Inside the Hokage's office, smoke curled through the air.
Hiruzen sat alone behind the wide desk, a pipe held between his fingers as thin strands of smoke drifted upward.
He smoked in silence, his gaze fixed on empty space rather than the stacks of documents before him.
Hatake Sakumo's figure kept resurfacing in his mind, especially that glaring garment symbolizing the daimyo's favor, the Hokage style haori.
The White Fang of Konoha was a pillar on the battlefield, a top tier combatant, a guardian of the village.
But merit could also become a shackle.
Recently, Sakumo's thoughts and actions, his overly close attitude toward the daimyo, and his faint but persistent challenge to Hokage authority, all stirred irritation and caution in Hiruzen's heart.
Sakumo shone too brightly. His achievements and strength had become a restraint that made it difficult for Hiruzen to deal with him decisively, leaving this growing hidden danger unresolved.
As his thoughts churned, a figure appeared soundlessly within the shadows of the office, as if it had always belonged there.
It was Shimura Danzō.
"Hiruzen, you cannot hesitate any longer," Danzō said, his voice heavy and dark.
Through the network he had planted across Konoha, especially around potential rivals, he knew Sakumo's movements well, and also understood the Third's conflicted thoughts.
More importantly, Danzō had coveted the Hokage seat for years. Anyone who could threaten his ascent, especially someone like Hatake Sakumo whose strength and prestige were both at their peak, was an enemy that had to be removed.
Hiruzen did not look up. He took a deep drag from his pipe and slowly exhaled.
Thick smoke briefly obscured the eyes behind his glasses. "Be quiet, Danzō," he said in a low voice, deliberately tinged with fatigue. "Sakumo is our comrade, a hero of Konoha."
Yet the tail end of his words carried a faint, almost imperceptible wavering.
That hesitation was not born of deeper affection for Sakumo, but from weighing gains and losses, and from the pressure Danzō applied.
A sharp glint flashed through Danzō's murky single eye.
He knew this old friend too well. Every subtle change in expression and tone spoke volumes.
Hiruzen had not driven him away as usual. Instead, there was a trace of tacit allowance. That alone was enough.
"I understand," Danzō replied, his voice calm and cold with unspoken agreement.
It was as if a silent deal had been struck.
He knew the Third would not stop what came next, no matter how dark it became.
Sakumo's fate seemed quietly sealed within this brief exchange filled with hidden meaning.
Silence fell over the office, broken only by the faint crackle of burning tobacco, like a countdown.
Hiruzen abruptly shifted the topic to another heavy burden pressing on his mind. "And the Wood Release project. How far has it progressed."
His tone turned sharp, filled with dissatisfaction and thinning patience. "Three years. Root has consumedattach consumed far too much of Konoha's funds. Even the death row inmates from Konoha Prison have been used up. Tell me, has my investment, the resources the village scraped together, produced anything at all."
This project, carrying the hope of recreating the godlike power of the First Hokage Senju Hashirama, had been regarded by Hiruzen as the key to restoring Konoha's former glory since the days when the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama first laid its foundation.
Yet its investment was like a bottomless pit, devouring the village's lifeblood.
The crushing financial pressure had left Hiruzen sleepless night after night, becoming the most troubling part of the mountain of documents on his desk.
But his questioning focused only on funding and results.
He deliberately avoided asking about the details of the experiments, the sources of the test subjects, and especially the most taboo question of all, whether cells from the First Hokage's remains were truly being used.
Out of a certain trust in Danzō as the blade in the dark, and reliance on Orochimaru's astonishing research talent, he chose limited knowledge.
More than anything, he cherished the spotless image of his Hokage position.
The thought of Hashirama's remains surfaced only briefly in his deepest thoughts before sending a chill through him.
Especially when he thought of Tsunade, the First Hokage's granddaughter, his hot tempered disciple.
If she learned that her revered grandfather's body might be fueling these experiments, he could not imagine the fury that would follow, perhaps even the destruction of the Hokage building itself.
His position, and his lifelong reputation, would collapse instantly, nailed to the pillar of Konoha's shame.
This was a stain he absolutely could not bear.
"Sensei did similar research back then," he tried to reassure himself. Tobirama was the First's brother, with both the authority and bloodline to handle such matters. But he was not Tobirama. Hiruzen knew he lacked that legitimacy and cold resolve.
He needed a perfect buffer.
His thinking was already clear.
If it succeeded and Wood Release was reborn, the glory would belong to the Hokage who led so well.
If it failed, the responsibility would fall on the executors, Danzō and Root, and the project lead, Orochimaru.
A single claim of being misled, followed by swift punishment of Danzō, even a temporary removal from power, would quell dissent and preserve the Hokage's image.
After the storm passed, that indispensable black glove could return to the shadows under another name, continuing to handle the dirty work the Hokage could not touch.
So long as the process remained vague, the less he knew, the more room he had to maneuver in the future.
Under Hiruzen's sharp questioning, Danzō's heart sank, though his face remained stiff and unreadable.
He lowered his head slightly, avoiding the Third's gaze, and answered with certainty. "Do not worry, Hiruzen. The project has entered a critical stage. Orochimaru's side is close to making further breakthroughs. Real results will be ready soon."
