An Unbearable Blow to the Will of Fire in the Face of Loyalty and Filial Piety

The second day of the new year.

The villagers of Konoha Village gathered in droves in front of the Hokage Building. Today was the day of Konoha's Hokage inauguration ceremony.

Because it was during a time of peace, the process for Namikaze Minato to become Konoha's Fourth Hokage was very complicated… but there was a warm-hearted old man who helped him get everything done…

Whether it was the Jonin's trust vote or the appointment by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire… besides forging a name for himself as the Yellow Flash, the previous Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had personally handled almost everything for Namikaze Minato…

Even regarding Namikaze Minato's wife, Uzumaki Kushina, and how to handle her childbirth in the future, Hiruzen Sarutobi would need to find a way… giving birth as a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was very dangerous.

So, you see, there's no such thing as a chosen one in this world; it's just that someone is carrying the burden for you.

Itachi brought Beiyuan to watch… The crowded masses jostled shoulder to shoulder, making the venue feel a bit like a town market… After all, it was Konoha's grandest event.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't resigned due to his mistakes, some ninja might never have witnessed such a grand occasion in their lives…

But if they were lucky, like the familiar old man wearing a chef's hat beside them… the master of Ichiraku Ramen could be seen chatting and laughing with the Seventh Hokage…

Heh… fate.

Uchiha Fugaku was on the Hokage Building. Although the Uchiha Clan held no positions in Konoha's high command, as the Captain of the Police Force, who operated independently of the system, he still had a seat to observe.

All the Konoha villagers in the venue stared at the Hokage Building, lost in thought… Becoming Hokage was the childhood dream of every Konoha resident… becoming Hokage was the desire of every adult who grew up.

"Now that the war is over, the Fourth Hokage is only in his twenties, isn't that too young!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Use your brain when you say that! If it weren't for the Fourth Hokage, how could the war have ended so quickly!"

"You idiot! You know that's not what I meant… I just think it would have been more suitable if it were Lord Jiraiya or Lord Orochimaru!"

"But the Fourth Hokage is the biggest contributor to the Third Shinobi World War!"

The two ninja argued and then started punching and kicking each other.

"...They're fighting," Uchiha Itachi tilted his head and said blankly.

"..."

The onlookers quickly rushed forward to mediate, pulling apart the brawling parties. However, the two sides continued to curse at each other from a distance… ANBU wearing masks and members of the Police Force appeared before them.

"They are fighting within the village, they should..."

"Our original mission was to escort them to the Police Force..." The leading ANBU commander waved his hand: "Disperse!"

"..."

The ANBU suddenly disappeared, leaving only the Police Force members who were stunned for a moment before apprehending the two ninja and leaving.

This interlude didn't cause too much of a stir among the crowd, as a familiar figure appeared on the Hokage Building—the short old man who had led them through two Shinobi World Wars.

"I am the Third Hokage of Konoha Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi..."

"Wow!"

"Hokage-sama!"

"Long live!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's prestige in Konoha was quite high. At least in the eyes of these villagers, the old man with the pipe was their only memory of a Hokage.

"Quiet, I have a few words to say!"

The old man's voice was not loud, but it was enough to cool down the fervent atmosphere of the entire venue. The villagers stopped making noise.

Beiyuan faintly recognized the voice… Hiruzen Sarutobi's words sounded familiar, as if he had heard them somewhere before… When could it have been?

"I am the host of today's Hokage inauguration ceremony…"

"Since the war broke out, many of our loved ones and friends have sacrificed themselves on the battlefield. It is their lives that have written the victory chapter of Konoha Village…"

"Everyone will die, and life is only once for everyone… even for me, it is no exception…"

"The new generation of ninja can now bear the responsibilities they should, and the Will of Fire that has been passed down to them…"

"Everything we do is for the future of the village, to continue the existence of the Will of Fire…"

"Where the leaves dance, the fire is born anew. The flame will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout…"

As he spoke movingly, Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice even choked up. The villagers below, more or less, had tears in their eyes. There was even a young man in a green tight suit whose tears flowed uncontrollably… If he hadn't gritted his teeth, he might have burst into tears…

Uchiha Itachi seemed deeply moved, his eyes gradually turning red. He murmured in a low voice, "Will of Fire…"

Hey, hey, hey! Kid, don't do that! I'm a little freaked out! By the way, I wonder if you've heard of loyalty and filial piety?

"Caw…"

A surge of chakra entered Uchiha Itachi's body. Beiyuan had long been tired of the Third Hokage's speech and was feeling sleepy… But Itachi's reaction made it jolt awake!

As Beiyuan's chakra entered his body, Itachi's eyes finally turned blood red, with two tomoe faintly appearing…

Each strand of chakra carried a piece of Beiyuan's thoughts. Itachi's emotions gradually stabilized, and his Sharingan glowed with an eerie red light.

"Beiyuan, let's go back and have a good talk…" Uchiha Itachi hugged the crow and whispered in its ear.

Throughout the ninja world, the concepts of loyalty and filial piety seem to be appearing for the first time in the ninja world. This is the essence of human history… but there isn't an honest person in the ninja world…

Uchiha Itachi is a good boy now…

The speech on top of the Hokage building was coming to an end.

Hiruzen Sarutobi beckoned Namikaze Minato to his side, taking off the hat that symbolized the Hokage's identity. "My mission is complete! Minato! It's up to you!"

"Yes, Third Hokage!"

The blond young man took the hat and put it on his head. Hiruzen Sarutobi clapped his hands and announced loudly, "From now on, the Yellow Flash who deterred the entire ninja world will be the Fourth Hokage leading the entire Konoha, Namikaze Minato!" The applause vibrated like a tide. The title of Yellow Flash was indeed resounding… at least he was capable…

Namikaze Minato didn't say much, smiling modestly and waving his hand. Ever since the Third Hokage started giving speeches frequently, children's aspirations gradually began to be set on becoming Hokage.

Namikaze Minato was the first to realize his dream. He watched the villagers below gradually disperse, then turned to scan the crowd of spectators… the Ino-Shika-Cho clans… the Uchiha… the Hyuga… the Yuhi… the Inuzuka… Utatane Koharu… Mitokado Homura…

Compared to the calmness on their faces, the red-haired woman wearing a ninja headband at the end clearly became excited… Uzumaki Kushina…

The Fourth Hokage's heart warmed, and he nodded slightly to everyone, saying, "From today on, I ask for your guidance!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

They really aren't humble at all… these guys…

Below the Hokage building, a group of Uchiha clan members in police uniforms were surrounding a little boy… attracting quite a bit of attention.

"Lord Itachi! Please don't touch the Sharingan with your hands!"

"We've already sent someone to notify the captain!"

"Just bear with it for a moment… the captain will be here soon!"

"Can you try to retract the chakra around the optic nerve of the Sharingan? Can't you do it?"

"... Itachi is only five years old this year, he hasn't learned about chakra flow yet!"

The little boy asked, "I sort of understand how to disperse chakra within the body… is that okay?"

"... Uh, that probably won't help."

"Then, can you… can you spread out first? I… I'm not used to… this…" Uchiha Itachi looked nervously at the villagers pointing fingers at them.

Clearly, someone had misunderstood.

The leader gave a few instructions, and the other Uchiha team members went to the front of the onlookers, shouting, "Disperse… disperse… don't crowd around here…"

"..."

"Caw..."

The instigator was held tightly by the little boy, unable to breathe.

The Fourth Hokage and his wife died in the Nine-Tails' attack… Similarly, the Third Hokage's wife… Biwako Sarutobi… was also kill