The square in front of the Hokage Administration Building.
It was packed with people, every single one of them wearing an expression of excitement.
Today!
It was the inauguration ceremony for the Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's ascension could be called the one with the least resistance among all successive Hokage.
He did not need to be like Hashirama Senju, beating the four nations with his fists and suppressing the entire Warring States period.
He did not need to be like Tobirama Senju, using brilliant political maneuvering to outfight Madara Uchiha.
He did not need to be like Hiruzen Sarutobi, sharing power and relying on the support of Mito Uzumaki.
He did not need to be like Minato Namikaze, ceding sovereignty and making compromises.
Jiraiya's rise to power wasn't even something he had wanted himself.
The legal first heir to the Hokage succession was Tsunade, but Tsunade had voluntarily given up her right to inherit the position.
The person with the strongest strength in Konoha was Setsuna Uchiha, but Wang Ming chose not to participate in the Konoha election.
Thus, Jiraiya passively accepted the authority of the Hokage in this manner.
Jiraiya was the most legitimately attained Hokage since Hashirama Senju.
Legality, achievements, prestige, and strength—not a single aspect was lacking.
If one really had to pick a dark spot on him, it would be his unbridled lust and penchant for peeping into bathhouses!
However,
a political leader cannot be judged by ordinary people's morals.
Today, Jiraiya did not continue to wear his forehead protector with the character for oil, took off his red coat, and did not carry his huge scroll.
Dressed in the white Godly Garment Robe of the Hokage, holding the Hokage conical hat in one hand, he slowly walked out from the top of the Hokage Administration