Summary: Hiruzen reflects on his choice in successor
Notes: Here's chapter 2. I'll be posting a chapter every few days until I'm caught up with AO3.
Hiruzen stands on the balcony of the Hokage tower, looking down at all the assembled citizens of Konoha. Ninja and civilian alike, they all crowd together to see the passing of the torch to the next generation. Shisui-kun stands proudly to his left, head lifted and wearing the whole traditional outfit. The robe is too short for him and looks strange on an Uchiha, but Shisui-kun's confidence and charisma are more than able to compensate. Even still, Hiruzen knows his mentor and friend, Tobirama, would be rolling in his grave if he knew Hiruzen had passed the position onto an Uchiha. Somehow, he can't find it in himself to care. He, Tobirama and all of the older ninja have had their chance. It's time for the next generation to take over and fix the mistakes of their predecessors.
Traditionally, the new Hokage is introduced with his family behind him as a sign of solidarity. Since Shisui-kun is an orphan and an only child, Uchiha Fugaku takes that place of honor. He and his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi, flank Shisui, almost possessively. Hiruzen notes with some amusement that, despite that, Shisui-kun has done all he can to distance himself from Uchiha Fugaku at least. When the man reaches out to grab his shoulder, Shisui steps forward and leans over the railing to wave at the crowd, waiting for them to quiet down enough for him to speak.
Shisui has practiced his speech many times in front of Hiruzen, so he is perhaps not as interested as the rest to hear what the new Hokage will have to say. Still, he stands respectfully behind Shisui, smiling at the village and listening to the ebb and flow of the new Hokage's words. He thinks of the past month and all the ways both Shisui and he have changed in such a brief span of time. It passed both too slowly and far too fast.
Hiruzen Sarutobi is very old. He was too old to govern when he handed the reigns over to young Minato and he's far too old now, nearly a decade later. The fact that all of this is happening because the Uchiha forced his hand never bothered him. He had been planning for years to retire for good. He was just waiting for those most worthy of the hat to grow up a bit. Since Minato died, Hiruzen has seen himself as more of a placeholder than Hokage. With Shisui about to take the hat, he's happier than he's been in years. Shisui hasn't even officially taken office yet and Hiruzen already feels like a younger man.
Before this year, Hiruzen had not paid particular attention to the boy. He had known Shisui was one of the ten or so most talented ninja in the village and had heard many of his peers praise his dedication and skill, but he wouldn't have said he'd known him. Not like he had known Minato-kun. Not how he knew Kakashi-kun, Naruto-kun or even Gai-kun.
But for all that, he knows Shisui will make a great leader. From the moment he set eyes on him, Hiruzen has known that Shisui-kun will become the best Hokage Konoha has ever seen. He has the intelligence, the compassion and the charisma to be great, all he needs is the opportunity to use it.
The boy takes to the duties like a fish to water, reading, memorizing, understanding almost before the words are even out of Hiruzen's mouth. Shisui-kun is the only student he has ever had to rival Orochimaru in pure thirst for knowledge and ability to comprehend. But unlike Orochimaru, Shisui doesn't shut himself out from others. He has an openness and charm about him that is unusual in shinobi. Despite his years in ANBU, Shisui has never forgotten what it is to be human. And this, above all else, is why Hiruzen picked him.
Shisui spends each day at the tower both learning his new role and showing everyone who he really is. He flirts shamelessly with Midori-chan, brings in pastries or fruit for the analysts and lends a hand or ear wherever he's needed. Just taking care of some of the paperwork would have been enough to win Hiruzen's eternal gratitude, but Shisui does so much more. It takes less than a week before he's managed to win over nearly all the tower staff.
And, from the look of the crowd, it won't take much longer to win the village. The civilians stare up in awe at their new leader, eager to embrace the energy and change he represents. Even shinobi are taken in by his words of optimism and enthusiasm. Hiruzen can only hope that optimism lasts long enough for them to see what Shisui-kun can truly do.
As Shisui continues to talk, touching on plans for better integration of all the clans, more oversight in the academy and improving lines of communication, Hiruzen scans the crowd. He notes the presence of several members of Danzo's ROOT, though the man himself is not here. It saddens Hiruzen how distant he has grown from his trusted friend and ally. He can recall when life was simpler and they worked in perfect concert. Now he had trouble getting mission reports from the men and women under Danzo's command. Kakashi-kun is here though, watching the ceremony from the roof of a nearby building. While he has his book out, even from here Hiruzen can tell Shisui has his full attention.
Shisui seems larger than life, even to Sarutobi, as he drinks in the attention of the crowd. He is a born showman and clearly in his element. Shisui pauses in his speech as the cheers from the crowd grow too loud to talk over. After a moment though, he gestures for the crowd to calm down. And, much to Hiruzen's shock, they do. Shisui thanks them and tells them that they are what make Konoha great. It's not the buildings or the jutsu or the leaders; it's the common people, civilian and ninja alike, who choose everyday to help each other and to keep the will of fire alive in their hearts. As trite and cliché as the line is, it sounds sincere and Shisui has no trouble rallying the crowd behind him.
This time he allows them to grow silent on their own, waiting for a natural lull in the cheering. He hops onto the railing, using chakra to stay balanced and bows to the crowd. "I," he says, "am Shunshin no Shisui, and I am honored to be your new Hokage." Cheers erupt around him as he lightly jumps down to mingle with the crowd, and within moments he is almost out of sight, completely surrounded by his people. Hiruzen notes with amusement the tense postures of the ANBU guards posted all around the gathering. They will likely have a far more trying task with this new Hokage than they ever had with him.
Shisui-kun did admirably for his first day in office. The village loves him and after his display of friendship, it will take quite a lot to sway most of them. Only Uchiha Fugaku seems upset. He was one of the few who seems to have noticed Shisui's omission. Shisui did not introduce himself as Uchiha Shisui, loyal Uchiha branch member and puppet of the Uchiha clan. He used his monicker, Shisui of the Body Flicker. And with that one statement, he set the tone of all future dealings with his clan. Hiruzen can only hope Shisui knows what dangerous game he's playing.