The inauguration ceremony didn't last long. Given the age and less-than-healthy condition of the Fifth Hokage, Nara Shikaku and the event planners ensured the ceremony wasn't overly simplified but shortened as much as possible. It cost them a lot of brain cells—and even some hair!
However, the effort was worth it.
The Fifth Hokage's inauguration concluded successfully, with everything proceeding smoothly, without a hitch.
Akimichi Torifu finally removed the "acting" title and officially became the Fifth Hokage, the legitimate leader of the village.
Konoha celebrated the entire day. While, at first, about 80% of the attendees were representatives sent by various clans, as the atmosphere grew, the average villagers also forgot the oppressive feeling brought by the war and joined the festivities.
The taverns were packed. Latecomers had to stand and drink, and small groups of drunkards could be seen everywhere in the streets. Fights broke out frequently, keeping the police force busier than ever. The number of officers on duty was insufficient, so Sougen had to call another unit to work overtime just to maintain order in the village.
The temporary jail at the police department was full of fools who got into drunken fights, and the hospital saw nearly a hundred unlucky people who got beaten up!
The next day…
Akimichi Torifu, as usual, left on time, protected by the ANBU as he made his way to the Hokage office. Along the way, the staff greeted him, and he responded in turn. Everything seemed just as before—except…
When Torifu entered his office and sat in his custom-made chair, his eyes fell on the Hokage's hat on the desk. Waves of emotions welled up in him. He couldn't describe the complexity of his feelings, and finally, it all turned into a long sigh.
The twists and turns of life are truly unpredictable!
Once, he never imagined he'd see this day. He thought the dream he had long given up on was impossible. Of course, there was excitement, but after that initial joy and pride came the heavy weight of responsibility.
"Shikaku, has the unit gathered?"
"The thousand men promised to Lord Jiraiya are ready, but there's still a significant shortage of personnel from the Uchiha clan. The Sarutobi, Shimura, and Mitokado families no longer have soldiers of the right age. If we press them any further, they'll be wiped out from the village entirely."
"Hmm…"
Torifu pondered.
"First, make sure Jiraiya has all the personnel and supplies he needs. He needs to leave as soon as possible. We can't let the Iwa and Kumo ninja catch us off guard. The defense lines on the northwest border must hold. By the way, according to the plan, we still need a negotiator. Have you found anyone?"
According to the strategy developed by Nara Shikaku and the others, defeating the Iwa ninja wasn't the ultimate goal—it was just a prelude. The full plan involved defeating Iwa and then forming an alliance with them to attack Kumo together.
"I was planning to go myself… but I don't think you'd agree to that."
"Don't even think about it."
Torifu shook his head decisively.
At his age, he couldn't manage the mountain of daily duties without Nara Shikaku's help. While the Nara clan had many smart people, not just Shikaku, his authority as clan leader needed to be maintained—just like how the Uchiha clan head always leads the police force. Not just anyone could replace Shikaku. It wasn't just about capability; there were many factors to consider!
"In that case, we'll have to send Suzaku," Shikaku sighed with regret. He would've loved to take on such a challenging task himself.
Unfortunately, as a clan leader, a father, and an advisor to the Hokage, Shikaku had responsibilities that limited his actions.
"Nara Suzaku?"
Torifu recalled the details. Suzaku was one of the top talents in the Nara clan, with both wisdom and skill. He had recently returned from a mission with Uchiha Sougen to handle the Mist ninja.
"Then it's decided. Let him assist Jiraiya."
"I'll inform Suzaku."
Shikaku nodded in agreement.
"As for Uchiha Sougen… how big is the manpower gap?" They had agreed that Jiraiya would lead troops north to face Iwa, while Sougen would support Hyuga Hiashi in confronting Kumo. However, the 2,000 Mist ninja under Sougen had been reassigned to Jiraiya, so they couldn't let Sougen face Kumo alone.
