Acting Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki!

"Naruto wants to be Hokage? What is going on with the village!"

Shikamaru's toothbrush clattered to the floor.

He had been planning to head out for a mission today, but before he could even step out the door, he was frozen in place.

"Are we sure we didn't mishear that?"

Shikaku Nara felt as though there might be something wrong with his ears.

"Ah, Naruto is Hokage? He finally did what he said he would."

Ino Yamanaka was eating breakfast when the chopsticks in her hand dropped straight to the ground.

"What, Naruto is going to be Hokage!"

It was only after she snapped out of it that she realized something wasn't right.

"Your Team 7's Naruto Uzumaki has actually become the Acting Hokage? That's incredible!"

Sakura Haruno was at home preparing things, intending to head to the hospital later to visit the unconscious Sasuke.

She ended up frozen on her bed.

"Nani!"

"Naruto is the Acting Hokage? What is this!"

Sakura had heard Naruto talk about becoming Hokage day in and day out, but she had never imagined that one day he would actually become one.

It felt like only a month ago they were participating in the Chunin Exams together!

Everyone rushed out of their homes.

Except for ninjas like Kakashi and Sasuke, who were unconscious in the hospital.

"Naruto has already become Hokage. He kept his word, unlike me..."

Rock Lee sat on his hospital bed, looking utterly dejected.

"Lee! Lady Tsunade will begin treatment today; you will definitely recover! Believe in me!"

Guy was holding a basin of medicinal pills to serve as Lee's breakfast.

"What Hokage! That kid Naruto is the Hokage!"

Guy was stunned on the spot as well.

Had so much time passed?

Could it be that he had slept for over a decade yesterday?

Konoha.

Was in a complete frenzy!

The village's current strongest, the Hyuga Clan.

Remained as calm as ever.

Hinata Hyuga trained diligently; she wanted to become stronger, as powerful as Neji and her father!

But at that moment, she heard the hurried footsteps of her father, Hiashi Hyuga.

She saw the clan head, Hiashi Hyuga, standing at the doorway.

He had activated his Byakugan to its full extent.

"What is going on? Why wasn't this matter announced to the major clans in advance? What on earth has happened to Konoha!"

Hiashi Hyuga attended every meeting held in Konoha.

Why had they not been notified that Naruto was elected as Acting Hokage yesterday?

A farce!

It was a complete farce!

But what alarmed Hiashi Hyuga the most was Danzō Shimura.

That Old Man had actually supported Naruto and even intended to assist him as Acting Hokage.

Ever since the Uchiha clan was wiped out.

Hiashi had kept a lower profile than ever, knowing that Danzō was a village official who must never be provoked.

There was no way that old codger Danzō would ever support anyone else to be Hokage; he had never even been submissive to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Why would he allow Naruto Uzumaki, who had nearly started a war just yesterday, to become Acting Hokage?

Genjutsu!

Or was it some method of replacement?

Was he using the Demon Fox as his own combat asset and pushing him into the position of Acting Hokage?

At this moment, Hiashi Hyuga shared the same thoughts as the other clans.

They all believed that Naruto Uzumaki had either fallen under a genjutsu or had been turned into a puppet by Danzō!

As expected.

"Is the Blood Mist Power of Konoha coming?"

Hiashi sighed, clenching his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.

But when he thought of the Uchiha Clan, which was destroyed overnight, his clenched hand did not turn into a fist.

"Naruto has become Hokage!"

Hinata Hyuga's large eyes blinked, her face flushing slightly.

He achieved it so quickly.

She thought she would walk to the end with him.

Then she would have to work twice as hard!

In the courtyard of the Hyuga Clan.

Hinata's Gentle Fist did not stop for a moment.

Konoha Training Ground.

Neji, also of the Hyuga Clan, had recovered from his coma during the Chunin Exams.

He had already begun his day-to-day training.

Tenten was also training alongside him.

"What did you just say? Naruto is Hokage!"

Tenten, unable to believe her ears, had already taken out a Summoning Scroll, ready to throw a thousand Kunai and Shuriken at any moment!

"Neji, we're under a genjutsu!"

Tenten looked around vigilantly.

"No!"

"But we must return to the village, Konoha is going to change!"

Neji was the first to accelerate his journey.

He wanted to know what Naruto was going to do, or what had been done to him.

Had he become a puppet?

Otherwise, how could the evil Danzo possibly let Naruto become Hokage!

And there had been no rumors before this.

It was like a complete conspiracy!

"Ah?"

Uncle Ichiraku had just put his ramen in the pot.

He looked at Naruto, who was eating breakfast.

"Naruto, you're going to be Hokage? That's incredible! Go for it!"

Pushing aside a stack of bowls, Naruto nodded.

"Of course!"

"Although there will be a lot of doubt, for the sake of the village, I will make Danzo old man and Tsunade do their jobs properly!"

Naruto finished the soup in his bowl in one gulp.

He walked out of the ramen shop.

The eyes of the people on both sides of the road were filled with doubt.

Some thought the Demon Fox was dangerous, some thought it was too unbelievable, some thought that being recognized by the Sannin might really work, and some thought this might be a conspiracy.

