MTLNOVEL Chapter 442: Succession Ceremony
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the blond-haired youth standing before him, eyes filled with satisfaction. Then, his gaze shifted to a rooftop not far away.
Right where he looked, two figures stood.
"The old man's watching you."
"I know."
"Tsk, tsk... I still can't figure out how someone like you managed to raise a guy as exceptional as Minato."
"Hey now, Tsunade, that's harsh! What's wrong with me? I'm Jiraiya—one of the legendary Sannin!"
The two were none other than Jiraiya and Tsunade, both members of the Sannin.
Rather than joining the others at the Hokage Building, they stood at a distance, observing from afar.
Jiraiya's eyes gleamed with pride. After all, today's star was his student. He might never have become Hokage himself, but he'd raised one—and that, to him, was the highest honor.
But when his eyes drifted up to Kazuyama floating in the air, his expression suddenly dimmed. He let out a sigh.
"What's wrong? Seeing Kazuyama reminds you of Orochimaru?"
Tsunade had known Jiraiya long enough to read him well. Very few things could make him sigh—and right now, the only one who could stir that kind of sadness was Orochimaru.
"Come on. The guy defected, sure—but he didn't harm anyone in the village, did he?"
"The old man just wants you to bring him back."
Tsunade also knew Orochimaru's situation was complicated. While he hadn't directly harmed the village, the secret experiments he'd conducted were dangerous enough. It made sense the old man wanted him returned.
"Forget it. Let's not bring him up today."
"That bastard... if he hadn't gone astray, he might've been the one up there becoming Hokage."
"Hard to picture, though—what kind of Hokage would that cold-hearted guy have been?"
Jiraiya didn't deny Orochimaru's brilliance. He had always seen him as a rival, after all.
"Haha, nah—Minato's a fine Hokage."
"But Kazuyama, that kid... his Crystal Release really is something else. I didn't expect a spectacle like this."
Tsunade looked at Kazuyama hovering mid-air on his Crystal Release and couldn't help laughing.
Her laugh lightened Jiraiya's mood, and he laughed along with her.
"Man, I should've taken Kazuyama as my student back then. Then both of Konoha's twin stars would've been mine! Just think how good that would've made me look!"
"Hahahaha!"
As their laughter echoed, the Hokage succession ceremony officially began.
Hiruzen stepped onto the raised platform and looked down at the crowd below, a quiet sense of contentment spreading across his face.
This was the village he'd guarded for half a lifetime. Thriving, full of energy—even war had failed to dim its spirit.
He felt truly satisfied. He wasn't the First Hokage or the Second. He didn't possess Wood Release, nor did he have the ability to create a multitude of forbidden jutsu.
But what he had done was give his all to help the village flourish—and now, it had.
In his heart, Hiruzen couldn't help but speak to the past.
Lord First... Sensei... I did it. Konoha is slowly reaching its glory.
As he reached the front of the platform, the once-noisy square fell into absolute silence.
"Everyone, today marks a significant moment."
"Today, we welcome the Fourth Hokage—successor to the Will of Fire."
"A hero of the Third Great Ninja War. Though young, he commands both strength and respect."
"I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Third Hokage of Konohagakure, hereby officially pass the title of Hokage to Minato Namikaze."
"I believe, under his leadership, Konoha will flourish even more."
As his words ended, Hiruzen stepped aside, and Minato stepped forward onto the platform.
In that moment, the already-handsome blond looked even more radiant.
"Minato Namikaze—today, I entrust you with the future of Konoha and the entire ninja world. Do you accept this responsibility?"
Minato's expression turned solemn. In that instant, he felt a pressure unlike any before—but it wasn't a burden. He had been prepared for this from the moment he set Hokage as his goal.
He gave a firm nod, and his voice rang out loud and clear:
"I will do my utmost not to disappoint the Third's expectations. I will lead this village and the ninja world toward a brighter future."
At those words, a satisfied smile appeared on Hiruzen's face.
"I believe you will."
From the side, Koharu Utatane stepped forward and handed the Hokage cloak and hat to Hiruzen, who then passed them to Minato.
Minato accepted them without hesitation—donning the cloak and hat in one smooth motion.
Then, facing the crowd of shinobi and civilians below, he spoke plainly, yet with unwavering resolve:
"I am willing to give my life to guide this village into the light!"
His voice was calm, but the determination behind it reached everyone's hearts.
"Oh! Oh!"
"Minato Namikaze! Fourth Hokage!"
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed from the center of the square. With that one shout, the entire plaza erupted.
Chants of "Minato Namikaze" and "Fourth Hokage" filled the air.
Only three people in the crowd looked particularly resigned.
"So this is why Sensei told us to stand in the center of the square, Kakashi?"
"To give him a target, I guess?"
Obito Uchiha struggled to push through the crowd, his face full of disbelief.
Beside him, Kakashi and Rin Nohara had just squeezed out from the crowd as well.
"Sensei's as unpredictable as ever."
"Still... his shout worked."
Seeing the surging crowd, Kakashi felt his whole body charged with energy.
Above, Kazuyama watched the excited crowd with satisfaction and turned to Kushina.
"You owe me for this. Look at what my shout did—your man's a rockstar now."
Yes, it was Kazuyama's voice that had ignited the cheers.
Using the coordinates Kakashi and the others provided, he had used Flying Thunder God to teleport into the center of the square, gathered his strength, and delivered that explosive shout, setting the whole scene ablaze.
But Kushina wasn't paying him any mind—her gaze never left Minato.
She once dreamed of becoming Hokage too. That dream was no longer possible—but becoming the wife of Hokage? That, she had achieved.
At the edge of the platform, Kazuyama and Fugaku stood side by side, both watching Minato.
Minato looked back at them. He knew that voice had come from Kazuyama—the bond between them left no doubt.
His eyes were filled with emotion.
Kazuyama and Fugaku exchanged a look, then raised their right hands together.
Two thumbs pointed proudly to the sky.
...
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