Compared to the opportunistic Iwa, the biggest threat was the Fourth Raikage leading the Kumo ninja, with their two Jinchuriki. The upper ranks were already weaker than Kumo's, and now they didn't even have enough soldiers.
"As per the original plan, Uchiha's troops were to head north with 2,000 Mist ninja, but now that they've been reassigned to Jiraiya, the village needs to fill a gap of 2,000. So far, we've only secured around 800."
"Not even half?"
Torifu furrowed his brows and rubbed his temples in frustration. "Eight hundred… that's way too few. Shikaku, how much manpower can we still draw from our three clans? Be honest with me."
Shikaku hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly answered, "Without draining our strength, we can muster about 300 more. If we push to the limit, we could get close to 700, including elderly over fifty and children over eight."
"Is that so…"
Torifu relaxed his brow slightly. "Then I assume the other clans are in a similar situation?"
"Hokage-sama, there are only a few clans comparable to ours: Uchiha, Hyuga, and Aburame. While our clans aren't as famous, we're certainly not any weaker in terms of overall strength."
"But we have no other options, right? The Eastern Border Guard is already a shell. The Western Border Guard has to keep an eye on Suna and can't be moved. And as you said, the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Mitokado clans are stretched to the limit… What else can we do?"
Shikaku had no reply.
As the Hokage said, there were no other options. If there were, they wouldn't have only managed to gather 800 men. This was the only path, and they had no choice but to push forward.
After all, Kumo wouldn't wait!
Being Hokage wasn't just about power—it also came with responsibility!
"Shikaku, gather everyone for a meeting."
"A meeting?"
"I have some things to discuss. Get the department heads and clan leaders together. If a leader can't attend, have a capable elder step in. And don't forget Jiraiya—tell him this meeting will conclude with him leading the troops north."
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
Shikaku nodded in acknowledgment.
——
It was just past nine in the morning, and the streets were sparsely populated. Today was a day off, and after the entire village had celebrated the Fifth Hokage's inauguration the day before, most people were taking the opportunity to sleep in. The timing of the ceremony had been carefully planned!
"Ah~~~!"
Kurama Tomoyuki yawned.
"So tired!"
He wiped away the tears from the corner of his eye and found an uncleaned eye booger. A heavy sense of sleepiness hung over him, clearly showing that the clan leader of the Kurama family had enjoyed himself last night. He and his younger brother, Kurama Yunhai, drank their way through six different places. Honestly, he could barely walk straight now.
He couldn't help but feel a bit envious of his brother, who didn't have to wake up so early.
"Why can't the Hokage hold meetings at noon? So sleepy!" Kurama Sōun complained quietly, cursing the Hokage's work enthusiasm while quickening his pace. After all, this was the Hokage's first official meeting since taking office, and he couldn't afford to be late.
"...Sōun-kun?"
Passing through an alleyway, Sōun bumped into Sougen.
"Ah, Sōun-senpai, you're here too!"
"Yeah, the Hokage sent for me. I couldn't avoid coming," Sōun replied, stifling another yawn.
"Sōun-senpai, how much did you drink last night?" Sougen asked with a chuckle, watching Sōun stretch his mouth wide in a yawn.
"I don't remember. I just recall Yunhai and I hitting six places, and by the time we got home, it was after 5 a.m. I barely lay down for three hours before someone from the Hokage's office came saying there was a meeting... I'm honestly worried I might fall asleep during it."
"Too bad you're still not old enough to drink, Sougen-kun. Otherwise, we could've celebrated together." Sōun sighed regretfully, clicking his tongue.
"You seem to be in a great mood, Sōun-senpai!"
"Well, of course! Senior Torifu is officially taking over as the Fifth Hokage... Now there's no need to worry about someone trying to restore the Third Hokage's power. Ah! I shouldn't say that out loud... It's a good thing it's just you, Sougen-kun," Sōun cautioned himself, patting his head, though his joy was clear, overflowing from his eyes and brows.
