The next morning, at dawn.
Hokage Building, top-floor office.
Sunlight streamed through the shattered doorway—still unrepaired since Tobirama had kicked it in the day before—casting long beams across Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged, haggard face.
He hadn't slept all night.
Across from him, Tobirama sat calmly in a brand-new ceremonial Hokage robe. Though the formal inauguration hadn't yet taken place, he had already draped the Hokage hat over himself without ceremony, occupying the chair that symbolized the highest authority in Konoha.
The room was far from empty.
Hyūga Hiashi.
Nara Shikaku.
Akimichi Chōza.
Aburame Shibi.
Every head of Konoha's noble clans stood behind Tobirama.
They formed an unbreakable wall—a wall that completely cut Hiruzen Sarutobi off from power.
"Old man."
Tobirama casually spun the Hokage hat on his finger, his tone relaxed.
"The auspicious hour has arrived."
"The villagers and the ninja outside are already waiting."
"The seals, documents, and ANBU authority—hand them over."
Hiruzen's grip tightened around his pipe.
He stared at the aggressive young man before him, then at the clan heads who had once bowed respectfully at his feet and now stood openly against him.
Anger and bitterness churned violently in his chest.
"Tobirama."
Hiruzen drew a deep breath, making one final attempt to resist.
"The transfer of power is no small matter. It concerns every aspect of the Village."
"ANBU deployments, barrier intelligence, classified information from other nations—these things take time."
"You've just returned. There are many internal matters you don't yet understand."
"Why not wait a few days—"
"Wait a few days?"
Tobirama sneered and cut him off without hesitation.
"Wait a few days so you can replace the ANBU with your loyalists?"
"Or wait a few days so you can quietly move assets and erase the evidence Danzō left behind?"
"You—!" Hiruzen's expression changed sharply. "What kind of person do you think I am?!"
"I know exactly what kind of person you are."
Tobirama stood up. His overwhelming presence instantly crushed the room.
"Enough."
"Right now. Immediately."
"Hand it over."
"Otherwise—" his gaze flicked toward the clan heads behind him, "I'll have the Hyūga and Nara clans personally help you clear out the archives."
It was outright plunder.
Yet not a single clan head objected. Some even looked eager.
Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes.
The tide had turned.
With trembling hands, he pulled out a set of keys and a sealed scroll from within his robe and placed them on the desk.
But the instant he did, a flash of calculation passed through his eyes.
"Very well. I'll transfer authority to you."
"But Tobirama, you are still young. Governing the Village is not the same as fighting a war."
"When I assumed office, Danzō and the others served as Hokage Advisors to help manage state affairs."
"Though I am old, my experience remains valuable."
"For the stability of Konoha, I'm willing to humble myself and continue serving as an advisor—to assist you."
This was a classic maneuver: advance by retreating.
As long as he remained within the core of power, his experience and political skill would allow him to slowly sideline a twelve-year-old Hokage.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had once been constrained this way.
Unfortunately—
This was Uchiha Tobirama.
"Assist?"
Tobirama burst out laughing as if he'd just heard the greatest joke in the world.
"Hahahaha!"
"Old man, do you really think I'm that stupid?"
"Let me fight on the front lines while you reap the rewards behind the scenes?"
His laughter stopped abruptly. His gaze turned icy.
"Save it."
"As it happens, I have a new policy regarding Hokage Advisors to announce shortly."
"You'd better listen carefully."
"Because that position—doesn't include you."
With that, Tobirama placed the Hokage hat firmly on his head.
"Let's go."
"Everyone."
"Let's welcome a new era."
---
Hokage Building, rooftop.
Below, the plaza had already become a sea of people.
Yesterday's rain of money, combined with the feat of crushing entire nations, had driven Tobirama's popularity to its absolute peak.
Tens of thousands of villagers and ninja packed the square, waiting with bated breath.
When Tobirama stepped up to the railing in his ceremonial robe—
"Whoooosh!"
The cheers exploded like thunder.
"The Fourth Hokage!"
"Lord Tobirama!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood half a step behind him, his face ashen, reduced to little more than a backdrop for the ceremony.
