Three years. Three whole years had finally slipped by.
Today marked the end of Kakashi Hatake's brief stint as Acting Hokage.
In those three years, aside from quietly replacing aging department heads with fresh, younger blood across Konoha's administration, Kakashi had adhered strictly to every policy laid down during Hiruzen Sarutobi's era. He had turned a blind eye as Danzo Shimura's influence swelled, ignored Koharu Utatane's meddling, and handled the Uchiha Clan with kid gloves.
As a result, Root's power had ballooned unchecked. The Hokage's own assistants now openly threw their weight around the Council of Elders. The Uchiha Military Police Force strutted through the village like they owned the place.
Yet no one batted an eye. To them, this was simply how things had always been.
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi saw the truth: Kakashi was biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to cut away the rot, one treacherous branch at a time.
And the Third Hokage simply watched in silence.
Three years ago, atop the cliffs of the Hokage Rock, a single conversation had made everything clear. He was old. Danzo was old. Koharu was old. Their entire generation had grown brittle with age.
If they clung to power any longer, Konoha itself would wither and die with them.
No matter how much it pained him to abandon his lifelong friends, for the village's sake— Hiruzen had no regrets, even if it meant his own end.
Konoha Year 52, September 15th
Kakashi's twentieth birthday. The day he officially came of age.
And the day he would be inaugurated as Konoha's Fifth Hokage— the youngest in history, eclipsing even Minato Namikaze's record at twenty-two.
Salutes cracked through the sky like rolling thunder. Cherry blossoms and confetti drifted lazily over the village streets. A crimson carpet unfurled from the distant gates all the way to the Hokage Tower.
Crowds pressed shoulder-to-shoulder along both sides, eyes fixed on the lone figure walking that scarlet path—the young man draped in the flame-emblazoned Hokage robe and hat.
A thousand unspoken words swirled in their hearts, finally coalescing into a single, shared hope: that this silver-haired prodigy might lead Konoha to a brighter future than anyone before him.
Itachi Uchiha stood among them, gaze steady on the approaching Hokage. Like everyone else, he sincerely prayed Kakashi could steer the village toward something better.
The cheers crashed around him like waves, yet Kakashi's expression never wavered. He walked the path beneath his feet as though it were the very road of his life— never faltering, never pausing.
If he ever stopped, it would only be on the day he drew his final breath.
He strode toward the mantle of Hokage with unshakable conviction that everything he had done, everything he would do, was right.
In the crowd he spotted Guy, then his old classmates. For a fleeting moment he thought he saw a flash of familiar blond hair, a grinning face from long ago.
Teacher…?
Kakashi-nii-chan is the coolest!
Naruto's voice rang clear as day in his memory, the boy leaping and cheering like he was the one taking the hat today.
That kid…
A faint, fond smile tugged at Kakashi's visible eye. Without breaking stride, he stepped through the great doors of the Hokage Tower.
Inside, Konoha's highest-ranking shinobi were already waiting.
Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, Shibi Aburame, Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi, Hiashi Hyūga, Fugaku Uchiha, Might Guy, Shizune— Far fewer gray heads than in years past; the room now brimmed with middle-aged and younger faces.
"Kakashi!"
The second he appeared, Might Guy let out a wail and began furiously wiping at the flood of tears streaming down his face, desperate to keep some shred of dignity.
Kakashi's smile softened. He stepped forward, clasped Guy's forearm, and said quietly, "Come up with me, Guy."
A ripple of surprise passed through the room. In that instant, many realized they were witnessing the birth of a new pillar of the village—someone who might one day stand equal to the Hokage himself.
Those who truly knew Might Guy understood that beneath the blazing passion and seeming simplicity was a sharp, meticulous mind. After all, raw strength alone never made a jōnin.
"K-Kakashi…!" Guy's tears fell harder, but he swallowed his sobs and followed Kakashi up the stairs to the rooftop, the rest of the leadership trailing close behind.
There, beneath the open sky, Hiruzen Sarutobi waited in plain clothes, the ceremonial Hokage hat cradled in his weathered hands. Surprise flickered across his face when he saw Guy at Kakashi's side, but he said nothing.
"Kakashi."
Hiruzen extended the hat—symbol of the highest authority in the village—and placed it solemnly into the younger man's hands.
"From this day forward, you are the Fifth Hokage. I hope you will guide Konoha to heights none of us ever reached."
Kakashi accepted it with equal gravity. "I won't let you down, Lord Third."
Hat in hand, he walked to the edge of the rooftop and gazed down at the sea of upturned faces. He raised the symbol high above his head, and though his voice was not loud, chakra carried it to every corner of the village.
"I am Kakashi Hatake— Inheritor of the Will of Fire. I will lead Konoha to even greater peaks!"
The moment the words left his mouth, a tidal wave of cheers erupted, shaking the very air above the Hidden Leaf.
Warm, vermilion eyes watched the white-haired man on the rooftop—now the center of the entire world. Joy for him swelled in her chest, yet a quiet worry shadowed her gaze.
Kakashi…You're so brilliant. Have you ever noticed how I feel?
The owner of those crimson eyes slipped quietly away through the crowd.
"Kurenai? Kurenai, wait!"
Her purple-haired friend shoved after her in confusion. "Where are you going? The ceremony's not over yet!"
Anko Mitarashi chased after Kurenai Yuhi, weaving through the press of bodies.
As if drawn by instinct, Kakashi glanced down at the single figure moving against the tide.
Kurenai…?
The inauguration ceremony concluded.
In the conference room afterward, Konoha's elite gathered again—this time to offer congratulations and birthday gifts. They hadn't forgotten that today was also the new Hokage's twentieth birthday.
"Kakashi!!"
"WAAAAAAGH!! Happy birthday!!"
Might Guy barreled forward lugging an enormous barbell, forcing everyone to scatter lest they get flattened.
"This is the gift I picked just for you! I hope you like it!"
With utmost seriousness, he presented the monstrous weight to his rival.
Kakashi accepted it with both hands and a wry smile. "It's… certainly heavy."
He set it gently on the floor. The wooden planks cracked instantly beneath it.
"While I congratulate you on becoming Hokage," Danzo Shimura said smoothly, stepping forward with a neatly wrapped gift box, "allow me also to wish you a happy birthday. Together, I hope we can make Konoha greater still."
Kakashi inclined his head politely. "You're too kind, Danzo-sensei."
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