The Hokage's office was thick with smoke.
Nara Shikaku might hate trouble, but he wasn't slow. In fact, the moment he traced the sequence of events in his head, the shape of the situation became painfully clear.
The Ino–Shika–Chō clans had always been aligned with the Hokage's faction. The Nara clan in particular had never escaped that role. Being the Hokage's strategist was not a title one could simply decline.
Seeing Shikaku remain silent for so long, the Third Hokage slowly set his pipe aside and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"The ANBU Commander visited the Nara compound three days ago. You were on duty at the time."
Shikaku's expression tightened instantly. A thin sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.
That wasn't casual conversation. It was a warning.
"Hokage-sama, I only learned about it after returning home," Shikaku replied carefully.
Though firmly part of the Hokage's camp, he had no desire to be dragged too deep into succession politics. The Third Hokage was not yet frail. His strength, while no longer at its absolute peak, was still enough to suppress dissent.
Hiruzen shook his head slowly and sighed.
"Shinnosuke's strength is acceptable for his age… but not enough to command universal respect."
That single sentence sent Shikaku's mind racing.
He raised his head and studied the Hokage's expression, weighing every pause, every breath.
"Hokage-sama," Shikaku said after a brief silence, "the ANBU Commander offered the position of Jōnin Commander."
The words didn't directly answer each other, yet both men understood perfectly.
Once Hiruzen mentioned his son by name, the scale had already tilted.
On a personal level, Shinnosuke was his child. A father passing the Hokage's hat to his son would make history.On a political level, Konoha could not endure more upheaval. The Third Great Ninja War had barely ended before the Nine-Tails disaster claimed the Fourth Hokage. The village was exhausted.
Hiruzen had always chosen stability.
And so, he chose the safest successor.
Shikaku's suggestion was precise. The current Jōnin Commander was none other than Sarutobi Shinnosuke, stationed at the border after leaving ANBU. If Shikaku took that position, Shinnosuke could only move upward.
The implication made Shikaku swallow hard.
This was the Hokage's seat they were discussing. Authority over the strongest village in the Five Great Nations.
Hiruzen calmly refilled his pipe. With flawless chakra control, he ignited the tobacco through the wooden stem alone.
Smoke curled once more through the office.
"Konoha cannot afford chaos," Hiruzen said quietly. "Orochimaru would bring changes beyond our control. In a time of prosperity, he would be the best choice."
But this was not a time of prosperity.
Hiruzen turned his gaze toward the Hokage Monument outside the window. His eyes, clouded with age, held a trace of hesitation.
"Sensei… I'm doing this for the village."
Was he wrong?
Shikaku sighed softly. Politics had never been about right or wrong.
Choosing stability meant choosing the safest transition of power. If the next Hokage inherited Hiruzen's governing philosophy, Konoha could recover within a decade.
Orochimaru might have pushed the village to unprecedented heights.
Or he might have driven it into ruin.
What Hiruzen could not accept were the risks. A violent transfer of power. A clash of governing ideals. Either outcome could plunge the village back into war.
"Hokage-sama," Shikaku said at last, bowing slightly, "the Nara clan requests permission to assist Shinnosuke-sama at the border."
It was the smartest move available.
Shikaku distanced himself from the core of the political storm while quietly declaring his allegiance. The front lines were neutral ground.
Hiruzen understood immediately. He did not expose Shikaku's intent, only sighed.
"The front needs someone like you."
That was as good as confirmation.
Though the Jōnin Commander held little administrative authority in peacetime, the position stood equal to Konoha's major department heads. In war, it could command entire divisions.
"One more thing," Hiruzen added. "Tell Shinnosuke to focus on his training. I can support him for a time, but not forever."
Strength mattered.
With the leadership backing him, reputation could be built. But a weak Hokage would shame the village.
Shikaku finally relaxed. He had stepped away from the fire, secured his footing, and aligned himself with the future.
What no one anticipated was Orochimaru's defection.
The Third Hokage would lose both his son and daughter-in-law. Konoha would still be shaken. And in the end, the only one to emerge unscathed was Shikaku himself.
As Shikaku exited the Hokage Tower, a shadow dropped silently behind him.
He forced a bitter smile.
"Minister. The Hokage has ordered me to the border to assist Shinnosuke-sama."
The ANBU Commander chuckled softly. Only her eyes were visible beneath the mask, sharp and confident.
"Jōnin Commander Shikaku," she said calmly. "None of this was ever hidden from the Hokage."
Shikaku's expression remained neutral, but inwardly he felt a chill.
This woman was dangerous.
She played entirely in the open, calculating every step around Hiruzen's preferences. Nothing was concealed because nothing needed to be. If the Hokage had disapproved, he would have stopped it long ago.
She understood him perfectly.
Hiruzen sought stability above all else.
And so she moved freely, building alliances right under his nose.