The long night finally gave way to a new day.
Konoha Village was abuzz with excitement over a new announcement:
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had decided to step down due to his advanced age.
The new Hokage was provisionally appointed to be Senju Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, with a formal vote from the villagers set to take place in three days.
Of course, those familiar with how the Hokage selection process worked knew that this vote was merely a formality. The announcement made it clear: Tsunade would be the Fifth Hokage.
Suddenly, the entire village was stirred into action, especially the ninja ranks.
A new Hokage meant new opportunities. It was common practice for a newly appointed Hokage to make personnel changes—for example, selecting a new squad of personal guards.
And with Tsunade being away from the village for so long, she hadn't had the chance to build extensive connections. This meant that, in theory, everyone had an equal shot at new positions.
It was all about fairness—at least, as far as appearances went.
But the one feeling the effects of these changes most directly was Shinho Aburame.
After eating breakfast, he set out for the Ninja Academy. On his way, he found himself suddenly swarmed by well-wishers offering congratulations and presents.
By the time he reached the school gates, his hands were overflowing with gifts, with a large bundle slung over his back.
"Shinho!"
Naruto Uzumaki ran up to him, exclaiming in amazement, "Why are you carrying so much stuff?"
"..."
Shinho twitched his mouth slightly.
I wish I knew.
He hadn't recognized any of the ninjas who had handed him those gifts.
"Whoa! This is the latest model of the frog wallet!"
Naruto suddenly spotted something, his excitement peaking. "I wanted to buy it, but they wouldn't sell it to me!"
"Here, you can have it," Shinho said, handing over the frog wallet.
"Thanks a lot!" Naruto beamed, clutching the wallet as if it were a treasure.
"Shinho-kun!"
Ino Yamanaka sprinted up to him, nearly out of breath, her blonde hair flying behind her before settling back down.
"Con…gratulations... to you!" she managed to spit out though laboured gaps.
"Where did you come running from?"
Shinho fished a bottle of milk from the pile of gifts and handed it to her.
"The... announcement board... gulp, gulp... ah!"
After drinking the milk, Ino let out a long breath, finally feeling like herself again.
The announcement board was at the Hokage's office, quite a distance away.
Shinho chuckled and said, "Take whatever gift you like as a reward for running here so fast."
After all, most of these things here were of no use to him.
"Shinho-kun, how did you buy so many things?"
Ino blinked, then quickly realized, "Oh, I see. These were gifts, weren't they?"
"Yeah," Shinho nodded. "I don't need all this stuff, so if you see something you like, feel free to take it."
"Let me see," Ino said with a grin, diving into the pile without any hesitation.
"Wait a minute!"
Naruto, having calmed down a bit after receiving the frog wallet, suddenly realized something. "What are you congratulating him for?"
"You don't know?" Ino stared at Naruto, her expression one of sheer disbelief, as though he were from another planet.
"Huh?" Naruto scratched his head. "Did something good happen to Shinho?"
"It's because Shinho's teacher, Tsunade-sama, has become the Fifth Hokage," Ino clarified.
"What?!" Naruto's eyes went wide with shock, and he said in frustration, "Does that mean I can only be the Sixth Hokage?"
"Obviously not, Shinho-kun is going to be the Sixth Hokage," Ino responded matter-of-factly.
Naruto looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He glanced at Ino, then back at Shinho, clenching his fists.
"Darn it!" Naruto's voice was filled with determination as he said, "Does that mean I can only be the Seventh?"
"Where did all that confidence of yours go?"
Ino couldn't help but burst out laughing. Naruto's thought process was truly one of a kind.
Shinho's expression turned a bit odd.
Since when did becoming Hokage sound so easy?
Danzo would probably die of frustration if he heard this.
But thinking back to the original story, Naruto really did end up becoming the Seventh Hokage.
A real prophet, huh?
No wonder he was the so-called Child of Prophecy.
"What's this about the Seventh Hokage?"
Shikamaru Nara arrived, finally catching up. Right beside him was Chōji Akimichi, who clung to him like a shadow.
They had originally set out with Ino, but the "Ino" of their Ino-Shika-Chō trio had outrun even the butterfly, arriving far ahead just to see Shinho first.
"Naruto says he wants to be the Seventh Hokage," Ino said with a laugh.
"But we just got the Fifth Hokage," Shikamaru said, clearly confused.
"I'm letting Shinho take the Sixth Hokage spot," Naruto declared, his mood suddenly lifting as he puffed up with renewed enthusiasm. "But it won't be easy! You'll have to beat me if you want to become the Sixth Hokage!"
"As expected of you!"
Shikamaru couldn't hold back his laughter either.
"Of course!"
Naruto wore a look of pride, as if basking in the glory of a well-earned compliment.
