The Throne of Heaven's Vacancy Is About to End (Third Update)

Today, everyone fell into silence for who knew how many times. Hiruzen Sarutobi's words contained far too much information for anyone to process.

Kiba Inuzuka opened his mouth, feeling that he ought to declare that he would be the one to become Hokage in the future, but under the furious glare of his mother, Tsume Inuzuka,

he obediently shrank back. Mainly because this Naruto, so completely different from before, made him a little uneasy too;

Ino Yamanaka felt somewhat apprehensive. Was their companion and friend really this terrifying?

Shikamaru Nara frowned, feeling that something was off. But after thinking it over carefully, Hiruzen Sarutobi's analysis seemed exceptionally reasonable, without any obvious flaws...

Sakura Haruno was panicking. Naruto Uzumaki was so terrifying—what if he came after her again? How was she supposed to reject him? She belonged only to Sasuke!

Choji Akimichi... was eating snacks. Rock Lee was doing a one-handed handstand, Tenten was staring blankly at Neji in a daze, and Shino was observing insects;

Hinata had already fainted happily upon hearing talk of marrying Naruto in the future;

Neji was completely enjoying the show. Knowing the truth, he remained calm. Other than struggling not to laugh, and suddenly wanting to hit someone when he heard that Hinata would marry Naruto in the future, everything was fine;

As for Sasuke, when he heard, "If Sasuke were a girl," his hand had already involuntarily gripped the hilt of his Ninja Sword...

"Ridiculous. Hiruzen Sarutobi, you judge me by your own way of thinking, so naturally you conclude that I am the same kind of person as you. But you are wrong. I am not like you."

Naruto recalled the books he had read and seriously contemplated in the Dream World, then spoke with particular sincerity of the wish he had pondered for a long time.

"I used to want to become Hokage because I was an orphan. I feared loneliness, longed for companions, and wanted to gain others' recognition so I would no longer be alone.

"But now I want to become Hokage because I want there to be no more orphans in this world, so every child can spend a whole, happy childhood with their parents."

Before his eyes, he seemed to see once again the scene of his father, Minato Namikaze, and mother, Kushina Uzumaki, smiling as they leaned against one another to bid him farewell.

A tear slid from Naruto Uzumaki's eye. Smiling as well, across the gulf between life and death, he made a promise his parents could not hear: he would always hold fast to his dreams and work to make them come true.

"Kurama, please help me!"

Naruto closed his eyes, sinking his mind into the Sealing Space. His small body walked toward the cage sealing the giant beast.

With unprecedented sincerity in his gaze, he slowly extended his fist, opening his entire heart to another living being.

The Nine-Tails' eyes also stirred slightly. But with a smack, he extended one finger and pushed the little guy to the ground.

He said coldly, "Just because you're willing to open your heart means Lord Nine-Tails has to accept it? Dream on, human brat!"

"Haha, guess there's nothing to be done about that. We'll talk about it later, then. This time, just lend me a little more Chakra! Please, Kurama!"

Naruto climbed up from the ground without the slightest anger. Laughing heartily, he scratched his head before making another request, without a shred of embarrassment.

"Hmph! You've got quite the thick skin, brat. Wonder who you learned that from..."

The Nine-Tails turned his head away. On the side of his mouth hidden from Naruto, an imperceptible curve lifted. For some reason, he was in a rather good mood, and he narrowed his eyes as he agreed to the request.

Outside, Naruto Uzumaki opened his eyes again. His body was completely enveloped by surging Nine-Tails Chakra, while nine crimson tails rose behind him and danced wildly through the air.

With the Tailed Beast's active cooperation and assistance in controlling his own Chakra, this Chakra did not place too heavy a burden on either his body or mind.

"Nine-Tails Mode?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was somewhat strained. He could scarcely believe his eyes. For the previous two Jinchuriki, who had failed to meet the requirements of a Perfect Jinchuriki and could only violently seize Nine-Tails Chakra,

the "pseudo Nine-Tails Mode" that manifested nine tails had been the limit of their control over the Nine-Tails. Yet Naruto Uzumaki had reached the same level at just seven years old?

