"What did he do today?" Hiruzen asked, his gaze still fixed on the report lying on his desk.
The answer came from behind him.
"Same as every day. He sent a shadow clone to the academy while he stayed behind to train until evening."
There was a brief pause before the voice continued.
"He also went to the cemetery again. Collected flowers and placed them on his parents' graves."
Hiruzen's pen stilled. He let out a quiet sigh, his eyes softening.
"…He's still just a child," he murmured.
For a moment, something flickered across his face, regret perhaps, but it vanished as quickly as it came. The past could not be undone, and he knew it. All he could do now was try, in whatever small ways remained, to make up for it.
His tone shifted, becoming firm and commanding.
"Order the others to withdraw. Leave only Daer behind. Kumogakure is getting more aggressive, and we'll need every capable shinobi at the front. We can't afford to waste their skills any longer."
After a pause, he asked, "What about Danzō?"
"No movements have been detected. Even Root hasn't been seen to make a move."
Hiruzen's frown deepened. He knew his old friend far too well. Even after ordering him to stand down following the Uchiha incident, there was no way Danzō would simply obey. If anything, the silence made Hiruzen more uneasy than reassured.
What are you planning, Danzō…?
He stood, pulling a pipe from his desk drawer. Striking a match, he lit it and took a slow draw before turning toward the window. The village stretched out before him, calm and orderly, yet noticeably absent was the presence of the Uchiha Police Force.
Still, to the untrained eye, Konoha seemed peaceful.
"Increase surveillance on him," Hiruzen said quietly, the smoke curling from his lips. "And find out if anything has happened in the past few days."
A shadow flickered past the window, silent and fleeting.
The ANBU was gone, vanishing into the rooftops to carry out his orders.
Hiruzen's gaze drifted to the Hokage Rock. His eyes lingered on the stern, chiseled face of the Second Hokage.
"Tobirama-sensei," he murmured, "how would you feel today if you were alive?"
The Uchiha were gone. No chance for another Madara to rise again. Itachi was talented but harmless to the village as long as Sasuke remained safe. In Hiruzen's mind, the younger Uchiha lacked the same overwhelming genius. No matter how hard he trained, he would never match Itachi's level.
Even if Sasuke grew strong, there was no reason to believe he would ever turn against Konoha. The truth of that night was known only to a few, himself, Itachi, and that self-proclaimed Madara, and none of them would ever reveal it. Itachi's loyalty had been proven beyond doubt.
There was always a risk that some unknown enemy might attempt to manipulate Sasuke, but alone, the boy could never truly threaten the village.
Especially when I make sure he forms a bond with someone in Konoha.
A faint curl tugged at Hiruzen's lips. He was confident he would succeed. After all, few could match his experience in such matters. People often underestimated his cunning. Remaining the longest-serving Hokage was no simple feat.
"Oh… I also need to meet Naruto today," he suddenly remembered. "I have to give him some money for the month."
Naruto trusted him, believed he was the only one who truly treated him kindly, aside from that ramen shop owner.
But Hiruzen knew he couldn't rely solely on his own relationship to keep the boy tied to the village. The more bonds Naruto formed, the deeper his loyalty would run.
His expression grew thoughtful, tinged with guilt.
Most people still despised the boy, but that could be turned into an opportunity.
It didn't need to be anyone important. Someone ordinary. Weak. Maybe a chunin who had lost someone in the Nine-Tails attack. Someone who should hate Naruto, yet, over time, would change.
Yes, that would work.
It would give Naruto hope, hope that others might one day acknowledge him, and push him to work harder for it.
As for becoming Hokage, Hiruzen knew it wasn't impossible. The current Mizukage was a Jinchūriki as well, though Naruto's path would be far more difficult due to Konoha's public opinion. Still, if he could make a strong impression on his generation of shinobi, the dream could be within reach.
It would take years of course, but the boy was the son of Minato and carried the Uzumaki bloodline, both signs of immense potential if nurtured properly. And with the Nine-Tails' power, Naruto could very well become the strongest of his generation.
He is going to be important for my family's rise after my death, Hiruzen thought. I should let him meet Konohamaru sometime, let them get to know each other.
His expression hardened. He was no fool. Death would claim him eventually. That was why he had already laid out enough plans to ensure the Sarutobi clan's prosperity long after he was gone. His eldest son would remain as ANBU Commander, his second son was secured within the Daimyō's Twelve Guardian Ninja.
Naruto was simply one of many pieces in the web of plans Hiruzen had spun for the Sarutobi clan's future.
"Danzō… perhaps that's the difference between us," Hiruzen mused silently. "My plans are crafted for the long game, efficient, enduring. Yours burn bright and fast, and leave nothing but ashes."
He turned around, took his purse out from the drawer, and left the room to meet Naruto and give him another dose of the Will of Fire.
.....
Other Worlds for travel?