On the circular stone stage of the Hidden Sand Village, Shiraishi's grand entrance left the envoys of various nations feeling a sharp chill down their spines.
As the crowd stood breathless, awestruck by the posture of the Fifth Kazekage, the two high elders, Ebizo and Chiyo, stepped onto the platform together.
Two elders, one former Kazekage, and Shiraishi himself—these were the pillars of the Fifth Kazekage's inauguration ceremony.
Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, looked at Shiraishi with an incredibly complex gaze. The technique Shiraishi had just displayed reached a level of sophistication that was almost beyond his comprehension.
The scrawny kid from years ago had vanished; in his place stood the colossal titan supporting the entire Hidden Sand.
The two men stood in silence, looking at one another. Shiraishi's eyes were clear and transparent, devoid of any hidden malice, as he stood calmly in the center of the stage.
"Fifth Kazekage... the Sand is in your hands now."
By this point, Rasa had nothing left but blessings. He handed over the official Kazekage hat—the symbol of supreme authority.
As Shiraishi accepted the hat and donned the cloak of the Fifth Kazekage, his expression became profoundly solemn.
The peaceful transition between the two generations allowed the various factions of the Sand to breathe a sigh of relief.
The conflict between Rasa and Shiraishi had once been deep; stepping down in such a dignified manner was Rasa's way of ensuring his own survival and legacy.
Contrasting Rasa's inner turmoil, Yashamaru stood in the crowd, his face beaming with pride at Shiraishi's growth. For years, due to his relationship with his sister and brother-in-law, he hadn't dared to get too close to Shiraishi.
But as the person who had looked after Shiraishi since childhood, seeing him become Kazekage was a moment of immense gratification.
Sensing Yashamaru's gaze, Shiraishi turned and gave him a subtle nod before walking toward Ebizo and Chiyo.
On the path to becoming Kazekage, these two elders had provided invaluable help—from their unreserved early guidance to Ebizo "staining" his own reputation during the Battle of Mount Kikyo to protect Shiraishi's fame. Shiraishi felt he owed the most to Ebizo.
Taking Shiraishi's hand, Ebizo laughed heartily. "You are the Kazekage now! You cannot let your emotions show so easily. You must be strong, for you are a 'Kage'!"
Beside him, Chiyo was also smiling brightly. She had always doted on Shiraishi as if he were her own grandson.
In front of Chiyo, Shiraishi made a personal vow: "Regarding the matter of Sasori, I will handle it properly."
Although Sasori of the Red Sand was classified as an S-rank rogue ninja, the Sand's official orders were to prioritize capture.
Furthermore, all intelligence regarding Sasori was to be handled directly by the Kazekage. This series of measures was clearly designed to leave a way back for the puppet master.
Shiraishi's promise that Sasori would be taken alive put Chiyo's heart at ease.
After all, back at the Battle of Mount Kikyo, Sasori had intercepted Shiraishi and revealed the Third Kazekage's human puppet, an act that could have ruined the reputation of Chiyo's entire lineage. Fortunately, Shiraishi's subsequent victory over Konoha saved the situation.
Because of this, Shiraishi had forcibly suppressed the Sasori incident, classifying it as top-secret. Chiyo kept this favor in her heart, vowing to bring her grandson back to the village one day.
The Name "Aoki"
As Shiraishi interacted with the elders, the envoys were whispering among themselves. The focal point of their discussion was Shiraishi's choice of surname.
Akimiya found it difficult to understand: "Aoki Shiraishi... what is the significance of this name?"
In the naming conventions of the shinobi world, especially for someone destined to establish a legendary bloodline clan, a surname usually carries great weight.
For instance, "Uchiha" is phonetically close to "Uchiwa" (fan). While people guessed that "Ao" (Blue) referred to his cyan flames, the "Ki" (Wood) left them baffled. Though Wood Style (Mokuton) was a possibility, they quickly dismissed it.
Shiraishi had never shown any talent for Wood Style. Did "Wood" perhaps represent a powerful vitality?
While the civil officials theorized, the shinobi envoys were focused on the technicalities of Shiraishi's new techniques.
Sharp-eyed observers noticed that the "Sword Dance" Shiraishi performed earlier contained a unique and highly refined Taijutsu style.
While "Black Mist" Shiraishi was rarely cited for his Taijutsu in the past, high-level officials across the villages knew his physical combat skills were not to be underestimated.
He was viewed as a top-tier researcher ninja—a "better version of Orochimaru"—but this display of the silver blade suggested his Taijutsu might exceed all prior estimates.
A Legendary Gaze
As the ceremony concluded and Shiraishi walked toward the people, a massive cheer erupted. The villagers of the Hidden Sand shouted with genuine joy for their powerful new leader.
Shiraishi took a deep breath and picked up the microphone. "Everyone, a new era for the Sand has arrived!"
Hidden among the crowd was a White Zetsu clone disguised as an envoy. Through a specialized sensory transformation jutsu, he allowed the distant Madara Uchiha to witness the inauguration.
Shiraishi's high-profile entrance, his aura of authority, and his "world-looking-down" posture caused even the decaying, elderly Madara to feel a surge of heroic spirit.
It was a strange sensation; as Shiraishi spoke, something in Madara's blood seemed to boil. His hands gripped the armrests of his chair as he struggled to sit up.
Amidst the creaking of the wood, Madara let out a low chuckle that quickly escalated into a loud, menacing laugh.
Since Hashirama Senju died, I haven't looked forward to an opponent like this in a long time!
In Shiraishi, Madara saw the shadows of his and Hashirama's past. This sense of historical cycle and destiny gave him a fierce, sharp aura that belied his advanced age.
"Aoki Shiraishi... you are indeed qualified to be called the 'Modern-Day Madara'! Let me see this 'Hundred Generation Legacy' of yours!"
Shiraishi was still growing; one day, he might truly become a threat. Originally, Madara had planned further schemes against the Sand, but Shiraishi's words sparked a rare sense of chivalry in the old ghost.
Against such an opponent, petty tricks were useless. Instead, Madara looked forward to defeating him in his prime state once he was eventually resurrected.
To have an opponent worth anticipating—isn't that a form of happiness?
Thinking of this, Madara's laughter became even more manic and terrifying.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon.com/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 60 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.