Chapter 41: Have You Seen Konoha at Four in the Morning?
The Hokage Residence.
4:00 AM.
Hiruzen Sarutobi rose from his bed with a level of energy that felt almost electric. Downstairs, Biwako was already busy in the kitchen.
As the Hidden Leaf grew stronger, Hiruzen's own physical metrics seemed to be undergoing a "Second Prime." The most obvious signs were his inexhaustible stamina and a significantly larger appetite.
Sitting at the dining table, Hiruzen looked at the spread with satisfaction. Steak, eggs, milk—balanced and hearty. The seasoning was exactly the way he liked it. He ate with the proper etiquette of a clan head, yet his plate was cleared with the speed of a desert gale.
"Sit down and eat with me, Biwako," Hiruzen said between bites.
Biwako tucked a stray, damp lock of hair behind her ear and served herself a small bowl of rice porridge. She sat beside him, watching with a soft smile as he practically demolished the food.
As a wife and a shinobi, nothing pleased her more than seeing her husband eat with such vigor. She had woken up early because she couldn't stand the thought of her husband leaving for work without a hot meal.
Hiruzen was working himself to the bone for the village. If she couldn't handle the "logistics" of a breakfast, she felt she would be failing the Will of Fire and her duty as a wife.
"Eat slower, Hiruzen. There's plenty more," Biwako said, chuckling. "Your appetite is better now than Shinnosuke's was during his teenage growth spurt. You're getting... broader."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow playfully. "Is that so?"
Biwako gave him a mock-glare. In private, the Third Hokage really could be a bit of a rogue.
"That 'Restoration Jutsu' you used... are you sure there are no side effects?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"It's fine. Think of it as a hybrid between the Strength of a Hundred Seal and some of Lord Tobirama's specialized biological notes," Hiruzen lied smoothly. "It's purely beneficial."
When it came to things that were hard to explain, it was always easiest to blame the Second Hokage's research. Hiruzen was the "Professor," after all; mastering a few ancient forbidden jutsus was expected of him.
Interestingly, whenever Biwako heard "Strength of a Hundred Seal" (the Yin Seal), her expression softened—that was Uzumaki tech, after all. But when he mentioned Tobirama, her brow furrowed.
"Don't let the stereotypes get to you," Hiruzen laughed, finishing off the last of his eggs. "Master Tobirama's techniques were... controversial, yes. But they weren't all dark and scary."
Biwako took the empty shells from him, nodding tentatively. As long as he's healthy, that's all that matters.
"Tell me, Hiruzen... does this jutsu mean you'll keep getting younger?" she joked. "People will start thinking I'm your mother instead of your wife."
Hiruzen shook his head. "Probably not. Even if it did, I'd use the Yin Seal to lock my physical age in my prime."
His reasoning had nothing to do with vanity. It was about maximizing the [Authority] metric. As a leader, appearance was a weapon. The masses needed to see a Hokage who looked powerful, experienced, and "in his prime." Looking like a teenager would be just as detrimental to his prestige as looking like a frail old man.
The Strength of a Hundred Seal was a jutsu Hiruzen was determined to master soon. For a man whose "potential" was expanding alongside the village, a technique that could regulate his chakra pathways and act as a biological "backup battery" was too perfect to ignore.
"Lady Mito has taken in that child with the Wood Style. She named him Yamato," Hiruzen noted.
"I'd like you to visit her more often, Biwako. She's getting up there in years, and I'm sure she'd appreciate the company of another woman of your rank."
Hiruzen cleared his throat. "If you two hit it off, it wouldn't just help the village—she might even be willing to give you some pointers on your own sealing arts."
Hiruzen was confident he could master the Yin Seal through his "System" and his own study. But teaching it to Biwako? That would take an eternity. It was much more efficient to let her learn from the source.
This was "Spouse Diplomacy." By sending Biwako to build a rapport with the "Matriarch" of the Leaf, Hiruzen secured his flank and potentially gave his wife a massive power-up.
Biwako's eyes lit up. "I understand, Hiruzen. I'll go today."
"I'm finished." Hiruzen stood up and changed into a set of black training clothes. While the Hokage hat and robes were majestic, the flowing silk was a nightmare for high-intensity movement.
"Time to get to work."
After Hiruzen left, Biwako hummed a tune as she cleaned the dishes, setting aside breakfast for her sons.
About thirty minutes later, young Asuma stumbled out of his bedroom, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He took a deep breath and scrubbed his face, trying to shake off the grogginess.
After seeing how hard his father was working for the village, Asuma had vowed not to fall behind. Especially now that Kakashi—that five-year-old brat—was already talking about graduating early. If Asuma didn't step up, he'd be shaming the Sarutobi name.
"Oh, Mom? You're up early. That breakfast looks amazing!"
"Is Dad still asleep? Maybe I should go wake him up. He needs his rest, but he's got a big day..." Asuma muttered to himself.
"Your father has been out training for nearly an hour," Biwako said with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You're the last person in the house to wake up, Asuma."
"Even Shinnosuke is already on duty. He's out patrolling the village with the Anbu."
Masaka!
Asuma's eyes went wide. The title of "Last to Wake Up" hit him like a Bolt Style jutsu. He felt a wave of shame so intense he felt like he was turning to ash.
"You're still a kid, you need your sleep to grow," Biwako added with a laugh. "Eat your food, go to the Academy, and don't try to compare yourself to your father and brother just yet."
Asuma nodded stiffly, but his mind was already racing.
Fine. I might not be able to out-grind Dad or Shinnosuke... but I can definitely out-grind my classmates!
He decided that today, he was going to tell everyone at the Academy exactly how hard the Hokage was training. He was going to use his father's "Hustle" to put the pressure on every other student. The thought of their shocked expressions made him grin as he reached for his toast.
High above the Village.
Hiruzen stood atop the roof of a skyscraper, a faint, rhythmic current of electricity dancing across his skin.
This was his daily ritual. He was using the Lightning Style Chakra Mode to stimulate his cells, slowly chipping away at the limits of his physical talent. It was slow, steady work—the "grind" of a true shinobi.
As he overlooked the waking village, he used his vantage point to perform a manual check of the patrol routes.
"Oh?"
Hiruzen's gaze narrowed. He spotted something interesting.
In the distance, Minato Namikaze was out on his morning jog. And roughly fifty yards behind him, a small, silver-haired shadow was creeping through the alleyways, eyes locked on the blonde.
It was Kakashi Hatake, trying his best to look like a professional assassin.
Hiruzen smirked. The 'Hit Minato' challenge has begun.
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you