The reforms of the Education Department surged forward like a tide. Papers stacked across Uzumaki Mito's desk had grown into small mountains — enrollment budgets, teacher appointments, expansion blueprints, and three different sets of negotiations with the daimyo.
Minako was out surveying new academy sites with the Elementary and Advanced Division heads.
Which meant the entire internal administration was, once again, being held up by one person:
Uzumaki Mito — Secretary-General of the Hokage Tower.
(Not that I ever asked for this position…)
She massaged her temples.
Across from her, the Hokage himself sipped tea at ease — serene, idle, and utterly unbothered by the workload he had dumped on her.
Mito wanted to throw the inkstone at him.
"Secretary Mito," Soren said, as though admiring the weather, "you seem short-staffed. If you need an assistant, I already have someone in mind. Someone who can handle diplomacy with the daimyo."
Mito paused. "…You mean Lady Kaori Minamoto?"
Soren nodded. "She's my wife now. If she's bored at home, she may as well work. And I need someone who can speak to the daimyo's court properly."
Mito breathed out through her nose. Of course. The Hokage's wife handling external affairs; Mito handling internal administration. Efficient… yet she still felt bullied by this boy who was half her age.
"The wedding arrangements are nearly finalized," Soren added lightly. "Lord Ichihiko and the elders plan to announce it soon. And yes — Tsunade is not forgotten."
Mito hesitated, then suggested neutrally:
"Hokage-sama… since you're free today, perhaps you should visit the Senju. Including Tsunade."
Soren smiled with unhurried charm.
"Gladly."
He left with the stride of a man who dictated the village with a word.
Mito watched him go and let her shoulders sag.
(If I run, the Tower collapses. If I stay… he works me to death. This brat is the worst kind of Hokage.)
Yet beneath it all… she acknowledged a difficult truth:
He was extremely effective.
The Sarutobi Compound
By the time Soren arrived, the Sarutobi estate had regained a sense of normalcy. Villagers bustled, repairing the last traces of the earlier chaos.
"Hokage-sama!" voices called out, crisp and respectful.
Sarutobi Sasuke hurried forward, bowing, and ushered him inside for tea.
Soren took the main seat with comfortable authority — one that delivered both reassurance and pressure.
A rapid patter of feet broke in:
"Grandpa! I refined chakra! I did it!"
A small child — five or six — burst into the courtyard like a ball of lightning.
Sarutobi Biwako, still fragile in spirit from the clan's recent ordeal, rushed after him.
"Hokage-sama, forgive Shinnosuke. He's still young," she said, pale and trembling.
Shinnosuke puffed his chest, ignorant of danger.
"When I grow up, I'll be Hokage too! I'll crush the Cloud Village! I'll make them pay!"
Sasuke flinched. Biwako nearly fainted.
Soren simply smiled — a curved, unreadable thing.
"I'll look forward to seeing that."
The child beamed and ran off. His mother dragged him away with frantic bows.
When the house quieted, Soren addressed Sasuke.
"Did you clear his memories?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Sasuke replied immediately. "He remembers nothing of that day. His hatred points only at the Cloud. His path will be clean."
Soren lifted his cup, studying the man.
Sarutobi Sasuke — the man who would later raise one of Konoha's greatest Hokage candidates — had spine. And discipline. And ambition.
Good.
"I only like enemies who kneel beneath my feet," Soren said flatly.
"You kneeled when you should. Stand when I tell you to."
Sasuke rose.
"Our clan will be your blade, Hokage-sama."
Good again.
Soren continued:
"The Education Department will soon need specialized instructors — especially those with a steady hand. The Sarutobi will contribute."
Sasuke bowed deeply. "We will not fail the Hokage."
Soren's gaze dropped to Sasuke's reattached arm. "Does it hinder you?"
"No. Fully recovered. Ready for duty."
"Good. From this day, the ANBU structure will be replaced by the Shadow Guard. Four units — open, not covert. No masked ministers."
He let the words settle.
"One of those four unit leaders will be yours to appoint."
Sasuke stiffened with astonished gratitude — then squared his shoulders.
"Hokage-sama… I will not let you down."
Soren rose with a smile that was both gentle and terrifying.
"See that you don't. Konoha's future has no room for the incompetent."
And the Sarutobi elder bowed until his forehead touched the mat.
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