Chapter 54 (Patreon)

Before anyone realized it, a month had passed.

A month was enough time for many things to change.

After the Konoha Crush, the village’s strength had gradually begun to recover. The buildings destroyed in the battle were quickly repaired through the combined efforts of the villagers, and the streets slowly regained their former liveliness.

The sounds of daily life returned.

Shops opened their doors. Vendors called out from their stalls. Children ran through the streets again.

However, the spirit of the village had not fully recovered.

Konoha still lacked a pillar—someone who could bring the villagers a sense of safety and guide them forward.

September 12th, morning.

Today, the atmosphere in the village was warmer than it had been in a long time.

Walking through the streets, smiling faces could be seen everywhere.

Customers chatting with shopkeepers, women buying vegetables in the market, acquaintances greeting one another on the roadside… From every direction, words like “Princess Tsunade,” “the granddaughter of the First Hokage,” “Tsunade-sama,” and “one of the Legendary Sannin” could be heard.

Even Team 8, which had been apart for a month, had been specially summoned by Kurenai Yuhi a few days earlier.

Because of that, Hinata came to the dojo very early today, bringing Hanabi with her.

“Mihawk-kun, this is for you.”

When she arrived at the dojo, Hinata handed Nerona Mihawk a white outfit packed neatly inside a clear bag.

Mihawk accepted it and opened the bag. When he saw the top inside, with the kanji for fire embroidered on the back in red thread, a faint smile appeared on his face.

“Thank you, Hinata.”

“Mihawk-nii-san…”

Hanabi immediately threw herself into Mihawk’s arms. She grabbed his clothes with both hands, lifted her little face, and smiled brightly.

“That fire character was embroidered by Onee-sama herself. She also said winter is coming soon, so she wants to knit a scarf for Mihawk-nii-san.”

“……Hanabi!”

Hinata’s face instantly turned bright red after her thoughts were exposed so directly. Steam almost seemed to rise from her head.

Mihawk raised his hand and gently rubbed Hanabi’s long hair. Then he looked at Hinata and smiled.

“Then I’ll be looking forward to it, Hinata.”

“……Mm.”

Hinata lowered her head, her reply as soft as a mosquito’s cry.

Holding Hanabi with one arm, Mihawk carried the clothes and walked out of the dojo hall, asking casually, “How long until the Fifth Hokage’s inauguration ceremony?”

“There are about two hours left,” Hinata answered from behind him.

That was right.

Today was the inauguration ceremony of the Fifth Hokage.

A few days ago, Kurenai had gathered Team 8 and informed them of the news.

This outfit was the ceremonial clothing they were supposed to wear.

At the moment, Hinata and Hanabi were also wearing white tops with the kanji for fire embroidered on the back.

After bringing Hinata and Hanabi to the room, Mihawk took off his kimono and prepared to shower in the bathroom.

“Mihawk-nii-san, do you want Onee-sama to go in and help scrub your back?” Hanabi covered her lips and giggled mischievously. “Or I can do it too.”

“Hanabi…”

Hinata’s face turned red all over again. She immediately reached out, about to catch Hanabi and teach her a lesson.

But Hanabi seemed to have expected it already. She hid behind Mihawk ahead of time, poked her head out, and made a face at Hinata.

Looking at Hanabi, whose face resembled Hinata’s yet whose personality was lively and mischievous, Mihawk gently pinched her cheek and smiled.

“No need. Stay here with your sister. Once the Hokage inauguration ceremony is over, we’ll begin today’s training.”

“Mm-hm!”

Hanabi narrowed her eyes, clearly enjoying Mihawk’s gentle gesture.

Over the past month, Mihawk’s strength had not changed much.

However, a little admirer had appeared in his life.

After Hanabi learned the basics of tree climbing and water walking, Mihawk began using her as part of his water-surface training. Hanabi would stand on the water and attack his tenketsu with the Gentle Fist.

Every strike she threw used all her strength.

Even so, she could not injure him in the slightest. She could not even make him break a sweat.

Even Hinata’s Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, a high-level Gentle Fist technique of the Hyuga clan, could not force him to take a single step back.

That overwhelming strength made Hanabi admire him completely.

The relationship between the two of them also grew closer and closer. From the initial distance between an idol and a young admirer, it gradually became something more like the closeness between siblings.

Mihawk also spoiled Hanabi quite a bit.

Because of that, before anyone noticed, Hanabi had become bold enough to say anything to him. Each time, her words became more daring than the last, embarrassing Hinata so badly that she had nearly fainted several times.

The last time Hinata actually fainted, Mihawk had been the one who calmly carried her back.

But that aside—

Mihawk entered the bathroom, took a cold shower, and changed into the white top and slacks Hinata had brought for him.

When he came out, he sat in front of the dresser and let Hinata and Hanabi help dry his hair.

Looking into the mirror, he saw the sisters on his left and right—one holding the hair dryer, the other holding a comb.

Mihawk’s smile became exceptionally gentle.

Although he had never truly felt a sense of belonging to this village, after discovering that killing could grant him experience, the reason he had not become a rogue ninja was because of Hinata.

If he had not known Hinata since childhood, then the moment he learned killing people could grant experience, Mihawk knew exactly what path he would have chosen.

He would have betrayed Konoha, revealed his strength to the Akatsuki, and joined Uchiha Obito’s side.

If he made the entire shinobi world his enemy, then during the Fourth Shinobi World War, every ninja would become his enemy.

And all of them would become the experience he needed.

Especially after he understood that his own swordsmanship was a path built for killing, the possibility of Mihawk falling into darkness had been extremely high.

But Hinata had stayed by his side.

His lonely heart had been filled by Hinata’s presence.

And now, there was also the lively, adorable Hanabi.

He wanted to protect this precious feeling.

Even if his template progress slowed down because of it, that did not matter.

After his hair was dried, Mihawk tied it into a single ponytail with a hair tie, then left the house together with the Hyuga sisters.

When they arrived at the wide plaza beneath the Hokage Tower, it was already packed with people.

Men and women, young and old, were all wearing white tops with the kanji for fire embroidered on the back.

The arrival of Mihawk and the two sisters drew the attention of many people.

Countless gazes fell on Mihawk.

Some were filled with respect.

Some were burning with excitement.

Some carried deep awe.

The owners of those eyes were all shinobi who had witnessed Mihawk’s strength and his merciless way of cutting down enemies.

Without anyone realizing it, Mihawk had gone from an unknown genin to a name many people in Konoha now recognized.

Not long after, Shino and Kurenai came over and greeted Mihawk and Hinata.

Beside Kurenai were Kakashi and Asuma.

With strength that had already reached the threshold of the Kage level, Mihawk could no longer be treated as an ordinary genin.

More than an hour later—

On the rooftop of the Hokage Building, a graceful figure finally appeared.

Long golden hair.

A beautiful face that did not match her true age.

A ceremonial Hokage robe draped over her shoulders, and the Hokage hat held in her hand.

The inauguration ceremony of the Fifth Hokage officially began.