"Lord Third."
Shingu Akira looked at the approaching Sarutobi Hiruzen and greeted him with a smile.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze swept over Orochimaru's lifeless body on the ground. His eyes dimmed for a moment before he forced himself to rally, nodding at Shingu Akira.
"Fourth Hokage, I didn't expect you to come here as well."
"All for Konoha."
Shingu Akira adjusted the slightly loose Konoha forehead protector on his brow and said with righteous conviction,
"Orochimaru's human experiments were too heinous. If he were to escape, the impact on Konoha would be too great. As Hokage, it was my duty to come personally."
Hearing this, the squad of Anbu who had accompanied Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Shingu Akira with deep admiration.
Facing the Fourth Hokage he had personally chosen, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a sense of relief.
But with his student's corpse lying before him, he was in no mood to say more.
"The future of Konoha rests on the shoulders of you young people."
After this simple sentiment, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded to Shingu Akira and slowly walked over to Orochimaru.
He looked at the familiar face lying on the ground.
For a moment, images of Orochimaru from his childhood, youth, and adulthood flickered through the old man's mind.
Shingu Akira didn't interrupt.
He glanced sideways at the contemplative Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Before this, he had only met the famed Third Hokage two or three times.
Neither had left a deep impression on the other.
And yet now, he had become the one to whom the old man had entrusted the entire village.
Fate... is a wondrous thing.
With a peculiar feeling that only he could understand, Shingu Akira chuckled to himself.
Afterward, seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen had finished paying his last respects to his student, he explained:
"Orochimaru confessed to his crimes but refused to stand trial, choosing to become a rogue ninja. To ensure there were no risks, I didn't hold back. Now, we can only bring back his body."
"You did the right thing, Fourth Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took one last, deep look at Orochimaru's corpse before averting his gaze.
Although he had set out personally to capture Orochimaru.
If they had truly met face to face, he honestly couldn't guarantee he would have been able to deliver the killing blow.
The Fourth Hokage had done it in his stead.
For him, it was a form of liberation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a breath and looked at Shingu Akira.
He had been slightly worried that entrusting Konoha to this young man was too hasty.
But looking at him now...
'As expected of the man I chose. In his hands, Konoha will surely flourish.'
Sarutobi Hiruzen mused internally.
For the position of Fourth Hokage, he had originally been quite optimistic about Namikaze Minato.
But there was no helping it; Shingu Akira had distinguished himself during the Third Great Ninja War, his performance even better than Minato's, and he was deeply loved by the ninjas of Konoha.
He had also considered him, knowing that Shingu Akira was a "true" inheritor of the Will of Fire.
In the end, he had appointed Shingu Akira.
Now, seeing him come alone to stop Orochimaru for the sake of Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen affirmed to himself that he had not misjudged the man!
Coincidentally.
At that moment, Shingu Akira also thought of the unlucky soul he had replaced.
'I wonder how Namikaze Minato is doing now.'
Although he had used his Divine Art: Omnipotence, he couldn't grasp all the details of how reality had specifically shifted.
Fortunately, no matter what.
The reality that he was the Fourth Hokage would not change.
With that thought, Shingu Akira waved his hand, signaling the Anbu to seal Orochimaru's body, and then returned to the village with the Third Hokage.
Before long.
The bustling streetscape came into view.
The Hokage Rock, still bearing only three faces, gleamed dazzlingly in the sunlight.
Shingu Akira looked at it all and a smile touched his lips.
Konoha, I'm back.
...
"AHH!!! It's Lord Hokage!"
"Have you eaten, Lord Hokage? Would you like to come sit in my humble shop?"
"A peaceful afternoon to you, Lord Hokage!"
"Lord Hokage is so handsome!!"
"Lord Hokage..."
As soon as Shingu Akira returned to the village, he was met with a wave of enthusiastic greetings from the villagers of Konoha.
He was a bit unaccustomed to it at first.
After all, Konoha's fickle villagers were notorious.
Like the snack shop owner who had just invited him in for a free meal; in the past, forget free, the man used to skimp on his portions.
One time he forgot his money and planned to pay next time, and the owner had stared at him like a thief for the longest time.
And the one with the white eyes who had just said "A peaceful afternoon to you" instead of a simple "Good afternoon," he was always reserved and proud. Forget actively greeting him; getting a disdainful glance on the street was considered good.
As for compliments like "so handsome" or "so dashing."
Well, he had always been popular with women in the past, so there was nothing much to feel about that.
Shingu Akira was a bit flustered at first. After a moment of shock, he quickly adapted, basking in it all, losing himself in the chorus of "Lord Hokage."
What does one do after becoming powerful?
Enjoy it, of course!
Was he supposed to find some remote mountain and live as a hermit?
Certain old men always taught the younger generation from their experience not to always think about making money, to spend more time with family, that simplicity is the truth.
That's because they had spent the first few decades of their lives having all the fun they wanted.
Only then did they use their experience as a pretext for your own good, condescendingly informing you of the essence of life.
Shingu Akira despised that whole act. He planned to have his fun first.
The coveted title of Hokage became his first choice.
Shingu Akira was also a top university student.
He was well aware that when it came to enjoyment, material possessions were one level.
But what was truly lasting and captivating was spiritual satisfaction.
Just like now.
Amidst the enthusiastic cries of "Lord Hokage," Shingu Akira felt every pore in his body relax in utter comfort.
Whether in his past life or this one, when had he ever been the center of attention, revered by all?
It was like a sun rising in the East, and another in the West. Its exquisite pleasure could only be known by one who experienced it!
Shingu Akira waved to the excited villagers as he walked.
And so.
A walk that should have taken ten minutes stretched into more than half an hour.
In front of the Hokage Tower.
Shingu Akira looked up at the large "Fire" character on the roof, a smile playing on his lips as he strode inside.
"Lord Hokage..."
Along the way, the Konoha ninjas at work all bowed to the true master of this building.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was not with him.
After returning to the village, he had quietly gone to handle Orochimaru's affairs.
The Hokage's Office.
When Shingu Akira pushed the door open, he could still faintly smell the scent of smoke.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had just been smoking here not long ago.
Shingu Akira walked to the desk, sat in the Hokage's chair, and looked down at the numerous documents that only the Hokage could view, laid out on the desk.
Among them, many had just been signed by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Shingu Akira glanced at these signatures, smiled faintly, and summoned a Konoha ninja to distribute the signed documents.
He wasn't worried that someone would see the signatures were all the Third Hokage's, not the Fourth's, and become suspicious.
Because he understood one reality.
People are connected by chakra.