At dawn, the moment the first ray of sunlight pierced the morning mist and spilled over Flame Emperor City, all of Konoha erupted with excitement.
The square before the Flame Emperor Palace was already packed with representatives from across the shinobi world, gathered to witness the ceremony. Ninja from the Five Great Nations, samurai from the Land of Iron, envoys from remote minor nations, and even the summoning beast clans that lived in seclusion at Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave had all sent representatives. They stood respectfully along both sides of the square, scarcely daring to breathe.
At the very front of the square, Tsunade, the Raikage, Ōnoki, Gaara, and Mei Terumi stood in imperial ceremonial uniforms. Kakashi stood on the steps of the Flame Emperor Palace, holding the Flame Emperor Empire's Founding Charter, his gaze solemn.
The entire square was silent. Tens of thousands of eyes were fixed on the palace's main entrance.
As the morning bell rang for the ninth time, the vermilion doors of the Flame Emperor Palace slowly opened.
Chiya emerged at a measured pace, dressed in black-and-gold imperial robes. He held the gilded Ryūjin Jakka in his hand, the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan in his left eye turning slightly. A faint golden reiatsu surrounded him. Merely walking down the steps, one at a time, he seemed to freeze the very air across the square.
There was no extravagant honor guard, no elaborate ritual. Yet the majesty he exuded, as though he looked down upon all living things, made everyone present instinctively bend at the waist and bow deeply to him.
"We welcome His Majesty the Flame Emperor!"
The unified cry of tens of thousands surged into a torrent, piercing the clouds and resounding throughout Flame Emperor City. Even the distant mountains sent back rolling echoes.
Chiya slowly