The Hokage Who Doesn't Want Money, Sakumo and Minato (Two Chapters in One, Bonus Update, Seeking Monthly Votes!)

Hokage Office Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held a volume of the Forbidden Jutsu Notes left behind by Senju Tobirama, reading it with great interest.

The more he read, the more he understood why he had revered this teacher so deeply in the past, and why every Hidden Village had feared him so greatly...

Senju Tobirama truly had been a peerless genius!

Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, Flying Thunder God Technique, Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, Soul Sealing Jutsu...

Every one of these forbidden techniques involving souls and space had been conceived with remarkable ingenuity.

They possessed both wild imagination and grounded structure.

He had been a true all-rounder. Not only did he possess all seven Chakra natures, but he was also highly proficient in Sealing Jutsu.

His conventional combat methods had been equally extraordinary—he had turned the nature and shape transformations of Water Release into an art form.

"What a waste. How could something this good be left gathering dust?" Hiruzen Sarutobi grumbled at himself as he circulated his Chakra and pondered the principles within.

He had a small measure of talent himself.

Though Hiruzen Sarutobi had primarily focused on "learning" in the past and had not developed many groundbreaking ninjutsu.

It was not too late to begin researching now!

"The materials required for the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu are indeed a major problem. The ethical concerns involved, however, are irrelevant..."

The soul and body were a complementary pair. If the two fell out of balance, problems would inevitably arise.

Besides, an Impure World Reincarnation Body could hardly be called a body at all.

"The conversion rate is unsatisfactory as well, but this jutsu must be perfected. It can serve as the village's ultimate trump card."

According to Senju Tobirama's experimental data.

With the current version of Impure World Reincarnation, an Impure World Reincarnation Body revived using an average Jonin as material could only unleash Chakra up to the level of a Chunin.

No wonder they could only be used as human bombs, as fuses for the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags.

Yet there was clearly room for improvement. Senju Tobirama had proposed several ideas, but had not had the chance to verify them...

"You really were a treasure trove, Sensei..."

"I miss you more and more." Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head toward the portrait of the Second on the office wall and smiled.

When he had gone to retrieve this batch of Forbidden Jutsu Notes, he had also looked through the village's records of forbidden jutsu applications.

Orochimaru's name appeared frequently.

He had applied to borrow, through various roundabout means, every text that might have involved the Second's forbidden jutsu.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had rejected quite a few of those requests in the past.

After reading through the texts Orochimaru had requested, Hiruzen Sarutobi had filtered out the common thread among them.

Souls.

Though it was not guaranteed, there was a high chance that Orochimaru had an intense interest in "souls."

"That brat really is on the same wavelength as me..." Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled.

Once the development of the "Healthcare Pill" yielded preliminary results, Lord Hokage decided to give Orochimaru a heavier burden.

If he wanted to become Hokage, he had to work...

And this period would also give Hiruzen Sarutobi the chance to gain a deeper understanding of these jutsu.

Trusting Orochimaru was one thing.

Though Hiruzen Sarutobi was confident he could build a relationship with Orochimaru that was part teacher, part father, part friend, he could not be the sort of client who only threw money around and assigned work...

He needed professional knowledge. Someone like Danzo, who only knew how to press for progress reports, would be looked down upon by researchers...

He believed that Orochimaru would come knocking soon enough.

After all, there was no longer any estrangement between them.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone knocked at the door.

Hatake Sakumo and Namikaze Minato walked in.

"Lord Hokage! Lord Third!"

"You're here? Don't just stand there, sit..." Hiruzen Sarutobi put away the notes in his hand and warmly invited them to sit. Then he tossed each of them an apple from his desk.

"Biwako insisted that I bring these over. Help me get rid of these enemies."

Hatake Sakumo smiled and caught one cleanly. "Thank you, Lord Third. I haven't had breakfast yet, actually..."

Namikaze Minato was somewhat stunned. Though he had excellent composure, this was, after all, his first private, small-scale encounter with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Was the Hokage this approachable?

"Sakumo, have you gotten used to the work in the Deputy Minister position?" Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up an apple as well and ate alongside the two of them.

"What you mentioned repeatedly before is indeed a problem. You need to pay closer attention to it going forward." Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a genial smile.

"You will report directly to me. I'll be giving you more responsibilities in the future. Do you have confidence?"

Hatake Sakumo blinked. The moment their eyes met, the two quickly understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning.

He was referring to Sakumo's earlier report about Root's abnormal expansion...

By now, Root had been cut down and absorbed into the Anbu.

Shimura Danzō had also become a deputy chief on the same level as him.

