The First Hokage Order

Three days later.

The plaza beneath Konoha's Hokage Rock.

Konoha's villagers and shinobi gathered in dense crowds.

Heads packed together, the clamor carried a solemn anticipation.

Nine figures stood in a row on the raised platform above.

At the very center stood Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage who was about to step down.

Beside him stood Hatake Sakumo, missing an arm but still standing tall and straight.

On Sarutobi Hiruzen's other side, stood Shimura Danzō, Minato Namikaze, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Orochimaru, and Tsunade, in that order.

And there was a tall man with long white hair spiking upward like a hedgehog's quills.

Two streaks of red face paint marked his cheeks, and he wore a red outer robe and wooden sandals.

Jiraiya!

He grinned widely, flashing a set of bright white teeth, his smile especially carefree.

Guy stood near the front of the crowd, his gaze burning as he looked toward Jiraiya on the platform.

It had been nearly seven years since he came to this world.

This was the first time he had seen one of the legendary "Three Sannin" with his own eyes.

Jiraiya was clearly overjoyed.

His proudest disciple, Minato Namikaze, was about to assume the position of Hokage.

The smile on his face was practically overflowing.

From time to time, he even waved at the crowd below, drawing bursts of cheers.

Guy narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Jiraiya's carefree delight.

"Is he this happy because he still doesn't know what happened with Akatsuki?"

Guy shook his head slightly.

According to the plot, Akatsuki should have undergone drastic changes around this time.

"I wonder how far things have progressed..."

Just as Guy's thoughts drifted away, the succession ceremony officially began.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward.

His voice, amplified through chakra, carried clearly across the entire