"Second sister, you?!"
The others looked at the girl who had raised her hand in disbelief.
"What's wrong? Why can't a woman become a daimyo?"
The girl glanced sharply at her brothers and sisters as she spoke.
In reality, patriarchal thinking in the Naruto world is deeply ingrained, evident in the status difference between male and female ninjas.
Before Tsunade and Terumi Mei took power, the Five Great Hidden Villages had never seen a female Kage.
At the same time, across countries big and small, no woman had ever held the title of daimyo.
Even if a woman was exceptional, society expected her to support her husband and raise children.
But clearly, the girl standing before them had no intention of following that path—no desire to marry and spend her life confined to a household.
She had never been given a chance before. She had no choice. But now, everything was different.
The ninja before her, though unfamiliar, possessed an undeniably terrifying strength.
The entire daimyo's mansion—no, perhaps even the entire country—was under this person's control.
Compared to such overwhelming power, they were nothing more than ants on the ground.
But so what?
At this moment, she stood at the same starting line as her brothers. They all had a chance.
So why not her?
"Oh~! Not bad. You refuse to accept mediocrity. Very good!" The clone smiled approvingly.
The girl looked at him, her eyes burning with excitement.
At that moment—
Bang!
A katana was casually summoned by the clone and dropped in front of her.
"Take it and prove to me your determination to become the daimyo." The clone said lightly.
Without hesitation, the girl picked up the sword and scanned her younger siblings with a cold gaze.
"Second sister, don't!"
"You've always been the kindest to me, please don't!"
"Waaah! Mother, I want mother!"
The others were terrified.
One by one, they stepped back, several huddling together in fear that she might strike them down.
"Don't worry, I won't kill you." The girl said.
The next second—
Puff!
The cold blade plunged directly into the stomach of the daimyo behind her. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at his daughter.
"Father, as I said, I will make you regret it!"
Her gaze was filled with resentment as she watched him collapse before her.
Then, without hesitation, she pulled out the katana and stabbed him again—this time through the heart.
"You—"
The daimyo barely managed a word before his head tilted, his life slipping away in an instant.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The clone applauded, looking at the girl with approval.
"You are very good." He said.
Bang!
The girl dropped the katana and knelt before him.
"My lord, I, Shiji, pledge my loyalty to you!"
Shiji knelt on the ground, swearing her allegiance.
"Very well. From now on, you will be the daimyo of the Land of Fire." The clone nodded.
His eyes flashed as he used his power to implant memories into the minds of the Land of Fire's ministers, ensuring they would recognize Shiji as their true ruler.
Of course, their first loyalty would still be to him. Shiji came second.
This was to ensure a smooth transition—preventing any unexpected obstacles.
Then, after a few more instructions, the clone told Shiji to attend the upcoming succession ceremony for the Sixth Hokage in three days.
And with that, he disappeared from the daimyo's mansion.
The moment the clone vanished, it was as if someone had pressed "play" on a paused scene.
The daimyo's mansion came back to life. People stood up, continuing their activities as if nothing had happened.
Inside the mansion, Shiji, now the new daimyo, ordered the guards to handle the final cleanup.
With the genjutsu covering her, the guards saw her as the rightful ruler.
Even those who disposed of the former daimyo's body did so without hesitation, believing everything to be in order.
Meanwhile, after retrieving the clone's memories, Ryosuke reviewed the situation to ensure everything was proceeding smoothly.
His role in clearing obstacles for Shiji was complete.
If she failed to secure her position now, it would simply mean finding someone else to replace her.
Three days passed quickly.
Since the announcement of the new Sixth Hokage, Konoha had been bustling with excitement.
Wealthy merchants and ninja from other villages, originally planning to leave, chose to stay and witness the historic moment.
As for why the Fifth Hokage had stepped down so quickly?
No one truly cared.
The few who did wonder were quickly educated by those around them. It was simply a transfer of power between siblings.
Some even claimed insider knowledge, saying that the decision for the new Hokage had been made long ago.
The only reason Tsunade had taken office was because the new Hokage had been too young at the time to command full authority. Tsunade was merely a temporary figurehead, paving the way for the transition.
Upon hearing this explanation, those who had been doubtful suddenly understood.
Ah, so that's how it is!
This was the prevailing thought.
On the day of the ceremony, the sky was clear, not a cloud in sight.
Konoha's central plaza was already packed with villagers. Wealthy merchants and officials from other lands had gathered.
Even the newly appointed daimyo of the Land of Fire, Shiji, had arrived in person.
Many were curious about the sudden change in leadership within the Land of Fire. After all, it had all happened so abruptly.
Three days ago, news of the original daimyo's assassination suddenly spread.
Then, Princess Shiji quickly ascended to the throne and became the new daimyo of the Land of Fire.
And the rebellion and the like expected by some other countries did not happen.
The ministers of the Land of Fire seemed to be very supportive of Princess Shiji's rise to power.
