Near the gates of Konoha.
A squad of shinobi returning from the battlefield was welcomed by crowds of villagers lining the road.
"Are those the heroes who destroyed Kannabi Bridge and forced Iwagakure to retreat?"
"I knew it! With Lord Minato there, the village was sure to win! Now only the Mist Village is still putting up a stubborn fight. The war will be over soon."
"I wish I'd been the one to go on that mission with Lord Minato."
The civilians had already heard the news from the Hokage Office. After ending the fighting with Kumogakure, Namikaze Minato had once again led Konoha to victory.
Now, they eagerly discussed the coming peace.
Of course, the occasional strange comment could be heard among them.
"Lord Minato is so handsome."
"Lord Minato is mine, you old hag!"
"Huh? You think you're good-looking enough? You with the bird's nest hair!"
"I told you not to call me that!"
Minato walked through the cheering crowd with Rin and Kakashi, wearing a sunny smile.
When he heard the oddly directed comments, his smile turned into a wry one.
Lord Hokage, I know this is meant to boost the village's morale, but this much enthusiasm is hard to handle.
He sighed to himself, did his best to ignore the red Chakra boiling over in one direction, composed his expression, and headed toward the end of the road.
There, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched him with a pleased expression.
"Minato, you did well."
Minato reached both hands behind him and drew his two gloomy-looking students forward. "It was all thanks to Kakashi and the others, and that boy Obito..."
He stopped there and glanced at Kakashi and Rin. Their grief was plain to see, and Minato sighed.
He patted their heads reassuringly and said to the Third Hokage, "Lord Third, they're exhausted from the mission. Let them go rest first."
"That won't do."
As Minato looked at him in confusion, the Third Hokage smiled and shook his head. "Today is an important day for you. As your students, I want them to be here."
"Now, hold out your hands."
Minato held out his hands, looking bewildered.
Then, to his and the surrounding crowd's astonishment, Sarutobi Hiruzen took off the hat that symbolized the Hokage and placed it in Namikaze Minato's hands.
"I'd originally planned to entrust Konoha to you after the war ended, but I believe this is a better time."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke with a quiet sigh, then looked at the Konoha villagers around them. "As the Third Hokage, I nominate Namikaze Minato to be the Fourth Hokage!"
"This proposal has been approved by the Daimyo. Those of you gathered here... do you approve?"
The crowd fell silent for a few seconds before cheers shook the skies.
"Fourth Hokage!"
"Fourth Hokage!"
"Fourth Hokage!"
Stories about Minato had begun circulating months ago, when shinobi returned to the village from the Kumogakure battlefield.
He had driven back the newly appointed Fourth Raikage and was considered such a powerful shinobi that his enemies were told to abandon their missions if they encountered him.
No one objected. Konoha, weary from years of war, needed a new Hokage.
A powerful, young Hokage!
"Minato, you have everyone's support."
The Third Hokage smiled warmly. "Take up this heavy burden!"
"Lord Third..."
Minato stared blankly at him, listening to the cheers around him.
The Hokage... Am I going to become the Fourth Hokage?
His sunny smile appeared again. He put on the hat and said with determination, "In the name of the Hokage, I'll bring Konoha its final victory!"
Konoha's cheers reached their peak.
Compared to the bustle surrounding the Hokage's succession, the Hyuga Compound was utterly quiet.
Many Hyuga shinobi had gathered in an open space. They watched the figure on the platform and exchanged puzzled looks.
That wasn't the head of the Hyuga Clan, but the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Why was he here?
Wasn't this where the new Caged Bird seal was supposed to be applied?
"I know you're all confused. The person standing here isn't my real body, but a Shadow Clone."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the many Byakugan below and raised his voice. "I have not been a capable Hokage!"
"During my tenure, I failed to manage our relations with the other five nations, and Konoha ended up being surrounded time and again."
"And that's not all. I even failed to manage the relationships between my comrades within the village."
An apology means nothing to you, but things have come to this point, and as Hokage, I bear undeniable responsibility."
Sarutobi Hiruzen bowed deeply and said apologetically, "I'm sorry."
"I truly am sorry!"
The Branch Family shinobi stared at him in confusion. The Hokage was apologizing to them in person... They had never seen anything like it and didn't know how to react.
Hyuga Miyuki stared at Sarutobi Hiruzen, her heart sinking.
"The new Caged Bird seal was researched by many shinobi, then refined by Tsunade and me."
"I can guarantee that this seal can't be used to torment the person it's placed on. It will truly protect the Byakugan!"
The Branch Family erupted into commotion, and many people began to smile.
A mother looked at the child she carried with her because he was still too young. Tiny tears streamed from her eyes. "Yuemo, this is wonderful, just wonderful..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained bowed. "This incompetent Hokage will also step down today."
"The new Hokage will be Namikaze Minato, Konoha's Yellow Flash!"
"Every member of the Hyuga Clan, whether from the Branch Family or the Main Family, is part of Konoha. I hope that with his help, you can truly become part of the village."
Before they had time to take it all in, one piece of good news after another came crashing down on them. The Branch Family shinobi felt as if they were dreaming.
Namikaze Minato was no stranger to the Branch Family shinobi.
The first commander on the Mist Village Battlefield had been Minato's teacher, Jiraiya.
And thanks to the Flying Thunder God Technique's mobility, Minato had served as a reinforcement in the early stages of the Third Shinobi World War, fighting on battlefields throughout the region.
Some Branch Family shinobi had fought alongside him.
That young man who was like the sun?
If it's him...
A Branch Family Jonin stepped forward and bowed to the Hokage on the platform. "Lord Hokage, please don't belittle yourself."
"You're the first person to bring us change. Thank you!"
The two Hokage before him had never done that!
"That's right, Lord Hokage. Please raise your head. I'm willing to accept the Caged Bird seal you've improved."
"That's right, Lord Third. Please raise your head. We... will discuss it with the Main Family."
More and more people stepped forward to express their forgiveness.
Watching this, Hyuga Miyuki clenched her fist, feeling a little desperate.
Why were they forgiving him so easily?
They'd merely loosened the leash a little, and that was enough for you?
The Third Hokage never said the Caged Bird seal had lost its power to control our lives and deaths!
A young man shared her feelings—Hyuga Yuki, who had previously killed the Fourth Elder of the Hyuga Main Family.
He silently watched the Third Hokage, without a trace of hope in his eyes.
Senior Hane had told him that the Third Hokage was secretly researching ways to break the Caged Bird seal.
He'd even felt a glimmer of hope, thinking the Hokage was on their side.
But the Hokage's actions today made him understand: he hadn't been researching a way to break the seal for their sake!
Before you continue