training had reverted to a smooth, fair complexion.
Under the effects of the Sage Body, every strand of his silver-white hair seemed to pulse with life. Coupled with the symbolic Hokage robe, Kaede stood there like a living magnet, completely captivating both Rin and Kurenai, rendering them unable to look away.
Just then, an untimely voice broke the moment.
"Hey, it's about to start! Are you still not ready? Big bro, don't tell me you're doing something else in there… at least pick the right time and place!"
Kakashi's voice came from just outside the door. He stood with arms folded, peering into the room as he spoke with mock suspicion.
His comment instantly snapped Rin and Kurenai out of their daze. Both of their faces flushed red.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Kakashi?!"
"Shut up, Kakashi! We're done already!"
The two shouted in unison toward the door.
Kaede let out a sigh.
Looks like it's time to confiscate all those trashy novels from Kakashi's room. What is that kid thinking about all the time?
He opened the door and stepped out, giving Kakashi a side glance.
"After the ceremony, I'll have Shikaku do a sweep of your room to check for any prohibited books. If anything's found, it'll be handled according to the regulations for minors."
Kakashi opened his mouth, then realized what Kaede meant and instantly turned to rush back to his room.
But before he could take a single step, Kaede's hand was already on his shoulder.
"Didn't you just say the ceremony's about to start? Let's go."
Kakashi tried to resist but found he couldn't break free from Kaede's grip. All hope abandoned him, and he became a limp, defeated fish.
Resigned to his fate, Kakashi followed Kaede out of the Hokage Building and toward the square in Konoha where the inauguration ceremony was already prepared.
"Oh, Kaede-sama. Perfect timing."
Nara Shikaku approached from the back.
Kaede gave him a slight nod and stepped forward. Under the gaze of nearly every shinobi in the village, he walked steadily toward the stage.
"Look!"
"Kaede-sama is here!"
"From now on, call him Hokage-sama, idiot!"
"This… this is youth!!"
Inuzuka Kenkiba, Guy, and others from Kaede's former class stared as he ascended the stage wearing the Hokage robe under countless admiring eyes. Their faces revealed a mix of emotions.
The older shinobi, or those who hadn't interacted with Kaede much, looked at him with a different kind of respect, a quiet reverence born of awe.
They admired Kaede's strength. They respected his achievements.
Though he was reportedly only fifteen, in an era where children were sent to the battlefield at a young age, many shinobi were already seasoned by fifteen. His youth wasn't a weakness, it was a strength. The immense power he had displayed before only made his age seem more extraordinary, more worthy of trust.
Such a young, powerful Hokage!
Of course,
Most of the older shinobi remained silent out of respect. The ones truly overwhelmed with excitement were the younger girls, his former classmates or others close to his age.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Hokage-sama!!"
Cries erupted from every corner of the crowd, filling the square with electric energy.
Even Rin and Kurenai, who knew him so well and interacted with him daily, had struggled to resist Kaede's appearance in his Hokage cloak. For everyone else, it was even more hopeless.
At this moment, the atmosphere mirrored that of Kaede's school days, except now, the scale had expanded from a single classroom to the entire village.
Kaede suddenly realized,
Being too handsome might actually be a problem.
At least, the smoldering stares from the crowd, like they wanted to eat him alive, suggested his future might be filled with quite a few… complications.
But no matter what, after everything he had gone through to reach this point, this was only the beginning.
From this day forward, he was the Hokage of Konoha.
And for Kaede, becoming Hokage was just the start.
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