The Next Day
A crowd had gathered outside the Hokage Building. Naruto, wearing a mask, stood among the people of the Nara clan and looked up at the tallest point of the structure alongside the villagers. Some in the crowd held banners, others waved photographs, and the cheers grew louder by the second.
Everyone was shouting the name "Namikaze Minato."
The reason was simple—just yesterday afternoon, the famed Yellow Flash of the Leaf, Minato Namikaze, who had led Konoha to victory against the Hidden Cloud and Iwagakure, officially announced that he would assume the title of Hokage.
Bang!
The doors to the attic swung open.
Two squads of ninja emerged in succession, followed by Minato himself. He walked out calmly, donning the Hokage's ceremonial robe and hat, exuding an air of dignity and strength.
As he surveyed the crowd below, Minato instinctively searched for Naruto. Eventually, he spotted him among the Nara clan.
Naruto even waved at him with great enthusiasm.
Minato, however, didn't feel the joy one might expect. Instead, a strange mix of emotions settled in his chest—disappointment from not seeing Naruto at first, and a deeper unease upon finally seeing him.
"Having a son like that… what a sin," Minato thought bitterly.
"I'll have to visit the Sarutobi clan and apologize. I must have truly offended the Third Hokage this time."
As if feeling his father's gaze, Naruto disappeared into the crowd the next moment, and Minato composed himself to begin reading the speech he'd rehearsed all night.
Among those watching Minato ascend to the top of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, stood dressed in simple civilian clothing, visibly displeased.
He lit his pipe, took a deep drag, and glanced at the man beside him—Jiraiya, who appeared quite proud.
"Jiraiya, did you ask Minato why he's suddenly in such a rush to become Hokage?" Hiruzen asked, frowning.
"Why should I ask you that? Wasn't it your plan all along to pass the role on to him?" Jiraiya replied indifferently.
Hiruzen sighed deeply, choosing silence over rebuttal.
Between Minato and Orochimaru, he had clearly favored Minato.
He believed Minato didn't have much interest in political power. If Orochimaru had become the Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen would've been just an irrelevant old man in retirement.
But with Minato in charge, he could still be called "Hokage" with dignity. Minato respected him and wouldn't push him aside completely.
That's why he had backed Minato and sidelined Orochimaru.
However, everything changed yesterday afternoon.
Minato abruptly declared his intention to immediately assume the Hokage role and quickly received unanimous approval from the village leadership. With his fame, war achievements, the support of powerful factions—and Jiraiya backing him—he left the Third Hokage with no ground to stand on.
Hiruzen had been forced off the stage with almost no resistance.
Now, he was deeply troubled, unsure if he'd made the right choice.
Still, there wasn't much he could do. His own son could never compare to Minato or Orochimaru. Between the two, Minato was the lesser of two disruptions.
"The tide has turned. Best to lay low from now on," he muttered to himself.
Meanwhile—Konoha Hospital
At the same time as the succession ceremony, Naruto quietly infiltrated the hospital. Most people were too distracted by the festivities to notice as he knocked out a random doctor, stole his white coat and ID, and made his way through the corridor.
After heading to the fourth floor, he spotted Uchiha Mikoto waiting outside a room.
Today, Mikoto wore a stylish white sleeveless dress with a tailored blazer over it, and flesh-toned stiletto heels. Her elegant figure and tasteful fashion made her simultaneously classy and alluring.
Before Naruto could say anything, Mikoto turned and smiled.
"Doctor, you're finally here. May I ask—can my husband's surgery begin now?"
Wait… she doesn't recognize me?
Naruto composed himself quickly.
"We're about to start. Please wait a moment, ma'am."
Mikoto rushed over and lightly placed her delicate palm on his chest, her face anxious.
"My husband has already been anesthetized—why are we still waiting?"
"Doctor, I'm begging you to help him."
Her hand began to caress his chest—seductively.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. Something's off.
Grabbing her wrist, he narrowed his eyes and grinned suggestively.
"That depends on your sincerity, madam."
Mikoto's expression froze, and she bit her lip.
"Doctor… I can't betray my husband."
Naruto nearly laughed out loud.
You think rubbing my chest is being faithful? And now you're trying to guilt-trip me?
"Then I'm afraid I can't perform the surgery," Naruto said with a shrug.
"What? How could this be?" Mikoto's eyes widened. She tugged at his coat, blinking up at him with teary, puppy-dog eyes.
Naruto gave her a slow once-over, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Mikoto looked away, her chest rising and falling rapidly. After a few breaths, she seemed to make up her mind.
"Doctor… just this once. And… please don't tell my husband."
She grabbed his hand and guided it toward her collar.
Naruto was stunned.
This woman is actually trying to seduce me... again!
He wanted to walk away—but since he was already here, why not enjoy the moment?
As he reached out, Mikoto suddenly pinched his hand and leaned in.
"Menma-kun, you seriously planned to keep using this disguise? There may be fewer people around, but we're still in a hospital. I'm not going wild with you like this."
