Konoha's Memorial Stone plaza.
The Third Hokage's scheduled funeral had, thanks to the old man's survival, been forcibly turned into a "Konoha Defense Victory Celebration and Reconstruction Mobilization Rally."
Though the atmosphere was solemn, it lacked the oppressive gloom of mourning.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stood on the platform, his head wrapped in thick bandages, looking like an Indian man.
His face was still a little pale, but the old man's voice remained as booming as ever.
"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns on..."
The villagers and ninja below listened with tears welling in their eyes.
Only Son Goten, standing in the front row, was idly picking his ear, leaning crookedly against Genma Shiranui beside him.
"How much longer is he going to talk?" Son Goten let out an enormous yawn, squeezing two reflexive tears from the corners of his eyes. "I'm starving flat here. Is this old man doing it on purpose? Is he trying to starve Konoha's budding future to death?"
Genma Shiranui held a senbon between his lips, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Goten, be serious. Lord Hokage is giving an important speech."
"Tch, important hot air, more like." Son Goten curled his lip. "All that talk about the Will of Fire isn't worth a bowl of tonkotsu ramen."
On the platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi also noticed a certain brat's impatience below.
He coughed twice and changed the subject.
"Given my advanced age, and how keenly I felt my strength falling short in this battle, for Konoha's future, I have decided..."
The entire crowd fell silent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, then announced, "I will formally step down as Hokage and immediately dispatch elite ninja to find Princess Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, and bring her back to succeed me as the Fifth Hokage!"
The crowd erupted