The Hokage inauguration ceremony had always been a grand event for Konoha.
Regardless of how the streets were flooded with people during Hashirama's inauguration, or how everyone was full of joy during Tobirama's appointment, even when Hiruzen became Hokage, despite it happening not long after Tobirama's death, the ceremony was still held with great formality.
This wasn't just for show, it genuinely played a role in uniting and stabilizing public sentiment.
But Danzō's Hokage inauguration… could only be described as utterly shabby.
Although the announcement was issued a day in advance, when the time for the ceremony came, the area in front of the Hokage Building was nearly deserted.
Aside from his own clan and subordinates, as well as the family and followers of Homura, not a single soul from the rest of Konoha came to attend and witness the event.
Faced with this situation, he was fuming with rage.
The longer it went on, the darker his expression became.
Just because I declared myself Hokage, I'm suddenly not the real Hokage?
What a bunch of insolent peasants!
Once I officially become Hokage, I'll have all the time in the world to deal with each of you. None of you will have it easy then.
Even with thoughts like that, the Hokage inauguration was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for any Hokage, a day of great significance. And such a scene was truly awkward and painful.
It meant that even if Danzō eventually stabilized his position, in many people's eyes, he would always be a joke. This was a massive blow to his authority.
Forget others, even Danzō himself felt his own inauguration was a joke. He was the joke.
But the arrow was already on the bowstring, there was no turning back. If he canceled or postponed the ceremony now, he would go from being a joke to being a disgrace.
"Danzō, ten minutes left," Homura reminded him from the side.
Danzō shot him a sideways glance, his expression extremely sour.
Do I need you to remind me?
But after forcefully suppressing his anger, Danzō still nodded in response. His claim to power was illegitimate, he relied entirely on Homura to falsify testimony and back him up.
Though no one else came, Homura had brought people to show support.
If Danzō fell out with him now, and Homura stopped backing, or even sabotaged, him, Danzō would go from being the laughingstock of Konoha to the laughingstock of the entire shinobi world.
But still… I hate this!
Danzō was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Becoming Hokage was his lifelong obsession, a dream he'd had even in his sleep.
Why was it so easy for Hiruzen to become Hokage, and why was his ceremony so grand?
What does he have that I don't?
Tobirama-sensei, were you blind? Could you really not see who was better suited to be Hokage?
No. Calm down!
He forced himself to settle.
Even if no one supported him, even if he was putting on a show for himself, even if it was laughable, he still had to hold his head high. He couldn't allow himself to treat this like a joke.
All beginnings were hard.
Once he officially became Hokage, he would have plenty of time to prove himself.
"Time's up," Homura quietly reminded him.
Taking a deep breath, Danzō stepped onto the platform and began delivering his inauguration speech to an empty space below.
Once he came to terms with this, he got into the rhythm, giving an emotional and expressive speech to thin air. At one point, he even pretended someone was listening, interacting with the empty space. Anyone watching might have thought he'd lost his mind.
Standing to the side, Homura felt so awkward he nearly scratched a hole into the floor of the Hokage Building.
Yes, I told you to act confident and dignified, to carry the bearing of a Hokage.
But I never told you to pretend there were actually people watching!
Although the villagers didn't come to witness the ceremony, quite a few were watching from afar, laughing at your spectacle. I...
Sigh, forget it.
Honestly, I understand you. Your obsession with becoming Hokage is just like my obsession with Koharu. Do as you wish.
After Danzō finished his impassioned speech, his whole demeanor changed. He looked as if he truly believed he was being welcomed and celebrated by everyone, smiling, full of energy.
At that moment, a guard beside him quickly stepped forward with a tray, approaching him.
On the tray were the Hokage's cloak and ceremonial hat.
As soon as he donned the hat and robe and made the official oath, Danzō would become the Fourth Hokage.
Even if just for a single day, his name would be recorded in the history books. His face would be carved into the Hokage Rock.
At last... his dream fulfilled.
Danzō's hand trembled as he reached for the hat.
The world mocked me, despised me... I never cared. I've waited all these years not to prove how great I am, but to show everyone that what belongs to me... I will take back.
Hokage... Oh, Hokage!
Hahaha! I am the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, no one can deny it!
Just as he was about to put the hat on, and as it began to shade his face, the guard before him suddenly moved his right hand, the one beneath the tray. His movement was so fast Danzō had no time to react. And then, a kunai pierced directly through his heart, swift as lightning.
It was a scene eerily reminiscent of Hiruzen's assassination days earlier.
The only difference: Hiruzen was stabbed from behind, Danzō, from the front. So, it also mirrored how Koharu was killed.
In that instant, the figure posing as Danzō's guard suddenly released a puff of smoke and transformed into a middle-aged man.
It was Hiruzen.
"Th-this... isn't possible..." Danzō stared at the familiar, murderously cold face, utter disbelief written across his own.
He had suspected Hiruzen might not be dead.
After all, he knew just how powerful Hiruzen truly was. The circumstances of his death were far too suspicious. His body had been taken away without allowing anyone to examine it.
But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that just as he was about to realize his lifelong dream, bask in his ultimate glory, Hiruzen would reappear and deliver the killing blow.
If it were just death, he wouldn't have been that afraid.
Everyone dies eventually. Even Hashirama, couldn't escape death.
But why now? Why at this exact moment?
I... I was just about to become Hokage. Only one minute away!
I was about to be immortalized, my face carved into Hokage Rock for all to see.
Why now?
Hahahaha...!
To die one minute before becoming the Fourth Hokage, what would people say about me?
A ridiculous schemer?
A shameful traitor?
An eternal disgrace in Konoha's history?
And why... why was it you?
Hiruzen... why was it you?! Why aren't you dead?!
Danzō looked down at the kunai buried in his chest. Coughing blood, he lifted his head and glared fiercely at Hiruzen one last time.
With trembling hands, he placed the Hokage hat on his head. Using the last ounce of his strength, he gritted out the words between clenched teeth:
"I... cough cough... I... I am the Hokage..."
And with that, Danzō fell stiffly backward.
Everyone present was completely stunned by the scene, but it had all happened too fast for anyone to stop it.
By the time they reacted, Danzō was already dead.
---
---
Completed at Chapter 278!