Inside, however, he had no confidence at all.
He was no researcher. The bottles, instruments, and cryptic data reports in Orochimaru's lab meant nothing to him.
He only knew the investment was enormous, and the output so far was zero.
He knew he had to return immediately and pressure that increasingly unpredictable, cold eyed scientist.
Of course, he would never tell Hiruzen that a significant portion of the massive funds allocated under the banner of the Wood Release project had been quietly diverted to expand Root, train operatives, plant spies, and weave an intelligence network stretching across Konoha and beyond.
And Orochimaru, that man was just as skilled at siphoning funds.
No one knew how much money listed under expensive equipment and rare materials had flowed into Orochimaru's own pockets to fuel his increasingly twisted private research.
Just thinking of those rumors made Danzō's scalp prickle, but he could neither verify the reports nor restrain that mad scientist.
Both men harbored their own schemes within the financial abyss, maintaining a mutual silence.
Hiruzen's sharp gaze lingered on Danzō for several seconds, as if trying to pierce the mask and see the truth beneath.
In the end, he rubbed his brow tiredly and suppressed his doubts.
What he needed was not the truth, but a deadline. A point he could explain upward to the daimyo and advisors, and downward to the village treasury. He had to show the decisiveness of a Hokage.
"Fine," Hiruzen said firmly. "I will give you and Orochimaru three more months. This is the final deadline."
He leaned forward slightly, pressure filling the room. "If after three months there is still no concrete progress that I, the senior leadership, and the entire village can see, real results that prove the return of Wood Release, then the project will be canceled immediately and permanently. All related resources will be frozen at once."
It felt like a gambler who had already lost too much, unwilling to leave the table, staking everything on one last bet.
But reason told him he had to stop in time, for Konoha's finances and future.
These three months were his final compromise, and the last shackle placed on Danzō and Orochimaru.
"Understood," Danzō replied, his voice dry, forced out through clenched resolve.
He did not stay another second. Half his goal had already been achieved, the tacit approval regarding Sakumo, while the pressure of the Wood Release project had sharply increased.
He turned and left the Hokage's office without a sound.
He had to pressure Orochimaru immediately. That madman had to produce something.
Hiruzen stared at the spot where Danzō had vanished, smoke still hanging thickly in the air.
"Sakumo, do not blame me," he murmured. "Everything is for Konoha's greater good and future."
Golden sunset light bathed the small courtyard of Ryo's home.
The gate creaked open as Rin rushed in after her first day at the Ninja Academy, her small face glowing with excitement and a hint of exhaustion.
She spotted Ryo resting under the eaves with his eyes closed and immediately ran over, curling naturally into his arms. Her head rubbed against his chest as she found a comfortable spot.
Years of life together had bound the fatherless Rin tightly to Ryo, who gave her safety and affection.
Feeling her warmth, Ryo opened his eyes, his expression softening.
He wrapped an arm around her gently but firmly, protecting her like a treasure.
"Rin is back," Kushina's lively voice came from inside.
She and Mikoto stepped out. Seeing Rin nestled contentedly in Ryo's arms, both women smiled softly.
Mikoto asked gently, "Rin, how was school today. Were you tired. Could you keep up."
Kushina was more direct. "Tell us. How was your first day. Did anyone bully you. Did you make friends. Was training fun."
Rin lifted her head, her face bright and eyes sparkling as she nodded hard. "Yes. I met lots of new classmates. Everyone was really nice."
She counted on her fingers. "Yuhi Kurenai, her hair looks like the sunset, we ate lunch together. Katō Shizune is quiet and very kind, she helped me find my way. Hatake Kakashi is really cool and does not talk much. Sensei said he is a genius. And Uchiha Obito." Her cheeks flushed slightly. "He was very enthusiastic and said he wants to become Hokage to protect everyone."
Rin was gentle and warm. Combined with Ryo's silent deterrence in the morning, her first day passed smoothly and she made friends easily.
She excitedly shared everything, introductions with the teachers, the large training field, sharing bento with Kurenai, and the fun feeling of learning chakra sensing.
Ryo listened quietly, holding her close, his solid chest her support. His gaze was warm and attentive, a faint smile appearing now and then.
Kushina and Mikoto sat nearby, smiling as they listened to the little stories.
"That sounds fun," Kushina said with interest. "I knew it. Rin is so cute and well behaved. Of course she would make friends. That Obito kid, hmph, if he bothers you, big sister will deal with him." She waved her fist.
Mikoto focused on her studies. "Rin, could you understand the chakra basics and taijutsu principles the Sensei taught. If anything is unclear, ask us anytime. Ryo and Kushina both have plenty of experience."
Ryo nodded slightly.
"Yes. I will study hard," Rin said seriously, clenching her small fists, her eyes shining. "I want to learn powerful jutsu soon and become strong like Ryo, energetic like Kushina onee san, and gentle but amazing like Mikoto onee san."
"Haha, that is the spirit," Kushina laughed as she ruffled Rin's hair. "But do not rush. Build a solid foundation. Being happy at the Academy is most important."
Ryo also gently rubbed Rin's head, his voice steady. "Kushina is right. Take it step by step. A strong foundation is what truly matters."
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)