The ripples caused by Tatsuya displaying Sage Art: Heaven and Earth Giant outside Konoha didn't last long within the village. The initial shock and widespread discussion faded within just a few days. After Tatsuya had demonstrated power sufficient to crush many of the village's established forces, all murmurs of dissatisfaction regarding recent events seemed to vanish overnight.
Among everyone, the only ones who remained truly, openly excited were Naruto and Sasuke.
Konoha Streets.
Tatsuya walked alongside Kakashi and Guy. These past few days, Guy had been visiting Tatsuya most frequently, his favorite activity now being pestering Tatsuya for a spar. Just two days prior, during one such bout, Guy had even resorted to opening the Seventh Gate of Shock. After a brief, intense exchange, neither had managed to gain a distinct advantage over the other.
Swish~
An ANBU operative suddenly flickered into existence before the trio.
"Jonin Akimichi Tatsuya," the ANBU stated formally, bowing respectfully towards Tatsuya, "Lord Hokage requests your presence." (Tatsuya noted the address – Jonin, not Chunin. It seemed his display had prompted a quiet, if unofficial, re-evaluation).
"Oh?" Tatsuya felt slightly surprised but simply nodded to Kakashi and Guy. "Alright then." He followed the ANBU operative, leaving his friends behind.
Minutes later, Tatsuya arrived at the Hokage's Office.
"Lord Hokage, you summoned me?" Tatsuya asked, offering the customary bow.
For a long time after first arriving in this world, Tatsuya admitted to himself, he had held a rather negative view of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, largely due to preconceived biases from his knowledge of the "original" timeline. He had seen Hiruzen primarily as a politician focused on maintaining delicate balances and occasionally resorting to manipulative schemes.
However, over the past two years, his perspective had gradually changed. He had personally witnessed the Third Hokage's evolution. Influenced significantly by Tatsuya's own rapid rise and actions, the Third's style of managing internal village affairs had undergone a major shift. He had demonstrably tightened the reins on Danzo's Root and adopted a more positive and conciliatory approach towards the Uchiha clan during the recent reforms. These were not the actions Tatsuya would expect from an aged, unchanging politician merely clinging to power. Perhaps Hiruzen's decisions in the original timeline, which Tatsuya had once judged so harshly, were simply difficult choices made under extreme duress and with limited options. Acknowledging this possibility, Tatsuya now maintained the respect Hiruzen deserved as the long-standing leader of the village.
"Ah, Tatsuya, you're here," Hiruzen greeted him with a kind smile. "Nothing too serious, I just have something to give you."
Tatsuya raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
The Third Hokage took a formal-looking pass from his desk and handed it to Tatsuya. "I know you've always been very interested in the village's various ninjutsu archives," Hiruzen explained. "This pass represents the Hokage's authority. With this, you will have permission to access and review any ninjutsu-related materials stored in the Hokage Tower archives."
Tatsuya reached out and took the pass. Hearing the Third's words, he paused, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing his face as he looked up at the Hokage.
"There's no need to be so surprised, Tatsuya," Hiruzen continued calmly. "Over these past years, you have secretly accomplished a great deal for the village, achievements for which the village hasn't properly rewarded you yet. Judging from the technique you displayed a few days ago, it's clear that no other shinobi currently in the village operates on the same level as you. Moreover, your capacity for learning and your creativity have always been exceptional. At this stage, continuing to restrict your access serves no meaningful purpose." Hiruzen offered a slight smile. "Besides, all of the village's resources and knowledge will eventually pass to your generation anyway. Granting you this authority a little early is no major issue."
Tatsuya frowned slightly and shook his head. "Lord Hokage, I believe you misunderstand. I have no intention of taking over the position of Hokage." He recognized the gesture for what it was – a blatant attempt by Hiruzen to show favor and win him over, leveraging Tatsuya's known interest in knowledge to bind him firmly to Konoha's cause and future.
