Chapter 175
2-in-1-chapter
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The inauguration ceremony did not last long. Given the Fifth Hokage's advanced age and fragile health, Nara Shikaku and the planning team shortened the proceedings as much as possible while making sure the ceremony did not feel shabby, and in the process those clever planners sacrificed a great many brain cells and a great deal of hair.
The cost was worth it.
The Fifth Hokage's inauguration concluded without incident, every detail steady and orderly, and no disruptions marred the day.
Akimichi Torifu finally removed the provisional title and was officially confirmed as the Fifth Hokage, becoming the village's legitimate leader. Konoha celebrated all day. At first many of the attendees had been planted by their clans, but the mood spread and ordinary villagers, temporarily relieved of the war's oppression, joined the festivities.
Taverns did unprecedented business; latecomers had to drink standing up. Groups of drunkards clustered on the streets, fights and brawls broke out frequently, and the police division was overwhelmed. One squad on duty could not handle the workload, so Rēn ordered another unit to stay on overtime, which barely stabilized public order.
The temporary jail in the police building overflowed with idiots arrested for drunken brawling, and Konoha Hospital took in nearly a hundred unlucky people with head wounds and bloodied faces.
The next morning, Akimichi Torifu left on time as usual and, under heavy ANBU protection, went to the Hokage Office. Staff members along the way greeted him, and he returned each greeting. Everything seemed normal, but when he entered his office and sat in the chair specially made for him, his gaze landed on the Hokage hat placed beside him and an inexplicable swell of emotion rose up. Complex feelings gathered in his chest and finally turned into a long exhale.
The world changes in ways that are impossible to predict. He had never imagined a day like this; a dream once thought unattainable had come true after years of abandonment. Joy and pride had their place, but after the first elation came the weight of responsibility.
"Shikaku, are the troops assembled?"
"The thousand men promised to Jiraiya-sama are ready, but the Uchiha clan still has a significant manpower gap. The Sarutobi, Shimura, and Mitokado families have no eligible recruits left. If we push them further, those families risk being erased from the village roster."
Torifu hummed in thought.
"Prioritize getting Jiraiya's forces and supplies ready and have him depart as soon as possible. We cannot allow the Iwa-nin and Kumo-nin to catch us off guard. The northwest border defense must not collapse. Also, according to the plan, we need a negotiator—have you found someone?"
According to the plan Nara Shikaku and the other advisors had devised together, repelling Iwagakure's assault was only a preliminary step. After blunting Iwa's attack, they would unite with Iwa to strike at Kumogakure; that was the full scope of the strategy.
"I had intended to go personally, but you would not agree, would you?"
"Don't even think about it."
Torifu shook his head decisively. His age meant he could not handle the mountain of daily paperwork without Shikaku's assistance. The Nara clan had many capable members, but the authority and political weight of the clan head had to be preserved, just as the Uchiha clan head would naturally serve as Police Commissioner. Not everyone could fill Shikaku's role; replacing him involved more than competence, and there were many factors to consider.
"I suppose that means Suzaku will go." Nara Shikaku sighed with regret. He wanted the challenging assignment, but responsibilities tied him down. As clan head he had to consider his family, and the Hokage's office also required his attention.
(Note: changed Nara Shiosui to Suzaku Nara, so as not to confuse with Shisui. )
"Suzaku Nara?"
Torifu pulled up the dossier in his mind. Nara Suzaku was a top-tier talent in the Nara clan, strong both in wit and skill. He had recently returned to the village after accompanying Uchiha Rēn against the Mist-nin.
"Then he's it."
Torifu confirmed the choice. "Have him serve as Jiraiya's deputy."
"I will inform Suzaku."
Shikaku nodded agreement.
"As for Uchiha Rēn… how large is the manpower gap?" They had already decided that Jiraiya would lead troops north to resist Iwagakure while Uchiha Rēn would support Hyūga Hiashi and the others against Kumo.
However, two thousand Kirigakure shinobi originally under Rēn's command had been reassigned to Jiraiya, so the village needed replacements before Rēn could march north alone. Compared with the opportunistic Iwa forces, the true threat remained Kumogakure with the Raikage and the two jinchūriki they had fielded; at the front the shortage of lower-tier manpower still had not been remedied.
"Under the original plan, the Uchiha clan head would lead two thousand Kirigakure shinobi north, but since those mist shinobi were reassigned to Jiraiya-sama, we must make up two thousand men for the village. So far we've only secured a bit over eight hundred."
"Not even half?"
Torifu's brows tightened and he rubbed his forehead. "Eight hundred is far too few. Shikaku, how many troops can our three clans muster? Give me the numbers, and be honest."
Shikaku hesitated, then said reluctantly, "Without depleting our reserves, we can pull nearly three hundred. If we mobilize to the maximum, we might reach close to seven hundred, but that would include elders aged over fifty up to seventy, and even children over eight would be called up."
"I see."
Torifu's expression eased a little. "So the other clans are probably in similar shape?"
"Few clans can match the combined strength of our three; the Uchiha and Hyūga are notable, and the Aburame and Uzumaki are sizable too." Shikaku had to remind him that while the Ino-Shika-Cho trio did not have the same fame as the Uchiha or Hyūga, their overall manpower remained substantial.
"But there is no other option. The eastern border defenses are hollow right now, the western defenses must hold against Suna and cannot be moved, and Sarutobi, Shimura, and Mitokado clans are already exhausted. If we do not act, what else can we do?"
Shikaku fell silent.
Just as the Hokage had said, there was no option left except to continue drawing resources from the village's major clans. If there had been any better solution, they would not still be struggling to gather barely eight hundred people by now. At this point, there was only one path forward, and they could only grit their teeth and walk it.
After all, the offensive from the Cloud shinobi would not wait for anyone.
The title of Hokage did not only represent authority—it also meant responsibility.
"Shikaku, go find everyone. We're having a meeting."
"A meeting?"
"There are things that need to be said. Gather the heads of all departments and the clan leaders. If a clan head isn't available, bring an elder who can make decisions. And don't forget Jiraiya—make sure he attends. Tell him that once this meeting ends, he'll be leading the troops north."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Nara Shikaku acknowledged the order.
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It was a little past nine in the morning. The streets were sparsely populated. Today was a rest day, and after the villagers had spent the entire previous day and night celebrating the inauguration of the Fifth Hokage, most were content to stay home and sleep in. Even the timing of the ceremony had been chosen carefully for that reason.
"Ahhh—"
Kurama Sōun yawned.
"So tired."
He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and discovered a bit of dried sleep he had missed cleaning earlier. A heavy drowsiness weighed on him. Clearly, the head of the Kurama clan had celebrated enthusiastically last night. He and his younger brother, Kurama Unkai, had visited six different bars together. To be honest, even walking felt unsteady this morning.
He couldn't help but envy his brother, who didn't have to get up early like him.
Couldn't the Hokage hold the meeting at noon? he grumbled inwardly, So early in the morning… I'm so sleepy.
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