Chapter 131: The Hokage's Personal Guard; Countering the Flying Raijin
Konoha. Outside the Hokage Office.
Nonō Yakushi took a deep breath, her heart racing with a mixture of apprehension
and intense anticipation. She had been back in the Hidden Leaf for three days
now.
Even for a triple-A deep-cover operative—the legendary "Wandering Priestess" of
the Anbu—the transformations she had witnessed upon her return were nothing
short of staggering.
She had been embedded in Iwagakure (The Hidden Stone) for over two years. Coming
home was like stepping into a different century.
The village had nearly doubled in size. Commercial districts were booming with
high-end boutiques and gourmet eateries. The administration had launched an
array of unprecedented social welfare policies, and the entire high-level
hierarchy had been restructured into the Konoha High Commission.
Nonō hadn't even needed to gather intelligence to learn this. Under Hiruzen
Sarutobi's directive, the Administrative and Police departments had erected
massive public information boards across the village. These weren't just for
announcements; they were beautifully illustrated displays explaining the new
pension systems, the orphan and elder subsidies, and the standardized
jutsu-refinement programs.
There were even historical murals detailing the achievements of the First and
Second Hokage, grounding the current reforms in the village's original legacy.
Nonō walked the perimeter of the "Inner Ring," mesmerized. This is the Konoha I
dreamed of, she thought.
She was a rare breed of shinobi. Years of operating in the cold brutality of
Danzo's Root hadn't blackened her soul; instead, the darkness had only
strengthened her hunger for light and peace. She had eventually resigned from
active duty to run a small orphanage in the Land of Fire, seeking a quiet life
of service.
But Danzo viewed a "Tool with a Heart" as a liability. He had labeled her
unreliable and used the orphanage's funding as a leash, forcing her back into
the field to spy on the Stone. In the old regime, an operative who disobeyed an
order was "sanitized." Unless you had the god-tier combat stats of someone like
Roshi, you were expendable.
"I still can't believe it," Nonō whispered to herself. "The village actually
authorized my extraction. I was certain Danzo would leave me in the Stone to rot
until I was caught and 'liquidated.'"
"Instead, they sent an elite escort. The path home was flawless."
"Based on the chatter in the streets, Lord Hiruzen has completely dismantled the
old shadow-cabinet. He's taking extreme ownership of the village."
Though Hiruzen had forbidden his own name from being placed on the propaganda
boards, it was a useless gesture. The villagers and shinobi were already singing
his praises in the taverns. The reputation of the "New Hiruzen" was growing
exponentially—a leader who was as humble as he was powerful.
Nonō adjusted her glasses, steeled her nerves, and walked into the Hokage
building. After clearing the Anbu security check, she was led to a high-level
briefing room.
Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi was finishing a session with Isshin Uchiha.
"Lord Hokage, the Police Force has finalized the transition plan," Isshin
reported, standing at attention.
"We will maintain one-third of the current Uchiha roster for core security. The
remaining two-thirds will be transitioned back into the standard mission
rotation and the global Patrol Net."
Isshin was reciting the blueprint drafted by Seisui Uchiha (Tobirama), watching
Hiruzen's reaction with a hawkish gaze. This was the first major "test" of the
Uchiha's new standing.
"Ah, Nonō. You're here. Please, take a seat," Hiruzen said, beckoning her with a
friendly wave. He turned back to Isshin. "A solid proposal. Integrating
scent-trackers, insect-users, and ocular perception into a Tri-Dimensional
Security Grid is exactly what the village needs."
"The Uchiha have carried the burden of domestic security for too long. It's time
they got back out into the world and saw some fresh air."
Hiruzen smiled warmly at the Elder. He knew that the Uchiha's current policies
were effectively being dictated by his Master from the shadows. He just needed
to nod and sign the scrolls.
If I hadn't revived Master Tobirama, managing the Uchiha would have been a
full-time psychological war, Arata thought. Political suspicion is a recursive
loop—no matter how many 'True Intentions' you show, people will always look for
the hidden double-meaning. But when the enemy's leader is your own Master? It's
like playing a game on God-Mode.
Isshin was momentarily dazed. The Hokage didn't even question the numbers? No
interrogation of our motives?
"Lord Hokage... perhaps we should convene a full Commission meeting? Or ask the
Assistant for his input?" Isshin asked, almost reflexively seeking a hurdle. The
lack of friction felt suspicious.
