Hokage building, top floor.
The door to the rooftop was pushed open, and dazzling sunlight poured in.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the front. He had taken off his Hokage royal robe and was only wearing simple elder clothes. He looked older than three days ago, but his eyes were clearer and calmer than ever before.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura stood behind him, one on the left and one on the right, with solemn expressions.
Tsunade faced everyone's gaze and walked step by step in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The entire rooftop was silent, and only the sound of the wind blowing through people's clothes could be heard.
"Tsunade."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke first, his voice hoarse, but with a sense of relief.
"You finally stand in this position."
His turbid eyes swept over Tsunade's face, which was almost unchanged from his memory, as if he saw the stubborn little girl who followed him decades ago, clamoring to be Hokage. Time flies, things change, and people change. The only thing that remains unchanged may be this inheritance.
"Teacher." Tsunade nodded slightly, his voice cold and steady, "I'm sorry for your trouble."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled bitterly and shook his head. He turned around, faced everyone present, and used all his strength to spread his voice throughout the rooftop.
"I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in the name of Konoha Third Hokage, declare here!"
"Since Nine-Tails' Attack and Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze died to protect the village, Hokage Position has been suspended until now. As Acting Hokage, I try to keep the village running, but Konoha needs a real leader, a strong man who can lead us out of the gloom and create a future!"
His eyes swept over everyone present, from the familiar old faces to the newly promoted young Jonin.
"Now, the granddaughter of First Hokage, our Land of Fire's Princess Tsunade, has returned!"
"There is no doubt about her strength, her achievements, her bloodline, and her love for this village!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, and his voice suddenly rose in pitch, full of undeniable majesty.
"Here, I propose that Tsunade be succeeded by Konoha Fifth Hokage! Do you have any objections?!"
After the words fell, there was still deathly silence on the rooftop.
But this dead silence is no longer depressing, but a kind of calm before the storm.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Tsunade, and the flame called "hope" burned in those eyes.
"No objection!"
A loud voice broke the silence.
It's Uchiha Fugaku!
He took a step forward and said solemnly, "I, Uchiha Clan, fully support Lady Tsunade and become Fifth Hokage!"
His statement was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up thousands of waves.
"I, Hyuga Clan, second the proposal!" Hyuga Hiashi's voice was cold and firm.
"Agree!" Shikaku Nara rarely put away his lazy look and spoke solemnly.
"Princess Tsunade is Hokage, and I, Inuzuka Clan, will give my full support!" Kiba Inuzuka's mother, the fiery Tsume Inuzuka, shouted loudly, and Ninja Dog Kuromaru beside her also let out a "woof".
"Aburame Clan, no objection."
"So are we!"
"Support Lady Tsunade!"
For a time, echoes came and went, forming an unstoppable torrent. The Jonins present, no matter they were born into civilians or wealthy families, no matter what their factions were, at this moment, their wills were unprecedentedly unified.
Senju Chen stood behind Tsunade, taking in all of this, with an undetectable arc at the corner of his mouth.
This is not only Tsunade's personal reputation, but also the result of his secret layout in recent years. The win-over and appeasement of Uchiha, the conveyance of interests to the major ninja clans, and the strong rise of the Public Security Department after its establishment... all are paving the way for today's moment.
Today's Tsunade can be said to be what everyone expects.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded happily. With trembling hands, he took the brand new Hokage hat from the tray held by Shizune.
He walked towards Tsunade step by step and raised his bamboo hat high.
"Tsunade, from today on, this village will be handed over to you."
Tsunade didn't answer. She just stretched out her hand, took the royal robe with "Fifth Hokage" embroidered on the back, and put it neatly on her body.
The white robe rustled in the wind, making her already tall figure look even taller.
She turned around and faced everyone, her amber eyes bursting with unprecedented light at this moment. It was an absolute confidence that looked down on the world and all living beings.
Her voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, as if it had some kind of magic power that could instantly ignite the most primitive passion in people's hearts.
"I, Tsunade!"
She paused and glanced at the faces that were either excited, reverent or expecting.
"From today on, I will bet everything I have, including my life!"
"I will kill all Konoha's enemies!"
"I will protect all Konoha people!"
"As long as I am here, this village will never fall! This is my promise as Fifth Hokage!"
There are no gorgeous rhetoric, no empty prospects, only the most straightforward, arrogant, and most reassuring declaration!
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at her back, with a heartfelt smile on her old face. He slowly and solemnly put the hat, which symbolized Will of Fire's highest inheritance, on Tsunade's head.
The moment you put on the hat, time seems to have stopped.
The next second.
"Oh oh oh oh oh oh--!!!"
"The Godaime!!"
"The Godaime!!"
"The Godaime!!!"
"Long live Princess Tsunade!!!"
Cheers like a mountain roar and a tsunami erupted from the rooftop and spread throughout Konoha in an instant!
In the square below and in the streets, countless villagers and ninjas who had been waiting for a long time fell into the sea of carnival after hearing the shouts.
Countless hats were thrown into the sky, countless people hugged each other and cried, and countless children were lifted high. They will always remember this day and this woman's name.
Tsunade.
Konoha Fifth Hokage.
Wearing a bamboo hat, she walked slowly to the edge of the rooftop, overlooking the brightly lit and bustling land below, as well as the villagers who pinned all their hopes on her.
The wind blew her white royal robe and the blond hair on her temples.
The sunlight outlines her incomparable outline. At this moment, she is not someone's granddaughter, someone's apprentice, or the legendary Sannin.
She is Hokage.
Senju Chen stood quietly not far behind her, watching this scene with smiles in his eyes.
Sister, your era has begun.
And my layout can finally be rolled out to the entire Shinobi World.
As night falls, the hustle and bustle of the celebration gradually subsides, but the atmosphere of joy in the village becomes stronger.
Inside Hokage's Office, the lights are brightly lit.
Tsunade has changed out of the complicated kimono, still wearing the iconic green windbreaker, but on her shoulders, she wears the white god robe.
She did not sit behind the desk that symbolized the highest power, but stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window with her arms folded, quietly looking at the starry village below.
"How do you feel? Lord Hokage."
Senju Chen pushed open the door and came in, holding a food box in his hand.
Tsunade did not look back, but said lightly, "It's much heavier than I thought."
What she was referring to was, of course, the hat on the desk.
"With great power comes great responsibility." Senju Chen smiled and handed the food box to Shizune who was standing aside.
"Sister, you have been busy all day. Let's have something to eat first. Even if you are not tired, you still feel sorry for Sister Shizune. She is very busy for you today."
"No, no, I'm not tired." After listening to Senju Chen's words, Shizune blushed and quickly shook his head to explain.
Tsunade Listening to Senju Chen's joking, the superior aura instantly dissipated. He turned around and looked at Senju Chen and Shizune in a funny way.
"Little Chen." She raised her glass, "Thank you."
Tsunade knows that Senju Chen has been very busy during this period in order to make her Hokage Position sit smoothly in the future. In the past two days, she has frequently met with many clan leaders and senior officials of various clans.
Originally Tsunade didn't bother to do these things, but seeing her brother busy for her, she still felt warm in her heart.
"Sister, what are you saying to me about thanking you? Are we family? Sister, you are just talking about this."
He looked at Tsunade and suddenly laughed, "However, since my sister has been officially crowned, it's time for us to talk about business, sister."
Tsunade raised his eyebrows, "Oh? Tell me. What do you want to talk to me about?"