In Naruto with the Flame-Flame Fruit-Chapter 489: The Inauguration Ceremony

Winter passed and spring arrived. In the blink of an eye, it was already the day of Naruto’s Hokage inauguration ceremony.

Everyone wore white ceremonial robes to show their respect as they gathered below the Hokage Building.

Because of their special status, Terumī Mei went straight up to the rooftop of the Hokage Building. In just a blink, Shinichi had already reached the age where he could enroll in the Academy—and he was about to graduate too. Mostly because his talent was exceptional. Originally, Yuka wanted to apply for early graduation, but Kiyosuke refused.

Children should enjoy their childhood properly. Back then, he followed Orochimaru everywhere learning things, and never had a real childhood. So Yuka could only wait for graduation.

By the way, Kakashi’s two kids and Itachi’s child were just like Yuka—eligible to apply for early graduation. But they were stopped as well.

All that could be said was that their children had inherited their talent perfectly.

"Why isn’t Naruto here at this hour? Shikamaru, how much did you guys drink with him last night?" Kiyosuke turned to Shikamaru, whose beard and expression made him look almost identical to his father, Shikaku.

Shikamaru said, "Last night was a celebration. Naruto’s becoming Hokage, after all. So we got a little carried away and he drank a few extra cups."

"A few cups?"

"Fine, we carried him home."

"You guys..." Kiyosuke covered his face. "Drinking on such an important day... It’s not like you don’t know Naruto’s habits. He’s probably not waking up anytime soon."

"Come on, Hinata’s there, right?" Obito said. "If Hinata is with him, Naruto definitely won’t be late."

"Naruto’s no different from you. Oh—Hinata’s here."

"Kiyosuke-sensei!" Hinata, now sporting short hair, arrived with the Hokage robe Naruto was supposed to wear. "Sorry for keeping everyone waiting."

Kakashi asked, "Hinata, where’s Naruto? We’re almost out of time."

"Huh? My husband hasn’t arrived yet?"

Everyone exchanged confused looks. Hinata quickly handed the Hokage robe to Kiyosuke.

"Kiyosuke-sensei, please look after this. I’ll go check."

She hurried off.

"Can’t deal with that kid..." Kiyosuke sighed and shook his head. He unfolded the Hokage robe and said, "Wow, this thing is ugly. Kakashi, yours looks way better."

Kakashi’s ceremonial robe had required quite some effort. It resembled that of the First and Third Hokage—simple but dignified. Naruto’s cloak, though... really wasn’t good. It only covered half the body, ending around the waist.

"Is this what you call cutting corners?"

"She’s old at this point. Be nice," Kakashi said. He still remembered when he became Hokage: they ran out of time, the ’Six’ for Sixth Hokage wasn’t even carved yet, so they stitched on a makeshift one before reworking it later.

He remembered Kiyosuke and Obito holding back laughter behind his back.

"How old is that granny anyway? It’s already the Seventh Hokage, and she’s still alive. Meanwhile the Third was so old he could barely hear anything people said." Kiyosuke complained.

Konohamaru, now a full-fledged elite jōnin, said,

"Grandpa’s been doing okay these past few years. He even sparred with Mirai yesterday... but pulled his back. Grandma scolded him hard."

Why didn’t she scold Sarutobi Mirai?

Because the Sarutobi clan has tons of boys and very few girls. How could she scold one?

"Time’s almost up." Kakashi checked the time again. "What is Naruto doing? There’s no way he’ll make it."

"Well, if that’s the case, then there’s no choice."

Shikamaru was getting anxious. Kiyosuke thought for a moment, then looked at Konohamaru.

Kakashi and Shikamaru also turned their heads toward him.

"Konohamaru... we’re counting on you."

Kiyosuke patted his shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Mhm. It’s decided. Konohamaru!" Kakashi said. "You’ll pose as Naruto and perform the ceremony in his place."

"Huh!?"

"No way, I can’t! This is Naruto’s Hokage ceremony! I can’t—how could I possibly!?" Konohamaru waved his hands frantically.

"You can and you will. Naruto probably got held up by something. You wouldn’t want his reputation damaged because he was late, right?" Kiyosuke said, half-coaxing, half-threatening. "I watched you grow up. So—do your best, Konohamaru!"

"Y-yes, yes!!"

Faced with three people pressuring him, Konohamaru could only agree, using Transformation Technique to become Naruto.

Kakashi gave Kiyosuke a nod. "Let’s begin." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Right."

Kiyosuke flicked his fingers, igniting the fuse of the fireworks. Bursts of color exploded in the sky, drawing everyone’s attention below.

Kakashi, wearing his Hokage hat, stepped forward. He appeared before the crowd and said:

"The Seventh Hokage inauguration ceremony now begins! I, the Sixth Hokage Hatake Kakashi, will be hosting today. Thank you for your support."

Thunderous applause erupted from below. Kakashi sighed quietly and stepped aside. Shikamaru nodded. Kakashi continued:

"Now then—please welcome him to the stage!"

"The hero who ended the Great War! The man about to become the Seventh Hokage! The one everyone knows—Uzumaki Naruto!"

Konohamaru-as-Naruto stepped forward, wearing the cloak. He forced a nervous smile, terrified of making a mistake.

"Th-thank you... thank you, everyone!"

He stiffly waved, took the Hokage cloak from Kakashi, put it on, and quickly stepped down.

"So what is Naruto doing? Let’s go check." Kiyosuke and Shikamaru left the building and headed to Naruto’s house.

They knocked. Hinata opened the door, looking apologetic.

"Kiyosuke-sensei, Shikamaru... Naruto can’t attend the ceremony. I’m really sorry."

"It’s fine. Konohamaru covered for him. But seriously, where’s that kid? He spends his whole life talking about becoming Hokage, and then skips the most important day? I’m going to find him."

When they entered, they found Naruto collapsed on the sofa—completely limp, like he’d been beaten senseless.

"What the—what happened to him?"

"Someone struck his chakra point. He can’t move at all today," Hinata said helplessly.

Kiyosuke slapped Naruto’s cheek a few times—no reaction.

"You don’t have Byakugan at home... Don’t tell me Boruto or Himawari awakened it?"

"It’s possible, but with Naruto’s strength it shouldn’t be that easy..."

"Maybe. But this kid getting ambushed in his own home... that luck of his. He’s going to be busy once he becomes Hokage."

"That’s true."

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