When Naruto, Jiraiya, and the others returned to Konoha, a rather understated funeral had just concluded.
Perhaps out of respect for the dead, some of the Konoha ninjas who attended managed to put on a hint of sorrow. There were also some, like Sasuke Uchiha, who didn't know any better. If he hadn't been stuck in the hospital, he likely would have been setting off fireworks on the grave.
To prevent Danzo from being revived by Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation and used as a puppet against Konoha, and because Danzo's legacy was not an honorable one, the village leadership didn't dare make a big deal of his death. After extracting as much information as they could from Danzo's brain, they chose to cremate him, as per Kakashi's suggestion.
His ashes were scattered into the Naka River.
It was hard to say what Kakashi was thinking, scattering Danzo's ashes into the Uchiha's ancestral river. Who knew what vengeful Uchiha spirits might be lingering there.
"Did something happen in the village?" Jiraiya asked, his face looking a bit unsettled. He worried the village might have been attacked while its strongest fighters were away.
"A little trouble," Kakashi Hatake, who had come to greet them, said as he scratched his head. "Not long ago, Lord Danzo was killed by Itachi Uchiha. The burial was this morning at the memorial stone. I was actually planning to go drinking with Asuma and the others this afternoon..."
"Kakashi, you've taken up drinking too?"
"Well, it's a rare occasion for everyone to be happy today..." A polite, yet awkward, smile appeared on Kakashi's face.
That sounded strange. Why would you guys go drinking happily after attending Danzo's funeral?
After a moment of surprise, Jiraiya nodded. "Save me a spot. A day like today is indeed worth a drink..."
"..."
Tobirama Senju's expression soured. Even though he had heard about some of the ruthless things Danzo had done on the way here, the man was still a child he had raised.
Even if Danzo had grown up crooked.
Kakashi scanned the crowd, and his eyes lit up when he saw Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, you're back!"
Because he was caught in Itachi's Tsukuyomi, Sasuke was still recovering in the hospital. As for the quality of Konoha's hospital? If Tsunade was in charge, it was the best hospital in the ninja world. If she wasn't, it was about as good as a small village clinic.
On the way to the Hokage's office, Kakashi explained that after Jiraiya, the First Hokage, and Naruto left, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki had infiltrated the village. They killed Danzo Shimura first, then severely injured Sasuke Uchiha.
Hearing this, Jiraiya said in a low voice, "We were also attacked by Itachi on the road. He's joined an evil organization called Akatsuki..."
"That Uchiha traitor..." Tobirama said grimly. "He also possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan. He is a huge threat to Konoha and must be eliminated!"
"Well..." Kakashi looked at the Second Hokage and couldn't help but offer a fair counterpoint. "Compared to Danzo, the harm Itachi Uchiha has caused is pitifully small. He's hardly living up to his S-rank rogue ninja status..."
As someone who knew part of the truth, Kakashi's feelings toward Itachi were complicated. The rogue ninja hadn't done anything particularly malicious to Konoha; in fact, everything he did was to protect the village.
And to think, that truth had been learned from Danzo's own brain. The thought was just sad.
"Danzo is dead, after all..." Tobirama's gaze was somber; he still felt a bit of injustice for his disciple.
"Tobirama!" The First Hokage grabbed his brother's shoulder, his chakra flaring. "I told you, do not interfere with the younger generation!"
On the way back, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Naruto, and the two Hokages had agreed that the resurrected Kage would temporarily reside under the Hokage Rock. This was to prevent the dead from disturbing the lives of the living.
Once Konoha was stable, they would release the Impure World Reincarnation. After all, having deceased Hokages run the village was strange no matter how you looked at it. It made the younger generation seem incompetent...
Although, they were indeed somewhat incompetent.
In the Hokage's office, the room had been without a master since the Third Hokage's death. Only the two advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, came by from time to time to handle necessary affairs.
They had just returned from Danzo's funeral and were dealing with leftover troubles, such as whether to disband Root and merge its members into the ANBU, or to keep it as Konoha's dark underbelly.
