Two years later.
Top floor of the Hokage Tower.
"Kaede! Hurry up! The graduation ceremony is about to start!"
Rin's voice rang out from the living room as she stood outside Kaede's bedroom door.
Kaede stepped out of the room, stretching and yawning.
"It's just a graduation ceremony. Not like I have to go. Let the Third Hokage handle the speech or something."
"Absolutely not!"
Rin immediately began pushing him toward the dressing room.
"You're not the same as the Third Hokage! All the kids in Konoha are waiting for you! Hurry, I'll help you with your makeup."
Kaede let himself be pushed in front of the mirror, sitting down with a helpless look.
"If you're so concerned about the next generation, why don't you give the speech?"
Rin opened the makeup kit and started dabbing powder on his face, tilting her head with a smile.
"Oh, I care deeply about the next generation. So… when are we having a child of our own?"
"I still feel like a child myself..." Kaede leaned back in the chair with a sigh.
Pfft.
Rin burst out laughing at his expression.
"If people saw their respected Hokage acting like this, their idealized image of you might just collapse."
Over the past year, Kaede hadn't even bothered sending shadow clones to the office anymore. Most of the work was left to Kakashi and Mei.
After all, the problem with shadow clones was that when they dispersed, all the memories and mental fatigue came flooding back. So as long as he was in Konoha himself, Kaede didn't even bother creating them anymore.
"My youth is slipping away..." He sighed again.
He was twenty-seven now, at least in appearance. But due to his accelerated time training, he had lived over thirty years in this world. Technically, his physical body was already closer to forty.
He could feel the change clearly.
From his once boundless energy, to now, where he could only muster real motivation during the occasional spar with Hinata.
But really, this was just the natural result of becoming too strong.
If there were still enemies in the world that posed a real threat, someone difficult to defeat, he might've rekindled his fighting spirit. But in a time where even Kaguya no longer felt threatening, that fire from his days as a genin or chunin simply couldn't be sustained.
"Alright, enough moping, chin up!"
Rin smiled brightly and kissed him on the cheek, then helped him put on the Hokage's ceremonial cloak. She pulled the signature Hokage hat from the wardrobe.
Kaede took the hat and placed it on his head.
After straightening his robes, he exhaled lightly and walked out the door.
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At the training field behind the Ninja Academy, a large crowd of students had already gathered. Among them were graduating students like Sasuke and Naruto, as well as many new admissions.
Behind the stage, Kakashi glanced at Kaede as he walked over.
"You made it. I was starting to think you weren't coming."
"How could I not? After all, one of my own students is graduating."
Kaede shrugged and looked him over.
"This chakra flow… that presence… You completed Sage Physique training?"
"Mm." Kakashi nodded.
"Finished it yesterday."
Then, as if remembering something, his expression darkened slightly.
"Wait, you're not about to give me some surprise mission, are you? You promised I'd get a year off to teach a genin team."
Kaede gave him a sideways glance.
"Do I look like someone who would force work onto others?"
Kakashi just stared at him silently.
He didn't respond, but his look clearly said: "Yes. You absolutely do."
Kaede laughed.
"Relax. It's not a mission. I actually have a gift for you. I was planning to give it to you when you took over as Hokage next year… but since you've completed your Sage Physique training, I figure you've earned it a bit early."
He patted Kakashi on the shoulder and walked toward the stage.
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A moment later, Kaede stepped onto the graduation stage.
The moment he appeared, the entire training field erupted in cheers. To these academy students, Kaede wasn't just the Hokage, he was a living legend.
Girls like Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura stared at him with sparkling eyes, their expressions filled with admiration. Some couldn't help but squeal excitedly.
"Hokage-sama… he's so dreamy..."
Strangely, their fangirling didn't even annoy the boys.
Even Naruto and Sasuke, normally the most popular kids in class, found themselves silently agreeing with the girls.
The most handsome Hokage in history.
No arguments there.
"Man… I'll become the Hokage right after Kaede-sama!"
Naruto looked at Kaede with shining eyes, full of respect. Kaede had personally trained him a few times, and Naruto already knew that after Minato's death, both he and Kushina had been under Kaede's care. He had long since given up on trying to surpass him.
"Hmph. I'm the one who's going to be Hokage. Give it up."
Sasuke snorted coldly beside him.
He hadn't cared much about the title of Hokage at first. But since Naruto was so fixated on it, and since they were rivals, he had gradually set it as his own goal too.
"I love you, Hokage-sama!!"
A girl's voice suddenly echoed from somewhere in the crowd.
Kaede, now standing at the front of the stage, couldn't help but chuckle when he heard it.
"If I'm not careful, I might end up in jail."
The entire field burst into laughter.
And as that laughter echoed, the sparkle in many girls' eyes only grew brighter.
"This isn't my first time giving a graduation speech," Kaede said, smiling.
"This year's remarks aren't too different from before. Most of you heard something similar around this time last year."
His gaze swept across the crowd, pausing briefly on a few familiar faces.
His eyes finally met Hinata's for a moment before he continued:
"The role of a ninja is to help our world grow stronger, to ensure that everyone can live a better life…"
"Those of you graduating today will carry that responsibility. Every one of you is a vital cornerstone of this world. Each of you is a hero in your own right…"
Kaede spoke with a gentle smile.
Offstage, Rin, Kurenai, Shizune, and others had quietly arrived, watching him with admiration and softly clapping.
"And remember, "
"Where the leaves dance, the fire will burn. That is our Will of Fire."
With those familiar words, Kaede concluded his speech.
Amid thunderous applause and excited cheers, he turned and walked off the stage, still smiling.
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria