Everyone thought Namikaze Minato was perfect for the Hokage job, but Minato himself was secretly worried.
He couldn't share the truth about Naruto with anyone.
So, he tried to get closer to Uzumaki Kushina, hoping to build a real connection.
But Uzumaki Mito was still alive.
She was incredibly protective and cautious.
Having lived through the Warring States Period and coming from the respected Uzumaki clan, Mito held firm, old-fashioned beliefs.
Kushina, who had been raised and taught by Mito, also believed in these traditional ways.
While Minato struggled with this situation, Sarutobi Ryo, the Jonin Commander and involved in choosing the next Hokage, found himself very popular.
Lately, clan leaders and department heads were constantly visiting him.
A new leader means a new order. Everyone understood this.
They knew who would be in charge soon.
Time passed quickly.
The day Hatake Sakumo became Hokage, Konoha celebrated with joy.
News of Hatake Sakumo's appointment had already reached other nations.
Soon, the entire Ninja World would know about the new Hokage.
When that happened, the stale situation of the Great War would change dramatically.
After all, the "Konoha White Fang" was famous everywhere.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was still strong.
These two powerful experts were Konoha's strength and a warning to other countries.
Just as Sunagakure had chosen Yekura as the Fourth Kazekage, Konoha had its Fourth Hokage.
Kirigakure was probably finishing its internal recovery, with Yagura becoming the Perfect Jinchuriki and showing himself to the world.
A new era was coming.
The appointments of new Kages in various countries hinted at the end of the Third Shinobi World War.
Amegakure was the uncertain factor.
In this timeline, Hanzo hadn't worked with Danzo against Akatsuki.
But Hanzo would definitely deal with Akatsuki somehow.
Whether Nagato would join Hanzo, or they would fight, remained to be seen.
This was one of the many things Konoha had to watch out for.
Having learned from the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha would be more careful and approach the Ninja World with greater caution.
"It's almost time…"
Sarutobi Ryo stood on Hokage Rock.
Hatake Sakumo was right beside him.
Hatake Sakumo, wearing the Hokage hat, looked unusually serious.
With a straight face, Hatake Sakumo quietly told his student, "Well… I'm not really used to this kind of big crowd…"
Below Hokage Rock, Konoha's citizens formed a massive crowd.
They were all waiting for the announcement.
Sarutobi Ryo, in a loud voice, announced the Third Hokage's transfer of power to the Fourth Hokage.
The crowd below finally cheered.
"Ooooh!~~~"
The Konoha citizens had been waiting for this for so long.
The new Hokage's arrival signaled change.
The Great War was ending, and a new era of peace was coming; this was what so many people hoped for.
The lively ceremony lasted all morning.
Hatake Sakumo kept waving and walking through the streets.
Finally, he returned to the Hokage Building and sat in Sarutobi Hiruzen's old seat.
"Hoo…"
After a busy morning, Hatake Sakumo finally relaxed.
But before he could truly rest, more work awaited him.
Inside the office were Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Shimura Danzo, and Sarutobi Biwako.
Along with Hatake Sakumo and Sarutobi Ryo.
The doors were tightly closed; the leaders clearly had something important to discuss.
"Fourth Hokage…"
Utatane Koharu started with "Fourth Hokage," no longer as disrespectful as before.
Clearly, the position of Hokage truly elevated Hatake Sakumo's status.
"And Sarutobi Ryo, there are some things you should also know…"
Utatane Koharu began to reveal secrets that only the leaders knew.
As these confidential matters were revealed, Hatake Sakumo looked more and more surprised.
When Utatane Koharu spoke about Uzumaki Kushina being the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, Hatake Sakumo felt like his world had turned upside down.
Because.
From everything he'd learned as a child, the Nine Tails was like a mythical creature.
It was said that it would appear in the world from time to time, born from the build-up of people's hatred…
Now, the Konoha leaders were saying that Mito was the first Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, and Uzumaki Kushina was the second.
This Nine Tails creature was inside Konoha…
"Then Uzumaki Kushina… will she marry Namikaze Minato?"
Looking surprised, Hatake Sakumo quickly thought about the Jinchuriki's loyalty.
Even though he hadn't known about the Nine Tails being in Konoha before.
He'd seen similar plans from other countries.
Konoha had never imprisoned the Jinchuriki like Sunagakure.
This showed that they were copying Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and other Shinobi Villages.
Only people closely related to the Kage could be Jinchuriki.
So, what would happen to Kushina's life?
She was at the age for marriage; she couldn't be left alone forever.
"Yes, that's what we want to talk about…"
Utatane Koharu's expression softened slightly.
Mito was Tobirama's sister-in-law, so her position was secure.
Later, Sarutobi Hiruzen became Hokage.
For Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uzumaki Mito was his teacher's wife, so she was also safe.
But with Kushina's generation, there were problems.
Kushina and Uzumaki Mito were relatives.
In other words, Kushina was allowed to be the Jinchuriki for Uzumaki Mito's sake.
Because Kushina wasn't related to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Now that Hatake Sakumo was the Fourth Hokage, he was even further from Kushina.
This was a big problem. If Namikaze Minato had become the Fourth Hokage, there wouldn't be so many issues.
This thought flashed through Utatane Koharu's mind and then disappeared.
"Namikaze Minato… is even more unrelated to you…"
Utatane Koharu started to shake her head.
The question wasn't about whose student Namikaze Minato was.
It was about what relationship Hatake Sakumo had with Namikaze Minato.
Since there was no relationship, they had to create one between Kushina and Hatake Sakumo.
So, who Kushina married was what the leaders were considering.
"This is simple."
Sarutobi Ryo spoke suddenly.
"Let Namikaze Minato recognize Teacher Sakumo as his Adoptive Father, wouldn't that solve the problem?"
Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura: "…"
From an age standpoint.
It was a bit of a stretch for Hatake Sakumo to be Namikaze Minato's Adoptive Father, since they were only about 15 years apart.
For someone to accept an Adoptive Father at this age was still too…
"That's a long shot." Mitokado Homura frowned, disagreeing.
*
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 243 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
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]