Hui's arrival sent the atmosphere into a frenzy.
He was the one who ended the old era and ushered in the new one, the Greatest leader of the entire world and a god in the hearts of countless people.
Everyone who had come to Konoha longed to catch a glimpse of him.
It wasn't just the visitors. Even those who had lived in Konoha for years found themselves overwhelmed with excitement at the sight of Hui.
His reputation in this world had already surpassed the limits of imagination.
Listening to the endless chants of "God," Hui's lips curled into a faint smile.
He stepped onto the platform reserved for the leader, his gaze sweeping over the vast sea of people below. With a slight nod, two massive water screens appeared in the sky, displaying his image.
Now, nearly everyone in Konoha could see him clearly.
Then his voice rang out, calm yet powerful, echoing throughout the village.
"Today is a very special day, the 40th anniversary of the founding of Konoha Ninja Village.
"Forty years ago, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and the village's co-founder, Uchiha Madara, established Konoha here.
"It was a turning point in history.
"This marked the first time the world saw the concept of a unified ninja village.
"It signaled the end of the Warring States Era and the beginning of the Ninja Village Era.
"This was a historic moment, a new era brought forth by two great ninjas."
Hui's voice reverberated across the village. It wasn't loud, but everyone could hear him clearly.
His words silenced the crowd as everyone focused intently on what he was saying.
Meanwhile, atop the cliff where the Hokage faces were carved, a long-haired ninja dressed in black stood silently.
He gazed into the distance, listening to Hui's speech, his eyes reflecting a hint of nostalgia.
It was as though he could see the figure of his closest friend in the faraway sky.
"Hashirama, the era we created together is coming to an end. But the new era will surely surpass what we built."
This was Madara. He and Kaguya had not attended the grand ceremony.
Kaguya simply wasn't interested, while Madara was weighed down by complex emotions.
And so, Madara had come to this quiet place, murmuring to himself.
Even though he was usually a man of grand ambition, he couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy at this moment.
After all, the Ninja Village Era was something he and Hashirama had built together.
The name "Konoha" was also a decision he and Hashirama had made together.
Although they had later fallen out and he had left Konoha, after uncovering the truth about Black Zetsu and resolving the misunderstanding, his feelings for both the era and the village had resurfaced.
Now, watching the era they created come to a definitive close and even seeing the village they built about to be renamed, how could he not feel a sense of loss?
But it was only a fleeting sadness.
For while the Ninja Village Era held deep personal meaning for Madara, what he looked forward to even more was this new era, the Era of Great Unification.
Compared to the name "Konoha," which carried such complex emotions, he preferred the new name: Hidden Sage Village.
This name symbolized the entire world and the beautiful future awaiting all its people.
It was a name that represented the world Madara had always envisioned.
"The Ōtsutsuki clan… hmph!"
However, the world still faced great threats. Out in the universe, a powerful clan could descend at any moment.
"No one will destroy this future!"
Madara spoke with determination. This was the world he was now committed to protecting.
Meanwhile, below, Hui's speech continued.
"And now, forty years have passed in the blink of an eye.
"Today, the world is no longer divided into villages. The Ninja Village Era has come to an end.
"No longer will people define themselves by their villages or be separated into distinct groups.
"No longer will there be wars between villages. People will not need to slaughter one another.
"Everyone can live in peace.
"The entire world will develop together, progress together, and march hand in hand toward a brighter future.
"Because the era we live in now belongs to all of us, the Era of Great Unification!"
As Hui's words echoed, the crowd erupted with emotion.
A world without war, where everyone was united. What a beautiful vision!
It was something they had never dared to imagine in the past.
But now, they were living in it.
And it was all thanks to the man before them, the one who ended the old era and created this new one.
"Now, I hereby declare that from this day forward, the world we live in shall officially be named the Hidden Sage World!
"And the nation we all belong to will be officially called the Nation of Shinobi Sages!"
Hui's powerful voice rang out, and in an instant, the entire village of Konoha erupted into cheers once again.
"Hidden Sage! Hidden Sage! Hidden Sage!!!"
The crowd roared, chanting the new name in unison. In that moment, it no longer mattered if someone was a lifelong resident of Konoha or a visitor who had come from afar, they were all united, seamlessly merged into a single whole.
In this moment, they truly were one. They belonged to the same world, the same nation.
"At the same time, I also declare that Konoha Ninja Village shall officially be renamed…" Hui paused for a moment, allowing the suspense to build, "… Hidden Sage Village!
"The Hidden Sage Village will serve as the heart of the Hidden Sage World, the capital of the Nation of Shinobi Sages, and the model for the future of life across the world!"
As soon as Hui announced the renaming, a new wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.
People were ecstatic, especially those who had traveled from all corners of the world.
Moments earlier, Hui had stated that the Hidden Sage Village represented what life would look like for people everywhere in the future.
This filled them with both longing and hope.
Many had come to Konoha not intending to settle there. After all, leaving one's homeland is never easy, most people still harbored deep attachments to the places they had lived their entire lives.
For these individuals, the Hidden Sage Village was a place they could only admire from a distance.
But now, they had learned something extraordinary.
The future of their own homelands would one day mirror the beauty and prosperity of the Hidden Sage Village!
How could they not be thrilled?
"In the future, I hope that every place in this world can become like the Hidden Sage Village.
"Not just in its appearance, but in its essence.
"Not just in its buildings, but in its people.
"I hope that everyone in the world can become like the people of the Hidden Sage Village, confident, just, intelligent, free, and full of individuality.
"Such a world is the future I envision.
"But to build such a world, we must not only change the world around us, we must also change ourselves.
"I believe that everyone is willing to make these changes, to become the most vital part of a better future.
"When that day comes, this world will be one that is prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious, free, equal, just, lawful, patriotic, self-reliant, honest, and friendly.
"As your leader, the leader of the world, the First Sage of the Hidden Sage World, I, Mochizuki Hui, solemnly promise that I will dedicate my future to realizing these aspirations!"
Hui's speech subtly began to reshape the thoughts of those listening.
Changing the mindset of an entire world might seem unimaginable, but in this case, it was far from impossible.
After all, though the Hidden Sage World was vast, it was relatively small compared to the universe.
The landmass of this world was no larger than that of a single nation in Hui's past life, and perhaps even smaller.
Most importantly, the Hidden Sage World was destined to expand into the cosmos. Compared to the universe, the Hidden Sage World was but a tiny speck.
In the future, the territories under Hui's rule might not just encompass planets but entire star systems.
The number of people, or even other intelligent lifeforms, he would have to lead would be immeasurable.
Compared to influencing the thoughts of such vast numbers, transforming the mindset of everyone in the Hidden Sage World was a manageable challenge.
"Now, let the first year of the Hidden Sage Village begin!
"Celebrate with all your hearts!
"Today marks the dawn of a new era, and the future is drawing near.
"Rejoice in this moment of joy, and use your happiness to welcome the birth of the Hidden Sage Village!"
With these final words, Hui concluded his speech.
As his voice faded, the air above the Hidden Sage Village was filled with the resounding cheers of the people.
This historic day would forever be recorded in the annals of history.
In the 40th year since the founding of Konoha, the legendary village created by Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara officially stepped out of the spotlight.
The era of the Hidden Sage Village had begun.
This year would henceforth be known as Year One of the Era of Great Unification or simply The era of Hidden sages.
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