This is very strange and also very unreasonable. After all, there has never been a case of a woman becoming the daimyo.
And today, she also appeared in Konoha to attend Konoha's Sixth Hokage inauguration ceremony.
Many ninjas from other countries couldn't help but curiously look at the new daimyo of the Land of Fire, wanting to see what kind of power she had.
But no matter how they looked at her, she was just a very delicate girl. It was completely impossible to connect her with the Legendary Female Daimyo.
It made people feel that it was very incomprehensible.
On the newly built high platform
After Tsunade's speech, Ryosuke walked to the central position under the gaze of countless people.
"From now on, the village will be entrusted to you!"
Tsunade took off her Hokage hat with her own hands and placed it on Ryosuke.
In fact, she had actually only worn this hat once on the day of her inauguration.
"I will make the village more prosperous." Ryosuke said.
Tsunade nodded with a gratified expression. Then she gave up the position to Ryosuke, the new Hokage.
Sixth Hokage—Ryosuke!
This was originally Kakashi's position, but now Ryosuke has stepped up to take the mantle.
Ryosuke stood on the high platform, looked at the crowd below, and said loudly, "Konoha is not the Konoha of Hokage alone. It was established by countless people united and working together."
"In the future, as the Hokage, I will definitely take the lead and manage this village well for everyone, but this is inseparable from the joint efforts of everyone. Let us build a better Konoha together!"
Ryosuke raised his arms and shouted, "The future belongs to Konoha!"
"Belongs to Konoha!"
"Belongs to Konoha!!"
"Belongs to Konoha!!"
The crowd below let out a roar like a tsunami.
Ryosuke looked at the effect with satisfaction, and then looked at Shiji on the other side. The latter lowered her head in fear.
'So, he is the Hokage of Konoha. ' Shiji thought to herself.
She had been guessing who that mysterious man was for the past few days. Today, when she came to Konoha and saw Ryosuke succeed as the Sixth Hokage, Shiji knew that the person that day was the new Hokage of Konoha.
In Hokage's office
Ryosuke sat in the Hokage's seat.
There was also a long desk to his right where his assistants usually worked.
"Is this what you call leading by example?"
Tsunade looked at Ryosuke with a playful expression on her face and said, "I just set up two Hokage assistants, but you? You went ahead and got six?"
Ryosuke glanced at her and said lightly, "You are squeezing the labor force of the employees, and I call it a reasonable distribution."
"Also, when I say lead by example, I don't mean dealing with these documents."
Ryosuke said, "If the Land of Fire goes to war with other countries, I, as the Hokage, will naturally go to the battlefield first."
Tsunade beeped softly, "Tsk! It sounds like any country dares to attack the Land of Fire now."
Ryosuke pretended not to hear. Anyway, this is his will of fire.
The Hokage takes the lead, and the whole village works together to build a better future.
As the saying goes, where the tree leaves dance, the fire is also there.
Those villagers are the flying leaves.
As for him, he is the gust of wind.
Now that the village is not the village of the Hokage alone—
Then why should he handle these documents by himself?
So, Ryosuke set up six seats for Hokage Assistants, no problem at all.
This is called reasonable distribution of work.
Do you know what it means to know people and make good use of them?
Monopolizing power is out of fashion.
"All right, all right, you can always come up with a bunch of nonsense."
Tsunade waved her hand, knowing that Ryosuke wouldn't change overnight. Instead of arguing, she simply let it go.
At this time, the six assistants appointed by Ryosuke also arrived.
"Lord Hokage! Tsunade-sama!"
Six people respectfully greeted.
Then, under Ryosuke's gesture, they took their seats one after another.
"From now on, you will work here.
"Let's make Konoha glorious again!" Ryosuke said.
Tsunade: "…"
The six assistants selected by Ryosuke, except for the original Shizune and Temari—
Also included were Konan, Yugito, Shikaku, and Hiashi.
Konan had previous experience managing Amegakure. She was no stranger to this job at all and would be able to get started quickly.
And Yugito?
Although she had never done these things before, she could learn. She would adapt soon enough.
In addition, there were Shizune and Temari, two assistants from the previous Hokage period.
And old-timers like Shikaku and Hiashi. It was certain they could handle the village's affairs well.
"You guys go to work."
Ryosuke, the Sixth Hokage, nodded to the six people, then left the Hokage's office with Tsunade.
The remaining six people left in the office looked at each other.
Then, with wry smiles, they began processing the pile of documents in front of them.
Why did two generations of Hokage have this kind of virtue?
Shikaku shook his head speechlessly.
Then he glanced at Hiashi, as if saying, "Why don't you talk some sense into your son-in-law?"
However, Hiashi acted as if he hadn't seen Shikaku's look, lowering his head and focusing on his work.
That serious expression…
Shikaku was too embarrassed to call him out.
After all, the acting was too real!