"Lord Hokage, leave it to me!" Hatake Sakumo's tone was calm, yet it carried unwavering resolve.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction.

Born of a samurai family, Hatake Sakumo was like a loyal sharp blade, worthy of his trust.

And this was also connected to how Shimura Danzō would be dealt with in the future.

If he performed well enough in the Kumogakure incident, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not mind making Shimura Danzō the Anbu Minister—but he would take back his personnel authority.

The appointment of Anbu Deputy Chiefs, captains of every division, and even Squad Leaders, as well as the composition of each squad, all needed to pass through him, the Hokage.

After all, he was meant to assist while holding an actual post.

And if Danzō's abilities were put to proper use, he could still accomplish some things.

He simply had to be kept in check. He could not be allowed to build an independent kingdom.

"Sakumo, I have an idea regarding the village's security and defense."

Hiruzen Sarutobi handed him a document. "Combine the Inuzuka Clan, Aburame, and Hyuga, then add the Uchiha Clan to create a diversified line of defense."

The Inuzuka Clan's sense of smell, the Aburame's insects, the Hyuga's vision...

And the Uchiha's Red-Eyes.

With all of them working together, it would become much harder for enemies to infiltrate.

Hatake Sakumo considered it for a moment. "Lord Hokage, it's a good proposal, but can the village's finances support it?"

It was not as though no one had suggested this idea before, but it had always been stalled by the issue of "money."

Though the hidden village was a military organization with a certain degree of coercive power, without the basic resource of "money," no system could be sustained...

The village's income consisted of allocations from the Daimyo and a share of mission rewards.

Adding these security squads would mean a considerable increase in expenditures.

Take the Uchiha Clan, for example...

Every year, Konohagakure allocated a large sum to the Military Police Force...

Targeting them was one thing, but they could not be trapped in the village and left unable to afford food, could they?

If that happened, they would have every justification to rebel.

"You don't need to worry about the money, Sakumo..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "I've decided to donate part of my personal assets to the village. A patrol squad of just over a dozen people will be easy enough to support for several years."

"Later on, there will also be dedicated funds. As Hokage, I'll find a way."

"The most urgent matter is ensuring the villagers' safety. We absolutely cannot delay any longer!"

Hearing this, Hatake Sakumo's eyes widened slightly, a rare sight. "Th-this... won't it affect your life?"

"Of course it will. Once security improves, I'll be able to handle government affairs with greater peace of mind..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi replied naturally, "Don't you think?"

Namikaze Minato had been listening quietly. He still did not know why he had been summoned today.

But upon hearing those words, he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a trace of admiration in his eyes.

"Stop worrying about me. What does a Hokage need money for?"

"Leaving a little for Asuma and Shinnosuke to marry their wives is enough."

To Hiruzen Sarutobi, "money" truly held little meaning. What he needed was for the village to improve...

As for Hatake Sakumo, there was no need to say more. He was someone Hiruzen intended to cultivate into a trusted confidant.

And Namikaze Minato—the little hero who had rescued Kushina, a genius who could defeat an entire squad of Kumogakure elites at such a young age...

Moreover, he was his grand-disciple.

Naturally, Hiruzen thought highly of him.

The best way to win over a genius was to build a good relationship with them while they were still growing.

"Kid, do you know what you should call me?" Hiruzen Sarutobi teased Namikaze Minato.

"Of course, Lord Third..."

Namikaze Minato suddenly understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning. The form of address changed as it reached his lips. "Grandmaster!"

"Heh, what a sweet tongue..." Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed.

"What happened between you and Kushina was excellent! That brat Jiraiya can be rather unreliable at times. If there are matters of training or daily life that he can't handle, you can come directly to me, your Grandmaster."

Namikaze Minato obediently nodded. "Thank you, Grandmaster!"

Hatake Sakumo's eyebrow twitched beside him.

The kid looked a little airheaded, but his mind was quite sharp.

He seemed like the same kind of person, this Yellow-Hair...

"Select ninja with outstanding sensory ninjutsu, relatively average combat ability, and a preference for stability... For security work, don't force ninja with versatile abilities to join. Wasting talent would be a shame."

Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed Hatake Sakumo, "The unit should consist of around twenty people and follow the Anbu rotation system. Everything must be based on practical results."

Hatake Sakumo nodded with utmost solemnity. "Lord Hokage, please rest assured!"

The Hokage was paying out of his own pocket for everyone's security. If he still couldn't arrange it properly...

Then Hatake Sakumo himself would not be willing to forgive himself.

He was a very simple man.

He loved this village because of that glimmer of light revealed by the Will of Fire.

Ninja were not tools; comrades were not expendable materials.