"Limited edition potato chips! I want these!"
Chōji suddenly rushed forward, slapping his hands on the snack. "This is my once-in-a-lifetime request as your friend!"
"Go ahead," Shinho said casually.
He noticed that the mountain of gifts covered everything from food and toys to other kid-friendly items.
It seemed the gift-givers had done their research.
"Congratulations, Shinho."
Kiba Inuzuka strolled over from a distance, having spotted the crowd gathered around the entrance. It was hard not to notice.
"Thanks," Shinho replied, looking around before pulling out a bag of premium dog food and handing it to Kiba.
Kiba blinked in confusion.
But I don't have a dog... Oh wait, this brand is super expensive, right?
It's even good enough for humans to eat.
"Ino, are you done choosing?" Shinho asked, producing a sealing scroll.
"I'm ready!" Ino said, holding up a signed movie poster. "It's from a famous shinobi actor!"
"I'll take this shogi set," Shikamaru said casually. "If any of you are interested, I could teach you how to play."
Playing shogi against the Nara clan? What would be the point?
It would be game over from the start.
Shinho rolled his eyes and quickly sealed up the remaining gifts.
The group made their way into the classroom, where their entrance caused a momentary hush.
Everyone turned to stare at them.
But after a few seconds, the usual classroom chatter resumed.
They were all just kids, lacking the keen political awareness of adults.
At most, they envied Shinho for having a Hokage as his teacher.
Hinata Hyuga sat at her desk, leaning forward slightly.
But then she seemed to remember something and blushed a deep shade of red.
That morning, her father, Hiashi, had suddenly asked if she had feelings for Shinho.
She had been too embarrassed to respond and fainted on the spot.
When she awoke, Hiashi didn't ask again. He merely said she could deepen her relationship with Shinho if she wished.
But how was she supposed to do that?
Hinata's confusion was mixed with an inexplicable fluttering in her chest.
"Hey, where's Sasuke?"
Naruto suddenly noticed something was off.
Shikamaru and the others fell silent.
As heirs to their respective clans, they already knew what had transpired the night before.
It wouldn't be long before the entire village heard about it.
"Sasuke's feeling unwell, so he's taking a couple of days off," Shinho said casually.
"Huh? Is he okay?" Naruto's face showed genuine concern. "We should visit him after school!"
"It's nothing serious, he just needs to rest," Shinho shook his head. "We'd better not bother him right now."
"Aww, man. That's a shame," Naruto said with a hint of disappointment. "He can't join us for the celebration."
"There'll be other chances later." Shinho waved his hand dismissively. "Now, let's all head back to our seats."
He made his way over to Hinata Hyuga.
"Good morning," Shinho greeted, standing in front of her.
"Good m-m-morning… Eek..." Hinata took one look at him, then turned beet red and buried her head into her desk.
Shinho blinked, puzzled.
What's going on here?
Why does Hinata seem even more flustered than usual?
Could it be that I've evolved to have my own personal charm aura?
Realizing that a normal conversation with her was impossible at the moment, Shinho returned to his seat.
"Big bro!"
Shino Aburame greeted him with an excited tone.
Overnight, Shinho had become the student of the new Hokage, and Shino was reaping the benefits too, with his status in the clan significantly elevated.
"When did you get here?"
Shinho raised an eyebrow.
Shino's excitement deflated immediately.
Are you really my brother?
"How's Torune doing?" Shinho asked, realizing how ironic the name "Torune" was—it literally meant "taking root," as if symbolizing taking over Danzo's secretive organization, Root.
"He's alright." Shino managed a small smile. "Dad says he hasn't been in Root for too long, so there's hope for him."
Shino and Torune were close friends. In the original story, it was mentioned that Danzo initially had his eyes on Shino for Root.
At the time, Shino's father, Shibi Aburame, didn't want his son to join but found it difficult to refuse. That was when Torune stepped up, showcasing his nano-scale poisonous insects to take Shino's place.
"That's good to hear."
Shinho nodded in relief.
Torune's nano-scale poisonous insects, when used well, were nearly unbeatable against ordinary ninjas.
For a clan to rise to prominence, it couldn't rely on just one person. The Aburame clan now had three potential powerhouses. They might not reach the status of the Uchiha or Hyuga, but their reputation could definitely grow.
And with time, there was no reason they couldn't thrive as they expanded further.
"How are your kikaichū coming along?" Shinho asked.
It had been a while since he'd last visited the Aburame clan's compound, and he knew that Shino had been working independently on experiments with Sage Chakra, using insect clones to handle any potential explosions.
"The explosions have become a bit stronger," Shino replied after a brief pause.
He was beginning to feel that while harnessing Sage Chakra might be out of reach for now, his kikaichū with explosive capabilities might even become classified as a forbidden jutsu.
