Konoha: Start from untying the caged bird

Page 196

A warm light suddenly shone on the Fire Shadow Rock.

Wearing a divine robe, Hyuga Yuzuru stepped onto the red carpet, before being placed on a platform suspended in mid-air before reaching the Hokage Rock.

Behind him stood the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had long since abdicated.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had not appeared in public for a long time, and his sudden appearance at this moment actually won him some cheers and applause. A smile involuntarily appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. The bright smile on his aged face quickly became a little restrained. He looked at Yuzuru Hyuga, who was much taller than him, and spoke in a gentle voice.

"Fifth Generation, it's time. Shall we begin?"

Hyuga Yuzuru nodded, and then Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward and stood in the center of the platform. Looking at the dark mass of people not far away, the various lights under the night made Konoha look somewhat dreamlike. Looking at the scene, he was suddenly filled with emotion and choked up. After taking a deep breath, he lowered his head and looked at the 'microphone' in front of him.

A member of the Anbu nearby gave him a hand signal. Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, then awkwardly fiddled with the standing microphone for a moment before finding the switch.

"cough."

What was originally just a soft cough suddenly triggered a simultaneous burst of sound from speakers hidden in various corners.

Even more incredibly, on the electronic screen in the far distance, the snowflakes flickered, and the next moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi's own image appeared in real time.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared in astonishment for a moment before looking away, a kind smile on his face, just as he had when he was in office, as he said gently, "I never thought that this old man would have the opportunity to speak in front of so many people again."

"Sandaime! Sandaime!"

The people of Konoha cheered for him, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile became even more genuine.

He shook his head and smiled, "I have to thank today's protagonist, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, Hyuga Yuzuru, for giving this old man the opportunity to bid farewell to you all in such a dignified way."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he turned his head and looked sincerely at Yuzuru Hyuga, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

Hyuga Yuzuru simply smiled and nodded at him. However, a Root ninja who was acting as a makeshift photographer displayed exceptional talent and pushed the camera to turn the live stream towards Hyuga Yuzuru.

When his handsome and tall figure appeared on the electronic screen, the crowd below immediately erupted in a thunderous cheer.

"The Godaime!"

"Hokage-sama!!!"

"Yuzuru-sama!!!"

The deafening cheers were occasionally punctuated by the heart-wrenching screams of the girls, whose blood pressure was soaring, making the ninjas responsible for maintaining order on the sidelines extremely nervous.

Don't faint!

Not far away, the veteran ninjas standing on one side of the platform shook their heads repeatedly because of this.

Jiraiya smiled and said to Tsunade beside him, "Lord Yuzuru is really popular with girls."

"Yes! But, even though you both have white hair, the difference between you and Lord Yuzuru is really huge." Tsunade nodded in agreement, then looked at Jiraiya with a joking expression. Jiraiya smiled helplessly, while Tsunade sighed in distress: "Lord Yuzuru hasn't even appeared yet and he's already like this... I'm not really going to have to work overtime tonight, am I?"

She never imagined that a girl could be so infatuated with a man... Although she knew that Hyuga Yuzuru was more than just a Hokage in Konoha at this moment, seeing this scene still felt somewhat exaggerated.

Jiraiya looked a little envious: "Tsk, why don't any cute girls show up at my autograph sessions?"

"Huh?" Tsunade's sinister gaze instantly snapped him back to reality, and he hurriedly tried to explain.

But Tsunade snorted and elbowed him, telling him to be quiet and focus on today's inauguration ceremony.

Beside them were Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Obito Uchiha, Itachi, and other core members of Konoha.

At this moment, unlike Tsunade and Jiraiya, everyone's expressions were extremely complex, as if a long-cherished wish had been fulfilled.

Although everyone's feelings are different and their reflections are different, Tsunade can still see that... this time, Hyuga Yuzuru's inauguration ceremony is not just a simple ceremony for him alone.

It's more like a group of people who have worked hard for it, and finally, the moment of harvest has arrived.

This atmosphere even reminded Tsunade of moments she had experienced on the battlefield before—after a long battle, finally receiving news of the enemy's retreat and the signing of a peace treaty... It was roughly this kind of indescribable emotion.

Tsunade and Jiraiya returned to Konoha, and their time dealing with Hyuga Yuzuru was relatively short.

But for Itachi Uchiha, Obito, Kakashi, Izumi, Kaoru, and many others, who accompanied him when he was a child, a so-called 'genius prodigy,' and witnessed his journey from nothing to where he is today, it's all about them.

This scene is therefore particularly meaningful.

Kakashi and Itachi stood side by side, silently watching the Third Hokage on the stage. They then glanced at Hyuga Yuzuru, who was waving to the camera and smiling at the crowd through the big screen. For a moment, they exchanged another glance.

