Retiring for Good

"For all these years, I believe I've governed the village fairly well. I can be said to have lived up to the expectations you all had of me back then."

Torikaze then laughed heartily. "But as you all know, I'm rather fond of taking it easy. And as I've gotten older, that habit has only become more obvious."

Upon hearing Torikaze say this, the somewhat sentimental atmosphere among the villagers immediately turned cheerful.

Many people could not stop themselves from laughing.

"Now that Konoha has developed quite well and talented individuals are emerging one after another, I believe it is time for me to let go."

"The successor I have nurtured has also reached the point where he can shoulder the responsibility of protecting the entire Land of Fire, Konoha, and even the Shinobi World."

Torikaze removed the Hokage hat from his head, turned around, and solemnly handed it to Minato.

"From this day forward, Minato Namikaze is the Fourth Hokage of Konoha!"

The moment his words fell, earth-shaking cheers erupted! Nearly a hundred thousand villagers throughout Konoha cheered and shouted from every street!

Seeing the valiant Fourth Hokage on the crystal screens, some people could not help shedding tears.

After taking the hat, Minato held it coolly in one hand and raised it high overhead.

"From this day onward, Konoha will be governed by me!"

The declaration was not especially grand, nor did he make any lofty promises. Yet that was precisely why the villagers found it all the more genuine.

Their cheers rose even higher, with no sign of stopping.

Countless flowers, streamers, and celebratory fireworks danced through the air. A-Bai seemed happy as well, flying out from the Cloud Clan Grounds and circling through the skies above Konoha!

This undoubtedly made the atmosphere even more fervent.

With