"No, Kakashi-senpai," Yūgao answered with a shake of her head. She took down her Anbu mask and said, "It was Lord Third who wants to discuss something with you, ask you to come at Council Room. I came to deliver his message."
Kakashi was stunned. "The Third? But why?" He was surprised because he had already gone personally to Hiruzen and told him about today's incident with his training in the Lightning Release Jutsu, Kirin.
"I don't know," Yūgao replied with a shrug.
Kakashi sighed, shaking his head in feigned weariness. He noticed Yūgao was still standing there after giving him the message. She was curiously glancing at him, which left him even more confused. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.
Yūgao replied, "I... noticed you haven't been carrying Jiraiya-sama's books these days."
"Ahem..." Kakashi coughed lightly, as if clearing his throat in slight embarrassment.
"Well, I'll take my leave, Kakashi-senpai." Yūgao didn't waste much time. She put her Anbu mask back on and flickered away.
Kakashi put his hands on his waist, his gaze dropping to the ground as he muttered under his breath, 'What the fuck does that old man want to discuss with me at this time?' He then clasped his hands and looked upward, knowing that he just had to go and see what Hiruzen wanted. With that, Kakashi flickered away, moving swiftly to reach the Hokage Residence.
________________________________
He immediately walked to and entered the Council Room. As he entered the room, he saw Hiruzen seated on a chair at the head of a large, polished blue rectangular table. Behind him stood a tall man with dark eyes, spiky hair tied in a ponytail, scars on his face, and a goatee. This was the Jōnin Commander of Konoha and the current head of the Nara Clan, Shikaku Nara.
Kakashi made eye contact with him and gave him a small nod in greeting. Shikaku lazily nodded back in response, his expression clearly saying 'What a drag!' and that he didn't want to be a part of this meeting at all and would rather just go home for a good night's sleep.
Kakashi's gaze then drifted to the other three figures in the room, seated in chairs around the table, left and right of Hiruzen's side, with only one chair empty close to to Hiruzen's right. One was Danzō, who had a gloomy look on his face, and the other two were the Konoha Council members, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. Kakashi simply glanced at them. He didn't greet them particularly, as he had no respect for them, unlike for Hiruzen, whom he still had a little respect for.
"Lord Third, did you call for me?" Kakashi asked, bowing slightly to Hiruzen before moving and standing close to him.
Hiruzen had an elderly warm smile on his lips when he saw Kakashi enter the room. "Yes, Kakashi, I asked for you because we've been meeting about something important for the future of the village."
Kakashi raised his brow, scrutinizing Hiruzen, then landed his gaze on Shikaku and the others, contemplating what he meant, but he couldn't think of anything. However, he had a bad feeling about whatever this matter is~!
"Can I ask what important matter you're referring to, Lord Third?" Kakashi asked, looking at Hiruzen warily.
Hiruzen smiled warmly again, pointing to the empty seat on his right. "This matter concerns you, Kakashi. But first, take a seat."
Kakashi didn't question him. With the same surprised look hidden under his face mask, he took a seat on the right-hand side, to Hiruzen's right. Next to him was Danzō, who still had a gloomy look on his face. Seeing Kakashi seated, he snorted coldly. Kakashi simply ignored him. In front of him, Homura and Koharu were seated. They had stern looks on their faces but didn't seem to be as unhappy to see Kakashi seated in a chair meant for Konoha Council members as Danzō was. Kakashi had already understood the matter for the most part but patiently waited for Hiruzen to continue.
Hiruzen then said, "Kakashi, from the way you demonstrated your strength during your... training today— although I know you weren't purposely showing that— it showed us just how much stronger you've gotten, and surprisingly so."
Kakashi neither spoke nor moved, just holding his visible right eye gaze on Hiruzen. He was becoming more and more sure of where this was going. Hiruzen continued, "Understanding that, and how the village needs a successor after me, I, after a discussion with the Councilors, have made this decision— from today onward, you will be my successor for the Hokage's position." Saying that, Hiruzen had a triumphant and satisfied smile on his face, as if he had finally made a correct decision after years.
Kakashi was momentarily dazed, then clicked his tongue internally. He had an idea of what matter Hiruzen wanted to discuss. Shikaku, who stood behind Hiruzen, shook his head slightly and gave Kakashi a pitiful gaze. Kakashi then turned his head to his right, at Danzō, and thought, 'Why is he so silent about all of this? He's not that kind of person. Hey, you piece of shit, say something against it.' However, his wish did not come true. All he saw was Danzō gritting his teeth.
Kakashi then looked at the other two Konoha Council members, who were giving him approving nods. This finally made everything click. 'Ah, I see. It looks like they had a long meeting about this before calling me here, where even these two selfish pieces of shit agreed with this decision, leaving only poor Danzō alone against it. Man, what the hell.'
Kakashi's gaze finally returned to Hiruzen. "Lord Third, haven't we already talked about this before around last month? I don't want to become Hokage."
"I know we did," Hiruzen said, reasoning gently. "However, at that time, I thought a simple increase in chakra reserves wasn't enough, but that changes now. Your strength is enough for the position of Hokage."
He then added with a chuckle, "And we're not grooming you to be the Fifth Hokage right away. I can still serve as the village leader for a few more years, but eventually, someone has to take over after me, and we have decided it to be you. However, if you still don't want it, then you only have one choice and that is— make Jiraiya agree for becoming Hokage."
'That means, simply accept it like a good boy, because Jiraiya wouldn't agree, but maybe Tsunade...' Kakashi thought. He concluded that his open training for Kirin, which was the first time he had done so, was the reason for all of this. Though he has no aversion for this position, but this is a bothersome job, and his current focus is just to strengthen Naruto and Sasuke, so they can take care of future threats early, which give Kakashi a peaceful life ahead.
"Yeah, Hiruzen is right. Your strength is enough, so making you a successor after him is good for Konoha as well," Koharu said, getting approving nods from Hiruzen and Homura.
BANG!
Danzō immediately slammed his left hand on the table. "Kakashi himself has no desire to become Hokage, so why are you so fixated on it? He's just a novice in political matters as well; how can he run Konoha in the future?" Danzō barked in an angered voice.
"That's why we have also made him a member of the Konoha Council, Danzō. Under Hiruzen and us here, he will understand the things he doesn't know now," Homura replied to Danzō with a reason.
Kakashi immediately said, "Wait, but I have my team, Naruto, Sasuke, and even Sakura to train."
"You can always use Shadow Clones; that wouldn't be a problem. Just start to attend Council meetings from now on, and don't they aren't regular anyways. Alright, let's end the meeting here." Hiruzen stated, in commanding tone dismissing the meeting.
Danzō was the first to get out of the council room, taking his cane and slamming the door shut behind him hardly. Then Homura and Koharu also got up, followed by Shikaku, who gently put his hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "Kakashi, your life is going to be quite troublesome from now on. Get ready for this new troublesome life."
Hiruzen chuckled happily, also get up and walked out, leaving a dazed Kakashi seated there, who muttered, "Fuck. Haha, well... Um, hm... Haha~!"