Although they hadn't had much interaction on a regular basis, at this moment, they somehow understood each other and realized that the other's thoughts were the same as their own.

This is no longer the Konoha of Hiruzen Sarutobi's era, but the Konoha of the Fifth Hokage, the era of Yuzuru Hyuga... How wonderful...

The crowd, too preoccupied with the live feed on the screen, were completely absorbed in listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.

"As expected of the Fifth Hokage, your cheers speak volumes." The Third Hokage skillfully smoothed things over, smiling as he calmed the crowd and continued the ceremony.

In a calm and steady voice, he first recounted the history of Konoha, then briefly described the changes in the tenures of the various Hokage, and finally ended his long opening remarks to get to the main topic.

"...It was under these circumstances that, due to my health and the political situation, I had no choice but to temporarily appoint the then-young Fifth Hokage, Hyuga Yuzuru, as Hokage. Even later, I often found it hard to believe why I made that decision, after all, he was just a child at the time."

When the topic turned back to the fifth generation, the crowd erupted in barely suppressed cheers.

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally understood. This group of people were probably already tired of his long-winded explanations... He smiled meaningfully and shook his head slightly, gazing at the crowd in front of him, and said with a sigh, "But, I never expected this."

"A temporary measure, a helpless move, an action that even I myself don't know if is right, has brought Konoha an unimaginably bright future."

This is my good fortune, and Konoha's good fortune as well. But behind all this good fortune, I can hardly imagine how much effort and dedication this young successor has put in, how many sleepless nights he has tossed and turned, to make Konoha so wonderful today!

With just one sentence, the crowd below erupted in cheers and screams like a tidal wave.

The constant shouts of "Fifth Hokage," "Hokage," and "Yuzuru-sama" forced the Third Hokage to stop talking. The crowd finally quieted down when the photographer turned the camera back on Hyuga Yuzuru, who was standing not far away, and Yuzuru reached out and smiled as he pressed his hand down.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a helpless smile: "It seems it's time to hand over the stage to tonight's protagonist... the Fifth Hokage."

As his voice fell, Hinata Yuzuru slowly walked over from not far away. As he stepped onto the platform, the crowd, which had been quiet for a short while, erupted into cheers once again, making Hinata Yuzuru smile.

It seemed that the entire Hidden Leaf Village was chanting the name of Hyuga Yuzuru, whether near or far.

This scene was extremely shocking even to him. His usually calm and composed mind was stirred at this moment, and he became vaguely excited.

He walked up to Hiruzen Sarutobi, met his gaze, and Hiruzen gently shook his head, turned off his microphone, and whispered to him, "Fifth Hokage, the scene is truly astonishing... Even when the Second Hokage took office, the emotions and the atmosphere were far less intense than today."

"Is that so?" Hyuga Yuzuru chuckled, extended his hand, and gently shook hands with him. Sarutobi Hiruzen then picked up the Hokage hat that had been prepared beforehand, turned on the microphone again, and personally handed the hat to Hyuga Yuzuru in front of everyone.

Then, he solemnly addressed the microphone: "Next, the Fifth Hokage, Yuzuru Hyuga, will give a formal speech."

His voice was somewhat inaudible amidst the cheers.

The Third Hokage nodded helplessly to Hyuga Yuzuru, turned around and left the stage to him alone.

As Hyuga Yuzuru looked at the dark mass in front of him, which stretched almost to the horizon and filled even the distant rooftops, windowsills, and hillsides with people, he smiled brightly from the bottom of his heart. He reached out, pinched the straw hat with the character for fire on it, raised it high, and waved his arms at the people.

The cheers rose again.

The ground seemed to tremble from the enormous sound.

Hinata Yuzuru slowly put on his straw hat, adjusted it, and tilted his head back. This simple action made the sound waves, which should have reached their limit, seem to break through the limit again.

Many people even had to cover their ears slightly, yet their cheeks were flushed as they eagerly erupted into cheers that were even more fervent and shrill than those around them.

Hyuga Yuzuru didn't say anything, he just smiled and looked at the crowd, picked up the microphone, waited a moment, and then spoke softly.

"Good evening, everyone. I am the Fifth Hokage, Yuzuru Hyuga."

With just a self-introduction, the crowd erupted in cheers once again.

The cheers, screams, and applause lasted for more than three minutes before finally and reluctantly subsiding.

Hinata Yuzuru gazed intently at the crowd before him, etching this scene deeply into his mind.

Surprisingly, he became somewhat nervous.

Looking at the scene before him, at the sea of ​​people, he couldn't help but close his eyes slightly.

It felt like falling into a fairyland.

Chapter 146: Let Konoha Be Great Again!