Forcing a smile, he announced loudly:
"Effective immediately, Uchiha Tobirama assumes the position of Acting Hokage of Konohagakure!"
The formalities ended.
What followed was Tobirama's stage alone.
He pressed his hands downward. The crowd fell silent instantly.
"People of Konoha!"
His voice, amplified by chakra, reached every corner of the Village.
"I won't waste time with empty words."
"As Hokage, I will do only three things."
"Fairness. Fairness. And damn fairness."
The blunt language sent a surge of excitement through the crowd.
It felt real.
"I know that in the past, you had little voice in this Village."
"The Hokage and two advisors hid in offices making decisions at will, while you could only accept them passively."
"Noble clans monopolized resources. Commoners had no path forward. Talents were buried. Heroes bled in silence!"
The words struck deep.
Especially among the civilian-born ninja—many of their eyes turned red.
Behind him, Hiruzen broke out in a cold sweat. What was this boy planning?
"Therefore!"
Tobirama raised his hand, dropping a bombshell.
"Starting today, I will change everything!"
"Noble clans and commoners alike will prosper together!"
"From this moment on—the Hokage Advisor system is abolished!"
"Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado are relieved of their positions!"
"A brand-new Konoha Cabinet will be established!"
Boom!
Hiruzen jerked his head up, staring at Tobirama's back in disbelief.
Abolish the advisors?
This was tearing out the roots of Konoha's old power structure!
"Cabinet seats will no longer belong to senile old men!"
"They will be selected from the Hyūga, Nara, Akimichi, and other clans!"
"And at the same time—"
Tobirama pointed directly at the plainly dressed ninja below.
"Civilian seats will be established!"
"No matter your background—so long as you have ability and achievement!"
"You can enter the Cabinet!"
"You will govern this Village!"
"Let Konoha belong to the people of Konoha!"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
"ROAR!"
The crowd erupted.
Civilian ninja roared until their voices broke. Some dropped to their knees, sobbing openly.
Decades.
It had taken decades for them to even glimpse the center of power.
This wasn't reform.
This was a complete social upheaval.
"Long live Lord Tobirama!!"
"We will follow Lord Tobirama to the death!"
Watching the fanatical crowd surge like a tidal wave, Hiruzen staggered, nearly collapsing.
It was over.
Completely over.
Tobirama had bound both noble clans and commoners together.
From this moment on, opposing Tobirama meant opposing the entire Village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was utterly isolated.
But Tobirama wasn't finished.
"Power alone isn't enough—you need food on the table!"
He pulled out a scroll: the postwar treaty.
"I bring good news!"
"Yesterday, the Lands of Lightning and Earth formally surrendered!"
"Two trillion ryo in reparations!"
"Thirty percent of their resources paid annually as tribute!"
"Starting today—Konoha's taxes are cut in half!"
"Compensation for fallen ninja is doubled!"
"Mission rewards increase by thirty percent!"
"I want everyone to get rich!"
This wasn't persuasion.
It was overwhelming force on the material level.
The cheering became indescribable.
The entire Village trembled.
At that moment, the name Uchiha Tobirama eclipsed every Hokage before him.
The speech ended.
Under countless reverent gazes, Tobirama turned and walked back toward the conference room.
Behind him followed smiling clan heads and several newly appointed civilian representatives.
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained alone on the rooftop.
The wind tugged at his Hokage robe, making him look unbearably lonely.
No one looked at him.
No one acknowledged him.
The era of the once-revered ninja hero had been kicked aside by a teenager.
---
Hokage Conference Room.
The long table was now filled.
Tobirama sat at the head, removed his hat, and placed it on the table.
Tsunade sat to his left, still acting as secretary, though the pride and affection in her eyes were impossible to hide.
"Everyone."
Tobirama swept his gaze across the room.
Hyūga Hiashi.
Nara Shikaku.
Minato Namikaze.
A brand-new lineup.
Young. Ambitious. Ruthlessly driven.
"The door has been opened."
He leaned back, a smile of absolute control curving his lips.
"Next—"
"It's time to make the entire ninja world kneel at Konoha's feet and bow in submission."
"Now."
"I announce my first order as Hokage!"