The sun rose and the moon set, and in the blink of an eye, a new day arrived. A red sun lifted from the sea, scattering golden light across the tent. Seagulls cried, waves rolled onto the shore, and a chorus of birdsong drifted from the nearby forest, lively, bright, and full of life.
Inside the tent, Uchiha Gen opened his eyes. The soft, warm body nestled in his arms made his lips curve into an involuntary smile.
Konan was thirty this year, yet she was unexpectedly innocent when it came to matters between men and women almost like a sheltered young girl.
No… even more naive than a young girl. The female students at Konoha's Academy were far more precocious and already understood plenty.
Konan's figure, normally concealed by her loose black cloak patterned with red clouds, was never visible to outsiders. Although she wasn't as voluptuous as Tsunade or Mei Terumī, her proportions, like Mikoto and Uzumaki Kushina, fit her height perfectly.
Perhaps this was the norm for shinobi; years of training naturally shaped their bodies into their most efficient form.
Uchiha Gen quietly rose, dressed, and stepped outside to prepare breakfast.
By the sea, breakfast naturally meant fish. He walked straight into the water and caught the freshest ones himself.
When the meal was nearly ready, Konan emerged from the tent fully dressed. A gentle smile spread across her face as she watched Gen tend the fire, and she soon walked over to help.
After eating, the two packed their things. Gen took Konan to tour the Land of Water, staying there for a night to rest.
The next day, he returned her to Hidden Rain Village, then headed back to Konoha.
…
On December 1st, Year 63 of the Konoha calendar, after a long period of lying low in the village, Uchiha Gen sent word inviting Konoha's high-level officials and influential individuals.
By evening, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu, Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Nara Shikaku, and Uzumaki Kushina all arrived at Gen's residence.
Gen himself had not invited Sarutobi Shinnosuke or Uzumaki Kushina.
Kushina rarely involved herself in Konoha political affairs, so she wasn't on the list.
As for Shinnosuke, even as Anbu Captain, Gen simply saw no need to include him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had brought both of them along.
Since they were already there, Gen couldn't very well send them away. He invited them to dinner, then served tea in the side hall afterward.
When the casual chatter ended, Gen placed his teacup down and cleared his throat. The room fell silent instantly, everyone turning to him.
"Today, I invited you for a simple reason."
"I plan to take over as the Fifth Hokage at the beginning of next year. What are your thoughts?"
Orochimaru spoke first. "I agree."
Agreement was agreement, but, true to form, Orochimaru couldn't resist mocking Hiruzen.
"Sensei is old. His body is worn, wrinkles covering his face, and his strength is fading. It's time for him to step down so someone more capable can lead and so he can enjoy his grandchildren."
Jiraiya shot Orochimaru a glare of irritation. Tsunade rolled her eyes dismissively.
Kushina quietly sipped her tea, unmoved.
Homura and Koharu were clearly displeased, but they kept blank expressions, eyes lowered. They knew Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen would not tolerate them stepping out of line.
Nara Shikaku had neither the position nor the intention to object.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, well aware of Orochimaru's personality, simmered in silence.
Hiruzen let out a soft chuckle. "Kushina, what do you think?"
"I have no opinion. You can all decide," she replied lightly.
"And the rest of you?"
No one spoke. Some didn't dare oppose Uchiha Gen; others simply didn't want to.
Seeing this, Hiruzen, who had intended to make one last attempt to resist, quietly abandoned the thought.
Enough. After holding the position for so long, forcing things now might lead to… unpleasant consequences.
"I agree," Hiruzen said solemnly.
"Good." Gen nodded. "The Hokage succession ceremony will be arranged immediately for January 1st."
"Everyone, have some tea."
After finishing their drinks, Hiruzen and the others took their leave. Gen didn't stop them.
But Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Kushina stayed to chat a bit longer.
The next day, Gen sent people to the Hokage Building to monitor the progress.
Hiruzen and the others knew they couldn't stop the transition. They didn't embarrass themselves by delaying or causing trouble.
Konoha sent an official letter to the Land of Fire's capital for the Daimyō's confirmation. This matter had been long decided; Konoha's high-level didn't need to travel there in person.
Once the Daimyō's approval arrived and Hiruzen gave his signature, the administrative department began posting the announcement of the Hokage succession.
The news spread through Konoha almost instantly. Spies lurking in the village dispatched reports at once.
Konoha's shinobi and villagers discussed it everywhere.
Overall, the response was positive. Many looked forward to Uchiha Gen, still young, bringing new vitality to the village.
The Uchiha Clan was naturally the happiest. This was the dream of generations, a sense of "continuing the legacy of six generations."
Though Gen had already been serving as provisional Hokage, provisional and official were different. They could not truly relax until his title was formally secured.
To celebrate, Gen gathered the clan for a large feast.
Starting the next day, to ensure nothing disrupted the succession, the Uchiha intensified their law enforcement, increased patrols, and kept watch throughout the night. They planned to maintain this until Gen officially became Hokage.
Gen himself was not idle during the month-long period. Beyond routine training, he focused on familiarizing himself with the duties of Hokage.
But only during working hours. Overtime was not in his vocabulary.