Hyuga Yuzuru smiled helplessly, his eyes meeting those familiar faces in the distance. He noticed that even Hatake Kakashi was raising his hands, a smirk playing on his lips beneath his mask, seemingly joining in the fun with a loud shout.

"On this special day, July 18th, I am deeply honored to personally assume the role of the Fifth Hokage with everyone here as witness."

As soon as Hinata Yuzuru finished speaking, he reached out and pressed down, and the crowd calmed down and waited quietly for him to speak.

"Before becoming Hokage, I had fantasized countless times that one day I could become Hokage and change the world."

What will I do then, what should I do, and what can I do?

I thought about it a lot, but in the end, I realized that what I actually hoped for and wanted to change was not much.

All I want is a peaceful world without war, where everyone can live and work in peace and contentment, and where everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, care to provide for, and support to rely on in old age, as long as they are willing to work hard.

Children have access to education, adults have jobs, people can see doctors when they are sick, and those who encounter injustice can receive fair judgments, with trustworthy admonitory organizations upholding justice for the people...

All of this sounds complicated, but in reality... are such requirements really too many?

As soon as Hinata Yuzuru finished speaking, the crowd below remained remarkably silent. In the vast square where you could hear a pin drop, everyone's eyes, filled with hope and longing, were fixed on Hinata Yuzuru standing on the high platform.

"I have heard about it in documents and in other people's oral accounts."

Konoha, led by the first generation of Hashirama Senju.

Weren't the people of Konoha back then living the kind of life I'm describing?

So why has this vision become so unattainable now?

Hinata Yuzuru's rhetorical question caused many people to fall silent, especially some elderly people, whose faces showed reminiscence, but also an unconcealable grief.

Why are there always enemies who provoke disputes and start wars?

"Why is it that those who suffer greatly in war turn around and criticize Konoha, harboring resentment and seeking revenge?"

Why does Konoha repeatedly become a thorn in the side of other ninja villages, suffering so much hardship and torment?

"The original intention of the first generation to establish the village was to keep the children away from the battlefield. So why do people like me still have to pick up weapons and rush to the battlefield to accompany death when we should be enjoying the company of our parents?"

"Why would villagers unjustly criticize, spread rumors and slander against their fellow villagers who should share both honor and disgrace, and even harm each other as colleagues?!"

As questions were asked one by one, the Third Hokage, who had been sitting on the sidelines with a serious expression, looked slightly embarrassed. He unconsciously glanced at Kakashi Hatake not far away and saw the look in the other man's eyes.

It was an extremely serious and focused expression—at this moment, he was staring intently at Hyuga Yuzuru on the stage.

"I believe that Konoha in the past lost its way."

Hyuga Yuzuru's words were a critique of Konoha's past, but ironically, they made everyone's gaze upon him even more sincere and focused.

"Konoha was exhausted from the war, barely surviving in repeated grief. In the process, countless hatreds and confusions arose, leaving the village in ruins and hope out of reach."

We always talk about hope, about the future, saying that the future will be better, that there will be hope...

But! From the moment I became Hokage! I made up my mind—I will never leave this responsibility to the next generation!

"Maybe not today! Maybe not tomorrow! Maybe not even next year... but I swear, I will let you witness with your own eyes the real, coming moment!!"

It was like a mountain collapsing.

Like a tsunami.

The uncontrollable shouts seemed to make the Hokage Rock tremble slightly, and even Hyuga Yuzuru, standing on the high platform, could feel the earth shaking.

Looking at the hands of the people below, who were desperately reaching out and shouting their names, Hyuga Yuzuru simply raised his left hand, pointing to the sky, while placing his right hand on his heart.

"If this is something an excellent ninja can do, then I must become an excellent ninja!"

If this is something an excellent Hokage can do, then I must become an excellent Hokage!

If only a god can do such a thing, then I... must become a god!

Konoha has been in decline for far too long, and the world has suffered greatly!

It's not just me, not just our group, but everyone in the world, all those who have suffered, who sincerely yearn for peace!

Desire is power! And this power will drive Konoha...

Be great again!

The cacophony of cheers gradually coalesced into a single voice.

"Let Konoha be great again!"

As Hyuga Yuzuru vigorously swung his arm toward the sky, even the ANBU members responsible for guarding and observing behind him couldn't help but speak softly, unable to suppress their excitement as they echoed him in low voices.

Which Konoha resident doesn't yearn for the wonderful life of yesteryear?

Under the command of the first Hashirama Senju, no one in the world dared to disobey, and no one dared to invade!

They had longed for Konoha to return to its peak, and they had yearned for peace for far too long. Only now, in Hyuga Yuzuru, did they finally see an incredibly clear glimmer of victory.

The atmosphere in the arena had reached its peak, but Hyuga Yuzuru reached out and pressed down, then changed the subject and his voice became calm again.