Having mastered part of the Nine-Tails' power, Naruto was brimming with confidence.
At that moment, inside the Hokage Office.
An Anbu ninja appeared in the Hokage Office.
He reported solemnly, "Lord Yeyu, Lord Jiraiya and Naruto have returned."
Yeyu was already seated in the Hokage's chair.
Hiruzen had effectively retired. Even if Yeyu had not wanted to take over as Hokage so early, Hiruzen had stopped coming in.
He spent every day at home enjoying time with his family.
Konohamaru had gotten his wish. His grandfather could finally keep him company.
But after living like that for a while, he instead began to miss how Hiruzen used to neglect him.
He had been so free back then.
Unlike now, when he had to train all day.
He barely had any time to play.
Konohamaru often complained to Yeyu about it.
Yeyu had no solution either. Hiruzen had stopped coming several months ago. Yeyu could not do anything about his unexplained absences, since he had not officially become Hokage yet.
He could only take over all the Hokage's duties, just as Hiruzen wished.
The moment Yeyu agreed to take them on, Hiruzen immediately announced Yeyu as the Fifth Hokage.
Yeyu had been played.
He had only agreed to take over Hiruzen's work. He had never said he wanted to become the Fifth Hokage right away.
But since Hiruzen had already announced it, he could hardly deny it outright.
Besides, there was no need to deny it.
Hiruzen had effectively retired long ago. The only reason he had still come to sit in the Hokage Building was because Yeyu had insisted on it.
Now, he did not even come anymore.
What surprised Yeyu was that when Hiruzen announced him as the Fifth Hokage,
not a single person objected.
Even Danzo said nothing.