Night Maple's group was placed in the front row, which surprised him a little.
But thinking it over, he was representing the Senju clan, so it felt natural.
After all, the Senju were Konoha's foremost clan—at least in principle.
Every gaze shifted to Night Maple seated beside Uzumaki Mito.
Night Maple could hear the murmurs rippling through the crowd.
"That's Night Maple? He came too?"
"Any word on who'll take the top two seats in the Administration Department?"
"Is Lord Hokage planning to reorganize Root?"
In the anime, the Shimura clan—where no one but Danzō ever really showed up—and the Hokage's eldest son, Asuma's older brother, had all come.
On-site, through Kushina's explanation, Night Maple learned that beyond the three great clans—Senju, Hyuga, and Uchiha—the most prominent families were the Sarutobi and the Shimura, both famed since the Warring States era.
Among them, the Hokage's father, Sarutobi Sasuke, was a renowned shinobi and one of Konoha's co-founders.
Most of those admitted to the hall hailed from the Thirty-Eight Great Clans.
Hearing Kushina and then looking around, Night Maple more or less understood.
The Second, Senju Tobirama's thirty-eight students represented Konoha's thirty-eight great families.
So-called Will of Fire—turns out it's about bloodlines, too.
If you're not from the Thirty-Eight, you're basically not inheriting the Will of Fire.
Those who do inherit it mostly rise from those families and grow into Konoha's upper ranks.
A rare lucky one like Namikaze Minato can become Hokage—but military merit alone won't cut it.
Your wife is the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, you serve as the Uzumaki clan's figurehead, and you're obedient enough to heed the Third and the elders—only then are you qualified to inherit the Will of Fire.
Just look at Uzumaki Naruto bearing the Uzumaki surname, and you'll know the choice Minato made then.
By contrast, Hatake Sakumo—equal in strength and illustrious in war merit, and likewise a Fourth Hokage contender—was politically assassinated for overshadowing his superiors.
Clearly, the Will of Fire isn't something you inherit just because you want to.
Night Maple thought to himself that if he hadn't awakened the Senju kekkei genkai, he probably wouldn't be stepping into Konoha's upper echelons like this.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen entered the chamber to the acclaim of Konoha's shinobi, the room fell silent at once.
All eyes turned to him.
Under everyone's gaze, the Third Hokage stepped to the podium, swept his eyes around, and then announced in a ringing voice: "First, some good news!"
"Within the first week of Danzō Shimura's delegation to Kumogakure, we've made a major breakthrough: Kumo has signed a twenty-year peace accord! We and Kumogakure will maintain peace for at least twenty years!"
"This is a key milestone on Konoha's path to great rejuvenation—toward a revival of peace!"
The room erupted at Hiruzen's words!
Many faces lit with joy.
These past years, moving from war toward peace, everyone understood the preciousness of this calm and beauty.
If even war-hungry Kumo was willing to coexist peacefully with Konoha, then Konoha could continue its peace.
The Shimura clansmen wore proud smiles.
This is the Shimura's glory—the Darkness of the Leaf!
Even if maligned and made the scapegoat, sent far to Kumo, they still rendered great service to Konoha!
Night Maple was stunned, too.
So Danzō didn't go as a spy—he went as head of a mission?
It's only been a few days, and he's already laying groundwork for his return?
Truly a politician—plays politics like a pro.
Uzumaki Mito frowned slightly but said nothing.
She had never liked wielding power; otherwise, the Senju and Uzumaki wouldn't have ended up so tragic—with all their men lost.
After the uplifting announcement, Hiruzen moved to the formal agenda.
"Administrative personnel transfers."
He said a cohort of young talents would enter Konoha's leadership.
Night Maple listened as the appointments rolled out: interim head of the Administration Department would be Hiruzen's old classmate, Akimichi Torifu.
Uzumaki Mito and the Hyuga clan head would serve as special advisors.
Tsunade would head the Medical Department, with Orochimaru as deputy.
Jiraiya would become principal of the Ninja Academy, with Minato as vice principal.
The Three Legendary Sannin had hardly returned before they were placed in key posts.
The Uchiha would still oversee the Konoha Police Force—but with Root dissolved, the Police Force's authority would expand further.
As appointment followed appointment, Night Maple thought, They're not going to assign me something… are they?
No sooner had the thought formed than Hiruzen glanced at Night Maple from the podium and said evenly:
"Night Maple, genin: for merit in rescuing Kushina and for exposing Danzō's Root's illegal activities, you are hereby promoted to Special Jonin and assigned as vice principal of the Ninja Academy."