The Hokage residence.
Early morning.
After finishing his Lightning Style body training, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a hot shower, changed into something comfortable, and sat down to breakfast made by Biwako.
He ate quietly, one onigiri in hand, while his mind kept circling back to the Yin Seal.
He had access to the notes and essentials, of course.
But everyone's body was different. Meridians, chakra production, how much leaked out naturally… none of it matched perfectly from person to person. Other people's experiences could only ever be reference.
Hiruzen lifted his free hand and traced invisible lines in the air, shaping his own version of the Yin Seal piece by piece.
It was already starting to take form.
He wasn't in a rush. The Yin Seal would be with him for life. There was no such thing as being too careful.
You didn't sharpen a blade in the middle of a fight.
But just then, raised voices flared outside.
"I'm here to see my teacher!"
"Come on, I'm not trying to make things hard for you. Your Byakugan can see I'm me!"
"I have something urgent!"
Tsunade.
"Without Hokage-sama's permission, no one is allowed to approach the Hokage residence," Hizashi Hyuga said coolly.
Masked, motionless, he stood directly in Tsunade's path and didn't give an inch.
"If you have official business, please wait at the Hokage Tower for the Third."
Inside, Biwako glanced at Hiruzen.
He returned the look, and she understood immediately.
Biwako opened the door herself.
Behind Tsunade stood Orochimaru and Jiraiya, both wearing the same tired, resigned expression, like men who'd been dragged into trouble against their will.
"Come in," Biwako said. "All of you."
Then she smiled at Tsunade. "Tsunade, still charging in like you own the place. Did you even eat breakfast?"
She nodded to Hizashi. "Thanks for your work."
Hizashi dipped his head slightly. "It's my duty."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed a fraction, approving.
Biwako-sensei really was the perfect partner for their teacher. The way she handled people, the way she held the line without making it ugly, it was flawless.
And what impressed him even more was how deeply Hiruzen had reached into the Hyuga Clan.
With Hizashi standing there like that, Orochimaru was certain it didn't matter who came knocking. "Konoha's princess" or not, Tsunade wasn't getting through. Not even Tenzo Hyuga. Not even, if some miracle happened, a former Hokage brought back from the dead.
If their teacher gave the order, Hizashi wouldn't even blink.
A true lone retainer.
And he'd heard Hiruzen had been meeting with Tenzo Hyuga lately, getting along well. Another batch from the branch house had entered Anbu too…
He needed to learn this. He really did.
"Sorry to cause trouble, Biwako-sensei!" Tsunade said, rubbing her hands together like she couldn't contain herself. "I'm just… I'm too excited. We've made a huge jump. I had to tell him right away…"
Biwako shook her head with a soft laugh and went to make tea.
Tsunade didn't wait.
"Teacher, the research on medical chakra scroll techniques has a major breakthrough!"
"The other day, you told me to talk to Grandma Mito, and you were right. She had amazing ideas, amazing angles…"
"I've found a way to inject medical chakra into an object without it leaking out!"
Then she slammed her real demand onto the table, eyes shining.
"I want to halt production of Sage Land Pill and shift all resources toward the medical scroll project!"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "How big of a breakthrough? Tell me honestly. Don't exaggerate a single bit."
Tsunade froze.
"…Right now, it's only a little," she admitted, and the grin slipped off her face.
Every time Hiruzen shifted into village business, it felt like he became someone else.
Maybe that was why Tobirama Senju had valued him so highly.
The Second Hokage had been the same way with her. Gentle, patient… right up until the moment the village was involved. Then the switch flipped.
"But… but the method is simple!" Tsunade pressed quickly. "The Nara and Akimichi shinobi making Sage Land Pill, I can teach them. I know I can!"
"Or let me pick a few promising ones. This really isn't hard!"
Hiruzen lifted a hand, signaling her to stop.
He already knew where this was going.
Back then, when Tsunade talked about assigning medical-nin to teams, she'd sounded exactly like this too.
