- Three Days Later -
Atop the Hokage tower in the village, Shizune stood, looking down at the gathered people below, transformed to look like Tsunade. The crowd murmured, ready to hear the announcement they had been waiting to hear ever since it was known that Lady Tsunade would be stepping down.
Shizune raised a hand, the crowd quieting down, and only when there was absolute silence did she speak.
"People of the Hidden Leaf! Today, I stand before you for the last time as your Hokage. This is not a sad moment. Even though my time as Hokage was short, this village and its incredible ninja and citizens have brought back the will of fire that my grandfather, the First Hokage, believed in. Like him, the man who will succeed me as the Sixth Hokage has the strength of Lord First and the intelligence of Lord Second. As the Fifth Hokage, I am honored to introduce you to the future."
At her signal, Kakashi stepped forward. His new cloak fluttered in the wind as he looked down at the crowd of ninja and civilians.
"I present to you the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake!"
Shizune called out so everyone could hear and handed him the hat.
The crowd erupted in cheers, thousands of voices echoing off the stone walls of the plaza and through the valley. Confetti and small paper banners flew into the air from the civilian rows, spinning in the wind around the tower.
Down in the front ranks, the leaf ninja stood in formation, though the formal restraint was cracking. Guy was already wiping a waterfall of tears from his face, thumbs raised high as he yelled something entirely lost to the noise, while Asuma gave a nod, a faint smirk playing on his lips. Kurenai leaned toward him with a smile, saying something over the roar of the crowd.
Kakashi raised the hat above his head, and the crowd erupted in another round of cheers, even louder than the first. Kakashi felt Minato and Kushina hidden but watching. Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and the rest of their generation all gathered and watched on the rooftops.
Kakashi let the crowd cheer for a minute before raising a hand; the happy, excited crowd calmed down in a couple of moments.
"I look forward to leading to the best of my abilities, and as my time as Hokage, I will bring about the advancement of Konoha in all areas, whether that be technology, medical, ninja arts, civilian life, and many more. I won't only protect you, but I'll make Konoha soar. Just watch me."
Kakashi's speech was short and sweet, getting straight to the point without all the unneeded fluff, putting his hat on and spreading his arms.
"And it's my pleasure to announce that Konoha will be expanding its walls and building on, so expect many builders to be here shortly. The change has already begun; I can't wait to see what you'll all do with the opportunities I plan to put in place."
Kakashi reached into his Hokage cloak and pulled out a scroll; a pulse of chakra later, thousands of sheets of paper began drifting down to those below, detailing the port he plans on building, the renovated 'Konoha Police Force', and plots of land that he's offering at good deals, the only catch is that a buisness must also be opened here if they wished to buy the land, the merchants in the crowd practically glowing as they saw nothing but benefits from this, as merchants, they've traveled around the world and know what Konoha lacks, and can already see themselves making loads of money from this.
Kakashi smiled, his sharp gaze sweeping over the plaza
"To the twelve traveling merchants currently standing near the west gates: schedule a meeting with my office, and we can work out the details. To the forty-three local shopkeepers in the mid-rows, and the eighteen active-duty ninja who have been quietly saving up to start a side venture, the same offer applies to you."
He gestured broadly toward the towering cliffs behind him.
"The land I'm making available is the vast territory directly above the Hokage Monument. It is wide, undeveloped, and has the best view in the Land of Fire. Whether you are a civilian looking to grow, a merchant from across the border, or a ninja planning to secure a life for your family or future family, that space is yours to build on. Just bring me a business plan, and we will build the future together."
Kakashi paused, letting the weight of his previous words settle over the crowd before continuing.
"Furthermore, this advancement won't just come from the top down. To anyone in this village who has ever spent their nights tinkering, drafting, or dreaming up something new, whether you are a civilian, a genin, or a veteran, this is your moment. If you have an idea for an invention, regardless of your field or your current standing, bring it directly to the Research and Development department."
