The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy, scattering dappled patches of light across the Uchiha training grounds.
Two and a half days had passed since the grand inauguration ceremony.
Uchiha Chiya wore simple dark training clothes instead of the black Hokage robe that symbolized his authority. Leaning casually against a wooden training post, he quietly watched the two swift figures exchanging blows in the center of the field.
The crisp clang of kunai colliding and bursts of chakra from ninjutsu echoed through the air.
The two sparring before him were the youngest, yet most gifted, disciples under his command.
Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi.
Shisui was slightly older. His movements were clean, efficient, and as swift as the wind. Every arc traced by his ninja blade was sharp and precise. Although he had yet to awaken his Sharingan, his dynamic vision and combat instincts already far surpassed those of children his age.
Even more eye-catching, however, was Itachi, who had not yet entered the Ninja Academy.
His body was still small, but every movement displayed extraordinary composure and maturity. His shuriken throws were frighteningly accurate, and his tiny hands formed the seals for the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique with flawless fluidity. While the flames he produced were limited in size due to his chakra reserves, their shape and heat had already reached the level of an outstanding Genin.
Most of Chiya's attention remained fixed on Itachi.
The child was obedient and mature beyond belief. His ability to understand and master ninjutsu was so astonishing that even Chiya found himself surprised from time to time.
Hidden beneath those calm eyes was a level of focus and intelligence far beyond his years.
"Enough."
His calm voice wasn't loud, yet it carried clearly across the field.
The two figures instantly separated and steadied themselves, breathing lightly. Sweat dotted young Itachi's face, but his eyes remained bright as he respectfully looked toward his teacher.
"Shisui, your charge is fast, but your chakra flow becomes too deliberate whenever you change direction. That creates an opening. Be smoother. Let your body remember the movement instead of consciously controlling it."
"Yes, Teacher!"
Shisui nodded seriously, already reflecting on the advice.
Turning to Itachi, Chiya continued, "Your techniques are textbook perfect... almost too perfect. A real battle isn't a demonstration. You don't need flawless forms. Just now, you had three chances to use the smoke from your Fire Release as cover to approach Shisui with the Substitution Technique, but instead you kept feeding chakra into the flames. Remember this. Efficiency always comes before appearance. Your chakra should be spent where it matters most."
The young Itachi frowned slightly as he carefully thought over every word before giving a firm nod.
"I understand, Teacher. Thank you for your guidance."
His ability to learn brought a faint trace of satisfaction to Chiya's eyes.
This child's talent...
Was every bit as remarkable as Shisui's.
After pointing out several more flaws in their teamwork, he let them continue practicing on their own.
By the time the sun reached its highest point, the morning training session had come to an end.
"That's enough for this morning."
Chiya clapped his hands.
"Go clean yourselves up. I'll take you out for lunch."
"Yes!"
The two answered in unison, unable to hide the excitement that suited boys their age.
Rather than choosing an expensive restaurant, Chiya brought them to a traditional eatery within the Uchiha district that was popular among the clan members.
The owner nearly panicked upon seeing the Fourth Hokage arrive in person, but Chiya gently stopped him with a glance and simply requested a quiet private room like any ordinary customer.
After all, they were still just children.
Especially little Itachi, who ate neatly yet surprisingly quickly while enjoying the delicious meal. A faint smile rested on Chiya's lips.
Moments like this were a welcome escape after spending his days buried beneath mountains of Hokage paperwork.
Once the two boys had nearly finished eating, Chiya set down his teacup.
"I have something to take care of. Shisui, escort Itachi home afterward. Don't slack off during your taijutsu training this afternoon."
"Leave it to me, Teacher!"
Shisui patted his chest confidently, already showing the reliability expected of an older disciple.
Itachi nodded obediently.
"Take care, Teacher."
Chiya gently ruffled the boy's black hair before vanishing from the private room in a blur.
...
The afternoon sun generously bathed the orphanage courtyard in warm golden light.
Children's cheerful laughter drifted from the opposite side of the building, making the quiet corner of the courtyard feel all the more peaceful.
Tsunade stood with folded arms against a wooden pillar as the breeze lightly stirred her golden hair.
Her eyes remained fixed on the boy training in the middle of the courtyard, refusing to look away.
It was Yamato.
The young boy pressed his lips together tightly as he concentrated on forming hand seals. Chakra circulated through his body in a unique yet somewhat awkward pattern.
"Wood Release: Silent Strangling Technique!"
He shouted softly as both hands slammed onto the ground.
Several sharp wooden stakes instantly burst from the earth, piercing straight through the decayed log serving as a target. Their speed and power were impressive, far beyond what someone his age should possess.
Yet Tsunade's brows only drew tighter.
Because this wasn't truly Wood Release.
At least... not entirely.
No one understood the real Wood Release better than she did.
Her grandfather Senju Hashirama's Wood Release embodied overwhelming life itself. It was creation on a grand scale, a divine power that crushed everything before it.
