The sky looked like rice paper soaked in ink, hanging heavily over Konoha Village.
Cold, needle-thin strands of rain tapped against every black mourning garment, and against the cold memorial stone.
The funeral of the Third Hokage was solemn and dignified.
Akashi Sora stood at the very front of the crowd, his posture straight and unyielding like a pine tree.
He held no umbrella, letting the rain soak his ashen-brown short hair. Droplets slid down his handsome cheeks — impossible to tell whether they were rain or tears.
Those amber eyes, usually curved in a constant smile, were now hollow and lifeless, staring blankly at the newly carved name on the memorial stone.
Grief, sorrow, and a heavy sense of something called "responsibility" were perfectly embodied in this young man.
[Tch. This damned rain soaked my brand-new limited-edition jacket.]
[Should've just sent a water clone. The real body could've stayed home sleeping — so much more comfortable.]
[That said, these extras are crying pretty convincingly. Gotta treat them to some extra chicken drumsticks later.]
Beside him, Naruto was already sobbing uncontrollably. Karin's eyes were red, her head bowed silently.
Even the usually cold Sasuke had his head lowered now, his black bangs hiding the complicated emotions on his face.
The funeral ended. The crowd gradually dispersed.
Two elderly figures, their faces covered in deep wrinkles, blocked Jiraiya just as he was about to leave.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado — Konoha's two veteran advisors.
"Jiraiya," Homura said, his voice carrying unquestionable authority. "The village cannot go a single day without a leader. You are the one who should inherit the position of Hokage."
Jiraiya dug a finger into his ear, still wearing that same carefree, slovenly expression.
"Look, you two elders… are you suffering from dementia? I'm not cut out to be Hokage."
Koharu frowned. "This is the responsibility of the Hokage! Besides you, who else is qualified?"
"Qualified?" Jiraiya laughed. He turned around and pointed toward the lonely figure still standing motionless in the rain, seemingly cut off from the rest of the world.
"That kid right there. Isn't he perfect?"
The two elders followed the direction of his finger. Their expressions changed simultaneously.
"Akashi Sora?" Homura's tone was full of doubt. "He's too young!"
"Too young?" Jiraiya scoffed. "The First and Second Hokage were already famous across the shinobi world at his age."
He began counting off on his fingers, listing facts like treasures.
"That kid awakened the First Hokage's Wood Release — you saw it with your own eyes."
"He trained in Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku — his talent surpasses even Minato's."
"He's already mastered the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique."
"His mastery of all five elemental natures has reached grandmaster level, no exaggeration."
Jiraiya spread his hands, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
"Tell me — how can a shinobi who combines the power of both the First and Second Hokage *not* be qualified to become Hokage?"
The two elders were rendered speechless, their faces turning livid.
A genius they could not control at all becoming Hokage?
What a joke!
Three days later, Hokage Tower, highest conference room.
Every jōnin and clan head of Konoha had gathered.
"Since Jiraiya refuses to accept the position of Hokage," Koharu cleared her throat, her voice sharp, "I propose we immediately send people to search for Tsunade. She will take over as the Fifth Hokage."
Many of the older-generation jōnin nodded in agreement.
Tsunade was, after all, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, one of the Legendary Sannin — impeccable lineage.
At that moment,
A lazy, half-asleep voice broke the silence.
"I object."
Nara Shikaku stood up slowly, hands still in his pockets.
"Lady Tsunade has been away from the village for many years. Her whereabouts are unknown. Spending massive amounts of manpower and resources to search for someone who may not even be found — is it worth it?"
"Moreover, distant water cannot quench a nearby fire."
His gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the two advisors whose faces had turned extremely ugly.
"The village has just suffered a devastating blow. Everything needs rebuilding. We need a powerful leader who can stabilize the situation immediately and win the people's support."
"And that person… is far away in the distance, yet right before our eyes."
He didn't say the name, but every gaze instinctively turned toward the corner — toward Akashi Sora, who had remained completely silent from beginning to end.
[Here we go. My personal hype man has logged on.]
[Shikaku-ojisan's acting is way more natural than those two old fossils.]
Homura slammed the table furiously. "Nara Shikaku! What do you mean by that?!"
"My meaning is very simple," Shikaku said solemnly. "I believe that Jōnin Akashi Sora possesses sufficient ability to serve as the Fifth Hokage."
"Absurd!" Koharu barked sharply. "He's nothing but a child!"
"A child who used Wood Release and Sage Mode to instantly suppress the One-Tail Shukaku and save the entire village?" Shikaku countered.
For a moment, murmurs filled the conference room.
Seeing the situation slipping out of control, a ruthless glint flashed in Koharu's eyes.
"Very well — then we'll do it according to the village's rules!"
"We will hold a jōnin vote of confidence!"
She was confident that, with the prestige she and Homura had built over decades, they could suppress this dangerous trend.
But she had miscalculated one thing.
The times had changed.
"The Uchiha clan supports Akashi Sora." Fugaku Uchiha was the first to stand, his voice steady and powerful.
"The Ino–Shika–Chō trio supports Akashi Sora." Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza raised their hands in unison.
"I, Kakashi Hatake, support my junior — Akashi Sora."
One after another, hands rose into the air under the incredulous stares of the two advisors.
The young jōnin.
Those saved by Sora during the Crush.
The civilian jōnin who had been brainwashed by rumors of the "Light of Konoha" and the "Little Fourth Hokage"…
An overwhelming majority.
Koharu and Homura collapsed back into their chairs, faces ashen.
They had lost.
Lost utterly and completely.
Jiraiya grinned, showing a smug, satisfied expression.
[Script perfect. Every actor nailed their performance.]
[Next up — my coronation moment.]
Under everyone's gaze, Akashi Sora slowly rose to his feet.
He walked to the center of the conference room. There was no trace of pride or arrogance on his face — only a calm maturity far beyond his years.
He bowed deeply to everyone present.
"Thank you all for your trust."
"From this day forward, I, Akashi Sora, will take on the mantle of the Fifth Hokage."
"This body shall be the shield, this heart the sword. I will protect Konoha until the very last moment my life burns out."
His voice was not loud, yet it rang clearly in every ear — resolute and unshakable.