Suddenly, he didn't know what to say.
Tobirama leaned back against the pillow and closed his eyes.
"Call Tsunade in. I have something to say to her."
Nobunaga stood up and walked toward the door.
At the doorway, he stopped.
"Second Hokage."
"Hmm."
"The position of Hokage—" He paused, "I can give it to Tsunade."
Tobirama opened his eyes and looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because she is more suitable than I am."
Nobunaga said, "She is Senju Hashirama's granddaughter, a direct descendant of the Senju Clan.
If she stands there, everyone will support her. If I stand in that position, I will only be scrutinized."
Tobirama looked at him, watching him for a long time.
"You are very clever," he said, "but you've forgotten one thing."
"What?"
"What Tsunade needs are people who support you, not someone for her to support."
Tobirama's eyes were bright. "She will walk her own path. What you need to do is walk your own."
Nobunaga stood there, silent for a long time.
Then he nodded and pushed the door open to leave.
In the hallway, Tsunade was leaning against the wall, her eyes still red.
Seeing Nobunaga come out, she stood up straight.
"The Second Hokage wants you to go in," Nobunaga said.
Tsunade nodded and walked toward the door.
As she passed by him, she stopped.
"Nobunaga."
"Hmm."
"What did he say to you?"
Nobunaga was silent for a moment.
"He told me to become the Hokage."
Tsunade's pupils contracted slightly.
She looked at him for a long time.
"You agreed?"
"No."
Tsunade was stunned. "Why?"
Nobunaga looked at her. "Because I want to support you to be the Hokage."
Tsunade's eyes widened.
Nobunaga said, "Being Hokage means responsibility. With great power comes great responsibility. Your ability is stronger than mine, so your responsibility is also greater."
Tsunade looked at him.
In those emerald green eyes, something was surging.
"You—" she started, her voice a bit raspy.
"Go on," Nobunaga said, "he's waiting for you."
Tsunade bit her lip, turned, and walked into the hospital room.
The door closed behind her.
Nobunaga stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall.
The sunlight from the window shone in, falling on his face, very warm.
He heard Tsunade's voice coming from the room, tinged with a sob.
Then came her muffled weeping.
The door wasn't tightly shut; through the crack, he could see Tsunade kneeling by the bed, holding Tobirama's hand, her shoulders shaking.
Nobunaga looked away and closed his eyes.
He didn't know how long it had been when the door opened.
Tsunade walked out, her eyes swollen like walnuts.
She looked at Nobunaga for a long time.
"He's calling for you."
Nobunaga walked in.
Tobirama lay on the bed, his complexion even worse than before.
But his eyes were still bright.
He looked at Nobunaga and smiled slightly.
"That girl Tsunade, she looks really ugly when she cries."
Nobunaga didn't say anything.
Tobirama reached out his hand.
His hand was very thin, with prominent knuckles, but it was strong.
He grasped Nobunaga's hand.
"Ending the chaotic era, it's your turn."
Nobunaga looked at him.
In those aged eyes, a light was flickering.
In that light were the shadows of Hashirama, the Senju Clan, and an entire era.
Nobunaga nodded.
"Alright."
Tobirama let go of his hand and closed his eyes.
A smile remained on his lips, but his breathing had stopped.
Nobunaga stood there, looking at that pale face.
He remembered the first time he saw Tobirama; it was on a street in Konoha.
Back then, he had just been reborn and was walking among the crowd when he saw the Second Hokage walking out of the Hokage Building.
He didn't walk fast, his steps were steady, and his back was straight.
At that time, Nobunaga felt that this man would stand there forever.
Standing on the roof of the Hokage Building, standing under that flag, standing before everyone.
But now he lay there, so quiet, so small.
Nobunaga reached out, pulled the blanket up, and covered his shoulders.
Then he turned and walked out of the room.
In the hallway, Tsunade was leaning against the wall where he had just been.
She looked at him.
"He's gone?"
"Hmm."
Tsunade's tears fell again.
She didn't wipe them; she just stood there, letting the tears flow.
Then she took a step forward and rested her head on Nobunaga's shoulder.
Her hands gripped his clothes, clutching tightly.
Nobunaga stood there, unmoving.
He let her lean on him, let her cry.
The hallway was quiet, save for her crying—muffled and suppressed, as if surging up from a very deep place.
After a long time, she looked up.
Her eyes were red, her nose was red, and her face was covered in tear tracks.
"You really don't want to be the Hokage?" she asked.
Nobunaga looked at her. "I do. But not now."
"Then when?"
"After you've finished being it."
Tsunade was stunned for a moment.
Then she smiled, a small smile through her tears.
"You are such a strange person."
Nobunaga didn't speak.
Tsunade looked at him for a long time.
Then she reached out and took his hand.
Her hand was small and warm, just like that day on the back mountain.
"It's a promise."
"It's a promise."
Nobunaga stood there, holding Tsunade's hand.
Outside the window, the sunlight shone in, falling upon the two of them.
He thought of Shinku's short sword, of Tobirama's hand, and of those who had died.
They had passed through his life one by one, leaving some things behind and taking others away.
He felt the burden he carried growing heavier.
Bonds became increasingly heavy, pressing down on his shoulders like a mountain.
But these things made him stronger, even as they brought pressure.
Friendship, love, the people, ideals.
These were all things he could not let go of.
Nobunaga took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
He looked up at the sky outside the window.
The clouds were thick, and sunlight leaked through the gaps, falling upon this war-torn land.
Ending the chaotic era, it's your turn.
He tightened his grip on Tsunade's hand.
On the day Nobunaga became the Third Hokage, it rained in Konoha.
It wasn't heavy, just a fine, dense drizzle tapping against the windows of the Hokage Building, like someone gently knocking on the glass.
He wasn't wearing the Hokage robes, only a plain black kimono, with the short sword Shinku had left him tied at his waist.
Tsunade stood beside him, looking out the window.
"Are you really going to do it?" she asked.
Nobunaga nodded.
"Really."
Tsunade didn't say anything more; she just reached out and gripped his hand tightly.
The first thing Nobunaga did after taking office was to reassign positions.
He transferred the Council of Elders to logistics, moved Danzo's people to remote outposts, and one by one removed the old men who had survived the Sengoku period from positions of power.
He didn't kill anyone, didn't arrest anyone, and didn't conduct a purge.
He simply replaced people.
He replaced them with those willing to follow him—Sakumo Hatake, Might Duy, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Mitarashi Shishio, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
And Tsunade.
These people were placed into various departments of Konoha, from the police force to logistics, from education to medical care, and from intelligence to combat.
They were young, energetic, and believed in the ideals spoken before the martyrs' tombstones.