Next was the selection of the Hokage's assistant and Hokage Advisor positions. Usually, this was decided directly by the Hokage.
This made the Jonin somewhat uneasy, fearing that the Uchiha clan would directly occupy all the positions. By then, this Konoha would be surnamed Uchiha. This was not a situation a normal village should have, and every clan was very uneasy.
Regarding this matter, Shisui went to ask Hiromi: "Do you want to serve as the Hokage's assistant?"
"I won't get involved."
Upon receiving this answer from Hiromi, Shisui understood his meaning.
Without considering Hiromi's combat power, Shisui appointed Shikaku as the Hokage's assistant, and Hiashi and Guy as Hokage Advisor.
Such an arrangement greatly surprised the Jonin, and the worry on their faces turned into smiles.
Although they didn't quite understand making someone like Guy a Hokage Advisor, as long as it wasn't someone from the Uchiha, it was fine.
And the villagers who were paying attention to these matters also felt relieved after seeing this.
Especially seeing Guy, the only one who dared to stand up and say "no" to the Uchiha, become a Hokage Advisor, smiles appeared on their faces.
Guy, however, did not understand this arrangement. After the announcement, he immediately wanted to go see Shisui to ask him to rescind the position given to him but he was stopped by Kakashi.
Guy looked at Kakashi, even more confused.
He knew what kind of person he was.
Handling village affairs? He definitely couldn't handle that!
"Just let me handle it." Kakashi sighed and said.
"???"
Guy felt that Kakashi seemed to be coveting the position of Hokage Advisor, and felt something was very wrong, because Kakashi wasn't that kind of person.
Kakashi smiled bitterly. "The Fifth Hokage appointed you as Hokage Advisor because you dared to say no to the Uchiha."
Before Guy could say anything, Kakashi continued, "With an Uchiha as Hokage, the villagers worry that the Uchiha will act recklessly, but when they see your name, they will be at ease, because they believe you will protect them."
"As for you not knowing village affairs, the villagers don't know, but the ninjas do, so the Fifth Hokage's arrangement is to let me, who possesses the Sharingan, help you, and to make me pick a side."
Guy frowned, still not quite understanding.
Kakashi patted his shoulder and sighed, "Just be yourself as usual."
Guy nodded.
Since Kakashi said so, he would do that.
...
The Fifth Hokage Uchiha Shisui, Hokage's assistant Nara Shikaku, Hokage Advisor Hyuga Hiashi, and Hokage Advisor Might Guy.
Everyone was very satisfied with the replacement of the Konoha High Command.
Consequently, the turbulent Konoha began to stabilize.
However, Naruto was not at peace.
"My father is the Fourth Hokage?!" He widened his eyes, opened his mouth wide, and pointed at himself in disbelief.
Shikaku nodded and stepped aside.
Mikoto walked out from behind and knelt in front of Naruto, her eyes blurred with tears, cautious and nervous, as if afraid of hurting him.
"Naruto, I was best friends with your mother Uzumaki Kushina. You've had a hard time in the past. From now on, you can live at my house and be my son along with Sasuke, okay?"
"Be your son? Together with Sasuke?" Naruto opened his mouth blankly, looking very confused.
His mind was in a mess.
Grandpa Hokage, his father being the Fourth Hokage, living with Sasuke...
He was very confused but he still found the thing he wanted to ask most.
"Then I'm not a demon fox, am I?" He looked nervously at Mikoto, and at Shikaku and the others behind her.
Mikoto shook her head with a pained heart and said, "You are the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. It was your father who sealed the Tailed Beast inside you for the sake of Konoha to suppress Nine-Tails. You are a hero of Konoha. It was some bad people who spread rumors about you, which caused the villagers to misunderstand you as Nine-Tails that destroyed the village."
Naruto remained blank. "What is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? What is a Tailed Beast? Why didn't Grandpa Hokage tell me? Why did those bad people spread rumors about me?"
"There are many things involved, can I tell you slowly in the future?"
Mikoto extended her hand to offer an invitation, looking nervously at Naruto, afraid of being rejected.
Naruto looked at the warm hand. As long as he held it, he could have the motherly love he had always wanted, and he could live with Sasuke, but... but...
Naruto's mind was a blank, yet it also felt like a mess of mush.
At this moment, a young boy walked out from behind Mikoto.
"Sasuke..." Naruto looked up at him.
"Hmph, the room has been cleaned up for you. If you snore while sleeping, I won't forgive you." Sasuke said.
Naruto pursed his lips, his pupils trembling as he looked at Mikoto, feeling very uneasy and vulnerable.
"I... am I really allowed to?"
Mikoto could no longer hold back. Tears welled up and streamed down her face as she hurriedly said, "You can, of course you can. This is what I owe you, what Konoha owes you, Naruto."
Naruto's fragile heart was stirred. He had just taken a small step forward when Mikoto couldn't help but rush over, hugging him tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Naruto... It took so many years to find you... I'm sorry..."
Naruto stood frozen in place, his expression dazed, but tears still fell uncontrollably as he hugged Mikoto and wailed. He didn't know why he was crying, he just wanted to cry.
The two of them, one big and one small, held each other tightly, crying endlessly.
Itachi watched quietly. Suddenly, a small hand slipped into his palm. He turned his head and looked at the girl beside him.
The girl smiled slightly.
Itachi said nothing, only gripping her hand tightly, as if never to let go again.