"I also recommend Naruto for Hokage. He may still be a child, but he truly has a strong will and tremendous strength."
Tsunade voiced her support.
Her younger brother had never had a chance at the Hokage Position and had died far too young.
Now that she had finally met a young ninja as capable as Naruto, they might as well let him take over sooner rather than later.
"Danzo's gone mad. Don't tell me you're going to follow him!"
The Feudal Lord's voice trembled. He didn't want every ninja to run off tomorrow, leaving Konoha to fall apart.
"I recommend Tsunade. Nothing else matters."
Jiraiya sighed.
He even wondered if Shimura Danzo was actually Naruto in disguise.
"I support Naruto too! He defeated the killer who took the Third Hokage's life. He's the hope of everyone in Konoha!"
Orochimaru spoke in his distinctive, sinister voice.
"You have no right to take part! You're a rogue ninja under arrest!"
Utatane Koharu slammed her hand on the table.
But when she looked at her companion Mitokado Homura, he was already holding a Kunai.
"Naruto, this isn't a place for you to make a scene. There's a limit to how far you can take your foolishness!"
Mitokado Homura stabbed at Danzo with a Kunai.
Danzo dodged with the Body Flicker Technique and blocked with his own Kunai.
"What's gotten into you?"
"That child is the Fourth Hokage's son, the Third Hokage's successor, and a student of the Sannin. He turned the tide in a crisis, and he's also the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. In the history of the Hokage, two Hokage's wives were Jinchuriki."
"Which of those qualifications does Naruto Uzumaki lack?"
"Mitokado Homura, you don't have to support me, but Root will give Naruto its full support!"
By attacking, Shimura Danzo had made his longtime companion Mitokado Homura understand.
This man really was the Danzo everyone had disliked his whole life!
"He's already passed my test."
"I support Naruto becoming Hokage. It's that simple!"
Danzo returned to his seat and laid his cards on the table.
For a moment,
everyone in the meeting room was at a loss.
Danzo no longer wanted to become Hokage and was supporting someone else. That could be considered a good thing.
The problem was that the person he supported was a Chunin—Naruto Uzumaki.
Was this a joke?
"Of the Sannin, one is a rogue ninja, one supports Tsunade, and one supports Naruto."
"Of the three Hokage Advisors, two support Tsunade, and one supports Naruto."
The Feudal Lord looked troubled.
"That makes it three to two."
"But the problem is that Tsunade, who got the most votes, refused to become Hokage. That voids the result, and Naruto Uzumaki is now the one with the most votes!"
The Feudal Lord had no idea what to do.
It was the first time in years that something so awkward had happened.
"Naruto is too young, and he won't command respect. I suggest we appoint an Acting Hokage!"
"Let's choose again!"
After the Feudal Lord finished speaking,
everyone made exactly the same choice.
"So..."
"Naruto is going to be Acting Hokage for now?"
The Feudal Lord's head was spinning.
If word got out, wouldn't the other great nations look down on the Land of Fire?
Thirteen years old and a Chunin—wasn't that a little too hard to take seriously?
"Root supports Naruto!"
Danzo crossed his arms, looking ready to fight to the bitter end.
"The Medical Ninja support Naruto!"
Tsunade wholeheartedly agreed. She had always believed that promises had to be kept.
"Unless..."
Jiraiya looked at Danzo, sure there was something fishy about this, but there was no turning back now.
"Unless Tsunade stays in the village to assist him, and the Hokage Advisors remain in place."
"Let Naruto serve as Acting Hokage, while the advisors handle the actual affairs. When Naruto is finally able to manage everything himself, they can hand over responsibility."
For Konoha's stability,
Jiraiya thought it was best to reassure everyone and keep the village running as usual.
The village was short on capable people now.
Even he had to help with missions, and the same was true of everyone else.
"That's a good proposal."
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura nodded.
"Fine."
The Feudal Lord felt like he was about to collapse.
If Naruto became Hokage, what would happen to the village?
Would he spend his days drawing graffiti everywhere?
Thankfully, the Hokage Advisors and the Sannin would be there to keep things steady. That put his mind somewhat at ease.
Konoha
obviously had no idea what was about to happen.
With the full support of Danzo, representing the older generation, and Tsunade, representing the middle generation,
Naruto was about to become Acting Hokage.
The next day,
the recovering village had only a few children happily playing in the streets.
Everyone else seemed dispirited.
Without a new Hokage taking office, people couldn't help feeling unsafe.
Konohamaru was one of the most upset of all.
Tsunade had returned and was going to become the new Hokage.
Then Tsunade refused, but Danzo was going to become Hokage.
In short,
the Third Hokage's era had come to an end.
Konohamaru walked sadly down the street.
He thought that even if Naruto became Hokage, he would feel much better.
"Konohamaru, why aren't you training this early in the morning? What are you moping around for?"
Naruto had just finished a thousand sets of ninjutsu combinations.
He was about to grab some breakfast.
At a glance, he saw Konohamaru wandering around like he had no soul.
"Big Brother Naruto."
"Who do you think will become the new Hokage? Who will take over everything Grandpa left behind?"
Konohamaru's eyes were red, and he looked terribly sad.
"Me, of course!"
"I told you I was going to become Hokage, the Five Kage's Shadow, the God of Shinobi. Did you forget? You idiot!"
Thump!
Naruto bonked Konohamaru on the head, leaving a lump.
"I'm not joking! You're so young—how can you become Hokage?"
Konohamaru clutched his head and cried.
That punch had knocked some sense into him.
"People of Konoha."
"After Orochimaru's attack on Konoha, the Third Hokage, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, and many of Konoha's ninja sacrificed their lives."
"After careful deliberation, with the full support of Shimura Danzo and Lady Tsunade,"
"we have unanimously decided to appoint Naruto Uzumaki as the new Acting Hokage!"
"Since he is still young, he will serve as Acting Hokage for now, with the Hokage Advisors assisting him. Lady Tsunade will also return to Konoha and establish the Medical Ninja Department."
"Lord Jiraiya will carry out missions in Konoha during this time. The rogue ninja Orochimaru has been captured!"
"Everything will start anew!"
"Let us welcome our new Acting Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki!"
What?!
The people of Konoha hadn't even recovered from their grief first thing in the morning.
Now it felt as if they'd received terrible news!
Naruto Uzumaki, at thirteen, was becoming Hokage!
Absolutely not!
Even if he'd improved and done a few things, he was still the Demon Fox. How could he become Hokage?!
"Big Brother Naruto? You weren't joking?"
Konohamaru turned to Naruto, his face twisting into a dramatic expression.
He'd thought Naruto was joking, but it turned out he really was becoming Hokage!
What the heck?
Not just the villagers of Konoha—even the Genin and Chunin who had entered the academy in the same year as Naruto couldn't believe their ears.
And Danzo, who had clashed with Naruto just yesterday, was giving him his full support!
Had Naruto been caught in some kind of genjutsu and put under someone's control?!
After all, the Demon Fox was a terrifying monster!
"What are you talking about?"
"I've always been level-headed."
Naruto patted Konohamaru on the shoulder.
"Now my era begins! Acting Hokage, reporting for duty!"