The only problem was that if he didn't keep his distance when using it, he risked blowing himself up.
If used in crowded areas, there was also a high risk of friendly fire.
"No rush," Shinho reassured him casually. "You're only six years old—there's plenty of time."
Shino nodded. He would have to be patient.
If he could perfect it before graduating, that would be ideal. It would bring recognition to the Aburame clan.
Although Shinho was already making a name for himself, it was mainly due to his abilities as a medical ninja, not his skills with insects.
Most people attributed his talent to Tsunade's training and didn't recognize the potential of the Aburame clan.
Shino resolved that this would be his contribution.
The school bell rang, signaling the start of class, and Iruka Umino walked in.
He glanced around the room and noted that, except for Sasuke Uchiha, everyone was present.
"Class is starting," Iruka announced.
That morning, he had already been briefed on the recent events. He felt a deep sense of empathy for Sasuke—having lost his parents in the Nine-Tails' attack, he understood the pain all too well. What troubled him most, though, was the news of Hiruzen Sarutobi's retirement.
He couldn't help but wonder if the promises made by the former Hokage still held any weight.
But he quickly set aside those thoughts and began the lesson.
Before long, it was time for dismissal.
"Shinho-kun."
As soon as the bell rang, Ino rushed up to Shinho's desk.
"What's up?"
Shinho asked, glancing at her swaying blonde bangs.
"Obviously, we have to celebrate your teacher becoming the Hokage!"
Ino grinned. "How about we all go out for some barbecue?"
"Barbecue sounds awesome!"
Chōji gave a big thumbs-up.
"But I think Ichiraku Ramen is even better."
Naruto thought for a few seconds before voicing his preference.
"Let's take a vote then."
Kiba raised his hand. "I vote for barbecue."
"I'm good with anything," Shikamaru replied indifferently.
"Sakura."
Ino turned to the distracted Sakura Haruno. "What do you want to eat?"
"Barbecue, I guess,"
Sakura said absentmindedly, clearly worried about Sasuke.
"Then it's decided, we'll go for some barbecue," Shinho concluded. "I'll pack some up afterwards and bring it to the Hokage's office."
"And it's time for some extra training after the meal!"
Naruto pumped his fist, full of enthusiasm. "Someday, I'll have people bringing food for me too!"
Hey, don't make this some kind of strange competition.
Shinho's eye twitched slightly.
"So, who do you want to pack food for you?"
Chōji asked curiously.
"Well…"
Naruto's gaze drifted over to Shinho for a moment, but then he quickly shook his head. "It's gotta be Sasuke!"
"Let's go."
Shinho chuckled, and the group made their way to the barbecue restaurant.
After they finished eating, Shinho picked up a takeout container, said his goodbyes to the others, and left.
But instead of heading straight to the Hokage's office, he took a detour to his wooden cabin in the forest.
Once in a small clearing, he stopped, channelling his primaeval energy into the newly acquired Rank-3 Fog Sparrow Gu.
A few moments later, a sparrow-like creature formed from mist appeared above his head.
With a thought, Shinho directed it to scout the area.
The mist sparrow circled around, gathering information and transmitting it back to his mind. He tried pushing it to fly farther until it reached the barrier at Konoha's outskirts.
Beyond that, he started to feel the strain.
It seemed that for a Rank-2 Gu Master like himself, using a Rank-3 Gu insect was still a bit premature.
But even so, Shinho was very pleased with the results of the Fog Sparrow Gu.
"Come out, Hinata."
Shinho dispersed the mist sparrow and turned to look behind him.
"Sh-Shinho-kun..."
Hinata emerged from the shadows, her face flushed.
Seeing her standing there, looking so cute, Shinho reached out and gently patted her head before continuing forward.
Hinata froze for a moment, then quietly followed him like an obedient shadow.
When they arrived at his wooden cabin, Shinho hesitated briefly. It didn't seem necessary to tear the old cabin down right away.
Instead, he chose an open spot nearby and took out the Three-Star Cave Gu.
Though it was called a "Gu house," it was, in reality, a type of insect.
"Hinata, I'm going to show you a magic trick,"
Shinho said, noticing the curious glint in her eyes as he infused the Gu with more primaeval energy.
As the Three-Star Cave Gu took root in the ground, a massive tree burst upward, towering over them.
"It's huge!"
Hinata gasped in awe.
Shinho was also taken aback.
Before them stood an eighteen-meter-tall tree with thick, snake-like roots that burrowed deep into the earth.
Its trunk, which had a diameter of about ten meters at its base, gradually narrowed as it rose, containing three rooms stacked vertically within.
The tree's crown was lush and verdant, spreading out like a canopy, resembling a small six-story building from his previous life.
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