When the people of Konoha heard the news, they were delighted and took to the streets to celebrate on their own. Some businesses even offered everything free for a day to celebrate Minato Namikaze becoming Hokage. A festive atmosphere filled Konoha, and pride shone on every face.
Konoha Year 48, on the roof of the Hokage Building in Konoha.
The Third Hokage and Minato Namikaze stood at the edge of the roof. The streets below were packed with Konoha ninja and civilians, all waiting for the ceremony to pass on the position of Hokage.
Seeing that the streets below were already full, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided not to wait for those who had yet to arrive.
He stepped forward and called out, "Our victory in this war was won by everyone risking their lives! We will never forget the ninja who sacrificed themselves to protect Konoha! Let us honor those who have fallen!"
"Konoha! Konoha! Konoha!"
"Third Hokage! Third Hokage!"
The crowd below shouted at the top of their lungs!
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand for silence, then said, "The greatest contributor to this war was Minato Namikaze, who is about to become the Fourth Hokage! He single-handedly destroyed Iwagakure's supply lines and held off the Hidden Cloud Village's Fourth Raikage and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki! He defeated Sunagakure's One-Tail Jinchuriki and killed Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
"Without Minato Namikaze's achievements, we would still be trapped in a war on four fronts! That is why I have decided to officially step down as the Third Hokage today! Minato Namikaze will succeed me as Konoha's Fourth Hokage!"
After recounting Minato Namikaze's achievements, Hiruzen Sarutobi took off his Hokage hat, walked over to him, and handed it to him.
Minato Namikaze accepted the Hokage hat and put it on. He walked to the edge of the Hokage Building's roof and raised his hand as he looked down at the crowd.
Seeing Minato Namikaze wearing the Hokage hat, the crowd below erupted into cheers again!
"Fourth Hokage! Fourth Hokage! Fourth Hokage!"
Minato Namikaze was deeply excited as well. Lowering his hand, he called out, "I, Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, am willing to give everything to keep our village safe, including my life! I hope you will all work alongside me to build a better Konoha!"
"Fourth! Fourth! Fourth!"
The crowd cheered again!
Minato Namikaze's inauguration ceremony soon came to an end amid everyone's cheers!
A week later, in the Hokage Office!
"Third Hokage, I'm sorry to trouble you, but I'll need you to oversee things again for a little while! I'm going to the Daimyo's Mansion to meet with the daimyo!" Sitting in the Hokage's seat, Minato Namikaze spoke to Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him.
"Fourth, don't worry! These old bones can still hold out for a few days!" Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed.
"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Third!" Minato Namikaze nodded gratefully.
Watching Minato Namikaze review the documents, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "Who are you planning to take with you to the Daimyo's Mansion?"
"I'm only taking the Hokage Guard and Kushina. It'll just be the few of us!" Minato Namikaze said as he worked through the documents.
"Hmm? As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, isn't it a little unwise for Kushina to leave the village so casually?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly when he heard that Kushina would be going too.
Minato Namikaze looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "It'll be fine. Lord Ziyan said that, aside from himself, Kushina should now be the strongest person in Konoha. There are very few people in the entire shinobi world who could hurt her, so she can leave the village occasionally. Besides, I'll be with her. Even if we encounter a powerful enemy we can't beat, I can still get her away safely!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened at Minato Namikaze's words. He hadn't kept track of Kushina's growth over the past few years. Had she already become that strong?
"If Lord Ziyan said so, then there shouldn't be a problem. Be careful out there. Your safety and Kushina's are what matter most!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said, lowering his head.
Minato Namikaze didn't notice the change in Hiruzen Sarutobi. Continuing to work through the documents, he nodded and said, "You know best, Third!"
After finishing the last document, Minato Namikaze stood and said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "I'll head out now! I'll leave Konoha's affairs in your hands!"
"Go on!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a nod.
Three days later, outside the Daimyo's Mansion in the Land of Fire.
"So this is the Daimyo's Mansion? It's so grand!" Kushina said, holding Minato's arm.
Looking at the imposing gates before them, Minato said, "The Daimyo's Mansion really is grand. Genma! Go speak to the guards and tell them that Konoha's Fourth Hokage has come to pay his respects to the daimyo!"
Upon receiving the order, Genma hurried to the entrance of the Daimyo's Mansion and spoke with the guards on duty.
He soon returned and said, "Fourth Hokage, the guard asked us to wait a moment. He needs to announce our arrival!"
Before long, the guard who had gone inside came back out and asked Minato's group, "Which of you is the Fourth Hokage?"
Minato stepped forward and said, "I am!"
The guard glanced at Minato and said, "Come inside with me. Everyone else must wait outside!"
"What gives? They're only letting Minato in!" Kushina grumbled under her breath.
With a wry smile, Minato patted Kushina's hand and said, "Wait here for me!"
Then Minato followed the guard inside!
Looking unhappy, Kushina walked to the side and sat on the steps, kicking at the little stones on the ground!
Just then, a small fox with nine tails appeared on Kushina's shoulder and said, "Girl, if you want to see the daimyo so badly, why not just fight your way in?"
Kushina was about to argue when she heard Hatake Ziyan's voice. "Kurama, is this how you keep egging Kushina on? Looks like you're itching for a beating!"
At the sound of that voice, the Nine-Tails trembled all over and immediately vanished.
"Grandpa Ziyan!" Kushina turned around, grabbed Hatake Ziyan's arm, and gave it a wheedling shake.
"All right, little girl! You're about to get married, and you're still acting spoiled with me! Come along!" Hatake Ziyan said, tapping Kushina's forehead with a finger.
Kushina stuck out her tongue and immediately followed Hatake Ziyan.
Hatake Ziyan walked up to the Daimyo's Mansion and told the guard, "Go tell your daimyo that Hatake Ziyan is here and wants to see him!"
The guard frowned at Hatake Ziyan's tone. He was just about to rebuke him when an older guard beside him held him back. The older guard then said to Hatake Ziyan, "Please wait a moment, Lord Ziyan. I'll announce you right away!"
With that, he pulled the other guard inside.
"My lord! Lord Ziyan is here and wishes to see you!" The older guard reported as he approached the daimyo.
The daimyo shuddered upon hearing who had come. "Why is that menace here again? All right, hurry up and let him in!"
Before you continue