Forcing the Abdication! Officially Becoming Acting Hokage!

Amegakure. For the first time, the morning sunlight pierced through the year-round clouds.

In the tower plaza, twenty thousand Konoha ninja stood in neat formation, along with several thousand Rain Ninja who had already put on new forehead protectors.

Tobirama stood at the highest point, looking down upon the masses.

"Listen up!"

"From today onward, there will be no more Land of Rain, nor Amegakure!"

Tobirama's voice boomed through chakra amplification, echoing across the entire nation.

"This place is officially renamed Amegakure Province of the Konoha Special Province!"

"You are no longer lonely wandering souls, but citizens illuminated by the Will of Fire!"

"Cheer! For the new era!"

"Roar!"

Cheers erupted like a tsunami.

To the civilians of the Land of Rain, as long as there was no war and they had enough to eat, it did not matter who ruled them. Besides, this new ruler gave them money, food, and protection. He was practically their reborn parent!

"Jiraiya."

Tobirama turned and looked at the white-haired hero beside him, who was still nursing a headache from his hangover.

"I'm leaving this place to you."

"There's no one more suited than you for the position of acting governor of Amegakure Province."

"Huh? Me?" Jiraiya pointed at his own nose, utterly bewildered. "I want to go back to the village and soak in a bath..."

"Cut the crap."

Tobirama patted him on the shoulder and said meaningfully:

"There are many orphans here, and the postwar reconstruction work is heavy. Haven't you always wanted to pursue so-called peace? This place is your testing ground."

Jiraiya's eyes lit up instantly. He immediately stood at attention and saluted.

"I guarantee I'll complete the mission, Lord Tobirama!"

Having settled Jiraiya, this top-tier workhorse, Tobirama waved his hand.

"Everyone else, break camp!"

"We're... going home!"

Three days later.

Konoha, main gate.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore the Hokage Cloak and stood waiting at the gate early with the two advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, as well as the villagers who had remained behind.

Though he wished more than anything that Tobirama had died outside, appearances still had to be maintained.

After all, this was a triumphant return.

"They're here!!"

A vast dark mass of troops appeared on the horizon.

The young man at the front strode ahead with high spirits.

Tsunade was on his left, and Orochimaru was on his right.

Even a Feudal Lord on tour would not have looked this imposing.

"Lord Tobirama!"

"A hero! That's our hero!"

The villagers erupted.

They knew nothing of the scheming among the higher-ups. They only knew that this young man had won the war and protected their peace.

Tobirama looked at those fanatical faces.

He smiled.

"Everyone! I'm back!"

"I made a little fortune while I was out there."

"Same old rule: happiness is better when shared!"

Tobirama snapped his fingers.

"Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Dozens of Shadow Clones leaped onto the rooftops, each carrying enormous sacks.

Splash—!

A rain of banknotes!

Another rain of banknotes!

And this time, they were all high-value notes plundered from the Land of Rain, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Lightning!

"Grab them!!"

"Long live Lord Tobirama!!"

The entrance to Konoha instantly became a chaotic mess, but it was a joyous chaos. Everyone scrambled madly for money, shouting Tobirama's name at the top of their lungs.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood amid the crowd, watching the scene with a face as green as an unripe cucumber.

He, the Hokage, stood there like some ignored old gatekeeper, while Tobirama looked like the real Hokage.

"Lord Hokage."

Tobirama walked over to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Though Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage, Tobirama's bearing was utterly domineering.

"I did not fail my mission. The Three Nations Allied Forces have retreated, we received reparations, and we expanded our territory."

"So..."

Tobirama narrowed his eyes slightly, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear.

"It's time to honor your previous promise, isn't it?"

The corner of Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched, and his gaze flickered.

"Ahem... Tobirama, as you can see, everyone is very excited."

"This matter... how about we return to the meeting room and hold a high-level meeting first..."

He was trying to stall.

The old man was still unwilling to give up.

He wanted to drag this into a private room, then slowly wear him down with righteousness and official pretexts?

Dream on.

"Old man."

Tobirama suddenly smiled, and his smile was ice-cold.

He stepped forward, and his Eternal Mangekyo appeared without warning.

