"Why create such a massive disturbance inside the village without warning…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a thick plume of smoke. His gaze swept across the gathered shinobi, steady and imposing.
"I did it to test the village's emergency response on the spot. No notice. No reports. No escorts. No briefings. I wanted the rawest, most authentic reaction."
"The Second Shinobi World War may be over, but this is far from the time to lock our blades away."
His voice rang clear across the training ground.
Now that he had released Iron Skin and stepped closer, the shinobi of Konoha could clearly see it.
Their Hokage looked younger. Stronger. His posture straight, his presence vigorous.
Whispers stirred.
That was exactly what Hiruzen had been waiting for.
Not only did he need to justify his sudden transformation, he needed to use it. Shape a new image. Reinforce authority.
"A few months ago, Kushina Uzumaki was abducted inside our own village by shinobi from the Hidden Cloud Village. The Anbu, Root, and the Military Police failed to react in time."
Shinnosuke Sarutobi and Fugaku Uchiha both lowered their heads, backs stiff.
A direct rebuke from the Hokage.
"But is that solely the fault of the Anbu and the Military Police?"
Hiruzen's tone shifted.
"If something like that happens under our watch, then the first person responsible is me, the Hokage."
That caught many off guard.
Fugaku blinked in surprise, still looking down.
He had expected this to turn into pressure against the Uchiha Clan.
If Hiruzen had used the incident to suppress them, even Fugaku would have admitted it was justified.
They had failed.
Instead—
"Accountability prevents complacency," Hiruzen continued. "But more important than blame is making sure it never happens again."
"I did not rush to respond to the Hidden Cloud."
"First, because as Hokage and as the person ultimately responsible for Kushina's incident, I must ensure that if something like this happens again, I will be the first to charge forward."
"And not just charge. Win."
"For that reason, these past few months I have trained in techniques left behind by the First and Second Hokage. Some were dangerous. Perhaps I was fortunate. Perhaps the spirits of our predecessors watched over me. In any case, I achieved some success."
Understanding dawned across the faces of many shinobi.
So that was why the Hokage had not immediately retaliated.
He had been preparing to stand at the front himself.
"Lord Hokage, you were bedridden with a high fever not long ago…" Shikazan Nara, head of the Nara Clan, spoke after exchanging a subtle glance with Hiruzen.
"Yes," Hiruzen replied calmly. "I used certain Forbidden Jutsu. Risky ones. But that's behind us."
He flexed his arm and patted his firm bicep.
"Get used to my new appearance. Otherwise, when we charge together, you might end up following the wrong man."
A faint chuckle rippled through the crowd, easing the tension.
Inwardly, Hiruzen marked Shikazan as perceptive.
Overemphasizing sacrifice would only dampen the atmosphere. A touch of humor worked better.
The chunin and genin looked at him with open admiration.
A Hokage who risked his life mastering dangerous jutsu for the village. A leader who endured criticism in silence.
The image took root.
Kakashi elbowed Asuma and muttered, "What have you been saying about him at the academy?"
Asuma flushed bright red.
He had spent plenty of time calling his father a useless old man.
"Second," Hiruzen continued, "the Kushina incident exposed systemic issues."
"These past months, I have investigated the village's structure. Overlapping duties between the Military Police and the Anbu. Unclear promotion paths for jonin. Organizational inefficiencies."
"I intend to push reforms forward. Prepare yourselves. The guiding principle is simple. Those capable and devoted to the village must stand in the positions they deserve."
Danzo Shimura caught the expressions of his two old teammates and allowed himself a faint, satisfied smile.
So Hiruzen still trusted him.
For the past few days, Danzo had been weighing possibilities. Was Hiruzen stripping him of power, or genuinely bringing him into contention for succession?
The jonin, meanwhile, exchanged glances.
There were thousands of shinobi in Konoha, around a hundred jonin. Yet actual policy decisions rested in the hands of four.
Two advisors. One assistant. One Hokage.
Departments existed, but many were led by Special Jonin due to specialization.
The so-called Jonin Council held little real authority.
Now anticipation stirred.
What would the Third Hokage do?
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane shared a glance.
Institutional reform?
When had he discussed this with them?
But in the heated atmosphere Hiruzen had created, neither dared object. Speaking now would invite resentment from the jonin.
Hiruzen raised a hand.
The murmurs ceased instantly.
"Now, let us summarize this emergency test."
"Overall, it was satisfactory. Our shinobi remain disciplined and swift to respond."
"But there are issues."
His gaze shifted to Danzo.
"Root. What happened? Where was your timeliness?"
The air tightened.
"I did not pursue Root's responsibility in the Kushina incident because Root has delivered results in the past. I cannot demand that an intelligence unit predict every enemy movement."
Danzo's heart skipped.
Was this a public reprimand?
He could not protest.
Root shinobi were trained differently. Under his command, information was reported upward before action was taken, rather than handled simultaneously like the Anbu.
"You do bear responsibility," Hiruzen said firmly. "Danzo, even if Root has been undergoing restructuring, that is no excuse for laxity."
