Hiruzen didn't begin immediately.
He leaned back in his chair, pipe resting between his fingers, eyes steady on Ken.
"What I'm about to tell you," he said calmly, "is not a solution. It's a direction."
Ken straightened.
"How far you go," Hiruzen continued, "is up to you."
Ken nodded. "I understand, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen accepted that answer and continued.
"As you know, chakra is formed from two sources," he said. "Physical energy and spiritual energy. The body provides one. The mind and will provide the other. Balance is required to create chakra."
He paused briefly.
"Generally, at their peak, a shinobi has more spiritual energy than physical. Therefore, when trying to increase chakra capacity, we focus on increasing physical energy. It's the most direct and simple way."
Ken listened carefully.
"There are three common paths," Hiruzen said. "None of them are easy."
He raised one finger.
"The first is physical reinforcement. Extreme conditioning, specialized nutrition, and medicinal baths designed to strengthen the body itself. This is the most direct method."
His gaze sharpened.
"Major clans begin this in childhood. Their bodies are conditioned early to endure the strain. Attempting the same methods later in life usually results in injury."
Ken absorbed that in silence.
Hiruzen raised a second finger.
"The second path is through summoning contracts. Certain summoning clans possess techniques that gradually expand chakra reserves. Mount Myōboku is the most well-known example. That is how Jiraiya increased his capacity."
Ken's expression tightened slightly.
Hiruzen noticed, but continued.
"The third path is through the formation of a bloodline limit."
Ken's face fell.
How the heck was he supposed to create a bloodline limit with a single earth nature?
Hiruzen studied him for a moment, then reached for a sheet of paper.
"This," he said, writing quickly, "is your chance."
He slid the paper across the desk.
"It's a standard body-strengthening medicinal bath," Hiruzen continued. "Used in ANBU training programs in diluted form. What I've done is increase its potency."
Ken picked it up carefully.
"That makes it effective," Hiruzen said, "but also far more painful. The body is forced to adapt instead of being guided gently."
He met Ken's eyes.
"This will increase your physical energy over time, and with it, your chakra. Slowly. Steadily."
Hiruzen's tone remained firm.
"But understand this. It has a ceiling. This will not turn you into a Senju or an Uchiha. At best, it will push you into the range of an elite jōnin."
Ken nodded.
He stood and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen waved a hand lightly.
"Don't thank me yet," he said with a faint smile. "Finding the ingredients, preparing the bath correctly, and enduring the pain…"
His eyes held Ken's.
"That part is entirely up to you."
Ken straightened, the formula clenched firmly in his hand.
Outside the Hokage Tower, the noise of the village washed over him, loud and alive, but it barely registered. His hand tightened around the paper as he stared at the ground.
Elite jōnin at best.
"Am I really going to remain a mob," Ken thought with a bitter smile, "just like in my previous life?"
For a moment, his mind wandered back to those blurry days.
WHACK!
Ken slapped himself hard.
"What am I doing?" he muttered. "Getting depressed over this shit."
It's not like there aren't options.
I can become a jinchūriki. Hell, even sealing a small portion of bijū chakra works in fanfics.
Then there was Ramarayaku… or something from a Naruto movie. It shouldn't have been sealed yet, right? Even if it is, I'll break the damn seal. I'm not fucking returning to those boring days.
Calm down… calm down…
For now, I need to focus on fuinjutsu. Man, I should've just asked the damn geezer. I wasted the chance trying to play smart.
Fuck… relax… just relax.
"Huh… for now…" He looked at the formula and turned toward the market.