The Hokage Building.
Hiruzen held in his hands a forbidden technique notebook left behind by Senju Tobirama, reading it with great relish.
He increasingly understood why he had once revered this sensei so deeply, and why every hidden village held him in such awe and wariness…
Senju Tobirama truly was a super genius!
The Impure World Reincarnation Technique, the Flying Thunder God Technique, the Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique, the Soul-Confinement Technique…
These various forbidden techniques involving the soul and space—every single one was conceived with extreme ingenuity.
They combined unrestrained imagination with a grounded, practical structure.
This was a true all-rounder: not only did he possess all seven chakra natures, he was also highly proficient in sealing techniques.
Even his conventional combat methods were formidable—he had played with the nature and shape transformations of Water Release to an astonishing degree.
"What a terrible waste… how could such good things be left to gather dust?" Hiruzen complained to himself as he mobilized his chakra and pondered the inner workings.
He, too, had a bit of modest talent of his own.
Although Hiruzen had previously focused mostly on 'learning' and had not developed many pioneering ninjutsu, starting research now was not too late!
"The materials for the Impure World Reincarnation Technique are indeed a major problem. The ethical considerations involved, however, are irrelevant…"
The soul and the body were a complementary pair—if the two fell out of balance, problems were inevitable.
Moreover, an Impure World body could hardly be said to be a physical body.
"The conversion rate isn't ideal either, but this jutsu must be perfected. It can serve as the village's trump card kept in reserve."
According to Tobirama's experimental data, in the current version of the Impure World Reincarnation, an average jōnin used as material would be reincarnated into an Impure World body whose maximum chakra output could only reach the level of a chūnin.
No wonder it could only be used as a human bomb, as the fuse for the Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique.
But there was clearly room for improvement here. Tobirama had proposed some ideas, but he had not yet had the chance to verify them…
"You really are a treasure trove, Sensei…"
"I miss you more and more." Hiruzen raised his head toward the Second Hokage's portrait on the office wall and laughed.
When he went to obtain this batch of forbidden technique notes, he had also looked through the village's records of forbidden technique applications.
Orochimaru's name appeared frequently.
He had applied to borrow all kinds of texts—circling around, indirectly—any that might involve the Second Hokage's forbidden techniques.
In the past, Hiruzen had refused quite a few times.
After Hiruzen read through the texts Orochimaru had applied for, he sifted out the overlapping content among those books.
Souls.
Although it was not necessarily one hundred percent, it was highly likely that Orochimaru had an intense interest in 'souls.'
"That brat—he's on the same wavelength as me…" Hiruzen smiled.
Once the development of the 'pill' reached preliminary results, the Hokage planned to add some more burdens to Orochimaru's shoulders.
If you want to be Hokage, you have to work…
And during this period, it would also be just right for Hiruzen to gain a deeper understanding of these ninjutsu.
Trusting Orochimaru was one thing.
Although Hiruzen was confident that he could establish a relationship with Orochimaru that was "part sensei, part father, part friend," he could not act like a client who only knew how to throw money around and hand out tasks…
He needed professional knowledge. Acting like Danzō—doing nothing but pressuring for progress—would only earn the contempt of researchers…
He believed that before long, Orochimaru would take the initiative to come and ask him about it.
After all, there was no longer any estrangement between the two of them now.
Knocking sounds rang out.
Hatake Sakumo and Namikaze Minato walked in.
"Hokage-sama! Third-sama!"
"You're here? Don't just stand there—sit down…" Hiruzen put away the notes in his hand, warmly motioned for them to sit, and tossed the apples on the desk to the two of them.
"Biwako insisted that I bring these over. Help me eliminate these enemies."
Sakumo smiled, neatly caught them, and said, "Thank you, Third-sama. I hadn't eaten breakfast yet, anyway…"
Minato, however, froze for a moment. Although his mental composure was excellent, this was, after all, his first private, small-scale interaction with Hiruzen.
The Hokage—was he really this approachable?