As long as the Will of Fire did not change its color, Hatake Sakumo would gladly do anything...

"Minato, I have a task for you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly. "I heard from Jiraiya that you made some suggestions regarding Anbu security... Once Sakumo has things ready on his end, you will conduct unscheduled inspections of the village's security."

"If you find any loopholes, Grandmaster will give you private lessons from now on!"

Namikaze Minato's eyes immediately lit up. "Understood!"

Turning his head, he said to Hatake Sakumo, "Lord Sakumo, please forgive the offense..."

Hatake Sakumo smiled faintly. "Kid, don't speak too soon!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched this scene with satisfaction.

That evening.

After Hatake Kakashi returned home, his little face was scrunched into a frown.

"Father..."

"I want to graduate! Ninja Academy is really boring. I want to become a ninja!"

Ever since that day at the training ground, when Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo had tossed him back and forth like a toy.

Kakashi, who had always considered himself a genius, had suffered quite a blow. Though he was still just a little kid, he was deeply proud inside.

With such a huge gap between them, if he continued wasting time at Ninja Academy, wouldn't that gap only grow wider in the future?

That would not do!

Hatake Sakumo looked up at his son and chuckled.

Foolish son, you had no idea what a good life you were living...

Wasn't it nice to live carefree days at the academy?

Whether it was the Warring States Period or the war years, such days could not be found even with a lantern...

Kids these days truly did not know how fortunate they were!

"There are plenty of formidable kids at your school, Kakashi..."

"That one from the Uchiha clan, for instance."

"There are even kids who have not enrolled yet but possess extraordinary potential."

Hatake Sakumo thought of Might Duy and his son.

The sight of his son training so hard, along with the calluses on his hands, had left a deep impression on him.

Kakashi curled his lip.

Who would believe that?

Then an idea flashed through Hatake Sakumo's mind, and a mischievous plan began to take shape.

"Do you know Namikaze Minato? The male ninja with yellow hair..."

"I know him. What is it, Father?" Kakashi replied in confusion.

"He's strong? I've vaguely heard the teachers mention him..."

"If you can successfully launch a surprise attack on him even once, I'll allow you to graduate."

Hatake Sakumo said with a straight face, "How about it?"

"Father, you said it. It's a deal!" Kakashi crossed his arms, putting on the air of a Little Cool Guy.

It was only landing one surprise attack, not defeating him. How hard could that be?

"Mm-hmm, it's a deal..."

And at that moment, he was also thinking to himself.

Perhaps he should report the ninja academy situation to Third?

It was time to make things a little harder for those brats!

A combined chapter, four thousand words! Consider it a bonus update too—please vote with your monthly tickets!! Please support the new book!

Xiaofan's idea for this book was:

To use a Hiruzen Sarutobi who devoted himself wholly to the village while making himself stronger as the driving force of the plot, unfolding a deduction-style story.

So it would involve an ensemble cast, and at times the writing might seem rather detailed.

For chapters like this, Xiaofan would try to update more so that you readers could enjoy yourselves to the fullest.

Below is an explanation of the Kakashi, Might Guy, and Shisui timeline. It does not affect the plot.

Short version: Kakashi enrolled and graduated at age five, Might Guy had not yet enrolled, and Shisui was in the same class.

Readers who do not care need not read on. This is merely a discussion with everyone, and also proof that Xiaofan has put thought into the setting.

First, Kakashi.

To begin with, the databook states that Kakashi graduated at five, became a Chunin at six, and a Jonin at twelve.

But the problem was that neither the manga nor the TV adaptation's plot could really reflect this.

Kakashi had joined the Anbu at a very young age, and at the time he had said that he did not care about his teammates, falling out badly with quite a few people.

Yet there were also clear scenes showing Kakashi, Obito, and the others taking the Chunin Exams, which was rather hard to reconcile.

Did he return from the Anbu to become a Genin again?

Next, Might Guy.

According to the databook, Might Guy enrolled two years later than Kakashi.

But in the actual story, there were both scenes of Might Guy failing to enroll and retaking the exam, as well as scenes of him attending the entrance ceremony alongside Kakashi. Xiaofan had images for all of this; it was not fan-made secondary canon.

Lastly, Shisui. There was actually very little information related to Shisui.

Two points were clear: he participated in the Third Shinobi World War while still looking like a little kid, earning the title of Body Flicker Shisui, and he appeared to be around five years older than Uchiha Itachi.

Thus, the setting here was that Kakashi wanted to graduate after enrolling at age five, Might Guy had not yet enrolled, and Uchiha Shisui was already at the ninja academy.

Thank you all for your support~