The Third Shinobi World War ended in an unexpected way.
From the beginning, it seemed they were destined to fail, with the entire situation playing out according to Uchiha Sogetsu's plan.
The Iwa ninja army, numbering in the tens of thousands, was defeated head-on by the First Hokage. After two days, Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, voluntarily surrendered and was willing to pay any price.
The Sand ninja side wasn't so lucky. They clashed with the angry Second Hokage and, despite having the advantage of terrain, suffered heavy casualties before finally surrendering.
As for the Mist ninja, they were continuously crushed by Namikaze Minato, who kept them under pressure. Seeing several 'big brothers' surrender, they also dared not fight on and had to give up.
The returning Konoha ninjas cheered in the village.
Although Konoha suffered heavy losses this time, they achieved an unprecedented victory by defeating the four major ninja villages!
However, even though the war had ended, there were still many matters to resolve.
With the approval of the First and Second Hokages, even though the two advisors were unwilling, they had to admit that Uchiha Sogetsu was the Fourth Hokage.
Namikaze Minato felt a bit lonely but was happy for his good friend and offered his blessings.
The hero of Konoha—Uchiha Sogetsu!
In a desperate situation, he saved Konoha Village at the cost of his own serious injuries, driving back the large Cloud ninja army and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
His name was celebrated by the villagers and deeply etched in everyone's hearts.
Especially when the news spread that Uchiha Sogetsu had been recognized by the First and Second Hokages, the villagers increasingly believed that only he fit the definition of 'Hokage.'
Naturally, the happiest were the Uchiha clan.
"Tomorrow is your inauguration ceremony; remember to dress nicely!"
Mikoto gently arranged the clothes Uchiha Sogetsu would wear tomorrow and looked at the brand-new 'Ceremonial Hokage Robe,' her face glowing with a hint of joy.
"You've seen it many times already, Mikoto."
Uchiha Sogetsu, draped in a white robe, said helplessly, "Besides, it's just an inauguration ceremony. There's no need to be so nervous."
"Come on, this is the ceremony for becoming Hokage; take it seriously, okay?" Mikoto rolled her eyes at him, saying irritably, "You're the Hokage from our Uchiha clan; you have to be serious and not make us look bad!"
"Alright, alright."
Facing Mikoto's nagging, Uchiha Sogetsu had no choice but to surrender.
After finishing with the clothes, Mikoto walked over to the boy, noticing his pale complexion. A hint of concern appeared in her eyes as she bit her lip softly, "You've worked hard, Sogetsu. You're so young, and... your eyes, is there really no way to help?"
"It's fine, Mikoto."
Uchiha Sogetsu smiled gently, saying, "Lord Tobirama said he would find a way to solve my blindness."
"I feel sorry for you."
Mikoto gazed at the boy, her overwhelming emotions unable to be contained, leading her to make a bold move.
She reached out with her two white-as-jade arms, gently wrapping them around the young man, pressing her entire weight against him and resting against his chest.
Her eyes glimmered with a hint of affection as a thought deeply buried inside her slipped out uncontrollably: "Sogetsu, if only—"
"Lady Mikoto, it's time for you to go back," Uchiha Sogetsu interrupted her softly. "Itachi is still waiting for you."
The beautiful woman in his arms showed a fleeting look of disappointment. After reluctantly pulling away from him, she looked at him with slightly reddened eyes and forced a smile, "Yes, Itachi is waiting for me. And you have to get up early tomorrow; I've disturbed you. I'm sorry."
"Goodnight, Lady Mikoto," Uchiha Sogetsu said gently, smiling. "Tomorrow will be a good day."
"Mm."
Mikoto walked out of the room in a daze.
At the same time, she felt regret. Why did she ask when she knew it was impossible?
Two clear tears slid down her cheeks, her emotions that she had fought to suppress could no longer be controlled after stepping out of that room. Her shoulders trembled slightly as soft, muffled sobs escaped her tightly closed lips, as if afraid to disturb the person inside.
Inside the room, Uchiha Sogetsu's gaze was deep as he murmured to himself, "It's time."
[Side Quest: Third Shinobi World War · End (Completed)]
[Start the Third Shinobi World War and choose a suitable way to conclude it]
[Reward: Spectator Pathway - Sequence 4: Manipulator's Potion *1]
The next day, the sky was a clear blue with not a cloud in sight.
It seemed even the heavens were celebrating today, as countless villagers flooded the streets, heading towards the inauguration ceremony.
Dressed in a yellow dress, Uchiha Mikoto, with her long hair tied back, walked gracefully on her slender legs in ribbon sandals. After a refreshing night, she radiated the charm of a mature woman, her face now adorned with a smile.
She held Uchiha Itachi in her arms as she followed the elders of the clan to the ceremony.
People crowded together, cheering, celebrating, and shouting in the streets.
The hero of Konoha, who ended the war, was about to be inaugurated as the Fourth Hokage today!
Everyone sincerely believed that the gentle boy, like the sun, would lead Konoha to greatness!
"Hehe, I really didn't expect this," Nara Shikaku said with a smile in the crowd. "That guy really became Hokage!"