"Sakumo, have you gotten used to the work in the deputy commander position?" Hiruzen also picked up an apple and began eating together with the two of them.
"The matter you mentioned frequently before is indeed a problem, and it needs more attention going forward," Hiruzen said with a genial smile.
"You report directly to me. I'll be adding more responsibilities to your shoulders in the future—do you have confidence?"
Sakumo blinked. As their gazes met, the two of them quickly understood Hiruzen's meaning.
This was referring to the matter he had previously reported—the abnormal development of Root…
By now, Root had been cut back and merged into the Anbu.
Danzō had also become a deputy commander on the same level as him.
"Hokage-sama, leave it to me." Sakumo's tone was calm, yet it carried a sense of firmness.
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
Born of a samurai background, Hatake Sakumo was like a loyal blade—worthy of trust.
And this also concerned the future handling of Danzō.
If the performance in the Kumogakure incident was sufficiently outstanding, Hiruzen would not mind letting Danzō serve as the head of Anbu—but he would reclaim his personnel authority.
The appointments of the Anbu deputy commander, the captains of each squad, and even the team leaders, as well as the composition of team members, would all need to pass through him, the Hokage.
After all, this was an assisting role, one that held real authority.
If Danzō's abilities were used in the right place, he could still accomplish some things.
He just needed to be constrained—he could not be allowed to build an independent kingdom.
"Sakumo, regarding the village's security and defense, I have an idea."
Hiruzen handed him a document. "Combine the Inuzuka, Aburame, and Hyūga clans, and add the Uchiha as well, to construct a diversified defensive line."
The Inuzuka's sense of smell, the Aburame's insects, the Hyūga's penetrating vision…
And the Uchiha's red eyes.
With multiple elements combined, it would become extremely difficult for enemies to infiltrate again.
Sakumo thought for a moment. "Hokage-sama, this proposal is a good one, but can the village's finances bear it?"
In the past, it was not as if no one had raised this idea, but all of them had been stopped by the issue of "money."
Although a hidden village was a military organization with a certain degree of coercive power, without the basic material foundation of "money," no system could be sustained…
The village's sources of income consisted of allocations from the daimyō and a cut from mission rewards.
With the addition of these security teams, expenditures would increase significantly.
Take the Uchiha clan, for example…
Every year, Konohagakure had to allocate a large sum of funds to the Police Force.
After all, targeting was one thing—but you could not trap people in the village and then let them go hungry, could you?
If that happened, even rebellion would have a justifiable cause.
"You don't need to worry about the money, Sakumo…"
Hiruzen smiled. "I've already decided to donate part of my personal assets to the village. For patrol teams made up of just a dozen or so people, covering the costs for a few years will be easy."
"After that, there will also be dedicated funding. As Hokage, I'll find a way."
"The most urgent matter is ensuring the villagers' safety. This absolutely cannot be delayed any longer!"
Hearing this, Sakumo's eyes widened slightly—a rare reaction for him. "Th-this… won't it affect your own life?"
"Of course it will. With security improved, I can handle state affairs with peace of mind as well…"
Hiruzen replied naturally. "Don't you think so?"
Minato had been listening quietly. He still did not know what he had been called here for today.
Hearing those words, a trace of reverence appeared in his eyes as he looked at Hiruzen.
"Stop worrying about me. What does a Hokage need money for?"
"Leaving a little for Asuma and Shinnosuke to get married will be enough."
For Hiruzen, "money" truly did not mean much. What he needed was for the village to become better…
Sakumo went without saying—he was someone to be groomed as a trusted confidant.
As for Minato—the little hero who had rescued Kushina, the genius who, at this age, could defeat an elite squad of Kumogakure…
Moreover, he was his own grand-disciple.
Naturally, Hiruzen held him in high regard.
The best way to win over a genius was to establish a good relationship with them while they were still growing.
"Kid, do you know how you should address me?" Hiruzen teased Minato.