"Have you forgotten what Danzo looks like now?"

"Or..."

"Do you want to become a human stick too?"

"If I shout just once, the tens of thousands of ninja and villagers here will follow me straight into the Hokage Building."

"By then, you'll lose your dignity and your life."

"Choose."

It was a naked coup!

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the killing intent in Tobirama's eyes, then at the ninja around them, who knew only how to cheer Tobirama's name.

The tide had turned.

He let out a dejected sigh, as though the strength had been drained from his spine.

"...I understand."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and faced everyone. Channeling chakra, his voice rang throughout the village.

"Silence!"

The entire crowd fell quiet.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, raised Tobirama's hand, and loudly announced:

"In light of Uchiha Tobirama's unparalleled achievements in the Second Shinobi World War, as well as his great deeds in saving Konoha from danger!"

"And in light of my own mistaken decisions, from today onward, I will step down as the Third Hokage!"

"At the same time, by the unanimous decision of the Hokage and Advisory Council!"

"Effective immediately, Uchiha Tobirama is appointed Acting Hokage of Konoha!"

"And recognized as... the successor to the Fourth Hokage!"

Boom!

This news was even more explosive than the rain of banknotes from earlier.

After a brief silence.

"Fourth Hokage!"

"Fourth Hokage!"

The cheers shot into the sky, scattering the white clouds overhead.

Not a single person objected.

Before absolute strength and benefits, anyone who objected would be an idiot.

The great clans of Konoha, having just received their share of benefits, were even less likely to oppose it. Instead, they seemed faintly pleased. Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger and panic surged once more.

Tsunade stood to the side, looking at the young man embraced by the masses, her eyes filled with pride.

This was her man.

He had kept his word and truly seized the position of Hokage!

Night fell.

The Uchiha Clan Head's residence.

Compared to the revelry outside, this place was even more... "heated."

"Mmph... don't... Konan is next door..."

Tsunade was pressed against the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, her hands braced against the glass, with a scorching body behind her.

Outside the window were Konoha's countless lights; inside were breaths that made hearts race and faces flush.

"Next door?"

Tobirama chuckled, his movements becoming even more aggressive.

"Don't worry, I set up a barrier."

"Besides... don't you think this is more exciting?"

"As the newly appointed Acting Hokage, I have a duty to inspect the physical condition of the Minister of Medical Affairs."

"Especially... here."

Tobirama's fingers deftly undid the troublesome top.

"Bastard... you're abusing public office for private revenge..."

Tsunade's voice had already melted into water, eventually breaking into fragmented syllables.

At that very moment.

In the room next door.

Konan was not asleep.

Hugging the paper flower Tobirama had given her, she lay against the wall with one little ear pressed to it.

Though there was a soundproofing barrier, Tobirama had deliberately left the tiniest gap.

Faintly, she could hear activity coming from the other side.

"Ah... gentler..."

"This is an order... turn around..."

"I can't... really can't anymore..."

Konan's little face instantly turned crimson, as if blood might drip from it.

Though she was young, she had seen plenty while wandering the streets and understood a little.

"Is Master fighting with Mistress?"

"But... Mistress sounds like she's in pain, yet also happy?"

"Is this how adults train?"

Konan bit her lip, feeling as though a little cat was scratching inside her heart.

Curiosity.

Shyness.

And a faint, inexplicable... anticipation.

"I need to grow up quickly..."

Konan retreated beneath the covers and covered her burning ears.

"Once I grow up... I'll help Master 'train' too..."

Inside the master bedroom.

Tsunade had completely fallen.

"Tobirama... stop... they'll hear us..."

She sensed the faint awareness coming from next door.

That bastard!

He was definitely doing it on purpose!

"So what if she heard?"

Tobirama grinned wickedly by her ear, sweat from his forehead dripping onto her snow-white back.

"This is enlightenment education for a disciple."

"Letting her know that a ninja needs more than just chakra."

"She also needs... stamina."

"Besides."

Tobirama secretly used his special skill, and Tsunade could only surrender with a cry.

"Your identity now is the Hokage's wife."

"Cooperating with the Hokage's work is your duty."

"Tonight..."

"No one's getting any sleep."