Rooftop.

Naruto passed by the villagers one by one.

He ascended to the rooftop.

The robe of the Acting Hokage had the characters pasted on.

But it couldn't dampen Naruto's enthusiasm!

Behind him were the Sannin, the three elders, and the Feudal Lord.

Naruto, wearing a straw hat, raised his hand to all of Konoha.

"Everyone!"

"I will become the Acting Hokage of Konoha!"

"Konoha's future will have infinite possibilities!"

"Hereby, I announce that I will initiate several new affairs as Acting Hokage."

"First, establish the Medical Ninja Department. Outside of the Ninja Hospital, we will train a batch of medical ninjas, striving to equip every ninja squad with a medical combat ninja!"

"Second, I am establishing the Konoha Academy of Sciences. Until now, the village has conducted research in secret. With technological progress and the emergence of new findings, we will begin formal research to pave a new path of strength for every ninja in the village! Technology will usher in a new era for ninjas and ensure Konoha has everything it needs."

"Third, from this day forward, the Konoha Root will be disbanded. Some members will be transferred to the Anbu, others will become regular village ninjas, and the remainder will be personally led by me as the Hokage Guard Platoon to execute Hokage missions. Simply put, we are removing all shadows from the darkness, and this will be fully supported by the Root leader, Danzo."

"Fourth, in addition to the Hokage advisors, I am establishing the position of Hokage Assistant, to be filled by Shikaku Nara. Konoha must not sit idly by while the Ninja World is in turmoil. As Hokage, I will make Konoha the strongest!"

"Fifth, the Sand Village will arrive shortly. Beneath their yellow sands lies an inexhaustible resource for our use. The Konoha Academy of Sciences will be responsible for advancing this project, and the Hokage Guard Platoon will be responsible for security."

"I have finished speaking."

"Who agrees? Or rather, who agrees even more!"

Every point Naruto made left the village feeling somewhat bewildered.

How did it seem as if Naruto had already made so many preparations to become Hokage?

Even Danzo's Root was to become Naruto's guard platoon!

This sounded a bit like the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the past.

Oppose?

Did they not see the people standing behind Naruto?

"I, this old man, support every action of Naruto Uzumaki! He is the one destined by heaven!"

Danzo stepped forward, looking down at everyone.

"As expected."

Hiashi Hyuga stood below the platform, thinking to himself.

"Danzo wants to use the Root to completely infiltrate all of Konoha's factions. In the past, the Third Hokage stopped him, but now he is going to completely let loose!"

The Nara Clan, Yamanaka Clan, Akimichi Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Aburame Clan, and Sarutobi Clan.

Every ninja clan in Konoha, large or small, shared the same thought.

They were convinced that Danzo had completely controlled the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto, using some kind of research result and genjutsu.

No one dared to resist.

It was the same in the Mist Village, and it was the same in Konoha after the Uchiha Clan was wiped out years ago.

"Welcome to a new day in Konoha!"

Naruto turned and walked away.

With this, the news that left everyone stunned spread throughout Konoha.

And even the entire Ninja World!

Konoha had an Acting Hokage named Naruto Uzumaki!

[Ding!]

[Greetings, Host. Sensing the agitation in the world line, Tsunade did not become the Fifth Hokage, and Konoha is caught between good and evil.]

[A new storm is coming. To rescue Orochimaru and take away the new vessel, Sasuke Uchiha, a great battle is imminent. You must save Sasuke Uchiha and prevent him from further blackening.]

[Completing the mission will grant a reward of 300 Goodwill Points.]

[Failure will result in a penalty of 3000 Punishment Points.]

"Oh?"

"Those few are coming to throw their lives away? Kimimaro will be coming too, I suppose."

Naruto sat in the Hokage office with his arms crossed.

"That's fine. I am quite short on test subjects; they will do just perfectly!"

Bang!

Tsunade swaggered through the door.

"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 Palm Healing Technique and the Chakra Scalpel. Perhaps you, as Acting Hokage, can be a decent medical ninja."

Tsunade kicked the door open.

Naruto followed closely behind but was blocked by Konohamaru, who appeared in the doorway.

"Big Brother Naruto! What are you doing with the things Grandpa left behind! Are you trying to make everything Grandpa stood for disappear?"

Looking back, Konohamaru was followed by his two snot-nosed companions.

"The documents are staying here, and the heirlooms have already been sent back to your house. Go and sort through them."

Naruto couldn't understand why anyone would want to keep a pile of an old man's things.

"Grandpa's heirlooms have already been sent home? Thank you so much!"

Konohamaru felt a sudden wave of guilt.

The situation didn't seem to be unfolding the way he had imagined.

"Become a ninja soon, and you'll be able to come here often to pick up missions and take a look around."

Naruto patted Konohamaru on the shoulder.

It was time to head to the Ninja Hospital!

He needed to wake Sasuke and Kakashi as soon as possible so they could learn they had become the new Hokage!

Would Kakashi think he was still trapped in Itachi Uchiha's genjutsu?

And what kind of expression would Sasuke have?

"Sasuke, here I come!"