Pure ideals. Almost no weight given to reality.
"Alright," Hiruzen said. "I'm going to ask you a few questions."
"The reason some Nara and Akimichi shinobi can specialize in producing Sage Land Pill is because the Administrative Department coordinated with the Land of Fire. They can see clear profit and stable demand."
"That's why they can refuse missions and work full-time."
He leaned forward slightly. "If you move them into research, research costs money. Where does their pay come from?"
Tsunade choked for a moment, then stubbornly blurted, "Then I'll go treat people and earn it!"
"Fine," Hiruzen said, calm. "Let's say you cover that."
"Then what about everything Sage Land Pill profit is currently supporting in the village? How do you replace it?"
He opened his right hand. Each time he named something, he folded down a finger.
"Building a better support system for shinobi."
"Aid for shinobi orphans."
"Research on First Hokage cells."
"Elite advancement for the academy."
"Subsidies for medical scrolls, tools, and other ninjutsu-related development…"
Tsunade's head started spinning.
She was stunned, too.
So this was everything he planned to do for Konoha?
One after another, each of them as big as her medical scroll project.
Teacher… what kind of Konoha are you trying to build?
Hiruzen didn't stop. He kept speaking, and this time, each point made him raise a finger again, like he was listing even more layers stacked on top.
"Further profit through expanded production."
"Calibration and standardization for dedicated medical scrolls."
"After extracting value from the nobles, distributing orders to keep capital moving and strengthen the Land of Fire's overall national power…"
Jiraiya's mouth fell open a little, pure admiration in his eyes.
He wasn't even looking at notes. How was he rattling off all that so smoothly?
Being Hokage was brutal.
"Stop, stop!" Tsunade clutched her head like she'd been hit with a tightening curse band. "I just want the village to be better. I don't want so many comrades to die in the next war…"
Hiruzen chuckled and glanced at Orochimaru, studying him.
The look clearly said: You're not thinking the same way she is, are you?
Orochimaru shook his head hard and lifted both hands in surrender.
He'd been dragged here. That was all.
"Teacher, you know I've always supported you," Orochimaru said immediately, making his stance crystal clear.
He couldn't let Hiruzen misunderstand.
If he got lumped together with Tsunade, that would be a disaster.
"Teacher, why aren't you looking at me?" Jiraiya threw in dramatically. "I got yanked here too! I support you!"
Hiruzen nodded absentmindedly. "Mm."
"Mm? That's it?" Jiraiya looked wounded. "So I don't matter?"
"Mm. You matter, you matter," Hiruzen said, smiling.
"I can't take it, teacher. I'm heartbroken…"
Jiraiya's clowning took the edge off the room, washing the seriousness away.
Hiruzen watched Tsunade for a moment, thoughtful.
Like Mito Uzumaki, Tsunade held a special place in the village. Her status was untouchable in its own way.
If he could use this chance to deepen her trust in him, it mattered.
Otherwise, with her always charging in like this, it would get ugly sooner or later.
"I understand what you want," Hiruzen said. "But everything has to be done step by step. You have to read the situation. Don't chase quick results."
"Kirigakure is busy tearing itself apart. Sunagakure is licking its wounds. Hidden Cloud Village is recovering. As long as we don't move, Iwagakure won't move either. This is a development period for every major village."
He paused, then continued, voice practical.
"But this breakthrough does mean we should adjust our plans. We'll aim to mass-produce medical scrolls within three to five years."
Tsunade's eyes lit up.
That timeline was faster than she'd dared hope.
Turning research into real production was never instant.
If they could hit that speed without derailing the village's other work, it would be a perfect outcome.
Hiruzen closed his eyes, thinking.
Tsunade immediately shot Orochimaru and Jiraiya a warning look.
Not a sound.
Don't you dare interrupt him while he's thinking.
The two of them glared back, equally annoyed.
Only Tsunade would pull something like this.