After eating and drinking, Amado went back to his room to sleep. He hadn't slept in his room for almost half a month. He usually just made do with sleeping in the laboratory. Minato then helped Torifu's puppet clean up the table. After putting everything away, he also went back to his room to take a nap.
...
A few days later, the first ray of morning sun shone through the window into the room. Torifu was already up and had finished washing up. He opened the door and leisurely lay in his rocking chair, enjoying the sunlight.
Although there had been rumors a few days ago that Torifu would become the Third Hokage, there was no official announcement. But yesterday, Tobirama officially released a public notice, stating that he would be stepping down as Hokage and that Kumotsuru Torifu would be taking over as the Third Hokage.
As soon as this news came out, the entire village instantly went wild. The villagers who had been asking around for information were finally able to set their hearts at ease. Kumotsuru Torifu was really going to take over as the Third Hokage!
The streets of Konoha were filled with celebration yesterday. Cheers and shouts were endless and only gradually stopped after dark. This made Torifu a little nervous. Although he knew the villagers would be enthusiastic, he didn't expect them to be this enthusiastic. It was even more lively than when Tobirama took over as the Second Hokage. But it was only a little bit. After all, he had seen all sorts of things, so Torifu was already used to it.
"Nii-san, why are you still basking in the sun here? Don't you need to get ready?" Minato opened the door and was a little confused to find that Torifu was so leisurely lying down.
Torifu looked up at Minato when he heard this, then lay back down. "No rush, no rush. It's still early. And what's there to prepare for? When Tobirama-sama took the position back then, he just said a few simple words. You don't have to be so nervous."
Minato scratched his head when he heard this. "Is that so? I thought it was a very important ceremony and that there couldn't be a single mistake, since it's the succession of the Hokage."
Torifu laughed. "What do you think this is, the succession of a feudal lord? Do we need to have so many ceremonies just for show? The Hokage is here to serve the villagers and protect the village, not to enjoy a life of luxury."
He then continued to lecture. "Standing on that high platform, the villagers won't be convinced just because you say some extravagant words. You have to truly have a heart that burns with the Will of Fire."
"The Will of Fire? What's that?"
Minato had only been in Konoha for a short time, but he had often heard his teacher mention the Will of Fire, but he didn't understand what it meant.
"Hmm... It's hard to explain. You have to understand it yourself. You're still young, so there's no need to rush."
Seeing that his big brother was being a little vague, Minato was even more confused. Torifu then waved his hand. "Go and understand it yourself. Every ninja in Konoha has their own Will of Fire in their heart. You don't have to follow others. Just find your own will."
Although Minato still didn't quite understand, he remembered one sentence: "find your own will." He believed that he would definitely be able to understand it.
"You don't have school today, right?" Torifu's question brought Minato's thoughts back. "Yes, Nii-san. Today is your succession ceremony. We definitely have to go watch. The entire village should be there."
"That's right. Kids your age need to set a goal. Watching the succession ceremony might make many kids want to become the Hokage. That's a good thing."
He then stood up and patted Minato's head. "You should also work hard. If you get first place in the final exam this semester, I'll give you a mysterious reward."
Minato's eyes lit up when he heard there was a reward. "What kind of reward is it? Can you tell me, Nii-san?"
Torifu made a shushing gesture. "I told you it's a mysterious reward. How can it be mysterious if I tell you? But it's definitely a good thing, so you should work hard."
Kids were all passionate, and Torifu easily got him excited. At this moment, Minato looked very motivated, as if he was determined to get the reward.
"Alright, go back and change into a new outfit. Then, go with your Nii-san or Nee-san Naori later. Don't get lost."
"Nii-san, don't underestimate me. I'm already very familiar with Konoha, so I won't get lost!"
With that, Minato ran back into the house and changed into a blue and white jacket that looked very casual. Torifu had specifically had the embroidery shop make it for Minato. It was a style from his previous life. After all, with Minato's bright yellow spiky hair, wearing a white robe would always feel a little out of place, except for the Hokage cloak, of course.
Torifu, wearing a jade crown and a sword at his waist, was dressed in a white robe, like a celestial being who had descended to the mortal world. He led Minato out of the clan's front gate, and the people on the street immediately surrounded them.
"Torifu-sama, are you going to eat breakfast?"
"Why are you still calling him Torifu-sama? You should be calling him Hokage-sama now!"
"Right, right, right. I misspoke. I should be calling him Hokage-sama."
Torifu smiled and waved his hand. "Please don't be so distant. Even if I become the Hokage, you can still call me Torifu. You don't have to call me Hokage-sama, and I'm not the Hokage yet."
"Oh, Torifu-sama, you're only a few hours away from taking the position. There's no difference."
"That's right. And Tobirama-sama has been working hard for Konoha for more than ten years. He can finally get some rest."
The villagers saw the contributions each Hokage had made to Konoha. All sorts of policies that benefited the people made their lives better and better, and there were no wars. After chatting with the enthusiastic villagers for a while, the villagers, knowing that Torifu was going to eat breakfast, didn't stay long. After chatting for a bit, they dispersed on their own.
Minato had been squeezed in the crowd and couldn't move at all. Thankfully, Torifu had been silently creating a small open space for him, or else he might have suffocated.
"The villagers really like you, Nii-san. It's truly what everyone wants for you to become the Hokage."
Torifu smiled slightly. "You'll be like this in the future, too."
"Me?" Minato pointed at himself.
"Of course. Didn't I tell you? I'll train you to be the Fourth Hokage."
Although he had heard his big brother say this before, he had never really believed it. Was he really cut out to be the Hokage? Or rather, could he really be recognized by the villagers like his big brother? For Minato right now, this was an unanswerable question because he was still too young.
"Even though I'm not sure if I can do it, since Nii-san trusts me so much, I'll definitely work hard!"
Torifu crouched down and patted Minato on the shoulder. "That's my little brother. Take it slow. You're still too young. Just take it one step at a time."