After successfully ascending to the position of Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku no longer kept the news under wraps.
Word that the Third Hokage had "passed away from illness" and that Fugaku had become the Fifth Hokage spread quickly. The other four great shinobi villages learned of it almost immediately.
In Kirigakure, a short-statured man—the Fourth Mizukage—stood with Uchiha Obito's shadowed figure emerging from behind him.
"The Third Hokage died of illness, and Uchiha Fugaku is now the Fifth Hokage? "
Obito let out a low chuckle when he heard the news. He wasn't surprised.
Ever since he discovered Fugaku's overwhelming strength, he had suspected that the man harbored great ambition. Years of lurking in the shadows were surely for the sake of toppling the Third Hokage's faction and seizing the title of Hokage.
The Third Hokage's death only gave Fugaku the perfect opportunity to rise.
"And was it really illness that killed him? "
The corners of Obito's mouth curled. Relations between the Uchiha clan and the Third Hokage's camp had been openly hostile—especially after Fugaku revealed his true strength and abandoned his mask. To Obito, it was far more believable that the Uchiha staged a coup and killed the Third Hokage than that Hiruzen simply died of illness.
"Looks like I should prepare a… 'gift.'"
Though he spoke of a congratulatory gift, his expression beneath the mask turned cold. His loss at Fugaku's hands had been one of the few defeats he had suffered in years—something he would never forgive.
Now that Fugaku was Hokage, he would make sure to send him a "gift" worthy of that title.
In Sunagakure, within the Kazekage's office, a man stood by a window, gazing out at the endless desert winds.
He was of average build, with short brown hair, dressed in a white-and-blue Kazekage robe—the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
"The Third Hokage has actually died of illness? "
He frowned deeply. To him, this was not good news.
After the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha, as the victor, quickly regained strength through war reparations. Sunagakure, the defeated side, had been shackled with unequal treaties and hindered by the Land of Wind's harsh conditions, making recovery painfully slow.
While Konoha had already regained much of its power, Sunagakure had not. Rasa had always kept a wary eye on Konoha, though thankfully, the Third Hokage had shown no sign of aggression toward the Land of Wind.
But now, with Hiruzen dead and a new Hokage in power, Rasa couldn't help but worry.
Would the Fifth Hokage maintain the previous balance—or turn his ambitions toward Sunagakure? A change in leadership often meant a change in policy.
"And to think the new Hokage is not Tsunade or Jiraiya, but Uchiha Fugaku…"
He had assumed Konoha's next Hokage would be one of the two Sannin. Instead, it was the Uchiha clan head, a man he knew little about—only that Fugaku had recently displayed strength beyond that of ordinary Kage, earning great renown within Konoha.
Still, Rasa had believed Tsunade or Jiraiya the likelier candidates. Fugaku's appointment took him by surprise.
"Hopefully, he holds no designs against Sunagakure."
He sighed. Sunagakure, still far from restored, could not withstand another war. All he could do was hope that Fugaku had no intention of invading. Otherwise, it would be a disaster.
"Someone, come."
At his command, an ANBU-clad shinobi entered, kneeling before him.
"Kazekage-sama."
"Prepare a generous tribute to be sent to Konoha, congratulating the Fifth Hokage."
"Yes."
The shinobi departed swiftly. Rasa's expression darkened.
As a Kage, having to fawn over another village's leader filled him with humiliation. But there was no choice—Sunagakure could not endure another conflict.
"Konoha… the humiliation you inflicted on Sunagakure after the Third Great War, I will repay one day."
He vowed silently.
In Kumogakure's Raikage Tower, a broad-shouldered man sat in an office on the top floor. He wore black trousers and a white robe draped over his muscular frame—the Fourth Raikage.
"The Third Hokage has died, and Fugaku Uchiha is the new Hokage? "
He showed little reaction to the news.
After the Third Great War, Kumogakure had regained much of its strength, but not enough to return to its peak. Launching a war now was unwise.
Even though Konoha had lost a Kage-level figure in Hiruzen, he had no thought of exploiting the opportunity.
"I've heard Fugaku is very strong. I wonder… compared to Namikaze Minato, who would win? "
That was what piqued his interest. Minato was one of the few opponents he had truly respected, and their battle remained vivid in his memory.
Now he was eager to see whether Fugaku could measure up to the Fourth Hokage.
"In time, I'll find out for myself."
He had no immediate intention of waging war, but sooner or later he would. After all, the Land of Fire occupied the richest lands, and Kumogakure could not help but covet them.
Suddenly, the office door swung open, and a dark-skinned, white-haired woman rushed in.
"Raikage-sama, it's bad! Lord Killer Bee is causing trouble again, insisting on leaving the village! "
"Bee—!"
The Raikage shot to his feet in fury, then launched himself toward the window.
"Raikage-sama! Please, use the door! "
The woman cried out in exasperation, knowing what was about to happen.
Too late.
Boom!
The wall exploded in a man-shaped hole as the Raikage leapt through it, lightning crackling around him as he sped toward the village gates.
The woman pressed her hand to her forehead helplessly. This office wall had been destroyed too many times to count.
In Iwagakure, within the Tsuchikage's office, the Third Tsuchikage broke into a broad grin.
"What wonderful news! "
Konoha's constant stream of powerful shinobi in recent years had placed heavy pressure on him. Learning of the Third Hokage's death was a relief.
"Now that Konoha has a new Hokage, perhaps there's a chance to ransom back those genin from the Chunin Exams…"
The thought stirred in his mind.
Not long ago, Iwagakure's failed attempt to seize the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki had resulted in over twenty of their genin being captured during the Chunin Exams.
Though many in the village considered them expendable, their capture had sparked discontent that tarnished his reputation as Tsuchikage. His efforts to negotiate for their return had been firmly rejected by the Third Hokage.
But now that a new Hokage was in place, there might finally be an opening.