Byakuya had also carefully considered the idea of appointing Tsunade as Hokage.
The Hokage, as the supreme leader of Konoha, commands the entire village. To most, the title signifies ultimate authority. But to Byakuya, the title was hollow.
In the shinobi world, what truly matters is strength. With enough power, titles and positions become irrelevant. Even while Sarutobi Hiruzen held the title of Third Hokage, Byakuya had already surpassed him. Through sheer strength alone, Byakuya had crushed Hiruzen and forced him to flee like a defeated stray dog.
So for Byakuya, the Hokage's seat held no real meaning.
Still, meaningless or not, he had no intention of handing the title over lightly.
As for why he chose Tsunade—there were several reasons.
First, the Senju clan was no longer a threat to the Uchiha. Their numbers had dwindled, and they now lived under the protection of the Uchiha clan. Even if Tsunade took the title of Hokage, she posed no risk to Byakuya or his clan.
Second, if he remembered correctly, Tsunade was destined to become the Fifth Hokage in the original timeline. Her leadership skills and medical expertise would be a stabilizing force—something Konoha sorely needed after the recent upheaval.
More importantly, Tsunade was the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. Her appointment would resonate deeply with the people of Konoha, restoring a sense of continuity and trust.
With all this in mind, Byakuya made his decision.
"Tsunade Senju will be the next Hokage. What do you all think?" he asked, turning to the room.
"Wait—me!? Become Hokage!?" Tsunade blurted out, startled.
It had always been her childhood dream to become Hokage. And in this altered timeline—thanks to Byakuya's intervention—she hadn't suffered the trauma that once derailed her path. No Dan's death. No Nawaki's. No hemophobia. But still, the suddenness of it all caught her off guard.
"I can't—"
"There's no 'can't'," Byakuya interrupted firmly. "If I say you can do it, you can."
His voice was calm but absolute. Then he turned back to the others.
"Well?"
For a moment, silence. Many were visibly confused. The Uchiha clan had just seized control of Konoha. Everyone had assumed Byakuya himself would claim the Hokage title.
Now, instead of consolidating power, he was offering it to the last heir of the Senju.
What was his plan?
Nara Shikaku, ever perceptive, was the first to understand. He stood and spoke clearly, "I support Tsunade Senju as the Fifth Hokage."
He understood the current political reality. The Senju were few, and Tsunade—though powerful—had no intention of challenging the Uchiha's dominance. Her leadership would legitimize the village's new order, not threaten it.
One by one, the other clan leaders followed suit.
"I agree…"
"I support Lady Tsunade…"
"No objections here…"
Soon, unanimous consent filled the room.
Truthfully, even if Byakuya had chosen to take the title himself, none would have dared oppose him. But by choosing Tsunade, he had turned potential unrest into unity.
"The decision is made," Byakuya declared.
He reached for the Hokage's hat and handed it to her.
"Tsunade… from now on, you're the Fifth Hokage."
Tsunade, still reeling, accepted the hat with both hands.
"I… I'm Hokage…" she muttered, dazed.
It had happened so fast—without council meetings, without deliberation, without ceremony. And yet, here she was, holding the legacy of her grandfather.
Byakuya nodded and spoke with quiet authority.
"Konoha is in your hands now, Tsunade."
"…Understood."
"From now on, Tsunade is the Hokage..."
Hearing Byakuya's declaration, the surrounding gazes immediately focused on him.
At this moment, Tsunade finally stepped forward. With a calm yet solemn expression, she placed the Hokage hat on her head, silently acknowledging her new role.
...
Although the sudden change in leadership shocked the ordinary citizens of Konoha, it was only a momentary surprise. For most civilians, the identity of the Hokage didn't matter as long as the village remained safe.
The shinobi, on the other hand, had no objection to Tsunade Senju's ascension. After all, the First and Second Hokage were from the Senju clan, and Tsunade herself was the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju. Her lineage, achievements, and strength made her a natural fit.
With Tsunade as Hokage, the Uchiha clan—under Byakuya's leadership—took over as the core of the new Anbu, directly tasked with protecting both the Hokage and Konoha. The previous Anbu had been severely weakened; many had perished, and others had defected alongside Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Bastard... Sarutobi Hiruzen actually did this many disgraceful things?"
Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade's expression darkened as she flipped through a thick stack of classified documents. Each page uncovered more of the former Hokage's suppressed history: systematic suppression of the Senju clan, unethical experimentation on Wood Release, covert assassinations, and internal surveillance.
Each of these acts would brand a shinobi as a traitor under normal circumstances.
Tsunade's hands trembled slightly as she read further. Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzo had all played a role in these dark decisions—enough crimes to warrant execution many times over.
The kind old man everyone thought they knew—Sarutobi Hiruzen—had been hiding a monstrous reality beneath his surface.
Just as her fury reached its peak, the door burst open.
"Tsunade, what the hell is going on!?" Jiraiya shouted as he entered, Minato Namikaze close behind him.
Minato's expression was grave, his usual calm replaced by concern.
They had just returned from an extended mission beyond the Land of Fire, only to learn that their former teacher had fled the village and Tsunade had taken his place as Hokage.
Jiraiya looked stunned.
"Our teacher... Hiruzen... A traitor? How did this happen?"
Visit patreon.com/ShiroTL for more chapters.