Root was a very sharp blade. Of course, it could also become a very convenient scapegoat. The two advisors knew Danzo had made some huge mistakes, but they also recognized Root's hidden function: handling a lot of dirty work for Konoha.
Suddenly, footsteps approached from outside the door.
Koharu looked up, and her eyes lit up when she saw Tsunade. "Tsunade, you're finally back! I'll notify the Daimyo immediately and announce you as the Fifth Hokage. Let's start preparing for the inauguration ceremony right now..."
Konoha was in a turbulent period. Hiruzen and Danzo had been killed one after another by the village's own rogue ninjas. If they couldn't establish a new Hokage to calm the people and command respect from the ninja world, they could forget about receiving any large-scale missions in the future.
The blonde kunoichi casually cleaned her ear and nodded. "Yeah, okay, but the position of Fifth Hokage... should probably go to someone more suitable."
"Hmm? Is Jiraiya willing to take the post?" Homura's gaze shifted eagerly towards Jiraiya. Compared to Tsunade, who seemed completely unreliable, Jiraiya at least carried himself like a respectable person and was more suited to be Hokage.
"No..." The white-haired man touched his hair and placed his hands on the shoulders of his disciple in front of him. "We're talking about Naruto!"
"What kind of joke is this!" The two advisors were startled.
Koharu looked at the teenage Naruto and said anxiously, "This is not the time for you to fool around and shirk responsibility! What the village needs now is a Hokage that everyone can approve of. If..."
"Naruto is the most suitable candidate!"
"Well, this kid is also the strongest ninja in the village right now, isn't he?" Jiraiya patted his forehead and looked at Kakashi, who was equally surprised. "Hey, Kakashi, you think so too, right?"
"Huh?" The silver-haired jonin's eyes widened. He looked at the kid standing next to Jiraiya and couldn't help but mutter, "Although that's true..."
But, isn't this a bit too fast? Before leaving Konoha, Naruto was just his subordinate. Now he was back, being recommended by two Sannin to be the Fifth Hokage? He might soon become Kakashi's top boss!
"No!" Koharu Utatane clenched the document in her hand and explained in a deep voice, "I admit that Naruto performed very well in repelling Orochimaru's attack, but the position of Hokage requires more than just strength. Besides, he's only thirteen. There's no precedent in the entire ninja world for someone so young to hold the position of a Kage..."
"Ahem... there is," Homura Mitokado interrupted her softly. "A few days ago, intelligence from the Land of Wind confirmed... the newly appointed Fifth Kazekage of the Sand Village is that thirteen-year-old One-Tail Jinchuriki..."
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Bonus:
Anonymous Poster: My subordinate suddenly became my top boss. What should I do? This is urgent!
Naruto Uzumaki: Have you ever offended him?
Anonymous Poster: I don't think so? We have a pretty good relationship.
Naruto Uzumaki: Then what are you afraid of? Isn't this a golden opportunity to get on his good side?
Anonymous Poster: Thanks.
Naruto Uzumaki: You're welcome. Usually, after a subordinate gets promoted past their rank, they take good care of their old boss.
Anonymous Poster: That's good then.
Naruto Uzumaki: Sigh, actually, I really hate that kind of behavior. It's cronyism. When I take office as the Fifth Hokage, I have to let people know that I'm a fair and just Hokage.
Anonymous Poster: (⊙_⊙)? What do you mean!
Naruto Uzumaki: I've decided to first strip our team's jonin instructor of his position. He's always late, and I can't cover for him. This way, people in the village won't question my fairness.
Anonymous Poster: ...Wasn't your jonin instructor good to you?
Naruto Uzumaki: He was okay, I guess. After all, I heard he was my dad's subordinate, a veteran of three reigns. To be honest, he's more suitable to be Hokage than me. If you have someone like that who could replace you at any time, would you feel secure using them?
Anonymous Poster: I'd probably feel very secure...
Naruto Uzumaki: Kakashi-sensei, just use your main account to talk...