CHAPTER 1

(A/N: Dear gentle readers, this little old me is here to inform you some important things before you started reading this fan-fic. This fan-fic might have some translation done by AI until chapter 18, after that I started doing it on my own, so don't dislike it just like that, give it some more read.

In the start, I will skip some time period so that character can be developed first. As the time period is almost 50 years before canon, so, I don't know too much about it. But don't worry, this fan-fic is not too much fast forward and not too much slow pacing, it's just skipped some unimportant years.

Starting is focused on Konoha and MC, to develop the plot after that it's more focused on development of the village.

Don't give system too much thought, take it as non-existent for now.)

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In the dense forest near Konohagakure, six shadowy figures darted through the trees, their breaths ragged and hearts heavy.

These were the disciples of Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage of Konoha.

For two days they had run without rest, their legs aching and bodies battered, but now, as they neared the village, hope flickered in their hearts.

The towering gates of Konoha were finally within sight.

At the gates, two chunin stood watch, talking quietly. One squinted into the distance, then turned to his companion. 

"What do you think will happen with the peace talks?"

"I don't know," the other replied, his tone edged with unease. "I just hope it goes smoothly. The last thing we need is more war."

Their conversation halted abruptly when they noticed movement—a faint blur at first, but it quickly grew clearer. Both chunin tensed, kunai drawn, their eyes sharp.

"Who's there?" one of them called, his voice steady but cautious.

From the shadows of the trees, six figures staggered into view. Their clothes were torn, faces pale, bodies covered in dirt and blood.

These weren't ordinary travelers; these were Tobirama's disciples, and they were on the brink of collapse.

The guards rushed forward as the group collapsed at the gates, gasping for breath, barely able to stand. Recognition dawned on the guards' faces, horror filling their eyes. 

"What happened to you?" one asked, disbelief and concern intertwining in his voice. The sight of the Hokage's disciples, beaten and broken, was unfathomable.

But before anyone could answer, Sarutobi Hiruzen, one of the group and a prodigy, suddenly dropped to his knees, clutching his head.

His face twisted in agony, a guttural scream escaping his lips.

"Hiruzen!" Kagami Uchiha shouted, rushing to his side.

Hiruzen was trembling violently, as though something within him was tearing him apart. Kagami caught him just before he collapsed to the ground. 

Inside Hiruzen's mind, a tempest raged. Memories not his own surged forward, crashing against his consciousness.

The flood of foreign images and thoughts overwhelmed him, like a thousand voices screaming at once. He felt his very essence being reshaped, molded into something new.

His vision blurred, and for a moment, everything went dark. Sarutobi Hiruzen's consciousness flickered, then vanished, as the soul of a man from another world—Takeshi Hiruzen—merged with his own.

The pain was excruciating, but slowly, it began to fade. Takeshi Hiruzen opened his eyes, his breath shallow, his body heavy.

"Where... where am I?" he murmured, his voice weak, the surroundings unfamiliar.

Kagami, still holding him up, answered, "We're at the village gates, Hiruzen. We made it back to Konoha."

But Hiruzen—no, Takeshi—felt the weight of the reality settle over him like a suffocating blanket.

His eyes scanned Kagami's face, recognizing him not only from the life he now inhabited but from memories of watching this world unfold from afar.

Kagami's dark hair, the serious expression, and most notably, the Sharingan with its three-tomoe pattern—all of it triggered a flood of memories.

"Dammit," Takeshi thought, realization hitting him like a hammer. "I've transmigrated into Konoha."

This world, this life, it was real. The dangers were real. His mind raced, grappling with the enormity of the situation.

Two days ago, Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, had sacrificed himself to save his disciples, falling in battle against the Kinkaku squad.

Now, Hiruzen—or rather Takeshi Hiruzen—was left in a world he once watched from a safe distance, now thrust into its perilous reality.

"I know what's coming," he thought, his jaw tightening. "But knowing and living it are two very different things."

He steadied himself, his mind already forming a plan. **Survival** was paramount.

"I need to secure my position as Hokage first," he thought grimly. "I'll need the support of the Sarutobi, Mitokado, Shimura, Utatane, Uchiha, and Akimichi clans. Danzo... he'll be a problem. I can't let him create Root. And I need power—super-Kage level, or I won't stand a chance in this world."

With resolve hardening in his chest, Takeshi—now Hiruzen—stood with the group and made his way to the Hokage's meeting room. The village elders and top jonin were gathered there, the tension in the room palpable.

As Hiruzen stepped forward, the eyes of the clan leaders—Uchiha, Senju, Nara, Hyuga, and more—fell on him, their expressions a mixture of worry, grief, and anticipation.

Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen began, his voice heavy with emotion. "I have terrible news."

The room fell silent as he continued. "After signing the peace treaty with the Second Raikage, we were ambushed by the Kinkaku squad. The battle turned against us... and Tobirama-sensei... he made the ultimate sacrifice. He stayed behind as a decoy so that we could escape."

Hiruzen's voice cracked, his heart aching as he recalled the moment his teacher had made that fatal decision. "He took down fifty jonin, twenty elite jonin, and two kage-level opponents. But... he didn't survive."

From within his cloak, Hiruzen pulled out a space-seal scroll and activated it.

In a flash, the lifeless body of Tobirama Senju appeared on the table, his form riddled with sword wounds—one piercing his heart, another his stomach, and countless others from the ferocious battle.

A heavy silence gripped the room as everyone stared at their fallen leader.

Tears welled in the eyes of the Senju clan members, and quiet sobs echoed in the room, the grief too raw, too painful to express in words.

Minutes passed before the leader of the Hyuga clan finally spoke, his voice quiet yet firm. "This is a dark time for the village. We must think of the future. Without a Hokage, we are vulnerable. A new leader must be appointed, or our enemies will take advantage of this loss."

His words hung in the air, heavy with truth. The clan leaders began murmuring in agreement, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone.

Kagami Uchiha stepped forward, his eyes unwavering. "Before his death, the Second Hokage appointed Sarutobi Hiruzen as his successor. I ask that you all respect his decision and recognize Hiruzen as the Third Hokage."

The room fell silent again, every gaze now locked on Hiruzen. The weight of their expectations settled on him, a crushing pressure, as he awaited their verdict.

The leader of the Sarutobi clan was the first to stand. "We support the Second Hokage's decision. Hiruzen Sarutobi will be our Third Hokage."

One by one, the clan leaders voiced their support: the Senju, Mitokado, Utatane, Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka clans.

Danzo remained silent, his calculating eyes narrowing, but he offered no opposition. Kagami's leadership prompted the Uchiha to follow suit, as did the Hyuga.

Hiruzen stood at the center of it all, his head slightly bowed, but his eyes sharp, noting every gaze upon him. The weight of the village's future rested squarely on his shoulders now.

And there was no turning back.

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