That was it.
The matter of Konoha's next Hokage had been settled during the high-level meeting.
Ryoma — the new Hokage of the Hidden Leaf.
"Fourth Hokage-sama!"
"Naruto-sama!"
As the meeting concluded, the attending shinobi began to disperse one after another. Along the way, many came to offer their congratulations to Ryoma.
"Fourth Hokage-sama, if you have the chance, please visit the Uchiha Clan sometime," said Uchiha Fugaku respectfully.
Ryoma paused for a moment, then nodded.
He hadn't expected that Fugaku had already become the Uchiha Clan's patriarch.
Once again, Ryoma felt how powerful the world's narrative inertia was — certain events seemed destined to unfold as they always did.
If that's the case… will Uchiha Madara return one day as well?
And what about Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, who once took the chakra fruit?
Even Minato Namikaze and Sakumo Hatake came forward to congratulate him.
"Congratulations, Ryoma. You're now the Fourth Hokage of Konoha," said Minato with a smile.
"Congratulations, Ryoma," added Sakumo, his tone calm but sincere.
The ANBU moved swiftly.
Within an hour, the entire Hidden Leaf Village already knew the news.
"Did you hear? The Third Hokage has decided to step down—Lord Ryoma will become the Fourth Hokage!"
"What? Seriously?!"
"Of course! The succession ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow!"
"Well, it makes sense. Lord Ryoma is perfect for the position. The Third is getting on in years."
"Hey, careful what you say! The Third hasn't abdicated yet—say that too loudly and the ANBU might show up."
"..."
Throughout Konoha, people were talking about Ryoma's ascension.
Almost everyone agreed that he was the right choice.
Meanwhile, Obito's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he heard the news.
"Sister Mikoto! Ryoma-sensei is going to be Hokage?!"
Mikoto nodded with a warm smile.
"Yes, Ryoma-sensei will become Konoha's Fourth Hokage—the youngest in history. You'd better work hard too, Obito."
Obito nodded fiercely. "But… if Ryoma-sensei becomes Hokage, won't he have no time to teach us anymore?"
Mikoto sighed. "That's true…"
"Mikoto."
A familiar female voice came from behind her.
Mikoto turned around, slightly startled.
"Kushina!"
Kushina approached with a grin. "Come on, let's have dinner tonight."
"Dinner?" Mikoto blinked.
"Yes," Kushina said cheerfully. "We're celebrating Ryoma becoming the Fourth Hokage."
Obito immediately jumped in. "Sister Kushina, can I come too?"
Kushina laughed and ruffled his hair. "Of course! You're all coming—Team Seven included."
And so, Kushina, Mikoto, and the members of Team Seven joined Ryoma's small celebration dinner.
"Congratulations, Teacher Ryoma!"
"Congratulations, sensei!"
Ryoma smiled as they entered. "No need to be so formal—sit down."
Just as everyone was getting settled, a clear and teasing voice rang out from behind him.
"Hey, brother-in-law!"
Ryoma froze for a moment before turning around. Of course—it was Tsunade.
This woman really never missed a chance to tease him.
Kushina's face flushed red the moment Tsunade called him "brother-in-law."
Tsunade grinned and patted Ryoma's shoulder. "Well, brother-in-law, you've done it! Hokage, huh? Must feel good!"
When Ryoma ignored her provocation, she leaned in again.
"So, brother-in-law, when's the wedding with Kushina?"
"Wedding?!"
Mikoto's eyes widened in surprise as everyone turned toward Ryoma.
Obito was especially excited.
"Teacher, you're getting married?!"
Marrying someone as beautiful as Kushina—Ryoma-sensei was really lucky.
The thought made Obito glance shyly at Rin beside him, though Rin ignored him completely, her gaze fixed on the couple.
"Teacher Ryoma and Sister Kushina… they're so happy," Rin murmured softly.
Ryoma smiled calmly.
"We're planning to hold the wedding in six days."
"Six days? Why that date?" someone asked curiously.
Ryoma gently squeezed Kushina's soft hand and smiled.
"There's no hidden meaning behind it. Yesterday, I told Kushina we'd make it a seven-day promise."
"Ah, Teacher Ryoma is so romantic!"
"Brother-in-law, you've really got game!"
"..."
Tsunade laughed heartily, her cheeks already flushed from the sake. She raised another cup and downed it in one gulp before pouring herself more.
"Well then, brother-in-law," she said with a grin, "in that case, let me be the official witness today—"
Ryoma interrupted her before she could finish.
"Tsunade-hime, the witness for the wedding will be Grandma Mito."
Tsunade blinked, then pouted.
"Fine, fine! I just meant this moment is important too! I wanted to witness this part—you wouldn't understand!"
She slammed her cup down and huffed.
