Senju Mori did not stay in the Forbidden Jutsu Lab for too long, because the very next day was his official Hokage inauguration ceremony.
Unlike the previous announcement of victory during the Jonin conference, this time he would stand atop the Hokage Building, facing all the Konoha Ninjas and villagers, to swear in as Hokage.
At Senju Mori's instruction, Konoha Village had already dispatched a Ninja squad to the capital of the Land of Fire to inform the Land of Fire Daimyo of Senju Mori's imminent succession as Hokage.
In Senju Mori's view, this was already a significant show of importance and respect.
One must know that Konoha Village had only been established for twenty years, and it had not even been ten years since the death of Senju Hashirama; the reputation of the God of Ninjas still deeply intimidated the corrupt nobles.
And the First Hokage, Second Hokage, and Third Hokage of Konoha all came from the Senju Clan, the weight of which was self-evident.
Under such circumstances, how could the Land of Fire Daimyo dare to treat him like Hiruzen Sarutobi in the future, constantly throwing his weight around as Daimyo and dictating to Konoha?
Did they think the venerable senju of the forest was easy to bully?
...The next morning.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, painting Konoha Village with a captivating golden hue.
On one side of Konohagakure, the white-walled, red-tiled Hokage Building stood majestically, its massive "Fire" plaque gleaming in the morning sun, like the fiercely burning Will of Fire.
Directly behind the building was a magnificent and tall rock face, with the rock faces of the First Hokage and Second Hokage overlooking the Village, their gazes deep, as if still guarding this paradise they had created.
Above the rock faces, a few smaller circular buildings, like eagle nests on a cliff, were scattered, and on the rock face between the two rock faces and the Hokage Building, two rectangular huts were dotted... A bustling crowd had already gathered below the Hokage Building, even several nearby streets were packed to capacity, and countless villagers of Konohagakure looked on with eager anticipation, unable to conceal their excitement.
Suddenly, a slight commotion in the crowd broke the morning's tranquility, and under the focus of countless gazes, five figures appeared on the open-air platform on the top floor of the Hokage Building.
The newly appointed Third Hokage, Senju Mori, dressed in a plain white Imperial God Robe and wearing a Hokage hat, walked at the very front.
Half a step behind him, four newly appointed Hokage Advisors followed closely.
The upright Senju Touka, the aged but vigorous Hyuga Sogo, and the calmly smiling Nara Shikatsune.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi, who seemed a bit out of sorts... Fortunately, he maintained basic lucidity, and together with the other three Advisors, he escorted Senju Mori to the front of the platform before stopping in unison, allowing Senju Mori to walk to the edge of the railing alone.
The railing was not cold; in fact, it felt somewhat warm under the sunlight.
However, when Senju Mori's hand rested on the railing, what he felt was not just warmth, but another indescribable sensation that instantly enveloped him.
From his current vantage point, the entire Konoha Village was spread out before his eyes—
The crisscrossing streets, the winding and undulating eaves, the tiny figures like ants on the distant training grounds, and the sprawling forests and skyline even further away... A refreshing breeze swept by, and the hem of his Imperial God Robe swayed slightly behind him, but Senju Mori unconsciously clenched his hands.
—This is what it feels like to be Hokage.
However, from the perspective of the countless Ninjas and villagers in the square below, the sight was even more striking.
That red and white interwoven, upright figure stood atop the building, and high above him, even the rock faces of the First Hokage and Second Hokage seemed to have become mere background decorations.
Behind that figure, the four Advisors had varied expressions.
Senju Touka had a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, her tall figure still exuding a hint of her former heroism, but a few subtle wrinkles had quietly crept onto the once smooth and fair skin around her eyes.
Hyuga Sogo's expression was solemn, dressed in the traditional white attire of the Hyuga Clan, a faint sharpness subtly revealed in his pure white eyes; despite showing signs of age, he exuded an energetic aura.
Nara Shikatsune squinted his eyes, wearing a standard Konoha Jonin vest, his medium-length hair tied into his distinctive pineapple-shaped ponytail; he appeared lazy on the surface, but a constant glimmer of light flickered in his dark eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was the most complex, a mix of envy, regret, and a calm composure in the face of reality.
From his perspective, he could just see the back hem of Senju Mori's Hokage Imperial God Robe, its red patterns, like leaping flames, swaying in the breeze, dazzling his eyes... Senju Mori took a deep breath, raised his right hand, and gently pressed down on his Hokage hat, which was being lifted by the wind.
He no longer needed to shout loudly; he simply took a calm step forward, allowing his figure to be more clearly displayed before everyone.
The sunlight was perfect, molding him and the entire Hokage Building, along with the two previous Hokage above and behind him, into a single totem symbolizing Konoha.
Beneath this magnificent tableau, Senju Mori slowly began his speech:
"Konoha is a Village built by our predecessors to protect family, comrades, and friends. This is not some grand ambition, but arises from the most simple hopes and pursuits of every Konoha person."
"Today, I stand where our predecessors once stood, under the gaze of the First Hokage and Second Hokage's rock faces, and what I feel is an even heavier responsibility and mission."
"Just recently, we lost a great Hokage, and also my most respected elder, Second Hokage Senju Tobirama-sama."
"He bravely sacrificed himself to protect the future of the Village, to protect young hope; he sacrificed himself on Konoha's path to peace, sacrificed himself at the hands of despicable Cloud Hidden Ninjas!"
"Tobirama-sama taught us with his life that peace is never a given gift, but a treasure that must be fiercely defended with strength, will, and even life!"
"Some call me a hero because I brought back his Mukuro, but what I did was merely the duty of a Konoha Ninja."
"To protect the Village, to protect family, to protect friends, to protect Konoha's future and its children, to protect this hard-won peace!"
"Where the Konoha leaves dance, fire will also burn brightly."
"Whenever the firewood protecting the Village burns out, from the ashes, new giant trees will surely break through the soil and rise to the sky, sheltering the people living on this land, allowing new hope to take root and sprout..."
Senju Mori's tone was firm and confident, as he expounded his unique Will of Fire to all of Konoha.
At this moment, the era of the Third Hokage officially began.