In the village, many hoped that Torifu from the Akimichi clan would move from interim to full-time Hokage. These people, however, had different concerns than Sougen. While Sougen had his sights on becoming the Sixth Hokage, others were afraid of retribution for their involvement in toppling the Third Hokage's regime.
Back when many clans helped overthrow the Third Hokage, they didn't object to Sougen's suggestions of appointing Jiraiya or Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage because it meant the Uchiha wouldn't seize power. However, after Torifu served as interim Hokage for some time, many clans began to think he was doing a fine job. They started worrying that if Jiraiya or Tsunade took over, they might seek vengeance for the Third Hokage. While big clans like the Uchiha, Hyūga, and Aburame weren't too concerned, smaller clans like the Shiranui, Kamizuki, Yamashiro, and Moonlight had more to lose.
Thus, when Sougen proposed making Torifu the official Hokage, Sōun and the leaders of those mid-sized clans that had once backed the coup readily supported him again, pushing Torifu onto the throne, even if he was reluctant.
"Don't worry, Sōun-senpai. The past is in the past. No one will reopen old wounds, and I won't allow anyone to twist the truth," Sougen said firmly.
Sōun blinked, shaking his still-dazed head. It felt like a flash of inspiration had struck him, but the lingering drunkenness and sleepiness quickly snuffed it out.
Muttering, "That's good, that's good," he and Sougen turned a corner, joining a group of equally hungover clan leaders and department heads. After some polite greetings, the two groups merged and headed to the Hokage's building for the meeting.
Many, like Sōun, were still foggy from the night before, so they detoured to the restroom first to splash cold water on their faces before entering the meeting room. As soon as they sat down, hot, bitter tea was brought to them—tea so strong it made them grimace, but it did the job of waking them up.
In an instant, the large meeting room was filled with groaning, at least half the attendees wearing pained expressions.
But there was no denying the tea's effectiveness in sobering them up.
After the cold water and bitter tea, the remaining drowsiness was chased away, and they were temporarily alert.
"Ahem."
Torifu cleared his throat, surveying the packed meeting room before speaking. "Looks like everyone's here. Since we're all gathered, let's get down to business. The first matter concerns the Uchiha clan leader's victory over the Mist ninjas. Previously, because I was only acting as interim Hokage, I decided to hold off on rewarding those achievements until the Fifth Hokage was officially in place. Well, now the time has come."
The room fell silent.
Many of the mid-sized clan leaders discreetly glanced at Sougen, seated to Torifu's left. However, Sougen's face remained relaxed, with a smile that made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
What was Sougen thinking?
He was merely curious about how Torifu would reward him. Though he'd been a bit annoyed the Uchiha were excluded from yesterday's festivities, he was in a good mood overall. After all, he had successfully secured Torifu's rise to Hokage, clearing his path to vie for the position of the Sixth Hokage.
"The Uchiha clan leader's many merits in the battle against the Mist will not be listed one by one here. If anyone is interested, feel free to ask him directly," Torifu's cheerful tone hinted that he planned to reward Sougen handsomely.
The Hokage turned to Sougen, speaking warmly. "Sougen-kun, you're now the youngest Hokage assistant in the village's history!"
Hokage assistant?
Sougen blinked, momentarily caught off guard as he looked at the smiling Torifu. Being named Hokage assistant... That was the second-highest position in the village. When Sarutobi Hiruzen had been Hokage, the assistant was none other than Danzo Shimura.
It was a role reserved only for those whom the Hokage completely trusted.
Even Sougen hadn't anticipated Torifu giving him such a role. As the second-in-command of the village, the Hokage assistant wasn't a mere title; removing someone from that position wasn't easy without just cause.
Although Danzo had been removed multiple times, it was largely because he had taken the fall for Hiruzen's missteps. Sougen hadn't expected to be offered such a critical role, but he quickly composed himself.