"Drink! No more talking!"
After several rounds, Tsunade's face was bright red. Eventually, she slumped forward on the table, completely drunk.
"Ryoma…"
Kushina's cheeks were also rosy from the alcohol, and her bright eyes looked at him shyly. Announcing their wedding date in front of everyone made her both nervous and blissfully happy.
"Ryoma-kun, congratulations," Mikoto said warmly, raising her glass.
"I wish you and Kushina a lifetime of happiness."
As she said it, a faint pang stirred in her chest—but she smiled through it.
"I didn't expect you'd be the first among us to get married."
Ryoma rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
But just then, the system's voice echoed in his mind:
[Mikoto's Favorability +10]
What? Just like that?
He blinked. That's… unexpected.
Still, he smiled back at her. "Thank you, Mikoto. I'll make sure we're happy."
Kushina nodded shyly. "Thank you for the blessing, Mikoto."
That night, while Ryoma and the others celebrated, Jiraiya and the Third Hokage spoke privately in the Hokage's office.
"Time flies so fast, Jiraiya," Hiruzen murmured, gazing out the window at the full moon.
"Yes, sensei," Jiraiya said softly, his expression thoughtful.
"Now that Ryoma's becoming Hokage, you can finally rest easy."
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
"I used to think I could last another ten… maybe twenty years. But yesterday's battle reminded me—there's always a new generation pushing the old one forward."
"Sensei…"
The Third Hokage gave a faint smile. "Just the musings of an old man stepping down. Since I've already made my decision, it's because I believe in Ryoma."
Suddenly, a black-clad ANBU landed before them, kneeling low.
"Lord Hokage! The Uchiha's body—it's gone!"
Hiruzen's expression hardened instantly.
"What?! Uchiha Madara's body—missing again?!"
"Who could have taken it?" Jiraiya demanded, his face grim.
"There were ten ANBU guarding the remains!"
The ANBU swallowed hard and explained. By the time the night ended, the guards realized the corpse they'd been watching wasn't Madara's at all—but a White Zetsu clone.
Both Hiruzen and Jiraiya's expressions darkened.
"Replaced…?" Jiraiya muttered.
"Don't tell me… that monster Madara's body was taken by—"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "Summon Ryoma. Now."
Moments later, the door swung open.
Ryoma entered.
"It's about Uchiha Madara's body, isn't it?"
Hiruzen nodded.
"Yes. Somehow, it's gone."
Ryoma's expression stayed calm.
"I see… Don't worry. I left a mark on the corpse."
Before either of them could respond, Ryoma's body flickered—and vanished.
The Flying Thunder God Technique!
In the next second, Ryoma appeared above a rocky wasteland far from Konoha.
The air was still—except for two figures in the shadows below.
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu were in the middle of relocating Madara's body when Ryoma appeared out of thin air.
Neither had expected the mark of the Flying Thunder God to be on the corpse itself.
"You anticipated us?!" Black Zetsu hissed in shock.
He turned to flee with the body, but Ryoma was faster.
From beneath their feet, countless saplings burst through the ground, twisting and thickening into roots that snared Black Zetsu's legs.
"Mokuton?!" he gasped.
Ryoma's eyes glinted coldly.
"Trying to run? I've been waiting for you."
"Today… it's time to fix you."
Black Zetsu's expression twisted in shock. "You planned this from the start?!"
Before he could react, Ryoma unleashed a crackling surge of lightning—Chidori! The roar of a thousand birds filled the air as the strike tore through Black and White Zetsu, shattering their combined form into fragments.
"Not dead yet… Wood Release: Tree World!"
Countless roots erupted from the ground, weaving into a living forest that absorbed the scattered remains of Black and White Zetsu.
Black Zetsu's fragmented voice trembled in disbelief.
"Impossible! How can you absorb me?! This—this is Indra's power! How can you possibly have Indra's power?!"
Ryoma's gaze remained calm and cold.
"You've caused enough chaos. Time to disappear."
The writhing mass of dark matter was finally swallowed whole by the spreading trees, its voice fading into silence.
"…It's done. Let's go back."
With the threat seemingly ended, Ryoma lifted Uchiha's lifeless body onto his back and turned to leave the battlefield.
Yet, moments after his departure, a faint ripple spread through the earth. A sliver of Black and White Zetsu crawled out from the soil—still alive.
"Tch… I didn't expect him to be Indra's reincarnation too," the remnant muttered grimly.
"But that makes no sense. If he truly were, then where's his Rinnegan?"
"What the hell is going on here…"
Not daring to linger, the surviving fragment tore off a piece of Uchiha flesh that had fallen nearby and quickly burrowed back underground.
"With this flesh and blood… I can still create a new vessel. A perfect one for Edo Tensei."
...
TN:
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