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When Sōsuke returned to the village, a member of the Anbu soon approached him.
"Sōsuke Captain, please hurry to the Hokage building, there is a new appointment for you," the Anbu ninja said respectfully, his voice tinged with excitement.
Sōsuke nodded slightly, smiling gently. "Thank you, I understand."
Watching Sōsuke's smile, the Anbu ninja seemed thrilled and then disappeared in a flash.
After his departure, Sōsuke's eyes under his glasses glinted playfully. "An appointment? What could it be?" he murmured, before vanishing silently.
The next moment, he appeared near the Hokage building, frowning as he looked around. He noticed the cracks on the edge of his robe and the nearly invisible bloodstain on his pale palm. "The spatial coordinates were off by so much. And these injuries, were they caused by that spatial barrier? It's really dangerous to navigate space without external aids for coordinates... One wrong move, and you could be devoured by the void."
Contemplating, he mused, "Flying Thunder God... What a brilliant concept, using kunai for positioning coordinates to avoid crashing into spatial barriers. But it's ultimately just a tool for the weak."
After straightening his clothes, he walked toward the Hokage building, the small bloodstain on his hand healing without a trace.
Inside the building, upon seeing the appointment notice, Sōsuke smiled. "The Fourth Hokage, huh? I suppose my teacher must be beside himself with excitement."
The ninja delivering the notice was visibly excited. "Captain Sōsuke... no, Fourth Hokage, please go to the Third Hokage's office. He might have something to discuss with you."
Sōsuke nodded and ascended the stairs. The ninja remained, his emotions still stirred. "Captain is really going to be the Fourth Hokage!"
In the office, the Third Hokage greeted Sōsuke warmly, his wrinkles seeming to soften. "Ah, it's you, Sōsuke."
"Good day, Third Hokage," Sōsuke replied respectfully.
The Third Hokage chuckled, "You'll be the Fourth Hokage soon, no need for such formality." His eyes then conveyed a mix of emotions. "You were a child I watched grow up. Back then, I chose Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade as my students and left you out. I didn't see the Will of Fire in you at that time."
"Strength is not the only measure of a ninja. Identifying with and belonging to the village are a ninja's most precious qualities. Fortunately, you've been a great comrade to Jiraiya and the others, and Danzo has become your teacher."
Listening quietly, Sōsuke heard the Third Hokage's reflective words. "I was worried Danzo's extreme views might lead you astray, but that was needless concern."
The Third Hokage looked at Sōsuke directly, his eyes full of pride. "Over the years, you've done well. It's not just about completing missions excellently, but the silent sacrifices for the village, I've seen them all. You even remind me of the First Hokage, dedicating everything to the village, embodying the Will of Fire."
After hearing the Third Hokage's words, Sōsuke remained silent for a while before softly saying, "This is what I ought to do."
The Third Hokage smiled warmly and patted Sōsuke's shoulder, gently saying, "Your injuries have just healed. Go rest for now. Starting tomorrow, come by my side to learn how to manage the village as a Hokage. I believe you can do even better than me."
After hearing this, Sōsuke bowed respectfully and left. The Third Hokage looked at the thriving village of Konoha outside, his tired expression easing into a relieved smile. He mused about his initial struggles as Hokage and expressed hope to guide Sōsuke in strengthening the village further.
Meanwhile, Sōsuke walked through the streets, his expression stoic, reflecting his complex feelings. He internally acknowledged Konoha as just a temporary stop in his journey, hoping it wouldn't obstruct his path in the future.
As Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Sakumo arrived near Konoha, they coordinated with the village's guards to enter smoothly. Jiraiya instructed Tsunade and Sakumo to clarify the situation with the Third Hokage while he went to find Sōsuke.
In the lush forests of Konoha, a group of ninja from the Land of Earth, dressed distinctly from the Leaf ninja, hurried towards the village. The Third Tsuchikage, leading the group, declared their mission to make Konoha suffer for their recent attack on the Sand Village.
On the streets of Konoha, Sōsuke encountered Might Dai and Yuhi Suna, who were surprised to see him. After a brief exchange, a voice from a rooftop revealed that Sōsuke had been appointed as the Fourth Hokage. Dai and Suna were astonished and congratulated him.
Meanwhile, a white-haired figure hurriedly searched through Konoha, looking for Sōsuke with a sense of urgency.