The New Team Leader Turns Out to Be...

At Kagura's response, the person outside the door walked in.

The Approacher was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Compared to Tsunade, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not seem to have suffered any serious injuries and was still dressed as usual.

He walked to Kagura's bedside, gave him a once-over, then smiled and said,

"Looks like you're all right?"

Kagura nodded in agreement.

Hiruzen Sarutobi casually pulled over a chair beside him and sat down.

An abrupt silence fell between them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the first to break it. He shot Kagura a teasing glance and smiled.

"Tsunade just left, didn't she? I heard she stayed by your bedside all day yesterday."

At the mention of Tsunade, a trace of awkwardness appeared on Kagura's face. He could only stammer out an answer.

"Ah...

Yeah, she's always cared a lot about her companions."

"Is that so?

But it seems she hasn't gone to see Orochimaru or Jiraiya since waking up.

She's just been staying here with you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi apparently had no intention of letting Kagura off and continued speaking.

Perhaps before this, he could still naively believe Tsunade merely regarded Kagura as an ordinary friend.

But he was only a little dense, not an idiot.

Tsunade's behavior over the past two days clearly showed that she was interested in this kid.

That was not good news for someone about to become Hokage.

Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi's questioning, Kagura's facial muscles twitched slightly.

Then he simply closed his eyes and refused to answer.

Seeing Kagura shamelessly playing dumb, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, Shook Head, and Spoke Again.

"Actually, I'm very happy."

???

Hearing that, Kagura Opened his eyes in confusion and Looked Over.

What are you happy about?

Happy that Konoha's first Pervert who lured Young Girls had appeared?

Seeing the question in Kagura's eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi explained,

"I was very happy when you stood in front of Tsunade without hesitation that day.

"You are outstanding. Even in the Warring States Period, your talent would have shone brilliantly.

"But you are too outstanding, so you never understood the concept of companions.

"Yet that day, when faced with Kinkaku's attack, you still bravely stood up for your companion. That greatly comforted me."

Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's sincere gaze, Kagura pondered for several seconds before Responding.

"I didn't think that much at the time. It was just an instinctive action."

Hearing Kagura's words, the smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face deepened. He gave a soft chuckle and said,

"That's exactly right. Only instinctive actions can reveal what you truly desire in your heart."

With that, he stood and walked to the window, gazing toward Konoha's Highest Point.

There stood Konoha's most famous landmark: the head sculptures representing the Hokage of every generation.

Workers were busily at work upon it, and the Third Head Sculpture was slowly taking shape.

Looking closely, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi's Head Sculpture.

Watching the bustling scene in the distance, Hiruzen Sarutobi Spoke Again.

"Do you know where the name Konoha came from?"

Although he knew Hiruzen Sarutobi could not see him, Kagura still nodded instinctively and replied,

"I do. Uchiha Madara chose the name. Its full name is Konoha Ninja Village.

"'Konoha' refers to the Forest of Senju Clan represented by Senju Hashirama, who could use Wood Release.

"'Ha' refers to the Uchiha Clan, whose family crest is shaped like a fan leaf."

"That's right. Ever since its founding, the Uchiha Clan has been an important part of Konoha.

"That is why the Uchiha have always held the important responsibility of guarding the village."

At that, Hiruzen Sarutobi Turned His Head toward Kagura and continued,

"Indeed, because of Uchiha Madara, Second Tobirama had always been wary of your clan.

"And now, Danzo seems to have inherited that mindset and has always held some opinions about you.

"But I am different. I believe in every companion in the village."

At that moment, a gentle breeze Blew Past Outside Window. Several fallen leaves were blown from the trees, dancing gracefully to the wind's accompaniment.

Watching the dancing leaves, a glimmer of Higure seemed to ignite in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.

He spoke in a wistful tone.

"Kagura, I believe in you.

"Just as Hashirama believed in the Uchiha Clan back then.

"Only because of the bonds between companions does Konoha exist as it does today."

In response to everything he said, Kagura merely Remained Silent.

Fortunately, a knock sounded at the door again.

Two Youths poked their heads inside. They were Orochimaru and Jiraiya.

Seeing their sneaky appearance, warmth could not help but flow through Kagura's heart.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help laughing as well. Pointing at them, he Looked Towards Kagura and said,

"Isn't this the bond that belongs to you?"

