"Oh? Since you don't want it, then I'll reconsider!"
Mu spoke, feigning deep thought.
"Huh?"
Ōnoki's head spun.
"Oh no, I overdid it."
Ōnoki was filled with regret. He had intended to feign humility by politely declining, but he didn't expect Master Mu to actually take him up on it.
"Teacher, I! I…"
Ōnoki was at a loss for words.
The next second,
Mu gently placed the Tsuchikage hat on Ōnoki's head.
"Alright, just kidding. From now on, you are the Tsuchikage. Prepare for your inauguration ceremony!"
Mu smiled and patted Ōnoki's shoulder.
Ōnoki stood frozen, feeling the weight of the Tsuchikage hat on his head, a mix of emotions swirling within him.
"Teacher, I… I will definitely live up to your expectations!"
Ōnoki took a deep breath and said solemnly.
Mu looked at Ōnoki's determined eyes and nodded with satisfaction.
In the following days, Ōnoki immersed himself in the preparations for the Tsuchikage inauguration ceremony.
He discussed the ceremony procedures and arranged various matters with his Ninja subordinates.
Finally, the day of the Tsuchikage inauguration ceremony arrived.
Iwagakure was adorned with lanterns and decorations, bustling with excitement.
Ōnoki, dressed in the solemn Tsuchikage attire, ascended the high platform surrounded by the crowd.
"Ōnoki, if there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me. I used to be a Mizukage, after all. Having two Kage as your teachers, and the First Tsuchikage being your grandfather, you truly are a lucky boy."
Hōzuki Gengetsu said with a smile.
"Congratulations, Sandaime(3rd)-sama! Say, about my position as the Director of the Iwagakure Bank…"
Kakuzu asked impatiently, remembering that Mu had promised him that he would become the Director of the bank after Ōnoki's ascension. He wondered if it was still possible…
"Director of the bank?"
Ōnoki feigned confusion: "What Director of the bank? You're the Minister of Finance for Iwagakure in the Land of Earth!"
Upon hearing this, Kakuzu's eyes widened like brass bells.
"Hiss! Thank you, Sandaime(3rd)-sama! From now on, even if you order me, Kakuzu, to assassinate Senju Hashirama again, I, Kakuzu, would dare!"
Kakuzu's usually dark face instantly flushed with excitement.
He had originally thought he would only get the position of bank director, but he didn't expect to directly ascend to the top as the Chief Financial Officer of Iwagakure!
He immediately patted his chest, indicating that he would go through hell and high water!
"Haha, it seems your wish has finally come true, huh!"
"Congratulations, Kakuzu!"
Hōzuki Gengetsu said with a smile, placing his hand on Kakuzu's shoulder.
"Hehehe…"
"I got it, I got it, I, Kakuzu, got it!"
Kakuzu just kept grinning foolishly.
Ōnoki smiled slightly. Kakuzu was an official left to him by his teacher, as per his teacher's arrangements.
Ōnoki slowly walked towards the high platform.
As he stood on the high platform, looking down at the cheering villagers and Ninja, a strong sense of responsibility welled up within him. From this moment on, he would bear the heavy responsibility of protecting Iwagakure.
And Mu had also been standing there waiting for a long time.
"I wish you to forge ahead!"
"The so-called steadfast rock does not contend to be first; what it contends for is eternal immovability!"
Mu, holding the Tsuchikage hat with both hands, slowly walked towards Ōnoki to complete the handover ceremony.
Mu chose to retire completely, relinquishing all positions.
There was no situation of him pulling strings from behind the scenes.
What is called noble integrity?
This is noble integrity.
"Nidaime(2nd)-sama! We really miss you! You should have continued to lead our Iwagakure forward!"
"Yes, Nidaime(2nd)-sama, please stay for a few more years! Without your leadership, what will become of our Iwagakure?"
"Iwagakure is currently in a critical period of acceleration and desperately needs a capable and experienced leader like you to stabilize the situation!"
"That's right, Iwagakure is currently in the midst of a fierce wave of reforms, with various social problems emerging endlessly, and economic development is too rapid. A slight oversight could lead to serious consequences."
"Only you, Nidaime(2nd)-sama, can steady our great ship of Iwagakure in this turbulent tide of the times!"
For a moment, the crowd was agitated, and everyone shouted loudly, pleading with Mu to stay for a few more years.
And Mu, standing on the high platform, looked at the faces below, full of expectation and longing, and a surge of emotion welled up in his heart.
These villagers truly hoped that he would continue to serve as the leader of Iwagakure and lead everyone towards a better future.
Meanwhile, Ōnoki next to him felt a bit awkward.
After all, he was the new leader.
At the same time, Ōnoki felt his pressure double.
If he didn't do as well as his teacher, the public opinion below would probably long for his teacher again.
"Don't be afraid, have some confidence in yourself."
Mu, as if he could read minds, gently patted Ōnoki, comforting him.
Then Mu looked down at the platform, where the eyes of the populace were filled with anticipation.
"Everyone, quiet!"
Mu first waved his hand.
"I understand everyone's feelings, but each generation has its mission, and the new will always replace the old."
"I believe Ōnoki will lead everyone, lead Iwagakure to new heights!"
"As the saying goes, an excellent teacher doesn't drag out class!"
"I hope that in my absence, everyone can be proactive, forge ahead, and surpass the old!"
As soon as his voice fell, a thunderous cheer erupted from the people of Iwagakure.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Ōnoki thanked him sincerely.
"Do well, Teacher is leaving."
Mu gently patted Ōnoki, then quietly left.
Ōnoki looked at his teacher's retreating back, feeling that his teacher had truly grown old.
"Next, I will serve as the Sandaime(3rd)!"
Ōnoki swung the Tsuchikage hat in his hand!
Iwagakure entered the Sandaime(3rd) era.
...
Land of Earth, northeastern sea area.
Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu sat on chairs.
Facing the sea, listening to the waves!
It had been several years since Ōnoki became the Tsuchikage.
"Are you saying I'm almost fifty?"
Mu stared wide-eyed at Hōzuki Gengetsu beside him.
These past few years, Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu didn't like staying in the Village all the time, so they traveled all over the Land of Earth.
Now they had arrived at the northeastern coast of the Land of Earth, and across the sea was the Land of Lightning.
The two were chatting, and then slowly got to talking about their ages.
Hōzuki Gengetsu mentioned it, and only then did Mu realize that he was already forty-nine this year, and would be fifty in another year.
"Yes, when Iwagakure was first established, you were about thirty."
"You were in office for nine years, counting your regency, let's say ten years. You were already forty when you abdicated, and now a few more years have passed, so isn't fifty very normal?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu shrugged and said.
Then he combed his slicked-back hair and sighed: "Look, I even have white hair now…"
Mu was stunned, looking at the turbulent sea.
So he was already that old.
Fifty years old, although he was still firmly seated as the number one in the Ninja World, Mu still felt very uncomfortable.
The strongest, he didn't care about that.
The longest, that was the true path!
He wanted to be someone who lived to see it all.
Could he even live until Boruto?
He was fifty now, and the Second Ninja World War had not yet broken out.
According to Ōnoki's age of seventy-nine during the Fourth War, he would have to live at least one hundred and twenty years!
"Mu, you can't still not have lived enough, can you?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu looked at the somewhat dejected Mu and couldn't help but ask.