Time moved swiftly, and over a month had passed since the initial Jōnin assembly. Following the approval of Konoha's reform proposal, another gathering was convened a week later to appoint department heads, village committee members, and, for the first time in history, a Vice-Kage to assist in the governance of the village.
The newly formed Village Committee consisted of seven members:
° Sarutobi Hiruzen (Hokage)
° Shimura Danzo (Vice-Kage)
° Uchiha Kagami
° Mitokado Homura
° Akimichi Torifu
° Uzumaki Mito
° Hyuga Tennin.
Each member held specific responsibilities:
Shimura Danzo, as Deputy Shadow, oversaw the Customs Department, Intelligence Department, and Foreign Affairs Department.
Uchiha Kagami managed the Patrol Department and Security Department.
Mitokado Homura took charge of the Mission Department, Government Affairs Department, and Medical Department.
Akimichi Torifu chose not to take on leadership responsibilities, instead serving as a symbolic figure.
Uzumaki Mito and Hyuga Tennin held honorary positions, a gesture of respect toward the village's elder generation.
With the committee in place, leadership roles within each department were filled:
Customs Department: Aburame Shide was appointed head, with Sarutobi Shinya as deputy. Having previously assisted in the Hokage's office, Shinya saw this as an opportunity to gain firsthand experience.
Patrol Department: Inuzuka Kira was named head, with Kurama Yoshio as deputy.
Security Department: Hyuga Hayato took charge, supported by Uchiha Yashiro as deputy, while Sarutobi Biwako led the Sealing Division.
Foreign Affairs Department: Akimichi Torifu was made head, with Danzo as his deputy. Initially, Hiruzen had considered placing Danzo at the helm, but since the Intelligence Department required his full attention, and Torifu needed a position, this arrangement was made.
Medical Department: Senju Daiki was appointed head. Despite the controversy surrounding the Fire Trade Company, Utatane Koharu, who had lost her role as the Hokage's assistant, was ultimately assigned as deputy. Whether this was due to Hiruzen's lingering trust or simply a lack of other candidates, the decision stood.
Government Affairs Department: Nara Shikatsu assumed leadership. With much of its former authority redistributed, the department now functioned largely as the Hokage's secretariat.
Intelligence Department: Given the complexities and vast scope of intelligence work, Danzo took direct control, with Yamanaka Inori as his deputy.
With these appointments, Konoha's new structure began to take shape, marking the start of an era of shared governance.
Homura was appointed as the head of the Mission Department. Given the department's critical role in managing the village's missions, it was deemed inappropriate for any specific clan to control it. Entrusting it to a former Hokage ensured impartiality, preventing potential conflicts between the ninja clans.
The Ministry of Education remained under the direct oversight of Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen. Education was the foundation of Konoha's future, and he would allow no one else to dictate its course.
The ANBU Corps was officially under the leadership of Uchiha Kagami, though in practice, Hatake Sakumo handled daily operations. Due to Sakumo's relative inexperience, Kagami served as the figurehead to maintain credibility.
The Assessment Department, responsible for evaluating shinobi performance, was entrusted to Uchiha Setsuna as minister, with Nara Shikaru as his deputy. Their contrasting personalities—one known for a fiery temper, the other notoriously laid-back—created a well-balanced leadership dynamic.
Thus, Konoha's power structure had been solidified.
While Hiruzen and his closest allies remained at the helm, various clans had gained influence, leaving them satisfied. Hiruzen himself was even more pleased—while authority had been redistributed, true decision-making power remained unchanged. It was, in essence, a win-win scenario—one where he came out ahead both times.
It was then that he fully grasped why, in his previous life, rulers often distributed noble titles like kingships and dukedoms. Whether or not these titles held real power or material benefits was secondary—granting them served to pacify and stabilize the political landscape. Any necessary adjustments could always be made later.
With department heads in place, Konoha entered a phase of transition. Personnel were reassigned to newly established offices, existing departments underwent restructuring, and various mergers and divisions were carried out. It took a full month to complete the realignment.
Now, in the study of the Academy of Learning, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in quiet contemplation, studying his panel.
Sarutobi Hiruzen – Status
Body: 73/73
Spirit: 189/189
Element: 274/274
Skills:
Advanced Body Mastery
Intermediate Combat Mastery
Mastery:
Primary Wind Control
Advanced Fire Mastery
Advanced Earth Mastery
Advanced Water Mastery
Advanced Seal Mastery
Advanced Illusion Mastery
Advanced Chakra Mastery
Advanced Thunder Mastery
Advanced Space Mastery
Primary Yin Mastery
Primary Yang Mastery
Fusion Techniques:
Advanced Electromagnetic Application: Electromagnetism
Primary Wind Control: Bone-Eroding Yin Wind
Intermediate Fire & Earth Fusion: Meteor Shower
Intermediate Earth & Water Fusion: Mudslide
Intermediate Water & Fire Fusion: Nuclear Bomb
Primary Earth, Water, and Yang Fusion: Wood Style
Recognizing the significance of Sarutobi Hiruzen's reforms, Uzumaki Mito personally shared some of her ninjutsu insights with him. After a month of dedicated study, he successfully integrated Wood Style into his arsenal.
However, at this stage, Hiruzen no longer regarded Wood Style as a transformative ninjutsu addition to his power. With his vast range of skills and mastery over multiple elements, its offensive potential was merely supplementary. Yet, one aspect intrigued him—the Wood Clone Technique.
Unlike traditional clone techniques—such as Shadow Clones, Water Clones, or Earth Clones, which dissipate upon taking damage—Wood Clones possessed a distinct durability and a higher threshold of resilience. There was something unique about them, something just beyond his grasp.
Hiruzen could sense that this technique held an undiscovered potential, a crucial piece of knowledge that eluded him. He was close—very close—to unlocking it.
As Hiruzen pondered deeply, a soft chime echoed from the door of the Academy. With a sigh, he set aside his thoughts and approached to answer.
Standing at the doorway was Nara Shikatsu, the current Minister of Government Affairs.
"Shikatsu, what brings you here? Didn't you say you'd only come to me if it's important? Or is it something you can't handle yourself?" Hiruzen remarked casually, his tone light, though it lacked the typical gravitas one would expect from a Hokage.
It was a bit of an ironic statement, considering the situation. Here was the Hokage telling someone not to seek him out unless absolutely necessary, as if he wasn't the village leader himself. It was a peculiar way to run things—but that was the nature of Hiruzen.
"Lord Hokage, the Five Kage Federation official five-year meeting is approaching. Do you think Konoha needs to prepare anything for it?" Shikatsu asked, his tone firm and serious.
"Oh, the Five Kage Federation... You should review the unresolved disputes between the nations over the past five years, or any proposals regarding the ninja world. Bring those to the meeting, and let Danzo represent the village." Hiruzen responded nonchalantly, already considering it a matter best left to Danzo. After all, wasn't it the purpose of him selecting Danzo for this very kind of task? To send him off and let him handle the intricacies of diplomacy?
Yet, as he thought further, Hiruzen reconsidered. The Five Kage Federation was still in its infancy, a creation that he had pushed forward by force in the past. It had not yet solidified as a regular, established institution. If Danzo faltered in this critical meeting, the entire Federation could collapse.
"Never mind," Hiruzen said after a moment of reflection. "I'll go in person this time by having Danzo accompany me. As for the accompanying team, we'll take the Hatake Sakumo team."
His decision was made. The meeting of the Five Kage Summit could not be left to chance.