Whether it was the Wood Dragon or Deep Forest Emergence, every technique carried the majestic force of nature itself, as though the forests willingly answered his call.
The boy before her...
His techniques felt more like an imitation.
A forcibly manufactured copy, cold and artificial.
The wood erupting from the ground was hard, sharp, and filled with killing intent, yet it lacked the warmth and vitality that came from life itself.
It resembled a carefully crafted weapon far more than a gift inherited through blood.
"Danzo... that damned bastard..."
The words escaped through gritted teeth as a painful tightness gripped Tsunade's chest.
She could almost picture what this child had endured.
A freezing laboratory.
Endless agony.
Cells forcibly implanted into his body.
Countless struggles on the edge of death, all to create a tool capable of reproducing the power of the God of Shinobi.
For this child, Wood Release wasn't a blessing.
It was an indelible scar carved into both body and soul.
A surge of disgust and fury welled up within Tsunade.
Hatred toward Danzo and Orochimaru for their inhuman experiments.
Rage that Konoha had once concealed such filthy crimes beneath its shadows.
Yet another emotion tugged at her heart.
After all...
This was Wood Release.
The Kekkei Genkai that belonged solely to her grandfather and the Senju Clan.
The very symbol of the Senju's glory and greatness.
Now it existed in such a twisted, unnatural form within a child who shared none of their bloodline.
She felt as though her family's legacy had been tarnished.
As if the final symbol of the Senju's brilliance had been cast away in the cruelest possible manner.
And yet...
She couldn't look away from the boy.
He trained with every ounce of effort he possessed.
Every hand seal.
Every piece of wood he summoned.
He poured his entire being into it.
Sweat drenched his face.
He controlled the power with painstaking care, and beneath that caution lurked a faint trace of fear, as though he worried it might lose control and hurt someone.
That determination stood in stark contrast to the cold power sleeping inside him.
Tsunade couldn't help recalling the day Chiya had first brought him here.
Back then, the boy had looked like a frightened wild animal, wary of everyone except Chiya and Nono Yakushi.
Dangerous, unstable power slumbered inside him.
It was Chiya who had pulled him out of the darkness.
Given him a place to belong.
Given him another chance.
It was also Chiya who had invited her here.
Officially, she was teaching the boy how to control his power and prevent it from going berserk.
But she understood Chiya's true purpose.
This wasn't merely about controlling Wood Release.
It was about saving the child.
Having someone who possessed the Senju's legacy guide a boy burdened with an imitation of that power...
It was ironic.
Yet perhaps she alone could truly understand him and show him the right path.
"Hmph... that sly brat..."
Tsunade muttered under her breath.
The irritation in her voice had noticeably softened.
She watched as Yamato failed again. The wooden stake grew crookedly and completely missed its target.
His shoulders slumped in disappointment as he panted heavily.
Almost instinctively, Tsunade straightened up and called out.
"Hey! Rushing only makes your technique more unstable! Wood Release isn't just for destruction. Even when attacking, it should carry the intent of growth! Again!"
Her stern voice carried unquestionable authority.
Yamato froze before quickly turning around in surprise.
He clearly hadn't expected the legendary Sannin to suddenly start instructing him.
After hesitating briefly, he assumed his stance once more, took a deep breath, and adjusted his chakra according to Tsunade's guidance.
This time, the wooden stake that burst from the earth seemed slightly less vicious and a little more... resilient.
It was still crude.
But undeniably different.
Watching the change, the complicated emotions in Tsunade's eyes gradually settled into the focused gaze of a true teacher.
The anger remained.
So did the melancholy.
But as she watched this child struggle toward the light despite everything he had suffered, and saw that familiar yet unfamiliar power within him, a deep sense of responsibility quietly surpassed every other emotion.
Perhaps...
That brat Chiya had been right.
The power itself was a curse.
But the child carrying it wasn't.
Rather than allowing this twisted ability to continue growing in darkness, or rejecting him because of its origin...
She would shape him with her own hands.
Even if this wasn't genuine Senju Wood Release, she would make sure it walked the right path.
Perhaps...
This was also her way of honoring her late grandfather and the Senju Clan.
The warm sunlight continued to bathe the courtyard.
Yamato resumed his training.
Meanwhile, beneath the corridor, the blonde woman continued watching him with a gaze still filled with complexity, but now also carrying determination... and a trace of tenderness she herself hadn't noticed.
She was no longer merely an observer.
She had truly begun embracing her role as his teacher.
Just then...
She sensed something and turned her head.
Standing silently by the courtyard gate was Chiya.
"Well, if it isn't the busy Hokage himself. What brings you to the orphanage today?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow as she walked over, her teasing tone carrying its usual mix of laziness and amusement.
Chiya smiled faintly before looking toward the two boys in the courtyard.
"I came to see them... and to see you."
His gaze lingered especially on Kabuto Yakushi.
Following his line of sight, Tsunade's expression became more serious.
Standing beside him, she lowered her voice.
