With the vote counting complete, ten voters handed their ballots to Tsunade.
At this moment, everyone's focus was razor-sharp; every heart pounded with suspense.
Nawaki and Minato, in particular, stared intently at the ten slips of paper.
Glancing calmly at Nawaki and Minato, Tsunade politely asked the twenty voters to step down from the stage before she began to speak.
"Now the results are in my hands."
"Do you want to know the answer?"
Tsunade suddenly raised her voice. From below the platform came a unified response: "Yes!"
"Then you'll have to wait a bit longer."
"I'm not exactly a math whiz."
"I need to tally it up first, haha~"
Tsunade clearly enjoyed messing with everyone like this, visibly delighted.
"Pfft~"
"I'm good at math."
"You can't tease people like that!"
"Hurry up already, our Hokage-sama."
The crowd erupted into loud grumbles of frustration at Tsunade's antics.
"Okay okay, I'll count it now, I'll count it now."
Caught off guard by the backlash, Tsunade hurriedly began tallying the votes on the ten slips.
When the result came out, she couldn't help but feel surprised.
She hadn't expected the votes to be this close—a single vote separated them.
Worried she might've miscounted, she double-checked several times before feeling certain.
Glancing briefly at Nawaki and Minato, Tsunade could only offer her regrets for whoever had lost.
But for her, it didn't really matter either way—as long as someone had been elected, she could officially resign.
That was the best news possible!
"You've waited long enough."
"I've finished calculating."
"The votes between the two candidates differ by just a single vote."
"It's truly unfortunate, but we must respect the election results."
"The Fifth Hokage is~"
Tsunade paused, while necks stretched out from the crowd below the platform.
"She's~ actually got a bit of an itch in her throat."
Tsunade pinched her throat, once again playing with everyone's nerves.
If they weren't sure they couldn't beat her, someone definitely would've challenged her to a duel already.
Kawaki watched, his teeth nearly grinding—where had this woman learned to act like this?
It felt oddly familiar, yet irritatingly playful.
"Are you gonna finish?"
"Don't push your luck—we've got feelings too, you know."
"Please, Hokage-sama."
Well aware that a second or third joke might be taking it too far, Tsunade finally announced the result amid the chorus of complaints.
"Let us congratulate Minato Namikaze for being elected as the Fifth Hokage."
As Tsunade announced the result, the crowd instantly erupted into cheers, chanting Minato's name.
Kushina was overjoyed—she leapt up, wrapped her arms around Mikoto, and smothered Itachi with kisses.
Annoyed, Itachi wiped the drool from his face and caught a flicker of disappointment on Hanami's face.
"Hanami, it's alright."
"We should be happy for Uncle Minato too."
Misaki kept smiling throughout, showing no sign of disappointment whatsoever.
"I understand, Mama."
Hanami pouted slightly, then dutifully nodded in agreement.
Amidst the joyful cheers, Minato blinked in surprise, then turned to look at Nawaki beside him.
"Congratulations."
Loneliness flickered briefly in Nawaki's eyes, then was replaced by a warm smile—his words brimming with sincerity.
"Thank you, Nawaki."
Minato stepped forward and tightly embraced Nawaki. The two remained the closest of brothers.
"Go on, your elder sister is waiting for you."
Nawaki gave Minato's shoulder a couple of firm pats before turning and heading backstage.
Minato straightened his clothes and strode confidently toward Tsunade.
The crowd below had also fallen silent. They knew they were about to witness the passing of the Hokage mantle from the old to the new.
"Congratulations, Minato."
Tsunade removed her bamboo hat, her smile warm and gentle.
"If it weren't for your training and guidance from both you and our teacher, I wouldn't be here today."
Minato would never forget the kindness Kawaki and Tsunade had shown him.
"Do well. Both your teacher and I believe in you."
In truth, Tsunade and Kawaki had expressed the same confidence in Nawaki. It was not just polite flattery — it was sincere.
"I will."
Minato solemnly nodded, signaling the end of their quiet exchange.
"Is everyone satisfied with this outcome?"
Tsunade raised the bamboo hat with both hands and loudly asked the crowd.
"Satisfied!"
"Alright then, this hat symbolizing the Hokage's position now belongs to Minato Namikaze."
After receiving the crowd's response, Tsunade placed the hat into Minato's hands.
"I, Minato Namikaze,"
"I hereby officially assume the position of Hokage."
He proudly placed the bamboo hat on his head and declared the words aloud.
"Hokage! Hokage!"
No one could remember how long the cheers rang before the villagers slowly dispersed.
On that day, at just 22 years old, Minato Namikaze became the Fifth Hokage of Konoha Village.
Though it occurred one generation after the original timeline, it was actually set earlier in history.
"Brother-in-law, where are you taking me?"
Unseen by the crowd, Nawaki was pulled away by Kawaki before witnessing the scene.
"To the place you should go."
Kawaki revealed a mysterious smile, making Nawaki uneasy.
Wasn't becoming Hokage the only way to avoid elimination?
"Isn't this the path leading to Anbu headquarters?"
As the surroundings became increasingly familiar, Nawaki began forming suspicions.
"That's right."
Kawaki offered no further explanation, continuing forward while Nawaki followed silently behind.
Under Kawaki's lead, Nawaki arrived in front of Sakumo's office.
"Brother-in-law, why are we coming here?"
For a brief moment, Nawaki thought perhaps some mission awaited him.
But judging from Kawaki's expression, that didn't seem to be the case—at least not yet.
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Without a word, Kawaki pushed the door open and walked straight inside.
Inside appeared completely empty, the office desk spotlessly clean.
Except for the full cabinets of documents, there wasn't the slightest trace suggesting anyone had ever worked here.
"This will be your office from now on."
Kawaki made an inviting gesture as Nawaki dazedly walked over and sat at the desk.
"What does this mean?"
"Am I really going to lead the Anbu Division?"
It took a moment for Nawaki to snap back to reality after sitting down—was this some kind of compensation?
"Mm."
"We old-timers have earned the right to enjoy life now."
"It's time to pass Konoha's burdens onto younger shoulders like yours."
Kawaki nodded, confirming Nawaki's guess.
In fact, this had been arranged between him and Lady Tsunade from the start—no matter who became Hokage between Nawaki and Minato.
Whoever wasn't chosen would definitely become the Anbu head.
Years of shared history made them perfectly suited for the roles.
Kawaki was also confident that neither of them would turn out like Tanzō.
"Never thought I'd end up working under Minato."
Nawaki couldn't help but laugh aloud once he caught on.
"You'll get used to it. I'm heading off first."
After bringing Nawaki to the location and clarifying everything, Kawaki didn't intend to stay any longer.
He didn't think losing the Hokage election would bother Nawaki for long.
As soon as he finished speaking, with a snap of his fingers, he vanished on the spot.
Once Kawaki had left, Nawaki slowly got up and began walking around the office.
Not becoming Hokage… Actually works out just fine too.
Muttering softly, a smile reappeared on his face.
Once the election commotion died down, Minato briefly returned to the Hatake family home, carefully set aside the Hokage hat, then headed to the Senju mansion.
Kushina had already been waiting at home; she knew he would come.
"I did it!"
Minato rushed toward Kushina like the bold boy he'd been years ago—urged on by Kawaki to confess his feelings.
"I saw."
Meeting Minato's gaze, Kushina's eyes shimmered with love.
"So, will you become the Hokage's wife?"
"Yes."
You asked, I answered.
That promise they'd once made had finally come true today.
...
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