Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Uchiha Ryun, who stood a head taller beside him, and smiled. "Congratulations."
Uchiha Ryun shook his head. "It is all for serving the villagers. There is nothing to congratulate." These diplomatic words from Ryun were met with cheers from the villagers.
"Eternal Flash!"
"Lord Eternal Flash!"
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, nodded. He had to admit, Uchiha Ryun was impressive. With one sentence, he had mobilized the villagers' enthusiasm. Combined with his past actions, he immediately won over 90% of public support.
Hiruzen suddenly became serious. "Uchiha Ryun, I, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, ask you now. Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the village, to burn yourself out, to light the way for Konoha, to dedicate your entire life to everyone?"
"I, Uchiha Ryun, am willing to inherit the will of our predecessors. I will take pride in Konoha's prosperity and feel shame in its decline. I will sacrifice myself, burn myself out, and dedicate myself to making Konoha the greatest village in the ninja world!" Uchiha Ryun declared resolutely.
The villagers gasped. They had thought today was just a formality, but they never expected Uchiha Ryun to make such a vow. The greatest village in the ninja world. What a grand ambition!
The young people felt their blood boil, filled with passion and drive, wishing they could join the battlefield right then to serve the village. The elders smiled with satisfaction. This was how it should be. Konoha should be the greatest village!
Hiruzen was momentarily dazed, clearly not expecting Ryun to say such a thing. He froze for three seconds, then coughed lightly. "Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire will burn eternally. I hope you can shoulder the responsibilities of the Hokage and bring prosperity to Konoha!"
After saying this, Hiruzen took off the Hokage hat. Holding it with both hands, he presented it as Ryun bowed his head. Hiruzen placed the hat on Ryun's head, his eyes filled with relief and release.
He felt a weight lift from his shoulders. From this moment on, the heavy responsibility of Konoha Village was handed over to Uchiha Ryun!
Ryun raised his head and bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen smiled and patted his shoulder. "Do not let us down."
Us? Ryun immediately understood. He meant Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tobirama Senju.
Ryun nodded. "Naturally!" Having received his reply, Hiruzen slowly walked down from the high platform, each step deliberate and measured.
Ryun turned to face the villagers. "I, Uchiha Ryun, will live up to everyone's expectations!" He then raised his arm and shouted, "Long live Konoha, long live the villagers!"
The villagers cheered, rejoicing at the succession of the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Ryun.
"Long live Konoha, long live the Hokage!"
"Long live Konoha, long live the Hokage!"
...
The inauguration ceremony concluded. Uchiha Ryun was escorted by former Anbu to the Hokage's office, where he sat in the seat once occupied by Hiruzen Sarutobi and began reviewing documents.
At noon, Uchiha Ryun summoned all the major clans of the village and representatives of the civilians for his first meeting after taking office.
This time, the attendance was complete. Uchiha Ryun sat in his seat, head lowered as he reviewed documents, not speaking, as if he were the only person in the office.
The clan leaders frowned, unsure what Uchiha Ryun intended. Was this a show of authority? But from their understanding of Uchiha Ryun, he wasn't that kind of person!
It wasn't until the two Hokage Advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, opened the door and entered that Uchiha Ryun paused his writing. He raised his head, his gaze cold, making the clan leaders present tense up.
He was targeting the two former advisors of the Third Hokage! Some lowered their heads, not daring to look at Ryun. Others stared intently at him, while a few watched Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado with schadenfreude.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado trembled inwardly but forced themselves to appear composed.
"Oh, our two Hokage Advisor 'lords' have arrived! Quick, quick, prepare seats for them." Uchiha Ryun smiled as he spoke to the Anbu.
The expressions of everyone present turned peculiar. They didn't understand what Uchiha Ryun was doing, but it was clearly best not to speak at this moment.
"There's no need for such courtesy, Hokage-sama."
"Yes, we are all here for Konoha."
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado responded with practiced diplomacy, as if Ryun's actions were only to be expected.
"Heh." Uchiha Ryun sneered. "You two Hokage Advisors have worked hard for Konoha. Your efforts are truly commendable. The work during this period fully demonstrates your strong capabilities. However, with great power comes great responsibility."
"Therefore, I hope the two of you can select three hundred shinobi from your clans for undercover missions on behalf of our village. Given your esteemed reputations, I trust you will have no objections, right?" Ryun's words were like sharp knives piercing straight into their hearts.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado turned pale. They were furious! Who would have thought Uchiha Ryun would praise them one moment and the next demand they send their clan members on undercover missions!
Everyone knew undercover missions had a mortality rate of 90%. Most of these missions were carried out by civilian shinobi or war orphans. Now, he was asking shinobi from their two clans to do them.
Wasn't this clearly forcing their clans to bleed and die?
The other clans' expressions changed as they looked at Uchiha Ryun. They knew Uchiha Ryun was different from the Third Hokage. He meant what he said. If he ordered you to go, you had to go.
"Why! Uchiha Ryun, you are harming your own village!" Koharu Utatane roared.
Homura Mitokado's face darkened. "Exactly! Everyone knows these missions have the highest mortality rate. Moreover, our shinobi are mostly adults, which greatly increases the risk of undercover work!"
"You are clearly sending our shinobi to their deaths!" Koharu Utatane was livid.
"Heh. High risk? High mortality? Is that your reason for hesitating? Which clan hasn't lost people? Which clan hasn't done undercover work? Do you two think the Utatane and Mitokado clans are superior?" Uchiha Ryun criticized them from the moral high ground.
Nara Luming's eyes lit up. "The Hokage speaks rightly. You two Hokage Advisors, please prioritize the greater good!"
The Ino-Shika-Chō had long been in cahoots with the Uchiha clan, no, collaborating closely.
Although he didn't know why Uchiha Ryun was targeting the two Hokage Advisors, Nara Luming was determined to support him.
"Heh. Clan Leader Nara is correct. The greater good must be prioritized. So, you two Hokage Advisors, please select your people quickly. If you cannot choose, I will choose for you."
"Utatane Fūta, Mitokado Kiyoshi, Utatane Yūshin, Mitokado Ikusa..." With each name Ryun read aloud, the two of them grew paler.
"He knows. He knows everything!" Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged a glance, a chill rising from the soles of their feet.
Look at the foolish things they had done. They thought tarnishing Uchiha Ryun's reputation would prevent him from becoming Hokage.
What a joke. Uchiha Ryun was appointed by the Second Hokage and supported by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. How did Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado think they could change the minds of these people?
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━