After eating his ramen at Ichiraku, Aoba exchanged a few more words with Teuchi before returning to his place.
Following the recent strategic moves, he felt incredibly relaxed and gratified, ready to embrace a new chapter in life.
This new chapter wasn't just his alone; it signaled a new era for the entire village of Konoha. The fall of the Third Hokage heralded the dawn of a new era where every ninja could find a new role, marking a significant reshuffling of Konoha's structure.
Sitting in his chair, Aoba looked at his notebook with a serene smile. During this time, he discovered his passion for writing. It allowed him to express and convey his inner emotions, a luxury he never had before. Now, he could finally pursue this passion.
His writing wasn't just about expressing his thoughts; it was about adapting the excellent works he had read in his past life to fit the ninja world. The context and settings of those stories were often incompatible with the ninja world, requiring significant modifications to make them relevant.
Aoba understood that every era had its unique context. Just as foreign works needed translation and cultural adaptation for his world, his task was translating and adapting these stories for the ninja world.
This adaptation involved more than just translating words; it required altering cultural nuances and behaviors to fit the ninja context, making it an intricate but fulfilling challenge. Though seemingly simple, this task was complex and rewarding, giving Aoba a sense of accomplishment he had rarely felt since coming to this world.
Especially when he saw the villagers of Konoha eagerly buying his books, other villages showed great interest in his works, spreading widely and even reaching Akatsuki, where members like Konan enjoyed them. This was beyond his initial expectations.
Initially, he started writing to appease Morino Ibiki, but the positive reception and eagerness for his stories gave him an unprecedented sense of achievement.
He suddenly understood why so many people in his past life were eager to serialize their novels. Everyone wanted to share their stories and evoke responses from their audience. It wasn't easy, but it was incredibly satisfying.
Even without Morino Ibiki's demands, Aoba still wanted to write and influence Konoha and the wider ninja world through his stories.
At this moment, he glanced at the unfinished manuscript on his desk. This story about a teacher in the ninja world was about a third complete. He decided to wrap up this part, finishing it in about two hours.
Once completed, this story became the first part of a more extended saga, as the original was a lengthy piece rich with diverse characters and interactions.
"I'll publish it in volumes: prequel, main story, and sequel," Aoba thought. With Minato as Hokage and Morino Ibiki's support, Konoha would soon have its own publishing house, allowing him to freely release his works.
Sitting in his quiet, small room, he enjoyed the peaceful solitude of the ANBU quarters. No one disturbed him. The village was focused on the new Hokage election, with Minato as the frontrunner, giving Aoba the space to complete his work without distractions.
Days turned into weeks, and half a month passed. The initial uproar over the Hokage transition had calmed. People had moved from shock to acceptance, understanding that a new era was beginning.
Meanwhile, the whole ninja world buzzed with discussions about Konoha's changes, potentially impacting the broader landscape.
Land of Fire, Daimyo's Residence.
In a tranquil meeting room, many people were seated. The Daimyo, dressed in white with a fan-like headpiece adorned with three flames, presided over the meeting, fanning himself calmly.
To his left were the black-clad advisors of the Land of Fire. On the right sat Konoha's delegation: Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Shikaku Nara, with a few white-clad advisors.
"Based on recent reports, we confirm that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, has officially resigned. We must discuss and determine the new Hokage," the Daimyo began. Until he spoke, the room was silent.
Armed samurai guarded the room, ensuring the meeting's and the Daimyo's safety.
The Daimyo first looked at Koharu Utatane. "As a Konoha advisor, what do you think of Hiruzen Sarutobi's resignation?"
"Hiruzen can no longer continue as Hokage," Koharu stated succinctly. She had witnessed the fallout from Orochimaru and Danzo's revelations and knew Hiruzen couldn't retain his position.
"Homura Mitokado, do you agree?" the Daimyo asked next. He needed everyone's genuine opinions before deciding, understanding that such decisions required careful consideration.
"Yes," Homura replied straightforwardly. He felt relieved that neither Orochimaru nor Danzo implicated him or Koharu in their revelations. Though aware of the events, they had been powerless to act.
They lacked real power as advisors, serving mainly as intermediaries between Konoha and the Land of Fire. They could only offer advice with no decision-making authority.
Homura had considered resigning as an advisor but wanted to ensure the selection of a suitable new Hokage before stepping down, a decision he and Koharu had discussed.
Understanding the need for new leadership in Konoha, they were ready to retire, believing the time had come for a new generation to take the stage.
The Daimyo nodded at their responses. "Since Konoha's advisors agree, I officially announce that Hiruzen Sarutobi is no longer the Hokage."
He did not seek Shikaku Nara's opinion, as Shikaku only represented the Hokage's office due to Hiruzen's absence. Shikaku accepted this, finding the process reasonable.
The Land of Fire's advisors remained silent, as their role was to assist the Daimyo in making necessary decisions, not to make them.
"With Hiruzen Sarutobi stepping down, we must quickly select a new Hokage, as Konoha cannot remain leaderless," the Daimyo continued, looking at Koharu again, then at Homura and Shikaku, before returning to Koharu.
"What are your suggestions for the new Hokage?"
Despite Konoha being within the Land of Fire, the Daimyo sought to respect Konoha's preferences, avoiding unilateral decisions.