Chapter 108: The Fifth Hokage!
"The Daimyo's younger son?" Kakashi chuckled. "His younger son is only four years old this year, hardly a presence in the Fire Capital."
"Is that so?" Uchiha Douhuan chuckled lightly. "That's excellent then."
"Kakashi, I expect the Daimyo's reply should reach the village within a few days," Uchiha Douhuan said to Kakashi. "For the next few days, go ahead and post the notice for the Security Department's recruitment expansion. As for the formal restructuring, we'll begin immediately after I take office."
"Understood," Kakashi nodded.
...
The Security Department posted the recruitment expansion notice, and the news quickly spread to every corner of the village.
Many Genin were eager to try upon seeing the news, and even some Chuunin in the village were no exception.
The Security Department's compensation and benefits were no secret within the village's ninja circles. Some ninjas who hadn't applied last time due to concerns about the department's reputation had long since regretted it deeply.
Now that the recruitment notice was posted, even the normal flow of D-rank missions in the village was affected. The entrance to the Security Department headquarters was jam-packed, completely surrounded.
However, for the troublesome non-ninja citizens in the village, this news was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue. They were already so afraid of the current Security Department; what would happen after it expanded further?
On the other hand, the news that the Daimyo approved Uchiha Douhuan as the Fifth Hokage also returned to the village. Although the formal documents would take a few more days to arrive, work had already begun on the fifth statue on the Hokage Monument.
The ninjas in the village all knew they were about to enter the era of the Fifth Hokage.
During this period of transition, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already cleared out his office in advance and handed the Scroll of Seals, viewable only by successive Hokage, to Uchiha Douhuan.
Uchiha Douhuan currently didn't have the time to examine the Scroll of Seals closely, but Uchiha Zaito and others had already moved into the Hokage Building early to help Uchiha Douhuan set up his future office space.
"Hideaki! Be careful, this calligraphy scroll must be hung straight! This is Lord Fifth's favorite!" Uchiha Zaito directed Sakurai Hideaki and Fujiwara Youki as they carefully hung the large calligraphy scroll, brought over from Uchiha Douhuan's Security Department office and bearing the characters'Government Honest, People Harmonious', on the wall of the Hokage office. This scroll directly faced the portraits of the previous Hokage hanging in the office.
After the scroll was hung, two more people entered, carrying the sword rack from Uchiha Douhuan's previous office.
At this time, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uchiha Douhuan also arrived at the office together.
Seeing the sword rack, Sarutobi Hiruzen, smoking his pipe, asked with some doubt, "Douhuan, do you plan to display weapons in the Hokage's office? Isn't that perhaps a bit inappropriate?"
"There's nothing wrong with it," Uchiha Douhuan chuckled. After the movers placed the sword rack beneath the calligraphy scroll, Uchiha Douhuan also stepped forward and placed Jirai, which hung at his waist, onto it. "The Hokage, after all, represents the village's highest combat power. Placing the sword here also signifies that I can head to the battlefield at any time. This way, the village's ninjas can feel more secure when carrying out missions, because they will know they always have me as their backup."
"Right... right..." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled awkwardly, no longer pursuing the matter, and quickly changed the subject. "Douhuan, your Fifth Hokage robes are already being made. The inauguration ceremony the day after tomorrow should proceed as planned."
"Yes, indeed. It really makes one feel impatient," Uchiha Douhuan looked up towards the window, at his own face being carved into the Hokage Rock, and remarked with emotion.
...
Meanwhile, within the Security Department, Kakashi, who had officially taken office as the Security Department Captain, was also busy arranging work. After spending a day completing the onboarding training for new members, Kakashi gathered all the squad leaders in the meeting room.
"Everyone, our Captain Douhuan will officially take office as the village's Fifth Hokage in two days," Kakashi announced from the podium in the meeting room. "However, recently, I have heard some disharmonious voices within the village."
"Damn it! How dare those people disrespect Lord Fifth!" Watanabe Masashi, promoted to squad leader for his outstanding performance, stood up and declared. "It seems we absolutely must teach them a lesson!"
"That's right! That's right!" The crowd below instantly became agitated. It was Lord Douhuan who gave them their current lives. Now that Lord Douhuan was about to become the Fifth Hokage, their future days would only get better. How could they tolerate anyone disrespecting Uchiha Douhuan!
"Everyone, calm down!" Kakashi waved his hands, managing to quell the emotions in the room somewhat.
"With Lord Fifth's inauguration imminent, the most important thing now is to ensure the inauguration ceremony proceeds smoothly," Kakashi stated. "Therefore, I do not wish to hear any disharmonious voices during Lord Fifth's inauguration ceremony. Understood?"
