After the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, settled the matter of succession, news that Kizaru would soon become the next Hokage naturally began spreading throughout the village.
There was little reason to keep it secret. Kizaru succeeding Hiruzen was already regarded by most as the inevitable outcome.
At the same time, Hiruzen had deliberately allowed the news to circulate. He wanted to see whether any shinobi or influential figures within the village opposed the decision, allowing him to resolve any potential trouble before the official appointment.
However, Hiruzen had clearly overestimated the likelihood of resistance.
Whether it was his strength, prestige, accomplishments, or leadership, Kizaru had already earned the recognition of nearly every shinobi in Konoha.
If there was one concern, it was his age.
A handful of conservative elders believed that Kizaru was still too young. He had not even reached adulthood, while Hiruzen himself was only in his forties. In their opinion, there was no need to rush the transfer of power.
They thought the most appropriate time would be another ten years from now, when Kizaru was in his early twenties and Hiruzen had entered his fifties.
Even so, those elders only dared to voice their concerns privately.
None of them were foolish enough to oppose Kizaru's succession in public. If their words were misunderstood as an attempt to obstruct his rise, they might earn Kizaru's displeasure.
Worse still, they might attract Danzo's attention.
Compared to those few stubborn elders, the overwhelming majority of Konoha's shinobi were eager to see Kizaru become Hokage.
A new leader meant new opportunities.
Hiruzen had occupied the position for more than twenty years. During that time, most of the village's senior posts had become firmly established, leaving very few paths for younger shinobi to advance.
Once Kizaru took office, however, some of the older officials occupying important positions would likely step down. That would create room for capable shinobi from the younger and middle-aged generations to rise.
After understanding the benefits involved, most of the village naturally offered their full support for Kizaru's immediate succession.
This was also why Hiruzen had instructed Kizaru to take Tsunade with him when visiting Konoha's major clans and prominent jōnin.
Before assuming office, a future Hokage needed to settle appointments, establish alliances, and balance the interests of the village's various factions.
That was one of the responsibilities of a qualified Hokage.
Kizaru understood the intention behind his teacher's instructions. The day after receiving them, he went directly to the Senju clan compound to find Tsunade.
Tsunade was naturally delighted for him.
At the same time, she could not completely hide her embarrassment—or her happiness.
The two of them had been together for more than three years. Their relationship had grown extremely close, and aside from crossing the final boundary, there was little left unspoken between them.
By now, their relationship was already an open secret throughout the village.
Kizaru inviting Tsunade to accompany him during his formal visits to Konoha's clans was effectively an official acknowledgment of their relationship.
That was the true source of Tsunade's happiness and embarrassment.
After discussing the matter, the two did not immediately begin visiting people without preparation.
This occasion carried considerable political significance. Proper etiquette had to be observed, and the content of each conversation needed to be carefully considered.
More importantly, Kizaru had to decide what positions and responsibilities he intended to offer each person after becoming Hokage.
When it came to etiquette, Kizaru entrusted everything to Keiko.
He had complete confidence in the woman who had looked after every aspect of his daily life for so many years.
As for the actual content of the discussions, Kizaru spent a great deal of time exchanging ideas with Tsunade.
In the original course of events, Tsunade had inherited the position of Fifth Hokage when Konoha was at one of its weakest points. She had gradually corrected many of the problems left behind by her predecessors, fostered a new generation of shinobi, and built a firm alliance with Sunagakure.
She could rightfully be considered one of the central figures behind Konoha's resurgence.
Kizaru understood her talent in such matters.
Combined with their close relationship, Tsunade's status as a Senju, her personal accomplishments, and the prestige she enjoyed among the villagers, Kizaru was more than willing to seek his girlfriend's advice.
Truthfully, if there had not been so many political expectations placed upon him, Kizaru would have preferred to let Tsunade become Hokage instead.
After all, how could being Hokage possibly be as comfortable as being the Hokage's man?
Kizaru had never forgotten his original ambition.
Unfortunately, fate had refused to cooperate.
Despite being born without the backing of a great clan, he had somehow become the person the entire village expected to lead them.
Life truly was unreasonable.
He had spent years trying to take things easy, yet he was somehow about to become Hokage.
Meanwhile, certain people had schemed for that position their entire lives without ever obtaining it.
Kizaru would graciously refrain from mentioning any names.
It was fortunate that his uncle had gone to Sunagakure to settle the recent disturbance. Otherwise, Kizaru might have sighed in front of him and said in his usual lazy tone:
"Ooh… Becoming Hokage was never really my ambition. I only wanted everyone to live peacefully…"
He could already imagine Danzo's expression.