Then, with a flirty sway of her hips, Mikoto walked into the ward, her heels clicking behind her.
Naruto stood frozen, wind-blown and speechless.
So she was role-playing the whole time… she almost fooled me.
Interesting.
Inside the ward, Naruto was surprised to find a doctor and two nurses already unconscious. Uchiha Fugaku lay sedated in the bed.
Only Mikoto remained standing—curvaceous, confident, and all too calm.
Naruto approached and mouthed silently:
"What happened to them?"
Mikoto smiled seductively and perched on Fugaku's bed.
"I told you—my husband is under anesthesia. To make sure we weren't disturbed, I had to… help them sleep too."
Damn… she's even more intense than I am.
Naruto gulped.
"Doctor, please don't tell my husband," Mikoto purred.
Fugaku lay helplessly nearby. The boldness of the situation was surreal.
Naruto chuckled darkly and stepped forward.
"As long as Madam cooperates, your husband's surgery will be flawless."
Mikoto nodded solemnly. Her expression and posture screamed reluctant sacrifice—but every move only fanned Naruto's inner fire.
Just as things were about to escalate, Mikoto stopped him.
"What, getting cold feet?" Naruto whispered.
Mikoto shook her head and pouted.
"No… it's your current face. It's gross. Change back—I want the real you."
Naruto laughed. He hadn't realized he was still wearing the disguise.
The moment he returned to his true form, Mikoto flinched—her face turned bright red.
"You're so beautiful, madam," Naruto whispered, sliding his left hand around her waist and his right hand up her thigh, lifting the hem of her white skirt to reveal her stocking-covered legs.
Mikoto's ears flushed red. She whispered back:
"Doctor… cure my husband. Just this once. And don't tell him."
"He'll be cured without any complications," Naruto promised, gently biting her bare shoulder before lying down on the bed beside her.
The lights flickered in the operating room, casting shifting shadows.
The succession ceremony had lasted more than three hours. By the end, Minato's voice was hoarse from reading aloud.
After finally making it to his Hokage office, Minato glanced toward the hospital and sighed.
"I never thought I'd do something so awful… I'm sorry, Fugaku. My son didn't mean it. I can't let my unborn grandson suffer. I've let you down."
He sighed again, guilt flooding his expression.
Knock knock.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," Minato called.
The door opened, and Uzumaki Kushina entered, her long red hair flowing, carrying two cups of coffee. She placed one in front of Minato.
"What's wrong? You didn't look too happy earlier. Are you worried about something?"
She reached out and held Minato's hand, smiling warmly.
Minato didn't want to lie to her, but some things couldn't be shared.
Should he tell Kushina that her best friends Mikoto and Yoshino—both older than her—were now involved with her son?
That her grandchildren might be older than her own child?
She'd lose her mind.
And with her fiery personality, she wouldn't be able to keep such a secret.
So he chose silence.
"It's nothing," Minato said softly. "I was just thinking about the friends we lost in the war."
Kushina's smile dimmed.
"Don't be too sad. Obito and the others are watching over you."
She'd treated Minato's students like her own, and the loss of Obito had hit her hard.
"Yeah," Minato replied, pulling her into a hug.
But in his heart, he just hoped Naruto would wrap things up and return to his rightful timeline—before making an even bigger mess.
"Kushina," Minato said suddenly, "I'm going to see the Third Hokage. I'll be back soon."
Originally, Minato had expected the Third Hokage to step down voluntarily. But now, he needed to offer an explanation—lest things turn political.
Later That Afternoon
A soft breeze blew across the window. The chimes outside rang gently.
In Ward 404 of Konoha Hospital, three people lay in bed.
Fugaku was unconscious on the left, Naruto rested in the middle, and Mikoto collapsed on the right—tightly wrapped in Naruto's arms.
She breathed softly, her mind blank.
After a while, Mikoto stirred. She cupped Naruto's cheeks and whispered:
"Menma-kun… what should I do? I'm falling more and more in love with you."
"How badly?" Naruto teased.
"I don't just want your body anymore. I want your heart. I want us to be together forever."
Naruto grinned. Of course you do. Your affection level's maxed out.
He kissed her lips.
"But you're married," he reminded her.
"I don't care," Mikoto replied, kissing him back.
"What about your children?"
Mikoto nestled closer and smiled.
"I'll have Sasuke call you Dad."
No thanks, Naruto thought. I don't want Itachi hunting me down instead of Fugaku.
"So… are you saying you'd divorce Fugaku for me?"
This time, Mikoto shook her head.
But her reason had changed.
"I know you like married women," she whispered flirtatiously. "I'm willing to keep it exciting for you."
Even Naruto was momentarily speechless.
Then, overwhelmed with desire, he flipped Mikoto onto the bed and leaned close.
"Aren't you scared your husband might hear you?"
Mikoto glanced toward the unconscious Fugaku and then looked back at Naruto with unwavering resolve.
"For you, I'm not afraid of anything," she whispered.
"If you don't believe me, I can prove it."
"Oh?"
"Alright, then."