A new year had arrived, marking the 29th year since the founding of Konoha. Over the past several years, both the village and the wider shinobi world had undergone sweeping, transformative changes.
One of the most notable developments was the recent completion of Konoha's first full cycle of systematic performance and rotation assessments. For the first time since the village's reform efforts began, every level of leadership was evaluated including the Hokage himself. Senior jonin were assessed by the chunin beneath them, while jonin had the opportunity to evaluate their superiors.
The results of the assessments were telling. Both the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the village council members received the highest possible ratings.
Under this new system, several prominent figures such as Shimura Danzo, Uchiha Kagami, and Hyuga Hayato were officially recognized as qualified candidates for the title of Hokage.
However, Hiruzen had never been overly concerned with his own score. His true objective had always been to stabilize and legitimize the reformed structure itself. That said, he once again secured the top ranking whether due to his standing as a Hokage or simply because no one had mounted a serious challenge for his position.
More importantly, the reforms had introduced something once unthinkable: a formal mechanism for evaluating and supervising the Hokage. Though its long-term impact remained uncertain, its presence had already begun to yield positive results which could foster greater transparency and accountability at the highest levels of leadership.
Alongside these policy changes, the village saw a significant reshuffling of duties and department leadership.
Shimura Danzo was officially appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, placing him in charge of external relations. Meanwhile, the Intelligence Department was dissolved and merged into Anbu to streamline operations and strengthen internal coordination. Yamanaka Inori was named Director of Intelligence within the newly integrated Anbu division.
These decisions marked a turning point for Konoha, a shift toward a more structured and sustainable governance model, where power was no longer concentrated in tradition alone, but earned through performance, merit, and the trust of the people.
It had become increasingly clear that having too many departments brought more complications than benefits. The overlapping responsibilities, miscommunication, and time wasted on coordination has made the system becoming more inefficient. In response, several major adjustments were implemented.
The original Assessment Department was dissolved and its functions absorbed into the Government Affairs Department. In its place, a new Assessment Bureau was established where this time it was placed directly under the supervision of Hiruzen himself, ensuring tighter oversight and clearer direction.
The Mission Department remained untouched for the moment, but its leadership underwent changes. Mitokado Homura, the current Minister of Government Affairs, was appointed to manage the department, while Nara Shikatsu was demoted to Deputy Minister and assigned the additional role of Hokage's personal secretary.
Initially, the village had created a wide array of departments to clarify chains of command and offer more leadership positions as an approach designed to spread authority and allow more individuals to enjoy the prestige and benefits of high office. However, with the reforms now in place and the administrative structure stabilizing, many of these departments had outlived their usefulness. Redundant or inefficient offices were gradually being eliminated or consolidated into more streamlined units.
Though Konoha was one of the largest shinobi villages, it was still modest in size compared to an actual city. Overcomplicating its administrative system had only led to unnecessary bureaucratic burden. The current strategy focused on simplifying where possible, with the understanding that new departments could always be created later, when the population and complexity of village affairs justified it.
At present, the village's systems were functioning smoothly. Morale was high, and enthusiasm for missions had reached a peak. The Mission Department, in particular, had expanded significantly, making it unlikely to be canceled or absorbed any time soon.
That said, the mission process had evolved. All shinobi were now required to register their assignments through the new Assessment Bureau. Furthermore, the mission details especially those involving sensitive intelligence had to be reported directly to the Anbu Intelligence Division. In the past, with these departments operating independently, such coordination was sluggish and prone to error. Today, thanks to the newly integrated system, the entire process ran far more efficiently.
Meanwhile, a new generation of talented shinobi was rising to prominence. Among them, Hatake Sakumo stood out and were appointed as the Head of Anbu at just twenty-four years old. Many of his students had already advanced to jonin. Among the younger elite, Yuhi Shinku and Mitarashi Naoto were considered two of the most dependable and promising figures.
Although Sakumo now commands the Anbu, his introspective nature often leads him to overanalyze and get lost in thought. While his strength and leadership are unquestioned, he still benefits from occasional guidance to stay grounded.
Tsunade, who were often called the "prodigal daughter" of the Senju clan, recently faced the consequences of her extravagant spending. After years of indulgence, her grandmother, Mito, finally cut off her financial support. Left with no choice, Tsunade turned to Hiruzen for occasional monetary help. Seizing the moment to redirect her talents, Hiruzen assigned her to the Medical Department.
