Hokage Building.
Sarutobi Hiruzen held a notebook of forbidden techniques left by Senju Tobirama, reading it with relish.
He understood more and more why he used to revere this teacher so much, and why every hidden village was extremely apprehensive about him...
Senju Tobirama was indeed a super genius!
Impure World Reincarnation, Flying Thunder God Technique, Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, Soul Confinement Technique...
Each of these forbidden techniques concerning souls and space was conceived with extreme ingenuity.
There was both unconstrained thinking and a grounded structure.
This was a true all-rounder, not only possessing all seven chakra natures but also mastering sealing techniques.
His conventional combat methods were also impressive, playing tricks with the nature and shape transformation of Water Release.
"What a waste of heavenly gifts. How could such good things be shelved?" Sarutobi Hiruzen complained about himself, mobilizing chakra and pondering the tricks within.
He also had a little bit of talent.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen mainly focused on 'learning' in the past and hadn't developed many pioneering ninjutsu.
But starting research now wasn't too late!
"The material for Impure World Reincarnation is indeed a big problem. The ethics involved don't really matter..."
Soul and body are a complementary pair; imbalance between the two will definitely cause problems.
Moreover, the impure body can hardly be called a physical body.
"The conversion rate is also not ideal, but this technique must be perfected. It can serve as the village's trump card."
According to Senju Tobirama's experimental data.
In the current version of Impure World Reincarnation, an impure body reincarnated using an average Jōnin as material can only exert a chakra limit at the Chūnin level.
No wonder it could only be used as a human bomb, a fuse for Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags.
But there was obviously room for improvement. Senju Tobirama had proposed some ideas, but hadn't had time to verify them...
"You are really covered in treasures, Teacher..."
"I miss you more and more." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up at the Second's portrait on the office wall and laughed.
When he went to get this batch of forbidden technique notes, he also checked the records of forbidden technique applications in the village.
Orochimaru's name appeared frequently.
He had applied to borrow all the classics that might involve the Second's forbidden techniques in a roundabout way.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had refused many times before.
After reading through the classics Orochimaru had applied for himself, Sarutobi Hiruzen filtered out the cross-content within these books.
Soul.
Although not necessarily one hundred percent, there was a high probability that Orochimaru had a great interest in 'souls'.
"This brat is quite in sync with me..." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled.
Once there were preliminary results in the 'pill' research, Lord Hokage decided to add some burden to Orochimaru.
If you want to be Hokage, you have to work...
And this period also happened to allow Sarutobi Hiruzen to deeply understand these ninjutsu.
Trusting Orochimaru was one thing.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen was confident in establishing a relationship of 'teacher, father, and friend' with Orochimaru, he couldn't just be a Party A who only threw money and assigned work...
He had to have professional knowledge. Being like Danzō who only knew how to urge progress would be looked down upon by researchers...
He believed that soon, Orochimaru would actively come to ask him.
After all, there was no estrangement between the two now.
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock on the door sounded.
Hatake Sakumo and Namikaze Minato walked in.
"Lord Hokage! Lord Third!"
"Here? Don't stand, sit down..." Sarutobi Hiruzen put away the notebook in his hand, kindly let them sit down, and threw the apples on the table to the two of them:
"Biwako insisted I bring them. Help me eliminate these enemies."
Hatake Sakumo smiled, caught it cleanly: "Thank you, Lord Third. Just haven't had breakfast yet..."
Namikaze Minato was a bit stunned. Although his psychological quality was excellent, this was his first time having private, small-scale contact with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Is the Hokage so approachable?
"Sakumo, are you used to working in the position of Vice-Captain?" Sarutobi Hiruzen also picked up an apple and ate with them.
"The matter you frequently mentioned before is indeed a problem, and attention must be paid to it in the future." Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a chuckle:
"You interface directly with me. I'll add more burden to you in the future. Do you have confidence?"
Hatake Sakumo blinked. Their eyes met, and he quickly understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's meaning.
This referred to his previous report on the abnormal development of Root...
Now, Root had been cut and merged into the Anbu.
Shimura Danzō had also become a Vice-Captain of the same rank as him.
"Lord Hokage, leave it to me!" Hatake Sakumo's tone was calm but revealed a kind of firmness.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction.
Hatake Sakumo, who came from a samurai background, was like a loyal sharp blade, worthy of his trust.
And this also concerned the future handling of Shimura Danzō.
If he performed well enough in the Cloud Village incident, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't mind letting Shimura Danzō be the Anbu Captain, but his personnel rights had to be taken back.
The appointment of the Anbu Vice-Captain, squad leaders, and even team leaders, as well as the composition of team members, all required him, the Hokage, to intervene.
After all, he was an assistant and had to hold a substantial position.
And if Danzō's ability was used in the right place, he could still do some things.
It just needed restrictions so he couldn't build an independent kingdom.
"Sakumo, regarding the village's security defense, I have an idea."
Sarutobi Hiruzen handed him a document: "Combine Inuzuka, Aburame, and Hyūga, plus Uchiha, to construct a diversified defense line."
Inuzuka's sense of smell, Aburame's bugs, Hyūga's X-ray vision...
And the Uchiha's red eyes.
Combining many factors, it would be difficult for the enemy to infiltrate again.
Hatake Sakumo pondered for a while: "Lord Hokage, this proposal is good, but can the village's fiscal revenue bear it?"
It wasn't that no one had mentioned this idea before, but they were all trapped by the issue of 'money'.
