Chapter 52: Plans for the Yin Seal; Tsunade's Impatience
The Hokage Residence.
Early Morning.
Hiruzen had just finished his daily Lightning Style conditioning. After a steaming hot shower, he sat at the dining table in his loungewear, digging into the breakfast Biwako had prepared while his mind whirled with the mechanics of the Yin Seal.
He had access to all the archives concerning the Strength of a Hundred Seal. However, every shinobi's chakra pathway system was unique—the thickness of the meridians, the rate of chakra production, and the speed of natural leakage varied from person to person. The experiences of previous masters like Mito Uzumaki could only serve as a general blueprint.
Hiruzen held an onigiri in one hand, while the other traced invisible patterns in the air, mapping out the custom sealing array he intended to build on his own body.
A prototype was already taking shape in his mind.
He wasn't in a rush. The Yin Seal was a lifetime commitment; any effort spent on perfecting it now would pay dividends for decades.
Measure twice, cut once, Arata thought.
But the quiet morning was shattered by the sound of an argument outside the front door.
"I need to see Sensei!"
"Please, I'm not trying to make your life difficult, but your Byakugan can clearly see it's me! Move!"
"This is an emergency!"
That voice was unmistakable. It was Tsunade.
"No one enters the Hokage's residence without prior authorization," a cold, flat voice replied. Hizashi Hyūga, wearing his Anbu mask, stood like a statue in front of the door. He didn't budge an inch.
"If you have urgent business, you may wait for Lord Hiruzen at the Hokage Office."
Inside, Biwako paused her cleaning and shared a look with Hiruzen. With a silent nod from her husband, she walked over and pulled the door open.
She found Tsunade standing on the porch, looking fit to burst, with a weary-looking Orochimaru and Jiraiya trailing behind her.
"Come in, you three," Biwako said with a soft laugh. "Tsunade, still as impulsive as ever, I see. Have you had breakfast?"
Biwako turned to the Anbu guard and offered a respectful nod. "Thank you for your hard work, Hizashi-kun."
Hizashi bowed slightly. "I am merely doing my duty, Biwako-sama."
Orochimaru watched the exchange, nodding to himself. Biwako is the perfect partner for the Old Man. She handles the social nuances with surgical precision.
He was even more impressed by how thoroughly Hiruzen had "domesticated" the Hyūga. Looking at Hizashi, Orochimaru realized the man didn't care about Tsunade's status as a "Princess" or a Sannin. If Hiruzen gave the order, Hizashi would likely try to take Tsunade's head without a second thought.
He was a "Lone Official"—loyal only to the throne.
I need to study how the Old Man does this, Orochimaru thought. Lately, he's been talking to Tenzo Hyūga like they're old friends, and even more Branch members are being folded into the Anbu. It's a masterclass in political subversion.
"Sorry for the intrusion, Biwako-sama!" Tsunade said, though she looked anything but apologetic. She was practically vibrating. "I have a technical breakthrough! I had to share it with Sensei!"
Biwako shook her head, smiling as she went to prepare tea for the unexpected guests.
"Sensei! The research into Medical Sealing Scrolls! We've hit a massive milestone!"
"You told me to consult with Grandma Mito, and you were right—she had the missing piece of the puzzle. I've found a way to inject medical chakra into a physical medium and prevent it from dissipating!"
"I'm demanding that we halt production on the 'Sage Vitality Pills' immediately! We need to pivot all our resources to the Medical Scroll project!"
Hiruzen didn't look impressed. He narrowed his eyes. "How much of a breakthrough are we talking about? Give me the facts, Tsunade. No exaggerations."
"Well... it's a stable prototype," Tsunade said, her bravado faltering slightly under Hiruzen's gaze.
She realized that the moment the conversation turned to village business, Hiruzen became a different person. He reminded her of her Great-Uncle Tobirama—gentle and kind in private, but cold, clinical, and demanding the moment the "Hat" was involved.