The gathered shinobi kept their eyes lowered.
This was the highest level of Konoha's power struggle.
Danzo, however, was beginning to understand.
Hiruzen was not cutting him down.
He was framing the dissolution of Root as planned reform, not punishment.
That mattered.
"Please punish me, Hokage," Danzo said decisively.
"Make amends through action," Hiruzen replied. "After Root is dissolved, you will serve as deputy director of the Anbu and continue as Hokage's assistant. Deliver results."
"When the village is in danger, I, the Hokage, will charge first. You, my assistant, must be second."
"If such negligence happens again, I will not show leniency. Give me your word."
A spark lit in Danzo's eyes.
He was not being sidelined. He would remain in familiar territory.
A chance to prove himself.
"If this happens again, you may take my head," Danzo declared.
"Good," Hiruzen nodded. "That is the resolve Konoha's assistant should have."
Polite applause followed.
To Danzo, it sounded thunderous.
Hiruzen then called out several names.
"Nara. Akimichi. Yamanaka. Aburame. Kosuke. Sakumo."
Commendations were given.
He stopped before Hizashi Hyuga.
"Hizashi, was the Hyuga Clan holding a closed clan meeting today?"
The question was mild in tone, but pointed.
Hizashi lowered his head.
He had felt the stares when he arrived late. His face still burned.
He had detected the disturbance immediately. But as a member of the branch house, he could not act without reporting to the Hyuga Main House and awaiting instructions.
Protocol cost time.
"There was no meeting," he said quietly. "It was an unexpected delay."
He could not blame the main house outright.
Hiruzen studied him, then offered a step down.
"As a clan with a thousand-year legacy, I respect Hyuga tradition. Keeping the Byakugan active at all times within the village would raise concerns."
Many shinobi nodded.
Privacy mattered. Even among comrades.
"Thank you for your understanding, Hokage-sama," Hizashi exhaled.
"Would you join the Anbu?" Hiruzen asked suddenly. "The village needs your strength."
In the past, similar invitations had been deflected by the Hyuga Main House. Over time, it became unspoken policy.
Hizashi froze.
Then, before he could reconsider, the words escaped.
"I am willing, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen smiled faintly.
"Good. Hizashi, I see you."
He paused.
"And I see the Hyuga Clan's Will of Fire."
Hizashi's eyes trembled.
Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"To the chunin and genin who rushed here, I am proud of you."
"You saw the intensity of my clash with Orochimaru and still came without hesitation."
"With shinobi like you, we will always stand at the forefront of the shinobi world."
"I promise you, the village will never let your Will of Fire go unrewarded."
The vow carried weight.
"Guy, did you see that? That is the Hokage's youth… the Hokage's ninja way!" Might Duy whispered hoarsely, tears brimming. "You must enter the academy and dedicate your youth to the village!"
"Father, I will train twice as hard!" young Guy cried. "After this, let's practice extra!"
Hiruzen noticed the eccentric father and son and chuckled inwardly.
They were unforgettable.
"Why are you two here?" he asked as he lifted Asuma and Kakashi in his arms. "Came to help?"
"I thought you passed out from overwork and forgot to put out your pipe," Asuma sniffed. "Tsunade-neesan and Jiraiya-nii-san brought us."
"Father… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken badly about you at school."
Laughter broke out around them.
Hiruzen smiled. "You brat. We'll settle that at home."
Nothing bridged distance like a shared family moment.
"All right. Return to your posts."
"Danzo. Homura. Koharu. Nine tomorrow morning. Hokage Tower."
"Sakumo, come here."
He lowered his voice.
"Take Hizashi and get him fitted with Anbu attire."
Sakumo nodded.
Fugaku Uchiha watched silently.
Was this really the same Hiruzen Sarutobi the clan head described as a man who did nothing but sit in the Hokage Tower?
It did not feel that way.
"Tsunade. Jiraiya. Your teacher's wife prepared dinner. Orochimaru is coming. Most of the dishes are his favorites. I'll have a couple more made for you."
Jiraiya nodded eagerly, then stomped his foot.
"Old man, you're playing favorites again!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Why would anyone favor an idiot who spends all his time wandering outside the village?"
"Hey! Tsunade!"
Orochimaru stepped forward with a faint smile.
"Teacher, Tsunade, let's go. If we keep talking to this fool, Teacher's wife will be waiting."
"Say that again!" Jiraiya barked. "Fight me! I'll beat you so badly you won't be able to eat!"
"Really?" Orochimaru drawled. "So you're stronger than Teacher now? I, for one, have quite an appetite."
"Oh?" Hiruzen added lightly. "Jiraiya, are you challenging me as well? Tomorrow, perhaps?"
Jiraiya went pale.
"No, Teacher. That's not what I meant. I'm not as tough as that snake!"
As their laughter faded into the evening light, Tsunade hummed softly and walked toward the Sarutobi residence, golden sunset washing over her profile.
For the first time in a long while, her heart felt light.