He leaned forward slightly against the stone railing.
"If your invention is accepted, the village will guarantee you a fair and highly lucrative rate for your work. And if the department head finds you talented enough, you will be offered a permanent position right there in R&D to keep creating. Konoha has the resources; we just need your minds. Bring me your dreams, and I'll make them reality."
As soon as he finished speaking, the formal restraint in the plaza disappeared.
Civilians, ninja, and merchants all rushed forward, scrambling to catch the falling sheets of paper before they hit the stone floor. People reached out eagerly, desperate to see the maps of the new port, the police force details, and the plots of land Kakashi had promised.
The twelve traveling merchants near the gates huddled together, reading over a single sheet with wide eyes as they whispered about the profits waiting for them above the monument. Even some active-duty ninja in the front ranks forgot their strict posture for a moment, leaning over to look at the paperwork their squad mates had grabbed. The plaza became a sea of movement and excited chatter, the energy shifting from a formal ceremony to a rush toward the future.
Kakashi clapped his hands once, the sound echoing across the plaza like a sonic boom that instantly stopped everyone in their tracks. The frantic rustling of paper died out as thousands of pairs of eyes snapped back up to the balcony.
Reaching back into his cloak, Kakashi pulled out a sleek, unfamiliar device made of dark, polished metal. It looked unlike any standard ninja tool, completely devoid of the usual scroll work or sealing tags. As he raised it, the barrel smoothly split into four distinct segments, peeling back like the petals of a metallic flower while remaining firmly anchored to the base.
A low, resonant hum vibrated from the device as Kakashi channeled his lightning chakra directly into the grip. Arcs of bright blue electricity crackled up the metallic back and into the chamber, gathering at the center of the split barrel.
Without a word, Kakashi pulled the trigger.
A blinding streak of lightning chakra tore from the weapon, piercing straight up into the sky. It shot so high into the atmosphere that the clouds themselves seemed to part, completely clearing the path of any passing birds before the concentrated bolt finally exploded. The massive detonation boomed overhead, casting a brilliant, momentary flash of blue light over the entire valley.
As the thunderous echo faded, Kakashi lowered the device. The split barrel seamlessly slid back together with a sharp, heavy click, the metal cooling instantly.
"This is an example of what I've been working on," Kakashi said into the stunned silence of the plaza, his voice carrying effortlessly. "It is entirely my own creation. To the inventors out there, bring your minds to R&D, and you can build something just like this. Or better. Dismissed."
Kakashi turned, the back of his cloak the last thing everyone saw as he walked away. The village below was already bustling with new life and opportunity, and all it took was an eccentric Hokage.
Stepping off the balcony, he made his way down into the Hokage office. The room felt large, with the dark wood desk beneath the windows overlooking the village below. Kakashi pulled out the chair and sat down, leaning back slightly as the door clicked shut behind him.
Shizune followed him inside, immediately letting her Transformation Jutsu drop, her posture slumping as she let out a long, heavy sigh, acting like Tsunade was the complete opposite of her personality, and she hadn't enjoyed so many eyes on her.
Shizune looked up, her eyes locked entirely on Kakashi's cloak. Specifically, her gaze was fixed right on the hidden pocket where he had just concealed the dark metal device. The image of the barrel splitting into four segments and piercing the sky with lightning was still fresh in her mind.
She walked closer to the desk, staring down at him with a mixture of sheer disbelief and exhaustion.
"When did you invent that?" Shizune asked, her voice tight as she gestured toward his cloak. "And when did you even have the time to build it? You haven't exactly been the most free man lately, so it must not be a new invention, but one you've had for a while."
Kakashi smirked as he looked through the eyes of one of his clones in his personal Kamui dimension. "I'll have you know that I've worked 9 weeks on that invention… It just took me three days." He chuckled, enjoying how confused and disbelieving she seemed.
- Chapter End -
(Pic of the gun here)