"Of course—Third-sama…"
Minato suddenly understood Hiruzen's meaning. As the words reached his lips, he changed the form of address: "Grand-Sensei!"
"Heh, you've got a sweet mouth…" Hiruzen laughed.
"The matter between you and Kushina—very good! That brat Jiraiya can be a bit too jumpy at times. If there are things in training or in life he can't handle, you can come directly to me, your Grand-Sensei."
Minato nodded obediently. "Thank you, Grand-Sensei!"
Beside them, Sakumo's eyebrow twitched slightly.
This kid looked like a natural airhead, but his mind was actually quite sharp.
"We should select ninja who excel at sensory ninjutsu, whose combat ability is relatively average, and who prefer stability. For security work, don't force ninja with composite abilities to join. Wasting talent would be rather unsightly."
Hiruzen gave his instructions: "The establishment should be around twenty people or so. It must comply with the ANBU rotation system, and everything should be based on actual effectiveness."
Sakumo nodded with great solemnity. "Hokage-sama, please rest assured!"
The Hokage was paying out of his own pocket for everyone's security. If this still ended up being arranged poorly…
Then even Sakumo himself would be unwilling to forgive himself.
He was a very simple person.
He loved this village, precisely because of that faint glimmer revealed by the Will of Fire.
Ninja are not tools; comrades are not expendable materials.
As long as the Will of Fire did not change in nature, Sakumo felt content no matter what he did…
"Minato, I'm assigning you a task."
Hiruzen said slowly, "I heard from Jiraiya that you once put forward suggestions regarding ANBU security. After Sakumo finishes his work, you will go and conduct unscheduled inspections of the village's security."
"If you discover any loopholes, your grand-sensei will give you some special coaching later!"
When Minato heard this, his eyes immediately lit up. "I understand!"
He tilted his head and said to Sakumo, "Sakumo-sama, no offense…"
Sakumo smiled faintly. "Kid, don't say that too early!"
Hiruzen watched this scene with satisfaction.
...
And when night fell.
After Kakashi returned home, his face was scrunched into a frown.
"Father…"
"I want to graduate! Ninja Academy is really not very interesting—I want to become a ninja!"
Ever since that day at the training ground, when he had been tossed around like a toy by Jiraiya and Sakumo...
Kakashi, who fancied himself a genius, took a pretty big hit. Even though he was still just a little runt, he was proud at heart.
With such a huge gap, if he kept wasting time at the Ninja Academy like this, wouldn't that gap only grow bigger and bigger later?
That wouldn't do!
Sakumo lifted his head and glanced at his son, then gave a chuckle.
Foolish son—you have no idea what kind of good life you're living…
Living carefree at school isn't good enough?
Whether in the Warring States Era or in wartime, you couldn't find days like this even if you searched with a lantern…
Kids these days really don't know how good they have it!
"At your school, there are plenty of impressive little brats, Kakashi…"
"The Uchiha kid is one of them."
"And there are even boys who haven't enrolled yet, who also have unusual potential."
Sakumo thought of the Might father and son.
That child's hard training, and the calluses on his hands, had left a deep impression on him.
Kakashi curled the corner of his mouth.
Yeah, right. Who would believe that?
But then a flash of inspiration struck Sakumo, and a bad idea formed in his mind.
"Do you know Namikaze Minato? A ninja with blond hair…"
"Yeah, I know. What is it, Father?" Kakashi replied, puzzled.
"He's strong? I've heard the teachers mention him vaguely…"
"If you can successfully land a sneak attack on him even once, then I'll allow you to graduate."
Sakumo said with a perfectly straight face. "Well?"
"Father, you said it—so it's a deal!" Kakashi crossed his arms, looking like a little cool guy.
It was just landing a sneak attack once—it wasn't even defeating him. How could that be hard?
"Mm-hm. It's a deal…"
And at that moment, he was also thinking to himself.
Maybe I should report the Ninja Academy situation to the Third Hokage?
It was time to raise the difficulty for these little brats!
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