Sarutobi Hiruzen was defeated.
Thoroughly defeated.
Who could have imagined that Naruto, unseen for five years, would wield such immense power? When the half-tailed beast Naruto grew his sixth tail, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew he was somewhat outmatched.
Indeed, he was defeated by Naruto.
In Sarutobi Hiruzen's memory, all he could recall was darkness enveloping his vision before losing consciousness.
Now, Sarutobi Hiruzen had opened his eyes again, seemingly still alive but unable to move.
The air was filled with the scent of disinfectant, and what he saw was the stark white ceiling of a room.
Sarutobi Hiruzen realized he must have been taken to the Konohagakure hospital.
"Old man, you are so miserable! You can't even beat a kid anymore, you really are getting old!"
A voice filled with emotion rang out from the side.
Sarutobi Hiruzen twisted his stiff neck, enduring the pain as he tried to look over.
"Jiraiya?!" His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't had water in days.
Jiraiya, sitting beside the bed, spoke with a complex expression, "I witnessed the entire battle that day. Naruto, that kid, has shown us his strength. And at the same time... he has shown us his character. The fact that you're still alive is proof of that kid's character."
With a sigh, Jiraiya continued earnestly, "Old man, I advise you not to move around. ... I have some unfortunate news for you. Your limbs have been amputated."
"It was Tsunade who treated you personally. She said your limbs were too badly injured, and without amputation, your life couldn't be saved. I don't know if she was telling the truth, but she's the professional."
Pausing, Jiraiya added, "By the way, you've been unconscious for a full five days. During this time, Whitebeard paid a visit, declaring Uzumaki Naruto the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure."
"You know, with Whitebeard's personal endorsement, no one would object. Besides, Naruto truly deserves it, being Minato's son after all."
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "???"
I've been unconscious for five days? Naruto has become the Fifth Hokage? I'm no longer the Hokage of Konohagakure? And what happened to my limbs? Tsunade amputated them? Sarutobi Hiruzen's weak, old face changed color as he spoke in a raspy voice, "How am I not the Hokage anymore? Isn't it my duty to pass on the Hokage hat to the next successor?"
"I'm not dead yet!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen struggled to accept this reality.
Especially since he believed Naruto was no longer a pure Konohagakure ninja.
Naruto was Whitebeard's adopted son!
How could the ninjas of the village agree to let the adopted son of a pirate become the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure?
What about Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura? How could they agree to this? Just as Jiraiya was about to say something, the door to the sickroom was pushed open.
Sarutobi Hiruzen caught a glimpse of a familiar face from the corner of his eye.
Although the face was somewhat youthful, it was one he would never forget in his lifetime.
This made his old face turn a complex shade of dark.
"Naruto..."
Because he saw that Naruto's head was actually topped with a Hokage's hat! That was clearly his, Sarutobi Hiruzen's, Hokage hat!
"Third... ah, no, that's not right." Naruto, who walked in with a bright, sunny smile, looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was wrapped in bandages from head to toe and lying on the bed unable to move, like a mummy. His smile grew even brighter.
"Now, I should address you by your name—Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Facing Sarutobi Hiruzen's increasingly dark expression, Naruto crossed his arms and shook his head with a smile: "I gave you a chance before, to peacefully hand over the position of Hokage to me, but you didn't cherish the opportunity I gave you, so I had to take action."
"Naruto... you're too young!" Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his teeth: "You have no experience being Hokage. If I were you, I would take off that hat and give it to someone more suitable for the role of Hokage."
"The village... cough, cough, cough!" Overcome with emotion, Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed repeatedly, even coughing up blood: "The village can't be left to your whims, you would surely betray the village's interests for the sake of the Whitebeard Pirates..."
"I don't like hearing that," Naruto's smile faded: "The interests of Konohagakure have always been Pops', even the entire ninja world belongs to Pops, so how can it be called a betrayal of interests?"
Because of Naruto's words, it was clear that Naruto would thoroughly align the entire Konohagakure with the Whitebeard Pirates.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen also knew that in his current state, he couldn't struggle anymore.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and said coldly: "Naruto, you will regret this!"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, I am the Hokage."
Bang! Overcome with emotion, Sarutobi Hiruzen actually broke one of his few remaining old teeth.
This sentence was all too familiar! ...
In the world of pirates, a lot has happened over the years.
A good half of the World Government's member countries have been "visited" by the Revolutionary Army, one country after another being liberated by them, and the power of the Revolutionary Army visibly growing day by day.
The Whitebeard Pirates directly took over Egghead Island, and Orochimaru, the number one scientist of the ninja world, finally met with Vegapunk, the number one scientist of the pirate world.
The Marines conducted a world-wide recruitment, a person named Issho and another named Araki joined the Marine ranks, breaking the norm to become Marine Admirals.
Under the control of Aokiji, the Marines fought a great war with the World Government to break free from its shackles.
But unexpectedly, the World Government, which had already lost the Five Elders, still hid a force, and both sides suffered heavy casualties.
The Marines retreated to the first half of the Grand Line to recuperate.
The World Government shrank back to the Red Line, a group of Celestial Dragons trembling every day, fearing that the Revolutionary Army would come knocking on their door, especially since there have been quite a few assassinations of Celestial Dragons recently.
But today, they had enough reason to tremble, because the Holy Land of Mary Geoise received a group of unwelcome guests.
Not the Revolutionary Army, but a group of pirates! Right at this moment.
A mysterious figure hidden in the darkness stood quietly next to the Void Throne, staring emotionlessly at Whitebeard with a pair of eyes that were quite unique.
"Gurararararara!" Whitebeard, fearless, took steps up the stairs, looking down to meet the other's gaze, "I didn't expect that someone who stands between the world would look like this."
"A year ago, in your battle with the Marines, those Marine brats didn't kill you, not too shabby!"
Whitebeard didn't care about the Void Throne at all, even stepping on it as if it were just a footstool.
Imu looked up at Whitebeard, then glanced indifferently at the Void Throne under Whitebeard's feet.
"The world would be in chaos without the World Government, just like eight hundred years ago... Imu knows that the Revolutionary Army stands with you. They'll likely listen to what you say."
"If they don't keep pressuring the member countries, Imu wouldn't mind changing the World Government's way of doing things and is willing to share some of the world's authority with you."
She lowered her proud head, "Huh... can we reconcile?"
Remembering the tragic state of his homeland, Whitebeard grinned, "Gurararararara, old man, you must be joking!"
Whitebeard's right fist instantly surrounded by a layer of vibrating light.
"If the Marine brats couldn't finish you, then let me do it! I am... a pirate after all! Gurara! Lads, turn Mary Geoise upside down!"
"Plunder all these rich, oily sea scum!"
"Gurararararara!!"
(THE END OF THIS STORY)