The Hokage's office was a place of endless turmoil, and today was no different. Souta Kazuki had barely settled into his chair when a knock on the door interrupted him. The rhythmic tapping against the wood felt more like an ominous drumbeat, a prelude to yet another problem demanding his attention.
"Enter," he said, already bracing himself for whatever crisis awaited.
The door creaked open, and a masked ANBU agent stepped inside. Souta recognized her immediately—Yūgao Uzuki, a kunoichi with sharp instincts and unwavering loyalty to Konoha. Unlike the usual masked figures who blended into the background, Yūgao carried a quiet presence that was hard to ignore.
"Hokage-sama," she said, her voice steady, "the Minister of Scientific Research, Orochimaru, has requested your presence. Many of the senior members are already gathered."
Souta leaned back in his chair, exhaling. Of course. Orochimaru never wasted time on trivial matters. If he was summoning the Hokage, it meant something significant was in motion.
"I understand," Souta replied. "You may go."
Yūgao bowed and exited swiftly. Souta was about to stand when, as if on cue, another knock echoed through the office. This time, a different ANBU agent entered, his posture stiff.
"Hokage-sama, many wealthy merchants have come forward with complaints. They claim to have been robbed of their money—over one billion ryo in total. The missions they commissioned remain incomplete, and they are demanding action."
Souta's eye twitched. He knew exactly where that money had gone. The duo of Dahuang and Xiaohei had been raiding these merchants under the guise of 'tax collection.' The money, of course, had conveniently made its way into his personal reserves. It was a necessary evil, he reasoned—funds that Konoha needed.
But now, it had created a different problem. If these missions weren't completed, the village's reputation would suffer. If word spread that Konoha couldn't handle commissions, future clients might take their business elsewhere.
Just as he was about to respond, the office door swung open again.
Orochimaru stepped inside, a serpentine smirk on his lips. "Hokage-sama," he drawled, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement, "it seems you are quite occupied."
Souta sighed. "It's not by choice. There's always something."
Orochimaru chuckled, his forked tongue flicking briefly past his lips. "I've already heard about the situation. And, as luck would have it, I may have a solution."
The rogue scientist leaned against the wall, his voice dripping with amusement. "Minato and Fugaku have already briefed me on what happened, and I believe there's a way to recover Konoha's standing while keeping your… recent acquisitions untouched."
Souta narrowed his eyes. "I'm listening."
In the dimly lit Hokage's office, a serpentine grin spread across Orochimaru's pale face as he leaned forward, his golden eyes gleaming with sinister amusement. His voice was smooth, composed, and filled with an eerie confidence.
"Hokage-sama… aren't these wealthy merchants and nobles merely victims of an unknown bandit? The culprit remains unidentified, after all. So, why not select a few prisoners from Konoha's dungeons? Foreign shinobi, perhaps. We break their minds until they're nothing more than empty husks, incapable of speech or rational thought… then place the blame upon them. The evidence will be undeniable."
He chuckled, his tone laced with a dangerous playfulness. "And as for the stolen money? What does that have to do with Konoha? Those rogue shinobi have already squandered it all… right? Hahahahaha. Meanwhile, we still claim our mission commission—paid in full. If the wealthy patrons protest, ANBU can always pay them a visit… a friendly conversation, let's call it."
Souta Kazuki, seated at the grand Hokage desk, stared at Orochimaru in stunned silence. His mind raced as he processed the sheer cunning of the proposal. The logic was impeccable. The deception was flawless. And best of all—it safeguarded Konoha's reputation while ensuring financial gain.
For a moment, Souta felt a begrudging admiration for Orochimaru's intellect. "Uncle Snake," he finally said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, "that is… quite the strategy."
Orochimaru tilted his head slightly. "Hokage-sama approves?"
Souta let out a breath and leaned back in his chair. "It's devious… and it will work." His gaze shifted to an ANBU operative standing silently in the shadows. "Did you hear the Research Director's orders?"
The masked shinobi bowed slightly. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Then proceed exactly as instructed. The prisoners must be rendered completely mindless—no thoughts, no memories, nothing for even the most advanced genjutsu or sensory techniques to uncover. And the mission commission? Not a single ryo less than agreed." Souta's expression darkened slightly. "If any of these wealthy men object… remind them of Konoha's reach."
The ANBU gave a sharp nod. "Understood."
Souta's eyes narrowed as he studied the masked ninja. There was something familiar in his presence… a chakra signature that he couldn't quite place.
"What's your name?" he asked.
The ANBU hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yamato, Hokage-sama. I was once a member of Root. After its dissolution, I joined the ANBU."
Souta's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Ah… so that's why I sensed Wood Release earlier."
A flicker of surprise crossed Yamato's face, though he quickly masked it. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Good," Souta said simply. "You're dismissed."
As Yamato vanished in a blur, Souta rose from his chair. "Now then, Orochimaru… let's visit the Research Department. I want to see the progress firsthand."
The Hokage Guard, composed of twelve elite young shinobi, followed closely behind as Souta and Orochimaru made their way through Konoha's underground research facility. This department was one of Souta's recent innovations—an institution dedicated to pushing the boundaries of shinobi science and technology.
Inside, the scent of chemicals and parchment filled the air. The rhythmic tapping of scribes, the clinking of glassware, and the hum of electrical equipment formed a steady backdrop of activity.
Souta's gaze immediately landed on a particular figure moving swiftly through the laboratory—Yakushi Kabuto. The young medic-nin was meticulously analyzing a set of documents, his sharp mind focused entirely on his work.
"Kabuto," Souta called out.
Kabuto froze for a split second before turning around. His glasses reflected the dim light as he quickly adjusted them and bowed respectfully. "Hokage-sama."
Souta studied him intently before speaking. "I know about you. About Yakushi Nonou."
Kabuto's entire body tensed. His breath hitched.
Souta's tone remained even. "Don't worry. You will meet her again."
Kabuto's eyes widened. His usual composure faltered. "Hokage-sama… I…"
"Enough," Souta interrupted. "You've done well. Continue learning under Orochimaru. If you do, your future achievements will surpass even his."
A dark chuckle came from Orochimaru's lips. "Hokage-sama has quite the insight. Kabuto, consider this an opportunity."
Kabuto swallowed hard and gave a firm nod. "Yes, Lord Hokage. Lord Orochimaru."
Souta could see the fire in his eyes now—a deep, unwavering resolve. Good. Another pawn placed in the right position.
He moved deeper into the lab, where several figures were waiting for him—Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara, Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna.
Madara smirked at Souta's arrival. "So, brat… how does it feel to wear the Hokage's mantle?"
Souta let out an exasperated sigh and crossed his arms. "Annoying. I have to deal with everything, no matter how trivial. Honestly, being Hokage isn't a job for a sane person."
Madara's smirk widened. "Hahahahaha! Good! You understand now!"
Hashirama nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! That's why I left all the work to Tobirama! Hehehe… while I had fun sparring with Madara every day!"
Bang!
Tobirama's fist crashed down on Hashirama's head. "You left me with mountains of paperwork while you went off playing! Do you have any idea how frustrating that was?!"
Hashirama rubbed the growing bump on his head, laughing sheepishly. "Come on, Tobirama, no need to get violent… hehehe."
The Hokage's role was far more than just leadership. It was about manipulation, strategy, and ensuring the village thrived at any cost. In this new era, where strength alone wasn't enough, he would mold Konoha into something far greater.
This was only the beginning.