Shinichi did not lead Orochimaru toward the prison entrance.
Instead, he had the guards open an unused interrogation chamber deeper inside the mountain.
It had been built to hold dangerous shinobi during questioning, so sealing marks already covered the walls and floor, while a separate barrier sealed the only entrance.
The room itself was nearly empty apart from a stone table and two chairs.
Before leaving Orochimaru there, Shinichi placed another seal over the existing formation. It would not interfere with Orochimaru's chakra while he worked, but any attempt to damage the barrier or cross it without permission would immediately alert Shinichi.
Orochimaru examined the new seal for a moment before looking around the chamber. "So this is where I begin?"
"For now."
His gaze moved across the bare room before settling on the stone table. "It is certainly better than the cell."
Orochimaru walked over and rested one hand on the table. The room was bare, but after a year in chains, simply being able to move freely and use his chakra again was already an improvement.
Shinichi turned to the two jonin waiting outside.
"Keep the entrance sealed. No one enters without my permission."
"Yes, Shinichi-sama."
Once everything was settled, Shinichi left the prison and headed toward the Hokage Building. When he reached the Hokage Office, the doors were already open.
Tsunade was nowhere to be seen. Shizune stood behind the desk, hurriedly sorting through a pile of documents, while Hiruzen sat on the sofa with his pipe in hand.
Several scrolls bearing the seals of the other villages lay open on the desk. From the satisfied look on Hiruzen's face, he had clearly been reading through them.
Shinichi stepped inside.
"Teacher."
Shizune immediately looked up. Relief crossed her face as she set down the documents in her hands.
"Shinichi-sama, you've finally arrived."
Before he could answer, Hiruzen rose from the sofa and walked over with a broad smile, looking him over from head to toe.
"It has only been a year," he said, "but you've grown quite a bit."
Hiruzen's gaze lingered on him for a moment. He had read the reports that reached Konoha throughout the year, but seeing Shinichi in person was different. He had changed a great deal, though his calm manner remained the same.
Shinichi looked at the old man for a moment, then lowered his head slightly.
"I'm sorry, Teacher. I intended to visit as soon as I returned, but the three Kage arrived that same day to sign the agreements. By the time everything was settled, it was already late."
Hiruzen paused before laughing.
"Why apologize for that?"
He shook his head and returned to the sofa.
"Three Kage came to Konoha to sign their submission agreements. If that kept you away, this old man has nothing to complain about."
Shinichi remained standing near the desk. "I still should have come sooner."
"Those agreements were more important." Hiruzen waved the apology aside. "You had three Kage waiting on you. I could afford to wait a little longer."
His gaze moved to the signed documents covering the desk, and his smile widened.
"Judging by these, Konoha has more than enough reason to celebrate."
He then glanced toward Tsunade's empty chair.
"Though it seems Tsunade has already celebrated enough for everyone."
Shizune looked embarrassed. "Lady Tsunade left after the meeting yesterday, drank through most of the night, and still hasn't woken up."
Hiruzen chuckled and glanced at the desk. "And she left you to deal with all of this."
"I have handled what I can," Shizune said. She glanced at Shinichi. "I was waiting for Shinichi-sama before dealing with the rest."
Shinichi looked over the piles of paperwork. "That's fine. It's only paperwork."
Hiruzen watched him for a moment, then rose from the sofa.
"Since you're here, I'll leave the office to the two of you. I only stopped by because I heard you had returned."
Pipe in hand, he headed toward the door.
"I should get going. Sasuke is waiting for me at the training ground." Hiruzen gave a small sigh. "The boy has talent, but he is far too impatient. If I neglect his training and lose my bet with Jiraiya, that old fool will never let me hear the end of it."
"Then you shouldn't keep him waiting," Shinichi said.
Hiruzen laughed and opened the door. Before stepping into the corridor, he looked back at Shinichi.
"Come and see me properly once things settle down."
"I will."
Hiruzen nodded, satisfied, and left the office.
The office became quiet again. Shizune returned to the documents scattered across the desk, while Shinichi walked over to the window.
The village stretched out below him beneath the afternoon sun. People moved between the shops, children ran along the streets, and shinobi passed through the crowds on ordinary assignments.
Nothing had changed for them. Even after everything that had happened outside Konoha, life inside the village continued as usual.
Shinichi watched the village below, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Three years at most.
One year had already passed.
It was getting closer.
"Shinichi-sama?"
Shizune's voice drew his attention away from the village. When he turned around, she was standing beside the desk with one of the documents open in her hands.
"There is one more matter that needs to be handled."
"Speak."
"The submission agreements were signed yesterday, but the process is not complete yet." Shizune showed him the final page.
"They still need the Hokage's confirmation and official seal before they can formally take effect. Once that is done, one copy will be placed in Konoha's archives, while the other three will be handed to the Kage."
Shinichi glanced at Tsunade's empty chair.
Shizune followed his gaze, looking slightly embarrassed.
"The three Kage are still waiting for the completed copies before returning to their villages."
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