"I agree with Chief Amamiya's decision!"
Hyūga Tennin was the first to rise, his voice cutting through the tense air. "And at the same time, I nominate Chief Amamiya as the first Leader of Konoha!"
The hall buzzed.
"The Hatake Clan also supports Amamiya-sama," said Hatake Gintama, his tone crisp, decisive.
Moments later, Sarutobi Keigo nodded solemnly, adding his clan's approval without hesitation.
With the three great clans of Konoha united in voice, the remaining families exchanged wary glances. Aburame Shō and the Inuzuka patriarch shared a look, then followed suit.
One after another, every banner in the room turned toward Raizen. No one dared stand against the tide.
It was done.
Raizen — once a half-dead wanderer from a forgotten clan — was now Leader of Konoha Village.
When the cheers faded, he lifted his voice, calm but sharp enough to cut through the noise.
"Now that everyone agrees," Raizen said, "I declare the Council of Elders formally established. We'll determine clan representation next."
At once, the crowd's excitement returned, hotter than before. The real battle had begun — not of steel, but of politics.
Power was about to be divided.
The smaller clans fell silent, their dreams crushed before they could form. Everyone knew this game was rigged; the minor families would get crumbs, if anything. Still, they watched closely — waiting for even a scrap of opportunity.
Raizen began the distribution with calculated ease.
"The Hyūga, Hatake, Aburame, Inuzuka, Sarutobi, Shimura, Hibiscus, and Chiba Clans," he called. "Each will take one Elder seat."
Eight families, each pillar of the new order. With the addition of the Kagami Clan, the total rose to nine. Then came five civilian seats — Raizen's personal balancing act.
That made fourteen of eighteen positions filled. Four remained.
The middle clans straightened in their seats like gamblers seeing the dice slow in midair. This was their shot.
Raizen's gaze swept over them, reading their thoughts as easily as a scroll.
"The Moonlight Clan will hold one seat," he said. "Another to the Shiranui Clan. And one to the Katori Clan."
That left only one.
Dozens of expectant faces turned up toward him. The final Elder seat could shift decades of influence — a dynasty born or broken on a single name.
Raizen's smile barely moved. "The Hyūga Clan is one of the strongest lineages of the Warring States. The last seat will also go to them."
Gasps spread. Some murmured in protest — until Hyūga Tennin's eyes turned on them. One glare was enough. Every whisper died.
Raizen had just doubled the Hyūga's authority while keeping them on a leash. Clever. Dangerous. Exactly what a founder should be.
The Hyūga representatives stiffened, then bowed deeply. Their shame from past defeat washed away in an instant, replaced by pride.
Two seats meant restoration — the Hyūga were elite again.
Raizen gave a single nod. "Then it's settled."
He stepped forward, voice steady, formal.
"As of this moment, I, Amamiya Raizen, assume the role of Konoha's first Leader. I'll rely on your guidance, comrades."
The hall erupted as one.
"We greet the Leader!"
Raizen's lips twitched into something halfway between a grin and a smirk. "Relax. No need for the theatrics. We're partners now — same fire, same village."
He clapped his hands once. "Now, let's move on. Konoha's departments need leadership. If you think you're fit for a post, speak up."
Every head lifted at once. The smaller clans — the ones who'd been silent earlier — suddenly found new life. Department posts meant power. Control. Connections. Even if they didn't hold Elder seats, their family could still weave influence into Konoha's veins.
Raizen saw the ambition sparking in their eyes and hid his amusement.
"Each of the six main departments will operate under my office," he said. "But I won't interfere in their daily affairs. That's the job of the captains and squad leaders."
The words hit like lightning. Everyone understood what that meant — new posts were about to open.
Raizen didn't drag it out. He named the heads of each department one by one, weaving loyalty and practicality like a true tactician. The major families kept their influence as captains; the small and mid-level clans filled the squads and support posts.
He didn't stop there. He opened key civilian offices to commoners — men and women who'd once been too weak or poor to hold a title.
It wasn't mercy. It was strategy.
Civilian loyalty would be his invisible army — one that no clan could ever control.
By the time the final names were spoken, the room was calm again, humming with silent satisfaction.
The great families were content with prestige. The smaller ones were thrilled to matter. And the civilians — those tired faces that had lived their whole lives under clan shadows — looked at Raizen as if he'd carved a miracle from the mud.
Raizen finally sat down, exhaustion creeping in. His hands trembled just enough to notice.
Dozens of orders waited on his desk — construction blueprints, departmental structures, formal decrees.
"Konoha," he whispered to himself, "is finally real."
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the distant sunlight spilling through the window.
A reincarnator builds a village out of corpses and politics. Not bad for someone who used to fill spreadsheets.
He smiled faintly — then closed his eyes.
For the first time in years, Amamiya Raizen allowed himself to breathe.