Coincidentally, the department's former head, Senju Daiki, had just resigned and declined to accept any further positions. For the time being, the role of Head Medic is being temporarily filled by Akimichi Torifu.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, remains deeply influenced by the teachings of Mount Myoboku and continues his journey to find the prophesied child. Though often absent-minded, he still contributes to the village by splitting his time between the Patrol Division and the Intelligence Division.
Among Hiruzen's three students, Orochimaru stands out as the most capable and driven disciple. With unmatched talent and ambition, he has emerged as the leading candidate to inherit the mantle of Hokage. In order to prepare him for this responsibility, Hiruzen appointed him as the Deputy Minister of both the Education Department and the Foreign Affairs Department.
After all, true leadership demands mastery over both personnel and finances.
Currently, the control over village personnel is divided between the Assessment Bureau and the Education Department. The former is responsible for evaluating and promoting active shinobi, while the latter is tasked with nurturing the next generation of talent.
On the other hand, the power of the purse remains with the Government Affairs Department. However, major expenditures still require direct approval from the Hokage.
Orochimaru's post in the Education Department allows him to shape his own cadre of loyal and skilled individuals, while his role in Foreign Affairs broadens his perspective of the ninja world. Through these dual appointments, he is steadily gaining the experience and influence necessary to one day lead the village.
This was only the beginning.
Hiruzen had no intention of letting Orochimaru remain stagnant. He planned to rotate his student through various key positions, gradually preparing him step by step for the responsibilities of leadership.
Around this same period, Kato Dan was also promoted to the rank of jonin. However, in an effort to keep others away from his "precious one" a clear reference to someone dear to him Dan threw himself into mission work outside the village. For three consecutive years, he had taken on back-to-back assignments, spending no more than two months a year in Konoha.
Meanwhile, Hiruko had been steadily recovering. With the Akimichi clan's nutritional support and the aid of Hiruzen's Electromagnetic Body Reinforcement Technique, Hiruko's condition improved significantly. Now as an elite chunin, he had taken on a support role, assisting Tsunade with her responsibilities in the Medical Department.
The village itself was stabilizing. As operations became more streamlined, Hiruzen gradually began to step back from day-to-day control. He even delegated many of the Hokage's duties to Shimura Danzo, partly to test and train him for larger responsibilities. Danzo was the one who represented Konoha at the most recent Five Kage Summit, a move that drew considerable attention.
On the surface, this seemed like a great honor. Danzo finally held real authority, standing tall on behalf of the village.
But in truth, Hiruzen had a different motivation. Quietly, it was his way of atoning for old wounds. He carried a lingering guilt as Danzo had long aspired to become Hokage, and yet it was Hiruzen his closest friend, who had denied him that dream.
Still, Hiruzen believed he had chosen rightly.
When the time came for him to retire, Hiruzen had no intention of passing the Hokage title to someone from his own generation. The office of Hokage should be handed down to the next era and should not remain tethered to the past. Appointing someone like Danzo would only disrupt that natural succession.
Therefore, for now, he allowed Danzo to enjoy his newfound power and let him test the waters, carry the influence, and feel the weight of command as a leader.
But Hiruzen knew that the one he was truly preparing for succession was Orochimaru.
When the time for transition arrived, Orochimaru would be the one to wear the mantle of Hokage. If Danzo accepted this, he could still retain a place of honor or perhaps even serve as the Deputy Hokage. But if he opposed it, there would be severe consequences.
Hiruzen had never denied Danzo the opportunities. He had always opened the door for him. It was up to Danzo to walk through it and grow. But changing the mindset of a man who was already grown was a difficult task. By the time Hiruzen had returned from the future, Danzo was already set in his own path ways.
Orochimaru by contrast was still a younger sapling, firm and full of promises, yet still easily influenced to be shaped into something greater.
Just then— Knock knock.
"Come in," Hiruzen said calmly.
The door creaked open, and in stepped Nara Shikaru, Uchiha Kagami, Hatake Sakumo, and Orochimaru.
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened as this wasn't seemed as a casual visit.
He rarely spent time in the Hokage's Office anymore, preferring the seclusion inside the hidden deep within the Forest of Death. Out of his core students, only Sakumo and Orochimaru whom still returned home regularly. Shinku and Naoto were stationed on a long-term missions, Tsunade only dropped by when she needed money, and Jiraiya made rare appearances where he usually returned during the New Year.
Whenever something important arose, Sakumo or Orochimaru would usually bring the word directly to the academy. But now, with all four of them appearing here, together and unannounced, Hiruzen sensed trouble and something significant might have happened unbeknownst to him.