The next day, broad daylight had arrived.
All of Konoha's villagers and ninja gathered before the open ground amid the village's ruins.
Shihōin Naraku slowly ascended the newly built temporary platform, step by step, his footprints clear and distinct, as though each step fell upon the beat of the people's hearts.
A gust of wind swept past, lifting the hem of Naraku's clothes.
His footsteps stopped. Shihōin Naraku stood in the center of the platform, looking down at the countless Konoha civilians and ninja gathered below.
Every face brimmed with excitement, exhilaration, and approval.
At this moment, Shihōin Naraku's position as Sixth Hokage seemed to have taken tangible form!
Unlike before, when Naraku had simply taken the Hokage Hat that Mitokado Homura held behind him and then announced that he was the Sixth Hokage.
Instead, Shihōin Naraku stood silently on the platform until the people below settled down and looked curiously at their soon-to-be Hokage, wondering what he would say.
Clearly, everyone understood that Shihōin Naraku would not change the succession ceremony without reason.
"Just a few days ago, Konohagakure suffered an unprecedented attack..."
The speech finally began!
Shihōin Naraku's voice rang out, powerful and resonant, inspiring an involuntary sense of trust in those who heard him.
"Ugh... what happened... my head hurts!"
The sleeping Tsunade's eyes shifted slightly before opening with a trace of confusion. She surveyed her surroundings dazedly, not yet fully awake.
"Ah? Lady Tsunade, you're awake!!!"
Holding the tent flap as she looked outside, Shizune heard the sound and turned, delighted to discover that Tsunade had awakened.
She immediately hurried over in a few happy strides, preparing to examine Tsunade.
"Shizune? You're the only one here... where's everyone else?" Tsunade's entire body felt sore and weak from lying in bed for so long.
With Tsunade's