"...So this is the measure of your heart, Naruto Uzumaki!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked him over from head to toe, as though he had come to know Naruto anew. Then he suddenly smiled, as if he had understood something.

He removed the ninja tool pouch from his waist and tossed it to the ground, raising both hands in surrender. He had no intention of continuing the fight. There was neither any need nor any desire to humiliate himself.

Everyone watched in disbelief as this conflict was about to end so unexpectedly.

Naruto's calm, composed voice rang throughout the plaza, as well as in countless homes across Konohagakure and the entire Shinobi World watching the live Television broadcast.

"Don't be afraid. From now on, the Nine-Tails will never harm anyone again. Instead, it will become a force used to Guard.

"Before I fall, no one can step over my body and harm those I protect!"

After a moment of silence, earthshaking cheers, shouts, and cries of celebration erupted from the crowd. They swiftly spread across all of Konohagakure, wrapping this most prosperous and wealthy city of the Shinobi World in applause and celebration.

A low chant rose along with them. "No one has stood in the heavens from the very beginning. Not Hiruzen Sarutobi, not Minato Namikaze, not even Hashirama Senju.

"But this unbearable vacancy upon the Throne of Heaven is about to end. From this day onward, I, Naruto Uzumaki, shall stand at the summit."

At the scene, Naruto looked speechless and caught between laughter and tears as he watched Daren Yi quietly provide his "voice-over" from afar.

Even at a time like this, he still had to joke around and tease him?

Daren Yi smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. Brave young man, were you ready to be treated as a boss for every faction to take down?

The first-act final boss he had painstakingly prepared was finally about to make his official debut in the Shinobi World!

Boom!

With a heavy blow, the Television struck by the Fourth Raikage's iron fist shattered into pieces. The brute's furious roar rang through the entire Raikage Building.

"How outrageous! A seven-year-old child is actually this arrogant! The Throne of Heaven at the summit? That brat really dares to say it!

"Is he the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze? Then the next time we meet on the battlefield, you will fulfill the unfinished appointment between us in your father's place!"

"He is Minato Namikaze's son, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and his schemes and plotting are so formidable! Why does Konohagakure always produce such outstanding young people? He is only seven!"

Inside the Tsuchikage's Office, Ōnoki rubbed his aching lower back. He felt both pity and a touch of envy for Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been driven from the position of Hokage. When would he finally be able to retire?

Ōnoki slapped the desk and ordered, "Put a bounty on Naruto Uzumaki in the Underground Black Market. Set it at One hundred million Ryo for now, and give him a title while you're at it.

"Ninja World's Strongest Schemer, Crimson Cunning Fox Naruto Uzumaki!"

In Kirigakure, the Mysterious Masked Man silently watched the live Television broadcast, his thoughts drifting. Naruto, his teacher's child?

There was clearly something seriously wrong with Konohagakure now! The entire course of events had been far too strange, especially that "Shisui Uchiha" who had discovered his True Appearance!

In Sunagakure, amid the endless wind and sand, the young Gaara ignored the countless fearful, disgusted, and hateful gazes around him.

Standing by the street, he watched the content playing on a Television displayed outside a store, his eyes almost shining.

In distant Konohagakure in the Land of Fire, there was a monster like him too?

So long as a monster defeated and killed the village's Kage, it could also receive everyone's cheers, welcome, and support.

Since that guy named Naruto could do it, then he definitely could too!

Gaara suddenly reached an epiphany. The lost child had found the direction of his life...

Having written this far, the scattered little bits from earlier have finally been strung together.

Strictly speaking, all the earlier antics were laying the groundwork for the first-act boss's official entrance, so they may have seemed somewhat disconnected. Only now did they truly form a complete whole.

The story of Naruto Uzumaki, the Shinobi World's greatest schemer—a seven-year-old final boss who plotted and brought down the Third Hokage—officially begins...