"For the village, I'll do everything I can! I won't betray the Hokage's trust!" Sougen accepted the position without hesitation.
Though surprised by Torifu's generosity, Sougen didn't feel his achievements were undeserving of such a reward. If Torifu was bold enough to offer, Sougen was confident enough to accept, knowing there was no need to worry about ulterior motives. As long as Torifu wasn't planning on starting a civil war within the village, he had no reason to go against Sougen.
Even if Torifu did harbor ill intentions, Sougen wasn't afraid. In this world where individual strength reigns supreme, he feared nothing, whether open confrontation or hidden schemes.
Thus, under the witness of the clan leaders and department heads, Sougen officially became the Hokage's assistant, in addition to his roles as Uchiha clan leader and head of the police force.
"Now, onto the second matter," Torifu continued after the room had settled. "I believe many of you have already heard. Our spies in Iwagakure report that the Stone ninjas are preparing to attack. To counter this, we've decided, after discussions with the relevant departments, that Jiraiya will lead our forces to respond."
"Jiraiya, a thousand of our elite forces, plus two thousand Mist ninjas, are ready. You can depart once this meeting is over."
Seated diagonally across from Sougen, Jiraiya nodded solemnly. "Leave it to me. I won't let the Stone ninjas set foot on the Land of Fire."
Torifu nodded in response, his true focus elsewhere as he scanned the room, looking at the gathered clan leaders or their representatives.
"The Stone ninjas will be handled by Jiraiya, and based on our intelligence, there shouldn't be any immediate problems there. Our real issue lies in the Land of Hot Water. The Cloud ninjas are launching aggressive attacks. Despite sending two waves of reinforcements already, the Fourth Raikage is personally leading their forces, and both of their jinchūriki have entered the battlefield. The current strength of our forces there is insufficient to stop them. So... we need to send a third wave of reinforcements."
Hearing this, several sharp-minded clan leaders and elders began to look worried, already anticipating what Torifu would say next.
Sure enough, he continued,
"Uchiha clan leader Sougen will serve as the commander for the reinforcements.
However, the problem now lies in our lack of troops. Even the strongest can't fight four enemies at once, and we can't just send Chief Uchiha to the front by himself. I understand that each clan has already made significant contributions, but the situation is extremely dire. I hope everyone here can consider the bigger picture. If the village can't withstand the Cloud Ninja's attack... I don't need to explain what the consequences would be."
When Torifu finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent. No one spoke. The leaders of the smaller clans all looked troubled, clearly unwilling to contribute more of their strength.
It's not that they didn't understand the saying, "If the skin is gone, what will the hair attach to?" But many believed the situation on the frontlines might not be as bad as the Hokage claimed. After all, Chief Uchiha seemed calm and unbothered. If the situation on the frontlines had truly become critical, the Hokage would have sent Chief Uchiha already.
Of course, they knew the battle on the frontlines was difficult, especially since the Hyūga clan leader and Aburame clan leader had already gone to the front. Still, they were reluctant, feeling that the big clans like Uchiha and Hyūga hadn't fully stepped up yet. Why should they be the vanguard?
Seeing this, Torifu sighed silently and gave Nara Shikaku a look. Just as Shikaku was about to speak to set an example for everyone, someone spoke up first.
"Hokage-sama, give me just a thousand men, and that will be enough!"
It was Sōgen who spoke.
"A thousand men? Are you sure, Sōgen?" Torifu furrowed his brow. "According to intelligence from the frontlines, even if the Cloud Ninja don't have ten thousand troops, they're close. And our forces, including the Hot Springs Ninja, are less than five thousand. Taking only a thousand men... isn't that too risky?"
"Hokage-sama, please don't worry. Back in the days of the First Hokage, he often swept through his enemies single-handedly. While I might only have about a tenth of his power, I believe I'm more than enough to deal with the Cloud Ninja!"
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