Tatsuya wasn't particularly opposed to being bound to Konoha; on the contrary, he was very interested in many of the 'goodies' stored within its archives – for example, the various powerful forbidden jutsu invented by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. However, if Hiruzen intended this gesture as a manipulative step towards pushing him into the Hokage's seat eventually, Tatsuya wouldn't agree to that path. As someone not originally from this world, Tatsuya possessed none of the ingrained reverence or personal aspiration for the Hokage title common among Konoha natives. If he could achieve his larger goals while remaining a relatively hands-off figure politically, he certainly wouldn't waste his precious time bogged down in tedious administrative duties. As long as his own strength was sufficient, he believed he could enjoy his preferred leisure while still ensuring Konoha's peace and stability through other means.
Hearing Tatsuya's decisive rejection of the implied future role, a flicker of wistfulness mixed with clear understanding crossed Hiruzen's eyes. This lazy boy... the Hokage thought with a hint of resignation, he really is unwilling to shoulder heavy responsibilities.
He waved a hand dismissively. "I am not trying to force the burden of the Hokage position onto you, Tatsuya. Regardless of whether you become the Fifth Hokage someday or not, you are still a shinobi of the Akimichi clan and of Konoha. The village leadership will no longer pressure you to do anything against your will."
Tatsuya inwardly scoffed, You certainly did your share of pressuring before. Outwardly, however, since the Third Hokage had laid his cards on the table so plainly, Tatsuya wasn't about to refuse the incredibly valuable access being offered.
His face lit up with genuine anticipation. "Lord Hokage, with this pass... can I truly view any ninjutsu records? Including the forbidden jutsu scrolls?"
"Everything," Hiruzen confirmed with a firm nod.
"Excellent! Thank you very much, Lord Hokage!" Tatsuya beamed, unable to hide his delight. I never expected, he thought gleefully, that simply revealing one trump card could yield such a fantastic benefit! Access to Konoha's entire jutsu library, including Tobirama's forbidden techniques...
With that settled, Tatsuya eagerly bid farewell to the Third Hokage, already mentally planning his immediate trip to the library archives rumored to be on the third floor of the Hokage Tower to start recording various ninjutsu scrolls into his bio-chip's database.
Watching Tatsuya depart with such unconcealed eagerness, a faint smile touched Hiruzen's lips. Overall, the Hokage mused, the boy's heart is still fundamentally aligned with Konoha. If we can truly secure his loyalty completely, Konoha's position in the shinobi world will be unshakable.
As he thought this, his mind inevitably turned back to Danzo's Root organization. Within Konoha, Hiruzen considered gravely, the deepest enmity Tatsuya holds is undoubtedly towards Danzo and his operatives. That hidden danger… must be eliminated.
Meanwhile, in Kusagakure, within the Kage's office…
Orochimaru sat at his desk, carefully reading an intelligence scroll held in his pale hands. The intel was precisely what Kabuto had transmitted from Konoha, detailing Tatsuya's recent public display of power and describing the technique, Sage Art: Heaven and Earth Giant.
"My, my… I didn't expect Tatsuya-kun to have already reached such a stage," Orochimaru murmured aloud, his golden, serpentine eyes gleaming with keen, predatory interest. "It seems he was hiding far more back then than just that one little secret!" He chuckled softly, a dry, rasping sound. "I've only been gone from Konoha for a few short years… and Akimichi Tatsuya's strength has already reached such a terrifying level." He scanned the report again. "From Kabuto's assessment, his power likely rivals even that of the Rinnegan-wielding leader of Akatsuki!"
If there isn't some extraordinary secret behind such growth, Orochimaru thought, licking his thin lips, I simply wouldn't believe it. His eyes flickered continuously as he sank deep into thought, possibilities swirling in his sharp mind.
"Hooo…" Orochimaru let out a soft hiss after a moment. "It seems the time is ripe to find an opportunity to meet with Tatsuya-kun again…" His long tongue flicked out, tasting the air as he whispered the name. A peculiar, intense light shone in his serpentine eyes.