Chapter 31: The Will of Fire
Senju Morin did not linger long in the Forbidden Techniques Archive, because the very next day would mark his official inauguration as Hokage.
This time, it was different from merely declaring victory during the jōnin assembly.
He would stand atop the Hokage Building itself and swear his oath before all of Konoha's ninja and civilians.
At Morin's instruction, Konoha promptly dispatched a ninja squad to the capital of the Land of Fire, formally informing the Fire Daimyō that Senju Morin was about to assume the mantle of Hokage.
In Morin's view, this already constituted a considerable degree of courtesy and respect.
After all, Konoha had been founded for barely twenty years. It had not even been a full decade since Senju Hashirama's death, and the name of the God of Shinobi still cast a long shadow over the decaying aristocracy.
Moreover, the First, Second, and now Third Hokage all hailed from the Senju clan—the significance of that fact spoke for itself.
Under such circumstances, how could the Fire Daimyō dare treat Konoha the way he would in the future treat Hiruzen Sarutobi—waving the banner of noble authority and issuing commands at will?
Did he really think Senju Morin was someone to be pushed around?
…
The Following Morning
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, bathing Konoha in a mesmerizing golden glow.
On one side of the Hidden Leaf Village, the white-walled, red-tiled Hokage Building stood tall and imposing.
The massive plaque bearing the character "Fire" shimmered beneath the morning sun, blazing like a living embodiment of the Will of Fire itself.
Directly behind the building rose a vast and majestic cliff face. The stone visages of the First and Second Hokage gazed down upon the village, their expressions deep and solemn, as though they were still watching over the land they had created.
High upon the cliff, several smaller, circular structures clung to the rock like eagle nests, scattered across the heights. And between the two great stone faces and the Hokage Building itself, a pair of narrow rectangular dwellings were embedded into the cliff wall…
Below, a surging sea of people had long since gathered at the base of the Hokage Building. Nearby streets were packed to the brim, utterly impassable. Countless villagers craned their necks upward, faces alight with anticipation and barely contained excitement.
Suddenly, a faint ripple of commotion swept through the crowd, shattering the calm of the morning.
Under the convergence of countless gazes, five figures appeared upon the open-air platform atop the Hokage Building.
The newly appointed Third Hokage, Senju Morin, was dressed in a pristine white ceremonial robe, the Hokage's hat set firmly upon his head as he walked at the very front.
Half a step behind him followed, in measured unison, the four advisers who had only just taken office.
Tall and upright was Senju Tōka,
aged yet sharp-eyed Hyūga Sōgo,
calmly smiling Nara Shikatsune,
and—looking somewhat absent-minded—Sarutobi Hiruzen…
Fortunately, Hiruzen still retained his basic composure. Together with the other three advisers, he escorted Morin to the front of the platform before halting in tacit agreement, allowing Morin alone to step up to the railing.
The railing was not cold. Bathed in sunlight, it even carried a hint of warmth.
Yet when Morin placed his hands upon it, what he felt was not merely warmth, but a sudden, indescribable sensation that washed over him.
From his vantage point, the entirety of Konoha lay spread out before his eyes—
Interlaced streets, undulating rooftops, distant training grounds where figures moved like ants, and farther still, the endless forest merging with the horizon…
A cool breeze swept past, stirring the hem of his ceremonial robe. Morin unconsciously tightened his grip.
—So this… is what it feels like to become Hokage.
From the perspective of the countless ninja and civilians gathered below, the sight was even more overwhelming.
That figure, clad in red and white, stood tall atop the Hokage Building—and high above him, even the stone visages of the First and Second Hokage seemed reduced to mere ornamentation in the background.
Behind him stood the four advisers, each bearing a different expression.
Senju Tōka wore a faint smile. Her tall frame still carried echoes of her former valor, though fine wrinkles had quietly appeared at the corners of her once smooth, fair eyes.
Hyūga Sōgo was solemn, clad in the traditional white attire of his clan. Within his pale eyes flickered sharp glints of resolve. Though age weighed heavily upon him, he appeared all the more spirited for it.
Nara Shikatsune stood with half-lidded eyes, dressed in the standard jōnin flak jacket. His half-length hair was tied into his signature pineapple style. He looked lazy on the surface, yet within his dark eyes, a restless light constantly shimmered.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was the most complex of all—tinged with envy, regret, and a sober acceptance of reality.
From his angle, he could clearly see the trailing hem of Morin's Hokage robe, its crimson patterns dancing like flames in the breeze, dazzling his vision…
Morin took a deep breath and raised his right hand, gently pressing down on the Hokage hat stirred by the wind.
He no longer needed to shout. He simply stepped forward calmly, allowing his figure to stand fully revealed before everyone.
The sunlight was perfect, forging him together with the Hokage Building—and the two previous Hokage above him—into a single totem that symbolized Konoha itself.
Against this magnificent backdrop, Senju Morin slowly began his speech:
"Konoha is a village built by our predecessors to protect their families, comrades, and friends. It was never born from grand ambitions, but from the simplest hopes and desires held by every person of Konoha."
"Today, standing where our forebears once stood, under the gaze of the First and Second Hokage, what I feel is not pride—but a heavier sense of responsibility and duty."
"Not long ago, we lost a great Hokage, and a revered elder to me—Lord Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama."
"He gave his life to safeguard the village's future, to protect the hopes of the younger generation. He fell on Konoha's road toward peace, slain by the despicable shinobi of Kumogakure!"
"Through his sacrifice, Lord Tobirama taught us this: peace is never a gift freely given. It is a treasure that must be defended with strength, with will—and even with life itself!"
"Some call me a hero for bringing back his remains. But all I did was fulfill the duty of a shinobi of Konoha."
"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!"
"Wherever the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire shall burn without end."
"When the fuel that guards this village is spent, from the ashes shall rise new towering trees—breaking through the earth, standing tall—sheltering the people of this land, allowing new hope to take root and sprout…"
Morin's voice was firm, confident, and resolute as he proclaimed his own Will of Fire to all of Konoha.
At this very moment—
the era of the Third Hokage had truly begun.