"That's right. Thinking back, it still feels surreal," his friend Yamanaka Inoichi said, smiling as he reminisced. "Look around; everyone is calling his name. He really did it."
"Hehe, how does it feel to see the Hokage position that should have been yours become someone else's?"
Orochimaru approached Minato Namikaze, his interest piqued as he wanted to see how the other would react.
"Sogetsu is the best candidate for Hokage, Lord Orochimaru," Minato said, his usual sunny demeanor showing no hint of jealousy.
He smiled and added, "Also, you're mistaken; the Hokage doesn't belong to anyone. It belongs to those recognized by everyone."
As time passed, the inauguration ceremony was getting closer.
The First and Second Hokage, as designated predecessors, arrived at the Hokage building.
"Where is that kid? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
Tobirama Senju spoke bluntly, but a smile lingered on his face. "It's his inauguration ceremony today. Is he really planning to be late?"
"Heh, he must have been delayed," Hashirama Senju replied with a chuckle. "Let's wait a bit longer. I was really nervous on my first day too and almost arrived late."
However, as time continued to pass, it became evident that Uchiha Sogetsu, the main person, had still not appeared for the ceremony.
"What's going on?"
Tobirama frowned, his gaze turning sharp as he looked at the Anbu nearby. "Where is that kid?"
"I don't know," the Anbu member, Elephant, replied, starting to panic under the scrutiny.
"Why aren't you going to find him?"
Tobirama's expression turned stern, and he shouted, "This is the inauguration ceremony! Hurry and bring him back!"
"Yes!"
With a quick glance from Elephant, the Anbu members scattered in different directions.
"He should be at home, right?"
Mikoto pondered for a moment before saying, "Maybe he's just too tired. He usually likes to sleep in. You could go check."
"Thank you!"
Elephant shot her a grateful look.
"Hmph!"
Tobirama crossed his arms, clearly frustrated. "These young people really don't make things easy!"
After a while, the returning Anbu members came back, but Uchiha Sogetsu was still nowhere to be found.
"What's going on? Where is he?"
Elephant's face was pale, suppressing his anger as he questioned.
"Sir, we can't find him!"
The voice of the Anbu was clearly trembling with fear. "We searched all of Konoha, but we can't find Lord Sogetsu. It's like he has vanished!"
"What did you say?!"
Elephant felt a surge of blood rush to his head and almost blacked out.
The inauguration ceremony was approaching, and the Fourth Hokage, the main character, had actually gone missing?!
"It's impossible!"
Elephant shouted, "Go find him again! Dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but find Lord Sogetsu!"
"Yes!"
This time, even more Anbu were dispatched.
No matter how hard they searched, they couldn't find Uchiha Sogetsu, and more and more people began to panic.
Senju Tobirama, who had been relatively calm, realized the seriousness of the situation.
The Fourth Hokage had gone missing on the eve of his inauguration ceremony?!
"Sogetsu, where on earth are you?"
Mikoto was anxiously pacing, gripping her hands tightly until her knuckles turned white.
Finally, after a thorough search, the Anbu still couldn't find Uchiha Sogetsu, and the fireworks signaling the start of the ceremony had already exploded in the sky.
"Where did that kid go?!"
Senju Tobirama's face darkened, his aura visibly turning ominous.
At that moment, an Anbu approached with his head bowed, speaking in a low voice, "Sir, there's one place we haven't searched."
"What place? Why haven't we gone there?" Elephant nearly fainted with anger upon hearing this, slapping the Anbu and demanding, "Speak! Where is it?"
The Anbu, staggered by the slap, fell to the ground and said softly, "It's Danzo's 'Root.'"
Elephant was momentarily stunned, feeling it was unlikely. "Lord Sogetsu shouldn't go to that place."
Since the news of the Fourth Hokage's appointment spread, Danzo had seemed deeply affected, cooped up in his Root, acting reclusive.
Senju Tobirama raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "Exactly. I haven't had time to find him lately. Let's go check it out!"
"I want to go too!"
Mikoto instinctively spoke up.
The others hesitated for a moment but decided to follow along to see what would happen to Danzo, that scoundrel.
The distance wasn't far, but Senju Tobirama clearly didn't want to waste time. He had everyone hold hands, planning to teleport them all at once.
"Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Whoosh!
The space suddenly shifted.
Inside the dark, cold underground base, it was empty—no one was there.
At that moment, Mikoto suddenly let out a piercing scream filled with despair.
"Ah—!!!"
Startled by her scream, everyone turned to look at Mikoto.
They saw her covering her mouth, tears streaming from her reddened eyes, staring intently in one direction, her gaze filled with hopelessness.
Following her line of sight, the others felt a chill run down their spines.
On the wall to the southeast, a massive amount of blood cascaded down like a waterfall. Looking up from the bloodstains, they saw a long-dead corpse. Its eyes had been cruelly gouged out, and the body was crucified upside down, pinned to the wall with kunai.
The person nailed to the wall in such a brutal manner was none other than the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Sogetsu, who was supposed to attend the inauguration ceremony today!
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