Everyone left. After expressing their concern, Jiraiya and Orochimaru followed Teacher Sarutobi away.

Kagura, meanwhile, fell into deep thought.

"He didn't ask how Kinkaku died in the end..."

He muttered those words to himself.

Yes. The instant Kagura saw Hiruzen Sarutobi, he began considering how to explain Kinkaku's cause of death.

Yes, he did not want anyone to know that he had killed Kinkaku.

Otherwise, after bringing Kinkaku down, he would not have deliberately cleaned up the bloodstains and dragged his injured body away from the scene.

Those measures might fool the people who arrived afterward, but they could not conceal the truth from Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had experienced the battle firsthand.

Make a name for himself?

That was not what he pursued. He only knew that the more famous one became, the faster one died.

If the hidden Uchiha Madara learned that the Uchiha Clan had an eight-year-old Clan Member capable of killing someone like Kinkaku,

then Kagura would definitely be targeted. Perhaps he might even become Obito's replacement...

None of that was what Kagura wanted. Right now, he only wanted to lie low until he possessed enough strength to survive.

In fact, when Tsunade told him that Teacher Sarutobi had claimed credit for killing Kinkaku, Kagura had vaguely sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi's intention to protect him.

It was as if there were some kind of tacit understanding between master and disciple.

As for saying Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to steal the credit?

Big Brother, he was about to become Hokage. Would he care about such credit?

Kagura simply had not expected that after Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, he would not mention Kinkaku even once.

He merely expressed goodwill toward Kagura before leaving.

Taking a deep breath, Kagura Turned His Head toward the Outside Window.

Watching the leaves slowly drift down through the air, he murmured,

"Bonds between companions...?"

Time flew by, and three days passed.

Perhaps it was because he had accepted the tempering of the Tailed Beast's power within him, or perhaps Kagura's body was truly exceptionally gifted.

The injuries that doctors had judged would take a week to heal were fully recovered in just three days.

Aside from the bandages still wrapped around his Right Hand, there was not a trace of injury anywhere on his Whole Body.

Faced with the doctor's repeated exclamations and the dangerous look in his eyes, as though he wanted to drag Kagura off for dissection experiments, Kagura fled the hospital as if escaping for his life.

After Zhengzhong dressed in formal attire, he found Tsunade and the other two waiting outside the hospital entrance.

Unlike usual, the three of them had also put on their finest formal clothes.

Arriving before them, Kagura showed a faint smile, slightly raised his chin, and said,

"Let's go."

Konoha was even livelier than usual that day. Decorative banners normally only displayed during festivals had been hung throughout the streets.

Everyone had Zhengzhong put on their best clothes and flooded into the streets.

Because today was the day Hiruzen Sarutobi was Formally Appointed as the Third Hokage!

On the Rooftop of the Hokage Office Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the Highest Point.

He wore a White Hokage Robe that day, with the words Third Generation written across its back. Beneath it was a Red Ninja Suit, and upon his head sat a Hokage Hat.

Behind him, his Hokage Stone Statue had already been completed.

With his appearance, the crowd gathered below erupted in thunderous cheers.

The Hokage was not only a Symbol of Strength, but also the spiritual pillar of the village's people.

During This Period following the Unexpected Death of Second Generation Senju Tobirama, a Worried Emotion had always Pervaded the village.

Yet today, when they saw the figure of the New Hokage above them, the people's confidence returned once more.

Looking at the Figure Admired by All above, an Excited Smile appeared on Jiraiya's face.

"Hokage...

"I'll definitely become Hokage someday too!"

"No, you won't get the chance.

"The Next Hokage belongs to the Man Known as the Fastest."

Hearing Jiraiya's muttering, Kagura Silently Complained in his heart.

Still, feeling the enthusiasm of everyone around him, his own emotions could not help but soar.

For the first time, a feeling known as longing appeared in his eyes as he looked at that figure...

Tsunade, who was also excitedly Looking at the figure above, suddenly asked a question.

"Teacher Sarutobi has been Formally Appointed as Hokage, so he definitely won't be able to continue as our Team Leader Teacher.

"Then who will be our Team Leader Teacher from now on?"

At those words, The Other Three's Faces Stunned.

That was right. Who would Take Over from Teacher Sarutobi as their Team Leader Teacher?

Just then, an Unfamiliar Voice Responded from behind them.

"From now on, I will serve as your Teacher."