"Danzo handles the Anbu and the Treasury. Domestic clan integration is my desk,"
Hiruzen replied with a dismissive chuckle. "Opening a meeting for every routine
reorganization would cripple our efficiency."
"My High Commission system relies on the expertise of the specific
Commissioners. You and Fugaku are the authorities on the Police Force. If you
say the plan is ready, I believe you."
"Besides," Hiruzen added with a playful glint in his eye, "I am the Hokage. My
word is final."
Isshin felt a surge of genuine shame for his suspicion. Lord Hiruzen really does
follow the First's spirit. He trusts us implicitly. He sees us as family, while
we were still looking for traps.
"Forgive my hesitation, sir! I will return to the compound and begin the
reorganization alongside Fugaku immediately!"
Hiruzen laughed. "Good. But Isshin... go study the new Village Ordinances. The
Police Force is responsible for the propaganda boards now. If you don't
understand the rules, how can you explain them to the citizens? Don't let your
son outshine you."
Isshin bowed 90 degrees. "I'm on it, sir! We'll be experts by morning!"
He felt a thrill he hadn't felt in decades. He wasn't just a "Token" leader
anymore; he was a working gear in the Hokage's machine.
"As for Danzo," Hiruzen added as Isshin reached the door, "his jurisdiction is
external threats. The Uchiha's internal business doesn't concern him. If you
have a grievance, you bring it here."
Isshin beamed. Hiruzen was publicly shielding the Uchiha from Danzo's "Naturally
Evil" interference. It was the ultimate show of favor.
Once Isshin had departed, Hiruzen turned his attention to Nonō.
"Nonō Yakushi. I've read your report on the Stone."
Hiruzen held up a small scroll—the gathered data on the Earth Style: Weighted
Rock Jutsu. It was a signature art of the Tsuchikage lineage, a high-stakes
tactical asset.
"Lord Hokage..." Nonō lowered her head. "I ask for your judgment. I failed to
secure the Light-Weight version, and my early withdrawal—"
"The Root is gone, Nonō. Forget the 'Tool' mindset," Hiruzen interrupted, his
voice becoming soft and fatherly.
"You recognized that the Stone was under lockdown. You prioritized the village's
secrecy over a suicidal push for a scroll. That is the judgment of an elite
shinobi, not a failure."
"I supervised the old Hiruzen's work, and I apologize for the pressure Danzo put
on you in the past. It was an administrative failure."
Nonō stared at the Hokage. He's... apologizing to a spy? Her eyes blurred with
unshed tears. This was the "Humanity" the Will of Fire was supposed to
represent.
"Your skills as a medical researcher and an instructor are what the village
needs most right now," Hiruzen continued. "I'm appointing you as the Matron of
the Konoha Orphanage."
"We are funding the expansion of your facility with the 'restitution gold'
provided by the Uchiha clan. You will report directly to Commissioner Tsunade."
"And," Hiruzen added, sliding a certificate across the table, "you are now a
Candidate High Commissioner. I want you to assist Tsunade in building our
medical industrial lines. We need a 'Will of Fire' factory for our orphans."
Nonō took the paper, her hands trembling. "Thank you, Lord Hokage! I... I will
give everything to protect our children!"
"Good. Now, go find Tsunade. She's currently in a bad mood because Jiraiya ate
her lunch; she could use a distraction."
After Nonō left, Hiruzen returned to his private desk. He wove a series of
signs, focusing on the Weighted Rock formulas.
Though Nonō only brought back the "Framework," Arata's "Professor" legacy and
his current "Level-Cap" expansion were more than enough to fill in the blanks.
Weighted Rock creates a localized gravity well, Hiruzen analyzed. If I can
master the 'Pulse-Release' version, I can create a high-gravity domain that
affects even a spirit-form.
If a Flying Raijin master teleports into a 10x gravity zone, their 'Lag' will
increase by a full half-second. Their internal rhythm will shatter. It's the
perfect counter to space-time migration.
Hiruzen smirked. I'm not targeting Minato, of course. I'm just being
'Strategically Vigilant' against any future Uchiha teleporting teenagers.
And speaking of my Master...
Hiruzen looked at the clock. The Uchiha meeting is tonight. Tobirama is about to
deliver his 'Correction' to Danzo.
Danzo wants an Uchiha disciple? He's about to find out that being a 'Teacher' is
a lot harder when the student is the one who invented the curriculum.
☆☆☆
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