He had no intention of living like Tsunade, Kakashi, or Naruto, working day and night.
If the Hokage had to personally manage every trivial matter, wouldn't that simply make him a glorified employee?
After everything he had gone through, did he come all this way… just to work for Konoha?
Although the true Will of Fire meant giving everything to the village, Gen had not ascended by conventional means.
In his plans, whether for Konoha or a future country, he would handle major strategic matters. Everything else would be delegated.
Reward competence. Punish incompetence.
The tactic used by the Sarutobi faction, overloading the Hokage with endless trivial tasks, would not work on him. It would only be met with decisive retaliation.
He was not Tsunade, Kakashi, or Naruto. His priorities were different. His worldview was different.
A month passed, and soon it was the morning of January 1st, Year 64.
The plaza before the Hokage Building was packed with villagers and shinobi. From above, they looked like a sea of people.
Unfortunately, the weather was terrible. No sunlight—only heavy dark clouds pressing low over Konoha. The air felt thick and suffocating, unsuitable for a ceremonial beginning of a new Hokage's era.
But the time had been set long ago. Changing it now would not be appropriate.
To some who disliked Uchiha Gen, the gloomy sky felt like a good omen.
To those who supported him, it felt ominous.
The neutral simply frowned.
On the rooftop, Konoha's high-level and department heads gathered.
Uchiha Gen and Hiruzen Sarutobi stood face-to-face, both wearing Hokage robes. The only difference, Gen was not yet wearing the Hokage hat.
Hiruzen slowly lifted his own hat and handed it to Gen.
Unlike the original timeline, where he gave Minato earnest lectures, Hiruzen said nothing this time. His old face showed no emotion—no relief, no pride.
Gen didn't mind. If Hiruzen had looked genuinely pleased, that would have been disappointing.
He placed the Hokage hat on his head and stepped to the rooftop's edge. Every gaze in the plaza and surrounding streets locked onto him.
"Today, the weather is not cooperating."
Gen's voice was calm, his tone steady. Yet it carried clearly across the entire square.
"But it doesn't matter. Those who follow me prosper. Those who oppose me perish. The weather will be no exception."
The reactions around him varied, approval, disdain, discomfort, excitement, irritation.
Among those silently cursing were spies from foreign nations. Gen's domineering proclamation signaled danger. The future would be turbulent. Konoha would be far harder to deal with.
Then—
Roar!
Boom!
Whoosh!
Clang!
A dragon's mighty roar. Thunder cracking. Wind howling. A sword ringing sharply.
Everyone jerked their heads upward.
A blazing red dragon, over thirty meters long, burst from the dark clouds in the east. Golden-white fire streamed from its jaws, burning away huge swathes of clouds in rolling waves.
It didn't clear everything but not a single cloud remained above Konoha.
In the west, an enormous sword of pure white light rose and fell, slicing through the clouds like tofu. Each strike shattered the darkness into fragments that dissipated instantly.
In the north, a bright, electricity-filled cloud crackled. As the lightning flashed, countless dark clouds surged toward it, sucked inside like birds returning home. The mass vanished in an instant.
In the south, a blue, ethereal bird danced beneath the clouds. Each flap of its wings sent out small white tornadoes. Though only a foot tall at first, they rapidly grew, piercing the clouds and shredding them to pieces.
Gen wasn't idle either. He formed a Rasenshuriken and hurled it skyward. It vanished into the gloom before a massive green-white sphere churned overhead, ripping apart the last of the heavy clouds.
Sunlight burst down onto Konoha, bright and warm. The cold gloom lifted completely.
Gen didn't speak. He simply waited.
After a long moment, the plaza erupted into thunderous cheers. Countless villagers and shinobi stared at him with awe and admiration.
Some, especially the Uchiha, flushed with fervor. Their eyes held genuine fanaticism. To them, this was the manifestation of a deity.
People worshipped strength in this world, because only the strong could protect them, secure their futures, and bring prosperity.
While the villagers rejoiced, spies from foreign villages felt despair. Gen's overwhelming display, paired with his bold temperament, was a nightmare.
Still, not everyone in Konoha was happy, some were deeply uneasy.
When the cheers finally faded, Gen spoke again, voice deep and steady.
"The old era is gone. A new era has arrived."
"As Hokage, I guarantee that in this new era, Konoha will flourish and every one of you will benefit from its glory."
"Are you ready to welcome this new era?"
His final line rose into a powerful shout, carrying a force that pulled at the heart.
"We are ready!"
The plaza shouted as one, voices shaking the sky.
The strangest part—behind Gen, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura, Koharu, Jiraiya, and several others unconsciously echoed the shout.
Only afterward did they realize what they'd done, leaving them pale, chilled, and deeply unsettled.
"Good. You may all disperse."
Gen waved his hand lightly and turned to leave.
Those in the plaza slowly made their way out, buzzing with excitement—or worry.
On the rooftop, half the assembled leaders lowered their eyes, unable to meet Gen's gaze.
"The ceremony is over. Everyone, follow me to the small conference room."
With hands clasped behind his back, Uchiha Gen led the way to the stairs.
One by one, they followed.