Mother Nature wasn't cooperating.
All night long, the north wind howled and snow fell relentlessly. Many villagers opened their doors in the morning to find thick layers of snow piled high on the streets. The entire Leaf Village was now blanketed in a thick layer of snow.
Though the snowfall eased slightly at daybreak, a cold wave swept in, making the air unusually frigid across Konoha.
However, not even freezing weather could extinguish the burning passion of the Leaf's citizens.
Early in the morning, large groups of villagers voluntarily gathered together, grabbing shovels and brooms to head out and clear away the snow.
Before long, streets and plazas were cleared and ready for traffic again. The bustling crowds rose to the challenge and melted the icy obstacle with their actions.
Today marked the very first day of the new year.
It was also a grand occasion eagerly awaited by countless people.
At nine o'clock in the morning.
The plaza in front of Hokage Tower had already become packed with spectators.
In the center stood an ornate stage. Behind it played on a massive screen a documentary showcasing the breathtaking scenery throughout the Land of Fire. A dozen or so seats sat empty in the middle section.
At the stage's very front, an elaborately decorated podium had been set up with microphones and decorated lavishly with colorful flowers.
This was where Tsunade would soon take her oath as Hokage and proclaim the long-awaited unification of the world of shinobi.
Beneath the stage, reporters from the Konoha Television Network and international news outlets had already set up a variety of cameras, all aimed directly at the podium, and were making final equipment checks.
In front of the stage, over a thousand seats were arranged—only members of Konoha's major clans, representatives from various villages and nations of the shinobi world, and news correspondents held the privilege of sitting here.
Far more villagers and tourists gathered along the streets surrounding the plaza perimeter, creating a deafening roar. The entire town seemed to have poured into the streets.
An unprecedented spectacle.
Looking back, this grand event was driven by the waves of reform that swept the world in recent years, spurring significant technological advancements across the ninja world.
For the first time ever, this Hokage inauguration ceremony employed live broadcasting technology, streaming real-time audio and video simultaneously to television networks across every nation and village.
Although television had yet to reach every household throughout the ninja world, large public screens had been erected in plazas and streets across Konoha and the major towns of other countries.
Already packed before these screens, conservative estimates put the number at over one billion viewers tuning in to the live broadcast of this ceremony.
This was truly a once-in-history moment for the world of shinobi. After years of war and bloodshed, peace might finally arrive today—an idea that was both thrilling and deeply inspiring.
Right now, everyone across the shinobi world awaited this historic moment, each person holding their own unique thoughts and feelings.
Inside a local inn.
Time was nearly upon them.
Heiyan glanced briefly at the snowy street outside, then picked up his shakuhachi resting beside his bed before stepping out the door and joining the surging crowd.
Ten minutes later.
Suddenly, a stir rippled through the plaza—the first appearances of important figures had begun.
From behind the stage emerged four Kage-level leaders: Onoki, Rasa, the Fourth Raikage, and the Immortal Sage. All wore their respective village's Kage robes and distinctive Kage hats, their expressions solemn.
The reason these people were here was because they had all been beaten into submission by Tsunade. Indeed, Tsunade was often likened to the legendary Hashirama Senju—a man whose sheer might alone could dominate the entire world of shinobi.
Next to appear were Hanzo and Danzo.
Both wore grim expressions; Danzo's gloom was simply his nature, while Hanzo's sour mood stemmed from frustration and a sense of bad luck.
It turned out that just recently, a new rumor had suddenly spread throughout the village—a claim that Hanzo and Danzo together formed the "Double-Z" duo, praising them as Tsunade's two right hands and the future pillars of Konoha's governance.
Hanzo, the mighty Semi-God, naturally held no interest in being mentioned in the same breath as someone as underhanded as Danzo. Yet the latter was shamelessly skilled at self-promotion. By leveraging every resource at his disposal and deploying countless operatives for propaganda, Danzo had managed to create the image of this so-called "Double-Z" partnership within just two or three days.
As a result, Hanzo was extremely annoyed.
Though their seats were side by side, once seated, Hanzo let out a cold snort and turned his head away—an open display of contempt toward Danzo.
Danzo, however, possessed a face thicker than Konoha's city walls. He remained unfazed, instead smiling warmly and waving at the reporters below to take photos of the famed "Double-Z" duo.
He now understood clearly—image was everything when aiming for the Hokage title. Henceforth, he made a conscious effort to appear publicly and carefully cultivate his public persona.
Following closely behind came Hiruzen Sarutobi and his two apprentices: Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
As Tsunade's childhood best friend, Orochimaru—the director of the Science Division—and Jiraiya—the captain of the Jonin unit—were unquestionably devoted supporters of Tsunade.
And as her former mentor and former Hokage, Hiruzen needed no explanation of where his loyalties lay. He would attend the ceremony later, personally handing over the Hokage hat to Tsunade.
In addition, Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga had also arrived, representing their respective clans and taking seats among the Honorary Elders.
These two were the clan heads of Konoha's two most powerful clans, and among the village's top combatants. If they ever united and led their Uchiha and Hyuga clans out of Konoha, they could probably found an entirely new hidden village.
Fugaku and Hiashi had once fought alongside Tsunade, and due to the influence of someone whose name shall not be spoken, they too supported Tsunade's ascension to Hokage.
Last to arrive was the Great Toad Sage from Mount Myoboku, along with Elder Fukasaku and Shima.
As Konoha's Honorary Elder, Gamamaru had even come out of his temple specifically for this occasion, paying full respects to Tsunade.
All in all,
Tsunade not only possessed unrivaled strength, but also boasted immense support within Konoha Village. She truly was the choice of heaven, unanimously backed by all.
One by one, these top figures in the world of shinobi took their seats, exchanging polite greetings.
Meanwhile, below the stage, camera flashes kept going off as photographers scrambled to capture every key moment.
After all, a scene like this was unlikely to ever happen again.
Yet the centerpiece of today's grand event—the goddess-like Tsunade—had yet to make an appearance, seemingly still backstage, preparing herself.
But that was only natural.
Everyone knows how it works—the big star always arrives last.
Countless people made the long journey to Konoha, all eager to catch a glimpse of Tsunade's grandeur. There was no shortage of those willing to wait for hours, days, or even months.
Finally.
At exactly ten o'clock in the morning, as the giant clock on the plaza displayed twelve, the inauguration ceremony of the new Hokage kicked off right on time.
A solemn and majestic piece of music, performed by Konoha's hundred-piece orchestra, echoed across the plaza and was broadcast through television into every corner of the world of shinobi.
Titled "New World," this piece had been composed jointly by several renowned musicians from across the shinobi world—a hymn of praise dedicated to the brand-new era.
As the performance progressed, the melody gradually grew more intense, building up to its climax and leaving the audience spellbound.
The moment the last note faded, the crowd burst into thunderous applause.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>