"Naruto's going to be Hokage? What's going on in the village?!"
Shikamaru's toothbrush fell to the floor.
He'd been planning to go on a mission today, but before he'd even made it out the door, he'd been completely blindsided.
"Are you sure we all heard that right?"
Shikaku Nara wondered if there was something wrong with his ears.
"Yeah, Naruto's Hokage. He finally did what he said he would."
Ino Yamanaka was eating breakfast when the chopsticks in her hand dropped to the floor.
"What? Naruto's going to be Hokage!"
Only after she'd processed the news did she realize something seemed off.
"The Naruto Uzumaki from your Team 7 has actually become Acting Hokage? That's incredible!"
Haruno Sakura was at home getting things ready, planning to visit the hospital later to see Sasuke, who was still unconscious.
But she froze on the bed.
"Nani?!"
"Naruto's Acting Hokage? What?!"
Sakura had heard Naruto say he wanted to be Hokage day in and day out, but she'd never imagined he'd actually become Hokage one day.
Hadn't they all been taking the Chunin Ninja Exams together just a little over a month ago?
Everyone rushed out of their homes.
Except for unconscious patients in the hospital, like Kakashi and Sasuke.
"Naruto's already become Hokage. He did what he said he would, unlike me..."
Rock Lee sat on his hospital bed, looking utterly dejected.
"Lee! Lady Tsunade will begin treating you today. You're sure to recover! Believe me!"
Guy brought Lee a whole basin of medicine balls for breakfast.
"What Hokage? That Naruto kid became Hokage?!"
Guy was stunned on the spot, too.
Had that much time really passed?
Had he slept for more than a decade yesterday?!
Konoha.
The village had gone completely mad!
The strongest clan in the village, the Hyuga Clan.
As calm as ever.
Hinata Hyuga was training hard. She wanted to grow stronger—strong like Neji and her father!
But at that moment, she heard the hurried footsteps of her father, Hyuga Hiashi.
The clan head, Hyuga Hiashi, stood at the doorway.
He activated his Byakugan with all his might.
"What's going on? Why weren't the clans informed about this in advance? What in the world has happened to Konoha?!"
Hyuga Hiashi attended all sorts of meetings in Konoha.
Why hadn't any of the clans been notified yesterday that Naruto was being nominated as Acting Hokage?
A farce!
An absolute farce!
But what shocked Hiashi most was Shimura Danzō.
That old geezer was actually supporting Naruto, and even intended to help him become Acting Hokage.
Ever since the Uchiha Clan Massacre,
Hiashi had kept a lower profile than ever. He knew Danzō was a village official who must never be antagonized.
There was no way that old Danzō would ever support someone else becoming Hokage. He'd never even respected Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Why would he make Naruto Uzumaki—who had nearly gone to war with him just yesterday—Acting Hokage?!
A genjutsu?
Or some kind of replacement technique?
Were they using the Demon Fox as a weapon and pushing him into the position of Acting Hokage?
At that moment, Hiashi shared the same thoughts as the other clans.
They all believed Naruto Uzumaki had fallen under a genjutsu, or that Danzō had made him a puppet!
Sure enough.
"Is the Blood Mist Power coming to Konoha?"
Hiashi sighed and clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.
But when he thought of how the Uchiha Clan had been wiped out overnight, his clenched hands still didn't turn into fists.
"Naruto's become Hokage!"
Hinata Hyuga blinked her big eyes, her face growing warm.
He'd done it so soon.
She'd thought she would walk beside him all the way to the finish line.
Then she'd have to work twice as hard!
In the Hyuga Clan's courtyard,
Hinata kept practicing her Gentle Fist without pause.
At the Konoha Training Ground,
Neji, also of the Hyuga Clan, had recovered from the unconsciousness he'd suffered during the Chunin Ninja Exams.
He'd already resumed his daily training.
Tenten was training alongside him.
"What did you just say? Naruto's Hokage?!"
Unable to believe her ears, Tenten had already taken out her Summoning Scroll, ready to throw a thousand Kunai and Shuriken at a moment's notice!
"Neji, we've been caught in a genjutsu!"
Tenten warily scanned their surroundings.
"No!"
"But we have to get back to the village. Konoha is about to change!"
Neji was the first to break into a run.
He wanted to find out what Naruto was going to do—or what had been done to him.
Had he become a puppet?
Otherwise, why would that wicked Danzō let Naruto become Hokage?!
And there hadn't been a word about it beforehand.
It was like a complete and utter conspiracy!
"Ah?"
Uncle Ichiraku had just put the noodles in the pot.
He looked at Naruto, who was eating breakfast.
"Naruto, you're going to be Hokage? That's incredible! Do your best!"
Naruto nodded as he squeezed into a spot at the counter, past a stack of bowls.
"Of course!"
"There'll be plenty of doubts, but for the sake of the village, I'll make that old Danzō geezer and Tsunade get down to work!"
Naruto drained the soup from his bowl.
Then he walked out of the noodle shop.
The people on both sides of the street looked at him with doubt in their eyes.
Some thought the Demon Fox was dangerous, some thought it was utterly unbelievable, some thought it might really be possible if the Sannin approved, and others thought it could be a conspiracy.
