Senju Mori did not stay long in the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber, for the very next day would be the official ceremony marking his inauguration as Hokage.
Unlike before, when his victory had only been announced in the Jonin Council, this time he would stand atop the Hokage Building, facing all of Konoha's shinobi and villagers to take his oath as Hokage.
At Senju Mori's instruction, Konoha had promptly dispatched a shinobi squad to the capital of the Land of Fire, to deliver the message to the Daimyo that Senju Mori would soon assume the mantle of Hokage.
In Mori's eyes, that was already a show of considerable respect and sincerity.
After all, Konoha had been founded only twenty years ago, and less than ten years had passed since the death of Senju Hashirama. The name of the "God of Shinobi" still struck awe into the decaying nobility.
Moreover, with the First, Second, and now Third Hokage all coming from the Senju Clan, the weight of that lineage spoke for itself.
In such circumstances, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire wouldn't dare to behave toward Senju Mori the way he would one day treat Sarutobi Hiruzen—
using his noble status to meddle in the affairs of Konoha and issue condescending commands.
Did he really think the proud Senju Mori was someone to be pushed around?
...
The next morning.
Sunlight broke through the clouds, bathing the entire Konoha in a golden glow.
On one side of Konoha stood the Hokage Building, its white walls and red-tiled roof gleaming majestically. The massive plaque emblazoned with the character "火" (Fire) shimmered in the dawn light, burning brightly like the very Will of Fire itself.
Behind the building rose a towering cliff face—
the Hokage Rock—
where the carved faces of the First and Second Hokage gazed down upon the village below, their eyes deep and solemn, as if they were still watching over the paradise they had created with their own hands.
Perched along the cliffside were several smaller, round structures resembling eagle nests, scattered between the carved faces.
Between the two rock faces and the Hokage Building stood two small rectangular buildings, tucked neatly into the rock wall.
Down below, a crowd had already gathered, filling the streets so densely that not even a drop of water could pass through.
The villagers of Konoha craned their necks and whispered in excitement, faces glowing with anticipation.
Suddenly, a ripple of commotion spread through the crowd, breaking the morning's stillness.
Under countless expectant gazes, five figures appeared on the open-air platform atop the Hokage Building.
At the front walked the newly appointed Third Hokage, Senju Mori,
dressed in a pure white ceremonial robe, the Hokage hat resting upon his head.
Half a step behind him followed the four newly appointed Hokage advisors—
The tall and upright Senju Tōka,
the aged yet spirited Hyūga Sōgo,
the calm and smiling Nara Shikajō,
and lastly, the visibly distracted Sarutobi Hiruzen…
Fortunately, he still retained enough composure to follow the others' lead.
Together, the four advisors escorted Senju Mori to the front edge of the platform before silently halting,
allowing him to step forward alone until he stood by the railing.
The railing wasn't cold; under the sunlight, it even carried a hint of warmth.
Yet when Senju Mori placed his hand upon it, what he felt was not merely warmth—
a profound, indescribable sensation enveloped him entirely.
From his vantage point now,
the entire village of Konoha stretched out before his eyes—
The streets stretched in winding patterns, rooftops rose and fell in uneven lines, and in the distance, tiny figures—like ants—moved across the training grounds. Beyond them, the vast forest extended toward the horizon, where the sky met the land in a seamless line.
A cool breeze brushed past, stirring the hem of Senju Mori's ceremonial robe. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on the railing.
—So this… is what it feels like to be Hokage.
From the plaza below, the view was nothing short of breathtaking.
That tall, upright figure, robed in white and crimson, stood proudly atop the Hokage Building. Even the colossal rock faces of the First and Second Hokage behind him now seemed merely to frame the new figure standing in their legacy.
Behind him, the four advisors each bore their own expression.
Senju Tōka smiled faintly, her tall frame still carrying traces of the heroic grace of her youth—though fine wrinkles now lined the corners of her once-smooth face.
Hyūga Sōgo, dressed in the traditional white garb of his clan, stood solemn and dignified. His pure white eyes shimmered faintly, sharp and focused; though age marked his features, his spirit remained as vigorous as ever.
Nara Shikajō half-closed his eyes, his Jonin flak jacket neat as ever, his medium-length hair tied up in the clan's trademark pineapple-shaped style. He looked lazy at first glance—but the glint in his dark eyes never stopped flickering with thought.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen—his expression was the most complex of all. A mix of envy, regret, and a calm acceptance of reality.
From his angle, he could see the trailing edge of Senju Mori's Hokage robe fluttering in the wind, the flame-like red patterns swaying before his eyes—dazzling, almost blinding.
Senju Mori took a deep breath and lifted his right hand, gently pressing down on his Hokage hat to steady it.
He did not need to shout.
Instead, he simply stepped forward—quietly, firmly—so that his figure stood clear before everyone's eyes.
The sunlight struck just right.
It bathed him, the Hokage Building, and the carved faces of the First and Second Hokage above him in a single, unified light—
forging an image that would forever symbolize the spirit of Konoha.
And beneath that magnificent sight, Senju Mori began his speech—
"Konoha was built by our predecessors to protect their families, their comrades, and their friends.
It was not born from grand ambition, but from the purest hopes and desires in every heart that calls this village home."
"Today, as I stand where my predecessors once stood, under the gaze of the First and Second Hokage, I feel the immense weight of duty and purpose pressing upon me."
"Not long ago, we lost a great Hokage—my most respected elder, the Second Hokage, Lord Senju Tobirama."
"He gave his life to protect the future of this village, to defend the young and the hopeful.
He fell on the road toward peace—slain by the treacherous shinobi of Kumogakure!"
"With his death, Lord Tobirama taught us that peace is never a gift freely given.
It is a treasure that must be defended—with strength, with will, and, if need be, with our very lives!"
"Some call me a hero for bringing back his remains. But I only did what any shinobi of Konoha should do."
"To protect the village. To protect our loved ones. To protect our friends. To protect Konoha's future and its children. To protect this hard-won peace!"
'Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire of its will shall never be extinguished.'
"Whenever the firewood guarding the village burns to embers, from the ashes, a new great tree will surely burst forth, soaring to the heavens, sheltering the people of this land, allowing new hope to take root and sprout..."
Senju Mori's voice rang out, firm and resolute, filled with confidence as he proclaimed his own interpretation of the Will of Fire to all of Konoha.
At that moment,
the era of the Third Hokage—
had officially begun.