Fourth Hokage Inauguration Ceremony Preparations...

Is everything ready?

"Where's the cloak? Why hasn't the cloak been brought over yet?"

"What are you all standing there for? Go check the sound equipment. If the Fourth Hokage makes a mistake when he speaks, I won't let you off the hook."

Early in the morning, the Hokage Building was already in a flurry of activity.

Today marks the official inauguration of the Fourth Hokage. In a poll conducted a few days ago, Orochimaru received the support of 70% of the villagers, smoothly becoming the Fourth Hokage. After today's ceremony, the Fourth Hokage's reign officially begins.

The Hokage inauguration ceremony is also a grand celebration for the village.

Especially this time, with the Third Hokage abdicating peacefully and the Fourth Hokage taking office without incident, an unprecedented festive atmosphere permeated the streets and alleys.

It's important to understand that very few of the Kage of the Five Great Ninja Villages ascended to their positions smoothly; they almost always took over hastily after the previous Kage died tragically. The peaceful transitions they've seen today are practically nonexistent.

"Ugh! Today's work is tough... there are so many people."

Katsuki scratched his head, looking at the dense crowd on the street. It was unbelievable. Didn't these people ever sleep? It was only six in the morning, and there were already so many people. By the time the inaugural address was given at ten o'clock, the number would probably have increased several times over.

"It's tough."

Fugaku's speech was very concise.

"Do you think we've been through thick and thin together?" Minato chuckled, seemingly finding the scene before him amusing.

On the rooftop of the tallest building near the Hokage Building, Uzumaki Katsuki, Minato Namikaze, and Uchiha Fugaku gathered together. One was the newly appointed Anbu Chief, another was the highest-ranking officer of Root, and the last was the highest-ranking officer of the Police Force.

The combined armed forces under the three men comprised almost half of the village's fighting strength.

To prevent any uncontrollable changes from occurring during the Fourth Hokage's inauguration ceremony, the three of them bear the heavy responsibility of ensuring the smooth running of the ceremony today.

The reason they gathered together was not because they had planned it in advance, but because this place was the best location to monitor the inauguration ceremony from start to finish. Unless someone had good eyesight, they wouldn't go to the roof of the building next door.

Besides the three of them, ninjas from the Anbu, Root, and the Police Force were also occupying their respective areas on the rooftop.

"Stop staring at each other like that, get back to what you were doing. Um... Qinghai, could you please help me out?"

With Katsuki hand, the current Deputy Chief of the Anbu, Hiruzen's eldest son directed the Anbu's forces to take action.

"Aoyagi, it's up to you now."

"Liu Lang, you're in charge from now on."

People from the root and the Police Force also sprang into action, and all the adjutants in charge were acquaintances.

"This kid's doing pretty well."

Katsuki at Rokuro Kaguya was filled with emotion.

"Very good, Rokuro's strength and intellect are both outstanding." Uchiha Fugaku also praised him, then Katsuki and suddenly asked, "Katsuki, when do you plan to take action against the black market?"

"Why are you suddenly asking this? The original plan was to act as soon as possible, but not because of this... The plan has been postponed. We'll wait until the Fourth Hokage ascends the throne before taking action." Katsuki turned to look at Fugaku. "Don't tell me you have any connection with the underground black market!"

"Are you kidding me? How could the Uchiha associate with such filthy creatures from the gutter?"

"That's good, to avoid any unpleasantness later. Kakashi has been attacked a total of six times in the past two days. Even with the teacher by his side, those missing-nin are still going crazy, looking for any opportunity to attack Kakashi..."

At this, Katsuki's face immediately darkened.

"They even dared to attack Senior Sakumo..."

Minato was taken aback; he hadn't known this news before.

"...Have those attackers been checked?" Fugaku asked, frowning. "There's definitely something wrong here!"

"I checked it. I personally checked it three times, but I didn't find anything unusual." Katsuki was also very troubled. With his knowledge of the human body, he couldn't find anything abnormal.

"... If you trust me, hand them over to me; I might know the reason..."

Fugaku hesitated before speaking.

"No problem, I'll leave this to you, Fugaku- senpai. To be honest, I'm having a terrible headache. I can't figure out what's wrong with these guys... You've given me such a difficult problem right after taking office."

Katsuki readily agreed.

"Find a few people and send those attackers who were recently arrested to the Police Force."

He immediately signed a warrant and ordered a member of the Anbu to carry it out swiftly.

"You guys talk. I've spotted a few suspicious guys over there, I need to take care of them," Minato said before hurriedly leaving.

Time passed, the sun gradually rose, and the brilliant sunlight shone on the treetops and corners of the walls, dispelling the damp chill of the early morning.

There are more and more pedestrians on the streets.

In the open space in front of the Hokage Building, a large crowd surged, and the clamor was like boiling water. Regardless of age or gender, everyone here had a smile on their face, waiting for the Fourth Hokage to appear.

"Tenzan, number sixteen, six o'clock position, twenty-four meters away."

Sitting cross-legged on the rooftop with his eyes closed, Mind's Eye of the Kagura, which covered every blade of grass and tree within a five-kilometer radius. Everyone's actions were under his surveillance, and no abnormal Chakra fluctuation could escape his Mind's Mind's Eye.

"Let me see... Number 16, six o'clock, twenty-four meters... The man in the hat is suspicious..." Hyuga Tenzan radio.

"Tenzan, number four, five o'clock position, distance... seventeen meters, still moving."

"Number four, at five o'clock, is... a woman in a skirt, her Chakra flow is very intense... Have the Uchiha Clan handle it, use Genjutsu: Release, don't make a scene."

Hyuga Tenzan, a friend who had fought alongside me on the battlefield, I hadn't had much contact with in the past two years, but I never expected that this guy would join the Anbu.

"Hey, Katsuki, your ability seems even more powerful than the Byakugan!"

"Enough nonsense, number thirty-three, at his three o'clock position... fifty-six meters away, one, two, three, four... seven Chakra fluctuations are abnormal, it seems they are preparing an offensive Ninjutsu..." Katsuki spoke rapidly.

"These reckless idiots, do they really think they can cause a big stir at the Hokage inauguration ceremony...? Number 33, Number 33, watch your three o'clock position..."

The Anbu and the Police Force worked together, with the Uchiha Clan patrolling the area. They Jonin spot a target and take them down with a single glance using Genjutsu. Suspicious and dangerous individuals were powerless against the Sharingan and were silently dragged out of the crowd and handed over to the Anbu or the Police Force for detention.