"But... but the method is simplified! I'm confident I can train the Ino-Shika-Cho teams to produce these. It really isn't that hard if you have a steady hand!"
Hiruzen held up a hand, silencing her.
He had seen this coming. This was the "Old Tsunade"—full of idealistic passion but lacking a grasp of logistical reality.
"I have a few questions for you."
"The Akimichi and Nara clans have committed their workforce to the Sage Vitality Pills because the Administrative Department has already secured pre-orders from the Land of Fire. They have a guaranteed revenue stream. They can afford to quit their mission rotations and become full-time industrial shinobi."
"If I move them to R&D, who pays their salaries? Research costs money; it doesn't generate it."
Tsunade stammered for a second. "I... I'll take on extra surgical shifts! I'll pay for it myself!"
"Fine. Let's say you cover the payroll." Hiruzen began ticking off fingers on his right hand.
"How do you plan to replace the revenue the 'Sage Pills' were supposed to generate? That money was earmarked for: The Shinobi Social Safety Net, the Orphan Support Initiative, the Hashirama Cell Research Fund, the Elite Academy Fast-Track program, and the subsidies for Standardized Gear."
Tsunade's eyes began to glaze over.
"Wait... you're planning on doing all of that?" she whispered, stunned. Each of those projects sounded as massive as her own.
Hiruzen didn't stop. He began ticking off fingers on his other hand.
"Then there's the Macro-Economic aspect. By selling these tonics to the nobility, we aren't just getting rich. We are creating a financial dependency. We are increasing the overall 'GNP' of the Land of Fire while ensuring Konoha holds the keys to their health."
Jiraiya's jaw dropped. He looked at Orochimaru. "Does he have a script hidden under the table? How does he even know those words?"
"The Hokage seat is a heavy burden, Jiraiya," Orochimaru whispered, his eyes full of admiration.
"Stop! Stop!" Tsunade groaned, clutching her head like a monkey with a golden headband. "I get it! I just want to save lives! I don't want to see more of our friends come home in body bags in the next war!"
Hiruzen gave a soft laugh. He looked at Orochimaru, his gaze searching. Are you in on this "Revolt," too?
Orochimaru immediately raised his hands in a gesture of innocence. Don't look at me, Sensei. She dragged me here by my collar. I'm just an observer.
"Sensei, you know I've always supported your vision," Orochimaru said, making his stance clear. He wasn't about to get caught in the blast radius of Tsunade's lecture.
"What about me? Why aren't you looking at me?" Jiraiya pouted. "I was kidnapped too! I support the vision! Mostly because I don't understand it, but I support it!"
"Yes, yes. You're very important, Jiraiya," Hiruzen said dismissively.
"I'm wounded, Sensei! Deeply wounded!"
The comedic tension broke the serious atmosphere. Hiruzen leaned back, his expression softening. Tsunade, like Mito, held a special place in the village. It was important to keep her motivated without letting her idealistic whims bankrupt the village.
"I understand your heart, Tsunade. But a leader must look at the whole board. We move in stages. We act according to the global climate, not just our own desires."
"The Mist is currently tearing itself apart in a civil war. The Sand is licking its wounds. The Cloud is rebuilding its morale. As long as we remain stable, the Stone won't move. This is our Development Phase."
"However," Hiruzen added, seeing Tsunade's shoulders slump, "we will adjust. I want a formal plan to move into mass production of the Medical Scrolls within three to five years."
Tsunade's eyes lit up. "Wait... really? That's actually faster than I expected!"
Research to mass-production usually took a decade. If they could hit that target without compromising the village's other projects, it was a miracle.
Hiruzen closed his eyes, falling into a "Kage-meditation" state. Tsunade immediately shot a murderous glare at Jiraiya and Orochimaru, her finger on her lips.
Not a peep! her eyes screamed. Don't you dare disturb him while he's thinking of a way to give me more money!
The two brothers looked back at her with annoyance. You're the only one who's been shouting this whole time, you crazy woman!
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