"Understood!" The crowd below nodded in unison.
...
As the Daimyo's letter arrived in the village and the Fifth Hokage's robes were officially completed, the day for the formal Hokage inauguration ceremony soon arrived.
At nine in the morning, the warm winter sun had completely dispelled the chill of the previous night. The entire Hokage Building was decorated with lanterns and streamers, filled with a festive atmosphere.
Uchiha Douhuan and Sarutobi Hiruzen ascended together onto the large balcony atop the Hokage Building. The ninjas who had long been waiting below immediately erupted into fervent cheers upon seeing the figure of Uchiha Douhuan dressed in the Fifth Hokage's robes.
The next moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen, holding the Hokage hat, solemnly handed it into Uchiha Douhuan's hands.
After Uchiha Douhuan placed it on his head, the cheers from below instantly grew louder.
Uchiha Douhuan scanned the crowd below. Every one of his supporters was clapping vigorously. Although the number of attendees at his inauguration seemed fewer than at the Fourth Hokage's ceremony last time, the enthusiastic noise they generated was certainly no less than the previous occasion.
Among the crowd, Kakashi clapped forcefully while smiling towards Uchiha Douhuan in acknowledgment.
Uchiha Douhuan waited for the cheers from below to subside slightly before slowly speaking:
"Everyone, thank you all for coming to witness this moment." Uchiha Douhuan's voice, amplified by chakra, reached the ears of everyone below. "Our village, since Lord First and Lord Madara made their vow by the Naka River, has walked through fifty-six years. It is thanks to the painstaking efforts of the previous four Hokage that the village has reached its current scale. Today, I am fortunate enough to take over this heavy burden. That I am here today is entirely due to everyone's support and affection."
"Here, in the name of the Fifth Hokage, I swear upon the Will of Fire." Uchiha Douhuan raised his right hand. "In the future, I shall certainly fulfill the responsibilities and duties of the Hokage, protect every comrade within the village, lead the village towards a better future, and Make the Hidden Leaf Village Great Again!"
"Fifth Hokage! Uchiha Douhuan!"
"Bang!"
"Bang! Bang!"
As Uchiha Douhuan's voice fell, several Fire Style fireworks—developed overnight by Uchiha elders—exploded consecutively in the sky above the Hokage Building. Brilliant fireworks burst open above the Hokage Building.
Speaking of Uchiha Douhuan becoming the Fifth Hokage, the happiest were likely this group of clan elders, now in their seventies and eighties. Ever since Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama jointly established the village back then, they had developed an obsession with having an Uchiha become Hokage.
As First Hokage Senju Hashirama's prestige was unparalleled, their slogan became "Contest for Second, Secure Third, Hope for Fourth." However, through generations of Hokage succession, the Uchiha clan seemed destined to be excluded from the position. Some of their peers had even gone to their graves in the family cemetery carrying this regret.
However, Uchiha Douhuan's appearance was unexpected even for these old antiques. After forcefully intervening in the clan council and securing the position of Clan Head, Uchiha Douhuan only took half a year to achieve what they had dreamed of for decades but failed to accomplish.
Therefore, the task of setting off the celebratory cannons, originally planned for some youngsters in the clan, was forcefully taken over by this group of elders, each wanting to feel a sense of participation in the process.
While the Hokage Building area was filled with harmony and joy, the atmosphere in other parts of the village was not quite as congenial.
Early this morning, a small-time merchant from the village—who had previously participated in the clash with the Security Department, received a severe beating, was imprisoned for a month, and hit with a hefty fine—after learning the news that Uchiha Douhuan was about to become the Fifth Hokage, had secretly contacted several 'inmates' he met in the Security Department prison. He planned to stir up trouble on the day of the inauguration ceremony to prevent the Security Department Captain from taking office smoothly.
However, as soon as he stepped out of his door this morning, he found a Security Department member standing there, holding a baton and looking at him with a smile.
This smile sent shivers down his spine.
As a habitual offender who frequently encroached on public space for business, he was all too familiar with this smile. Although the Security Department promoted "smile enforcement," when they enforced the law, only their faces smiled; in other aspects, they showed no mercy. Moreover, the last time he was beaten, the Security Department members who did it were also smiling while swinging their batons with vigorous force.
"Is there something this lord requires?" The man looked at the baton before him, instantly lost his courage, and quickly bowed his head.
"Nothing much, I'm just patrolling here. You seem quite busy, do you need my help?" the Security Department member said unhurriedly.
"No, no, no, I'm not busy at all. I just came out for some fresh air," the small merchant quickly replied, while carefully tucking away the banner in his pocket that read 'Uchiha Douhuan Step Down,' not daring to reveal even a hint of it.
(End of Chapter)
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