"Yamato's condition is stable. He's becoming more proficient with Wood Release. He's still nowhere near Grandpa's level, but at least the power won't backfire on him anymore.
He's still a little withdrawn, though he's far better than the terrified child who first arrived. As for you... he's grateful, and absolutely loyal."
Chiya nodded.
Yamato had been one of the children rescued from those experiments. Given the uniqueness of his abilities, reaching this point hadn't been easy.
"As for Kabuto..."
Tsunade paused, unmistakable admiration entering her voice.
"That kid's a genius. Actually... even genius doesn't quite describe him."
She looked toward the quiet boy reading beneath the tree.
"He understands almost everything from the medical notes and scrolls you sent after reading them once. His ability to apply what he learns is frightening. He's already mastered the Mystical Palm Technique and has started studying more advanced subjects like chakra pathway restoration and cellular-level healing.
His theoretical knowledge is already more solid than many Chunin in the Medical Corps."
"And..."
Her tone became somewhat complicated.
"He's incredibly mature for his age. He learns unbelievably fast, handles everything methodically, and notices details others miss."
Chiya listened quietly, showing no surprise whatsoever.
No one understood Kabuto Yakushi's potential better than he did.
In another timeline, this prodigy had stirred the entire ninja world and even commanded an army through the Impure World Reincarnation.
Now, under Chiya's guidance, he had taken a completely different path.
His extraordinary talent for learning and adapting remained just as astonishing.
"Looks like he's settled in well."
"What do you mean settled in?" Tsunade snorted. "Nono practically treats him like her own son now. All the children here listen to him too. That kid naturally inspires trust. But..."
She turned toward Chiya, her eyes sharpening.
"Are you really going to leave him at the orphanage? His abilities belong in the Medical Corps... or maybe somewhere even more specialized. Isn't it a waste to keep him here?"
Chiya quietly watched Kabuto.
The boy seemed to notice their gaze. Looking up from his book, he adjusted his glasses. The moment he saw Chiya, he immediately stood and bowed respectfully.
A perfectly natural smile of modesty and admiration appeared on his face.
"Teacher."
Chiya nodded slightly before answering Tsunade.
"Uncut jade can never become a masterpiece. But carving jade also requires time... and the right environment. Sending him into those places too early might only distort who he is. The orphanage is good for him.
He has Nono's warmth, your guidance, and... people who need his protection. That will help him grow roots instead of becoming nothing more than another tool."
After a brief pause, he continued,
"I trust Nono... and I trust you to guide him and keep everything under control."
Tsunade looked deeply at him before saying nothing more.
She understood there was a deeper purpose behind his decision.
"Oh, right!"
A mischievous grin suddenly appeared on her face.
"That little black-haired, red-eyed admirer of yours came by again yesterday with homemade snacks. She specifically said they were to thank her 'Hokage teacher' for his guidance. So... what happened to those roses?"
Chiya's expression didn't change in the slightest.
"Kurenai is a hardworking student. As for the flowers... Mikoto thought drying them and decorating the study with them would be nice."
Tsunade burst into laughter before rolling her eyes at him with a smile.
"You really are... Never mind. Your romantic troubles aren't my problem."
After chatting a little longer about reforms to Konoha's medical system, Chiya prepared to leave.
Before departing, however, he walked over to Kabuto, who was still reading beneath the tree.
Kabuto closed his book and respectfully bowed once more.
"What are you reading?"
"Tsunade-sama recommended this one."
Kabuto respectfully held out the book.
"An In-Depth Analysis of the Chakra Pathway System."
Chiya didn't take it.
He merely glanced over the pages.
"Anything you don't understand?"
"Not at the moment. Tsunade-sama's notes are extremely detailed."
Kabuto answered calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.
Chiya looked at him silently for a moment before suddenly asking,
"Kabuto... what do you think power is for?"
Kabuto blinked, clearly surprised by the sudden question.
He adjusted his glasses and thought carefully for over ten seconds before answering.
"I believe... power exists to protect what you want to protect. Just like Director Nono protects us, Tsunade-sama uses medical ninjutsu to save the injured, and you, Teacher, use your strength to protect all of Konoha."
It was nearly the perfect answer.
Exactly what one would expect from a well-guided young boy.
Chiya nodded without commenting on whether it was right or wrong.
"Remember those words. Books are valuable, but don't forget to look at the people around you. Sometimes, the greatest medicine isn't found inside books."
With that, he patted Kabuto on the shoulder and turned to leave.
Kabuto remained where he stood, watching Chiya's departing figure. Light reflected off his glasses, hiding whatever emotions lay within his eyes.
He stood there for a long time, quietly pondering the meaning behind his teacher's final words.
Stepping out of the orphanage, Chiya felt the warm afternoon sunlight wash over him.
Handling government affairs.
Teaching his disciples.
Watching over the next generation.
These ordinary moments...
Were the true foundation of what it meant to be Hokage.
Under his guidance, Konoha was steadily moving toward the future he envisioned.