"Conjectures on traveling to the future through the Dragon Vein and resolving the space-time paradox" - Minato Namikaze

Konoha.

After establishing close diplomatic ties with Kirigakure and several neighboring small shinobi villages, and seeing Konoha flourish day by day,

Hiruzen Sarutobi decisively took things a step further, sending Uchiha Itachi and Shisui straight to the Land of Fire's Daimyo with a petition.

There was no dramatic twist where the Land of Fire's Daimyo refused. He was eminently reasonable and greeted Shisui and Itachi like family. For the peace of the shinobi world, he waved his hand and approved every one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's requests without even reading them.

He also declared that he would leave everything to the Hokage's discretion.

Then the Third Hokage temporarily stepped down on account of his advanced age, appointing Jiraiya as Acting Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had wanted to settle the succession in one stroke, but Jiraiya refused no matter what, and Tsunade could not be pushed into the position either. So Acting Hokage it was.

Along the way, he creatively invented the position of Acting Hokage Advisor for Tsunade.

Shisui also received the title of Acting Hokage Counselor.

After dumping a mountain of tasks on Jiraiya, Hiruzen Sarutobi, effectively retired, found himself with plenty of leisure. Whenever he had nothing to do, he happily smoked his pipe and admired his two students' miserable working lives.

Today was no different. Although a Root remnant named Mukade had defected from the village, with those three godlike figures on Team Kakashi around, Mukade could hardly stir up any trouble.

In the office today, Jiraiya was still buried beneath thick piles of files, unable even to lift his head. Beside him, Tsunade wore an equally mournful expression as she frantically reviewed documents.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi chatted with Jiraiya in high spirits about Naruto, Sasuke, and Minato back in the day. Tsunade occasionally traded barbs with them, providing