Hokage's Office
The air was heavy with smoke.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, pipe in hand, frowning at the kneeling Anbu before him.
Beside him, Danzo Shimura leaned on his cane, his single visible eye glinting coldly in the dim light.
The Anbu took a steadying breath and spoke, word by word:
"Sawada Hiroki demonstrated the ability to walk on water at the Third Training Ground. The process was smooth and flawless. Afterward, he proposed a chakra quantification system—"
"He defined the chakra consumption of a basic Transformation Technique as 100 ka, using it as a standard unit to measure chakra output. During the demonstration, Hiroki maintained a stable output of exactly 1 ka, and according to Lord Orochimaru's perception, his fluctuation rate was close to zero."
Close to zero?
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. He knew how much chakra a Transformation Technique generally required, though the amount varied depending on each person's weight and physique. A larger body, like Gamabunta's, would consume vastly more than transforming into a kunai or shuriken.
Even with that knowledge, no one had ever managed to quantify chakra like this.
Danzo spoke first, his voice sharp."Did Orochimaru mention his own fluctuation rate?"
"Yes," the Anbu replied quietly. "Lord Orochimaru stated his was approximately ±0.02."
"±0.02!?"
Sarutobi and Danzo exchanged a look—both immediately understanding the implication.
Orochimaru was an elite jonin, one of the most precise chakra users in Konoha. If even he registered a 0.02 variance while Hiroki's fluctuation was undetectable…
Then Hiroki's chakra control was beyond human—almost mechanical.
Silence filled the office.
Danzo, still half-shrouded in shadow, finally spoke, his tone low and deliberate."This 'ka' unit… if standardized, could increase the efficiency of the Academy by at least thirty percent. Chakra control classes could be systematized. Students could reach Chunin-level precision before even graduating."
Sarutobi turned his pipe between his fingers but didn't light it.Danzo wasn't wrong—but as the founder and overseer of the Ninja Academy, Hiruzen knew the reality.
If even Orochimaru's variance was 0.02, what would the instructors' be? 1.5? 3.0? How could such a delicate system be taught by people who couldn't even measure their own chakra accurately?
"The question," he said quietly, "is how to measure it. Just because Hiroki can sense these values doesn't mean everyone else can. We don't yet have a standard ruler."
It was the exact issue the Second Hokage must have faced.If Tobirama hadn't implemented such a system, there was probably a reason.
"Then let Orochimaru make one," Danzo said bluntly. "He's the boy's mentor and one of the best researchers in the village. Let him develop a method—or a device—to measure chakra output."
Hiruzen nodded. That was indeed the best course of action. Orochimaru's scientific curiosity would drive him to it faster than any order could.
"Agreed. But we'll have to wait until his current mission is complete," Hiruzen said, setting the pipe down. "We'll discuss this again once he returns."
A brief knock interrupted their conversation.
"Enter," said Hiruzen, his expression softening as though the prior discussion had never happened.
The door opened. Orochimaru stepped in, followed by three young figures—Hiroki, Kushina, and Nawaki.
"Teacher, I've brought the Second Team," Orochimaru said, bowing slightly. He looked puzzled—he'd just been in training; what could be so urgent?
Sarutobi's face grew solemn again."Orochimaru, I have a mission for you. Intelligence reports that the Rain Village has been acting suspiciously—cross-border movements, unauthorized incursions. Today, we received confirmation: a large group of Rain-nin has entered the Land of Fire."
He paused, his gaze sharpening."We suspect they're preparing to provoke a war."
Danzo said nothing, watching Hiroki silently from the shadows, his expression unreadable.
Orochimaru frowned, glancing at the three students beside him."Teacher, these children…" His meaning was obvious—Kushina was the Nine-Tails' reserve host, Nawaki was Tsunade's brother, and Hiroki was an extraordinary prodigy.
"There's no one else available," Hiruzen said flatly. "The Anbu are deployed to the Wind Country. Jiraiya is in Lightning, and Tsunade is stationed near the Earth border. You're the only one left."
He rose from his chair, voice grave."Your mission is to scout the movements of the Hidden Rain Village, gather intelligence along the border, and assess Hanzo's troop deployments. If you encounter Rain-nin inside Fire Country territory—"
His eyes hardened.
"You are authorized to engage without hesitation. This is no exercise. This is war."
The room went silent.
Nawaki swallowed hard, fists tightening.Kushina's breath quickened.Even Hiroki's usually calm expression tensed slightly.
War… it was really happening.
"I understand," Orochimaru said solemnly. "I will protect them."
Hiruzen's expression softened for a brief moment."You're my most gifted disciple, Orochimaru. I trust you with their lives."
Then he turned to the three children.
"Nawaki. Kushina. Hiroki."His tone deepened."This will be your first real combat mission. Learn from it. Grow from it. You cannot remain students forever—sooner or later, you must stand as shinobi of Konoha."
He exhaled a thin cloud of smoke.
"On the training ground, failure means you try again. But on the battlefield—" his voice grew heavier—"you only get one chance."
The air felt suffocating.
"Only those who survive," he finished quietly, "are qualified to speak of the future."
"Yes!" Nawaki answered, his voice loud though his hands trembled.
"Yes!" Kushina echoed, her nerves hidden behind determination.
Hiroki only nodded. His eyes were calm—too calm for his age.He knew what "battlefield" really meant.He also knew… this was the year Nawaki was fated to die.His heart tightened.
"Good." Hiruzen nodded. "Prepare immediately. The Anbu will deliver your mission details and border maps to you soon. Move out as soon as you're ready."
He hesitated, then added:"If you encounter Sand-nin inside Rain territory, avoid conflict—they're still our allies. But if they appear within Fire Country borders—"
His eyes turned steely.
"Kill without hesitation."
"Understood," Orochimaru said, bowing deeply.
"Go," Hiruzen said, smiling faintly again as he waved them off. "And return safely."
"Yes!"
Orochimaru led the three out.The moment the door closed, Hiruzen's expression fell.
He sat back heavily, taking a long drag from his pipe.
"Danzo," he said quietly, "how many of those children do you think will survive?"
"At least two," Danzo replied coldly. "It's only the Rain Village. Orochimaru will protect them. Unless they encounter Hanzo himself, they'll be fine."
He narrowed his eye."Kushina needs battlefield experience. She must understand real combat before becoming a Jinchuriki. Otherwise, she'll never grasp what true crisis means."
"And Hiroki," Danzo added, "already possesses the strength to assassinate a jonin-level ninja. If there's ever a time to test him, it's now."
Hiruzen's voice dropped. "And if they do encounter Hanzo?"
Danzo's answer was blunt."Then it's fate. The weak die, the strong live. That is the ninja way. Even Tobirama couldn't control everything."
Sarutobi closed his eyes, silent for a long moment. He knew Danzo was right.
Still, as Hokage, he could only hope—
"I just hope," he murmured, exhaling a thin stream of smoke,"that all three of them come back alive."