Although a hidden village is a military group with certain compulsions, without the basic resource of 'money', any system is difficult to sustain...
The village's income consists of appropriations from the Daimyō and a percentage of mission remunerations.
Adding these security squads would increase expenditures significantly.
Like the Uchiha Clan...
Every year, Konohagakure had to allocate a large amount of funds to the Police Force...
After all, targeting is one thing, but you can't trap people in the village and not let them eat their fill, right?
If that happened, rebellion would truly be justified.
"Don't worry about money, Sakumo..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed: "I have decided to donate a part of my property to the village. Burdening a patrol squad of a dozen people for a few years is still easy."
"Subsequently, there will be special funds. I, the Hokage, will find a way."
"The urgent task is to ensure the safety of the villagers. It absolutely cannot be delayed!"
Hearing this, Hatake Sakumo's eyes widened rarely: "This... won't this affect your life?"
"Of course it will affect it. With good security, I can handle government affairs with peace of mind..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen responded naturally: "What do you think?"
Namikaze Minato had been listening quietly. He didn't know why he was called here today.
Hearing this sentence, he also looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with a trace of reverence.
"Don't worry about me. What does a Hokage need money for?"
"Leaving a little for Asuma and Shinnosuke to marry wives is enough."
'Money' indeed meant little to Sarutobi Hiruzen; what he needed was for the village to improve...
Needless to say, Hatake Sakumo was being cultivated as a confidant.
And for Namikaze Minato, the little hero who rescued Kushina, a genius who could defeat a squad of elite Cloud ninja at this age...
Moreover, he was his grand-disciple.
Naturally, he had a very good impression.
To win the hearts of geniuses, the best way is to establish a good relationship with them as they grow up.
"Kid, do you know what to call me?" Sarutobi Hiruzen teased Namikaze Minato.
"Of course, Lord Third..."
Namikaze Minato suddenly understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's meaning, changing the address on his lips: "Grandmaster!"
"Eh, quite sweet-mouthed..." Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed:
"The matter with you and Kushina, very good! That brat Jiraiya is sometimes a bit flighty. If there are things about cultivation and life that can't be handled, you can come directly to me, your Grandmaster."
Namikaze Minato nodded obediently: "Thank you, Grandmaster!"
Beside them, Hatake Sakumo's eyebrows twitched.
This kid looked airheaded, but his brain was quite sharp.
Seems like the same kind, this blondie...
"Choose ninja with outstanding sensory ninjutsu, relatively average combat ability, and a preference for stability... For security work, don't force those ninja with composite abilities to join. Wasting talent is not beautiful."
Sarutobi Hiruzen instructed Hatake Sakumo: "The establishment is about twenty people. It must conform to the Anbu rotation system. Everything starts from practical effects."
Hatake Sakumo nodded extremely solemnly: "Lord Hokage, please rest assured!"
The Hokage paid out of his own pocket for everyone's security. If he still couldn't arrange this clearly...
Then Hatake Sakumo himself wouldn't be willing to forgive himself.
He was a very simple person.
He loved this village because of that glimmer of light emerging from the Will of Fire.
Ninja are not tools; companions are not consumables.
As long as the Will of Fire doesn't change color, Hatake Sakumo feels willing to do anything...
"Minato, I'll entrust you with a task."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said slowly: "I heard from Jiraiya that you made suggestions for Anbu security... When Sakumo is done here, you go check the village security irregularly."
"If you find loopholes, Grandmaster will give you extra tutoring later!"
Hearing this, Namikaze Minato's eyes lit up instantly: "I understand!"
Turning his head, he said to Hatake Sakumo: "Lord Sakumo, excuse me..."
Hatake Sakumo smiled slightly: "Kid, don't speak too early!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched this scene with satisfaction.
And by that evening.
After Hatake Kakashi returned home, his small face was wrinkled.
"Father..."
"I want to graduate! The Ninja Academy is really boring. I want to become a ninja!"
Since that day at the training ground, being thrown around like a toy by Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo.
Kakashi, who thought himself a genius, suffered quite a blow. Even though he was still a little bean, his heart was very proud.
With such a big gap, wasting time in the Ninja Academy, wouldn't the gap get bigger and bigger in the future?
This won't do!
Hatake Sakumo looked up at his son and chuckled.
Foolish son, you have no idea what a good life you are living...
Isn't a carefree life in school good?
Whether in the Warring States period or the war years, such days couldn't be found even with a lantern...
Young brats nowadays really don't know how lucky they are!
"There are many formidable brats in your school, Kakashi..."
"That one from the Uchiha family is one."
"There's even a kid who hasn't enrolled yet, who also has unusual potential."
Hatake Sakumo thought of Might Duy and his son.
His son's hard training appearance and the calluses on his hands left a deep impression on him.
Kakashi curled his lip.
Who believes that?
And a flash of inspiration appeared in Hatake Sakumo's mind, a bad idea coming to heart.
"Do you know Namikaze Minato? The blond male ninja..."
"I know, what about him, Father?" Kakashi responded confusedly:
"Is he strong? Heard teacher mention him vaguely..."
"If you can successfully sneak attack him once, then I will allow you to graduate."
Hatake Sakumo said seriously: "How about it?"
"Father, you said it. It's a deal!" Kakashi crossed his arms, looking like a cool little guy.
Just a sneak attack, not defeating him. What's difficult about that?
"Mn mn, it's a deal..."
And at this moment, he was also thinking in his heart.
Perhaps, report to the Third about the Ninja Academy matters?
Need to increase the difficulty for these brats!