Inside Tsunade's house, the two spent the entire morning speaking half-seriously and half-casually. Once they had determined the order of their visits and settled several preliminary arrangements, Tsunade straightened her clothing and promptly drove Kizaru out.
After their discussion, they decided to have Keiko send advance notice to the Hyūga and Nara clans. They would formally visit both clans the following day.
At the same time, Kizaru and Tsunade decided to host a banquet that evening for Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Hatake Sakumo, and Might Duy.
The four of them could be regarded as representatives of Konoha's smaller clans and civilian-born shinobi.
They were also among the strongest members of the village's younger and middle-aged generations.
More importantly, Kizaru shared an exceptionally close relationship with all four of them.
Once he became Hokage, they would serve as his trusted companions and the pillars supporting his administration.
Just as Kizaru and Tsunade had expected, there was very little discussion of political interests during the evening banquet.
Rather than an attempt to win the four of them over, the gathering felt more like a celebration among friends, marking Kizaru's approaching appointment as Hokage.
While they ate, Kizaru briefly spoke about what he expected from each of them in the future.
There was little that needed to be said about Orochimaru.
Kizaru simply encouraged him to continue pursuing scientific research and to produce even greater results.
Over the past three years, the research institute and project approval system proposed by Kizaru had provided Orochimaru with everything he needed.
He now possessed ample research funding, a steady supply of materials, and an increasing number of assistants capable of supporting his experiments.
Orochimaru was extremely satisfied with the arrangement. If possible, he would have spent every waking moment inside his laboratory.
He had also never forgotten the support Kizaru had given him.
The only aspect of the arrangement that occasionally frustrated Orochimaru was the collection of restrictions imposed by Hiruzen.
Some of Orochimaru's more inhumane and forbidden experiments required living test subjects, but the village's regulations placed strict limits on the type and number of subjects he could receive.
Most of the living subjects provided for Orochimaru's research came from criminals captured by Konoha or the authorities of the Land of Fire.
The majority were rogue shinobi, missing-nin, or members of criminal organisations who had committed serious crimes such as murder, rape, and organised violence.
Others were bandits, brigands, and similarly dangerous offenders who had been sentenced for severe crimes.
Strictly speaking, the village had already provided Orochimaru with a considerable number of living test subjects.
However, some of his experiments required individuals with extremely rare characteristics, particularly shinobi possessing kekkei genkai.
Subjects like that were almost impossible for the village to obtain in sufficient numbers.
Fortunately, Orochimaru had not endured the same long and brutal series of wars he had experienced in the original course of events.
Nor had he suffered the deaths of his student and close companions on the battlefield.
His heart had not yet fallen completely into darkness, nor had his beliefs become so extreme that he was willing to discard everything for the sake of his research.
As a result, Orochimaru remained generally satisfied with his current environment and was willing to obey the village's restrictions.
The thought of betraying Konoha had never even arisen.
If even Orochimaru was content with the current situation, there was naturally little reason for the others to complain.
Everyone at the banquet was satisfied with their present lives and looked forward to the future that would begin once Kizaru became Hokage.
Jiraiya declared that he intended to continue travelling beyond the village.
During his journeys, he planned to devote himself to writing. With an unusually serious expression, he swore that he would eventually produce a literary masterpiece that would become a best seller throughout the shinobi world.
Hatake Sakumo stated that he was already prepared for the coming transition.
Once Kizaru assumed office, he would devote himself fully to his duties within the ANBU.
Might Duy, who had already been promoted to jōnin and admitted into Konoha's jōnin corps, struck his chest with one fist and loudly declared that he would complete every mission Kizaru entrusted to him.
It was his way of repaying the kindness Kizaru had shown him.
Kizaru responded to each of their declarations with encouragement.
He smiled and promised Jiraiya that the village would continue funding his travels. However, he also reminded him to gather intelligence on the various hidden villages and nations he passed through.
Jiraiya naturally agreed without hesitation.
Kizaru did not say much regarding Sakumo's future work in the ANBU.
Given the friendship and trust between them, there was no need for lengthy promises. Both of them already understood what the other expected.
As for Might Duy, Kizaru had never intended to assign him complicated administrative responsibilities.
Considering Duy's personality and fighting style, serving as an ordinary jōnin within the jōnin corps was the most suitable role for him.
Other departments simply did not suit him.
That was especially true of organisations such as the Hokage's direct ANBU or Root.
In the end, the banquet celebrating Kizaru's approaching appointment as Hokage concluded without incident.
Everyone left in high spirits.
They all believed that once Kizaru took office, the village—and their own futures—would only continue to improve.
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