Chapter 252: The Hokage is Decided
Two weeks had passed since the S-rank mission. During that time, Team Kyosuke had been constantly taking on various missions, and the three young shinobi's experience had grown rapidly.
The alliance between Konoha and the Sand, as well as the news of Kyosuke helping them seal their Tailed Beast, had become a hot topic of discussion, not just in the village, but throughout the entire shinobi world. The other great villages were shocked that the two former enemies could form an alliance so quickly. A deep sense of unease began to spread. They feared that Konoha, after a period of recovery, would seek revenge.
The Mist was a non-issue. The animosity between Iwa and Kumo had only deepened, thanks to Onoki. They were more likely to stab each other in the back than to offer any mutual support. If Konoha were to attack, no single village could stand against them.
But Konoha had always espoused a policy of "peace," and their long-standing "low-profile" approach eventually managed to quell the rising fears.
The most worried, of course, was Onoki in Iwagakure. The Cloud, on the other hand, was much more confident. With the Third Raikage still alive and the Fourth and his brother now fully matured, they were more than capable of facing a weakened Konoha. It was for this very reason that Hiruzen had been so eager to form an alliance with the Sand.
Regardless of the other villages' reactions, for the people of Konoha and the Sand, the alliance was a cause for celebration. It meant that the possibility of another war was greatly diminished.
In addition to the alliance, the news of Kyosuke defeating a Tailed Beast had also become a popular topic of conversation among the villagers. But another event soon overshadowed even that.
Minato Namikaze was on his way home after a long day when he was stopped by an Anbu. Lord Hokage wished to see him.
Puzzled, he followed the Anbu to a secret meeting room deep beneath the Hokage's office. Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura were already there, waiting for him.
Seeing the three of them, Minato had a feeling he knew what this was about.
And he was right. After a brief, formal discussion, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, announced that Minato Namikaze would be his successor, the Fourth Hokage.
The dream he had worked toward for so long was finally within his grasp. He was overcome with emotion, but he managed to compose himself and ask the question that had been on his mind for some time.
"Lord Third... why me?"
Hearing his question, and seeing his calm demeanor even in the face of such momentous news, the three of them exchanged a look of satisfaction.
Instead of a direct answer, Hiruzen simply said, "Only one who is acknowledged by all his comrades is worthy of the title of 'Kage'."
"But..." Minato hesitated, then voiced his concerns. "I'm afraid I'm not capable of shouldering such a heavy responsibility."
"Haha, don't worry. I was not much older than you when my master passed the hat to me. I've managed all these years, haven't I?" Hiruzen said with a reassuring smile. "Besides, I'll be here to watch over you. What is there to be afraid of?"
Koharu also offered a few words of encouragement.
Seeing that Minato was no longer protesting, Hiruzen's expression turned serious. "Minato, from this day forward, Konoha is in your hands."
"I will not fail you," Minato replied, his head bowed, his voice filled with a solemn determination.
That night, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within him, Minato returned home. He saw Kushina, who had fallen asleep at the dinner table, and for some reason, all of his anxieties vanished.
"Ah, Minato, you're back," she said with a smile, then noticed his strange expression.
Haha, he must have gotten chewed out by the Hokage. I guess I'll have to comfort poor little Minato, she thought.
She walked over and patted him on the shoulder, adopting a worldly-wise tone. "So you got a scolding. It's no big deal. Don't take the old man's words to heart. They're not important."
"Uh..." Minato hesitated, then decided to just tell her.
"Lord Third called me in today... to ask me to be the next Hokage."
"Right, right, the Hokage's seat is nothing to..." Kushina's words trailed off as his statement finally registered. Her hand tightened on his shoulder. "Did you just say... he asked you to be the next Hokage?!" she asked, her voice filled with a trembling excitement.
Minato nodded with a smile, and in the next instant, Kushina threw her arms around him.
"Aaaah! That's amazing!!!"
After a moment of celebration, she pulled back, a rare, gentle smile on her face, and gave him a small bow.
"Minato, thank you for your hard work."
The next day, the news spread like wildfire. The entire village was filled with a joyous, celebratory atmosphere.
Of course, the various clans and high-ranking shinobi had already guessed this would happen. The real excitement was among the common villagers. Minato's deeds over the past few months had made him a household name, and his handsome, gentle appearance had won him the hearts of the people.
Though his tenure as Hokage in the original story was the shortest, due to a variety of factors, he was by far the most beloved of all the Hokage. It was due not only to his immense strength, but also to his unique charisma. Even Kyosuke had to admit that he had a certain fondness for him. If the situation allowed, he wouldn't mind changing his fate.
The inauguration was set for a week later. In addition to the preparations for the ceremony, an invitation would be sent to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. Whether he came in person or sent an envoy was of little consequence.
Kyosuke, of course, had seen this coming. With the backing of Hiruzen and the other elders, and the full support of Jiraiya, it would have been more surprising if Minato hadn't been chosen.
But where there was joy, there was also disappointment. Orochimaru, who had held out a sliver of hope, and Danzo, who had been working tirelessly behind the scenes, were now left to lick their wounds.
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