Koharu frowned, "Hiruzen, the Forest of Death is a training ground for trials. The environment is harsh, full of wild beasts and poisonous insects. It's not a safe place to live. Tsunade and the others are still young—aren't you worried about their safety?"
Hiruzen waved off her concerns. "A ninja can't be afraid of a few small beasts. This will also serve as a test for them." He had already planned to set up a protective barrier around the house to eliminate any real danger.
Koharu sighed, "Fine, you're the Hokage. It's your decision."
Hiruzen, growing more impatient, stood up, "Let's go to the Forest of Death and pick a good spot. I'll use Earth Release to build the house first. Koharu, prepare daily necessities for seven people and send them over." With that, he left to gather his disciples.
"Alright, let's go build our own home."
As they exited the office building, Hiruzen looked up at the Hokage Rock. His own statue was still under construction. The massive stone faces of the First Hokage, Hashirama, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama, were already carved in lifelike detail.
Sakumo followed his master's gaze and also observed the monument. Shinku commented, "Sensei, your statue is nearly finished. It really resembles you."
Hiruzen lingered for a moment before turning away and leading them toward the Forest of Death. His steps were slow and heavy.
As they walked, he asked, "What do you think the role of a Hokage is?"
Jiraiya was quick to respond. "The Hokage is the strongest!"
Tsunade added, "The Hokage is the leader of Konoha."
Orochimaru mused, "A Hokage is simply the strongest ninja in the village."
Naoto hesitated, then said, "I've never really thought about it, but I believe the Hokage's job is to ensure the village's happiness."
Shinku added, "A Hokage should embody the will of the village."
Finally, Sakumo answered, "The Hokage represents responsibility to the village."
Hiruzen's eyes lit up at Sakumo's words. He glanced at Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, who were looking at him eagerly, expecting praise. However, he remained silent. He wanted them to figure out the deeper meaning of the title on their own. While they explored different perspectives, it would be his job to correct them if they strayed too far from the right path.
Before long, they arrived at the Forest of Death. Hiruzen didn't hesitate—anywhere near the edge of the forest would be fine. He formed hand seals, took a deep breath, and released a powerful Wind Release technique. A fierce gust swept forward, reducing trees, plants, and debris to fine dust and scattering them into the air.
Next, he placed a hand on the ground. The uneven terrain flattened instantly as soil and rock shifted into place. The earth took on a firmer, rock-like appearance, providing a stable foundation.
With another set of hand seals, he pressed his palm to the ground again. A massive three-story courtyard began to rise, molded from solid stone.
For the final touch, he activated the barrier. Purple energy lines spread across the ground, creeping up the walls and trees. A shimmering purple-red dome formed over the courtyard before fading from sight.
Hiruzen then conjured a glowing orb in his hand, splitting it into seven parts and sending a piece into each of his disciples.
"I've set up a barrier around the courtyard. The light I just gave you is the key—only those who possess it can enter. Now, go choose your rooms."
Excited, the students rushed forward—only to find the door wouldn't budge. It was made of solid rock, weighing over a thousand pounds. Even with all of them pushing together, it wouldn't move. Finally, they turned to Hiruzen for help.
He simply stood there, smiling silently.
After a moment of thinking, Shinku formed a seal, injected his chakra, and pressed his hand against the door. With a deep rumbling sound, the massive stone doors slowly swung open.
Hiruzen nodded. "Your chakra signature is the key. You can open and close the door using your chakra."
The disciples wasted no time running inside to claim their rooms.
Inside the courtyard, the layout became clear— Shinku, Sakumo, and Naoto chose the left wing, while Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya took the right. The main hall in the center was left for Hiruzen.
Standing in the middle of the large courtyard, Hiruzen found it a little empty. The two wings were 30 meters apart, and the front yard was another 40 meters from the main hall. Altogether, the compound covered nearly 1,000 square meters—plenty of space.
He clapped his hands, and stone tables and chairs emerged from the ground. In one corner, a well formed. When he looked inside, it was only half a meter deep. He formed another set of seals, pointed at the well, and the ground inside began to sink deeper and deeper into the darkness.
Sarutobi Hiruzen saw the thoughtful expressions on his disciples' faces and knew that his words had struck a chord. He smiled and continued, his tone steady yet warm.
"A ninja is not merely a tool for war, nor a weapon to be wielded and discarded. We are the human first—beings with our own will and our own choices. Missions and sacrifices are a part of our path, but if we reduce ourselves to nothing more than a weapons, we would strip away the very essence of what that makes us strong. A kunai is sharp, a shuriken swift, but they have no heart, no purpose beyond the hand that throws them. True strength lies not just in skill, but in knowing why we fight and what we wish to protect."
He looked at Sakumo directly, "You are not wrong to question what you've been taught. The ninja world is harsh, and many will tell you that only the mission matters. But listen well—what is the purpose of a mission if there is no one left to protect in the village? A ninja who exists only to complete tasks may serve a purpose, but who then will uphold the ideals that make our village strong? Who will safeguard our families, our comrades, and the bonds that has give us meaning? Remember this—Konoha is not built on missions alone. It endures because of those who cherish and protect it."
Jiraiya furrowed his brows, "So… does that mean the mission isn't always the most important thing?"
Hiruzen nodded, "Exactly. There will be times when a mission must be set aside for something far greater. A true ninja is not one who blindly follows orders, but one who possesses the wisdom to see beyond them—to understand the greater purpose. This is what it means to be a leader, to be a protector. Strength alone is not enough. A true guardian shields not just with power, but with heart, with judgment, and with the courage to choose what is right."
Orochimaru, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke. "Then, Sensei, what is the true measure of a ninja?"
Hiruzen's gaze softened. "A ninja is not defined by strength alone, but by the choices they make. Having the power without wisdom usually leads to ruin, and having the wisdom without a heart is hollow. The true mastery lies in balance—the ability to wield the strength with wisdom and guide the wisdom with compassion."
Tsunade crossed her arms, "But what if the village sees us as tools? What if the world does the same?"
Hiruzen exhaled, "Who you become is yours to decide. You may be born to be a ninja, but it is your actions—how you live, how you fight, and what you choose to protect—that truly define you. Never surrender that choice, not to the world, not to the village and not to anyone."
For a long moment, no one spoke. Then, Sakumo slowly smiled. He felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the others exchanged glances, understanding dawning in their eyes.
Orochimaru, who rarely smiled, gazed at Hiruzen in a way that carried both respect and something deeper—an unspoken gratitude.
At that moment, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting warm hues over the courtyard, Hiruzen saw something in his students' eyes that reassured him.
They were growing and one day, they would each find their own path.