On the rooftop,
Naruto walked past one villager after another.
Then he climbed onto the roof.
Even the words on the Acting Hokage's robe had simply been pasted on.
But nothing could dampen Naruto's enthusiasm!
Behind him stood the Sannin, the three old geezers, and the Feudal Lord.
Wearing his hat, Naruto raised a hand toward everyone in Konoha.
"Everyone!"
"I will become Konoha's Acting Hokage!"
"Konoha's future is full of possibilities!"
"Today, in my capacity as Acting Hokage, I'm announcing several new initiatives."
"First, we'll establish the Medical Ninja Department. In addition to the Ninja Hospital, we'll train a group of Medical Ninjas and do our best to assign one medical-combat specialist to every ninja squad!"
"Second, we'll establish Konoha Academy of Sciences. Until now, the village has conducted a number of secret research projects. With advances in technology and the emergence of some research results, we'll begin formal research, creating a new path to strength for every ninja in the village! Technology will usher in a new era for ninjas and make sure Konoha has everything it needs!"
"Third, from now on, Root will be disbanded. Some of its members will join Anbu, and some will become regular village ninjas. I'll personally lead the rest as the Hokage Guard Platoon, carrying out the Hokage's missions. In short, we'll eliminate every shadow lurking in the darkness. The leader of Root, Danzō, supports this as well."
"Fourth, in addition to the Konoha advisors, we'll reestablish the position of Hokage Assistant, with Shikaku Nara in charge. Konoha can't sit around and do nothing. The Ninja World is in turmoil, and as Hokage, I'll make Konoha the strongest!"
"Fifth, Sunagakure will visit soon. There's an inexhaustible resource beneath its sands that we'll put to use. Konoha Academy of Sciences will handle this project, while the Hokage Guard Platoon will ensure its safety."
"That's all I have to say."
"Who's in favor? Or rather, who's even more in favor?!"
Each point Naruto made left the villagers confused.
It was as if Naruto had made a whole lot of preparations to become Hokage.
Even Danzō's Root would become Naruto's guard platoon!
It sounded a little like the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the Feudal Lord from long ago.
Oppose him?
Didn't they see who was standing behind Naruto?
"This old man supports everything Naruto Uzumaki does! He is the one chosen by destiny!"
Danzō stepped forward and looked down at everyone.
As expected.
Standing below the stage, Hiashi thought,
Danzō wants to use Root to infiltrate every faction in Konoha. The Third Hokage used to stop him, but now he's finally free to do as he pleases!
The Nara Clan, the Yamanaka Clan, the Akimichi Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Aburame Clan, and the Sarutobi Clan.
Every ninja clan in Konoha, big or small, had the same idea.
They were convinced Danzō had used some research breakthrough and a genjutsu to control Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
No one dared to resist.
Kirigakure had been like that, and so had Konoha after the Uchiha Clan was wiped out.
"Welcome to a new day in Konoha!"
Naruto turned and walked away.
By then, the astonishing news had spread throughout Konoha.
And even across the entire Ninja World!
Konoha had a new Acting Hokage named Naruto Uzumaki!
[Ping!] [Hello, Host. I have detected disturbances in the world line. Tsunade did not become the Fifth Hokage, and Konoha is now caught between good and evil.] [A new storm is approaching. To rescue Orochimaru and take away his new vessel, Sasuke Uchiha, a major battle is about to begin. Be sure to save Sasuke Uchiha and prevent him from falling further into Blackening.] [Completing the mission will grant 300 Goodwill Points.] [Failing the mission will result in a penalty of 3000 Punishment Points.]
"Oh?"
"Those guys are coming to die again? Kimimaro will be there, too, right?"
Naruto sat in the Hokage's office with his arms folded.
"Good. I could use some test subjects. Those guys will do just fine!"
Bang!
Tsunade strode into the room.
"Naruto, it's time to go to the Ninja Hospital. Didn't you say you wanted to learn Medical Ninjutsu?"
"I'll teach you the Mystical Palm Technique and Chakra Scalpel. Maybe you'll make a decent Medical Ninja, even as Acting Hokage."
Tsunade kicked the door open.
Naruto followed close behind, but Konohamaru appeared in the doorway and blocked his view.
"Naruto, what are you going to do with all those things Grandpa left behind? Are you going to make everything Grandpa did disappear?"
Looking behind Konohamaru, Naruto saw his two snot-nosed friends as well.
"The documents are still here. The keepsakes have already been sent back to your house. Go sort through them."
Naruto couldn't understand why anyone would want to keep a pile of an old man's things.
"Grandpa's keepsakes have already been sent home? I'm very grateful!"
Konohamaru immediately felt guilty.
Things seemed to be turning out differently from what he'd expected.
"Become a ninja soon, and you'll be able to come here often to take missions and have a look around."
Naruto patted Konohamaru on the shoulder.
It was time to head to the Ninja Hospital!
He had to wake Sasuke and Kakashi as soon as possible and let them know he'd become the new Hokage!
Would Kakashi think he was still trapped in Itachi Uchiha's genjutsu?
And what kind of expression would Sasuke make?
"Sasuke, here I come!"