In the thirteenth year of Konoha, on the day of Frost's Descent, Tsubasa unfurled five scrolls in his office in the Hokage. Below, in the council chamber, fourteen high-ranking officials and clan leaders held their breath, watching the young man's fingertip point to five names in turn—those were the candidates for the Cabinet Secretariat personally selected by him.
"First place, Kagami Uchiha!" Tsubasa announced loudly.
Before he finished speaking, Uchiha Tomioki's Gunbai suddenly opened half an inch. Mirror, sitting at the end of the table, quickly stood up, the Uchiha Clan Crest on his moon-white hunting robe swaying slightly with his movement. He had just turned eighteen this year, and had a diagonal scar below his left eye, left from last year when he shielded his companions from a powerful attack by a strongman from the Kumogakure at the border of the Land of the Moon.
" Kagami Uchiha, a disciple of the Second Hokage, served in the Second Hokage's Anbu for three years. He is proficient in espionage and document processing, and his strength is truly Kage Level. He has made numerous contributions on the Lightning and Fire Battlefield." Tsubasa tapped the scroll. "Last year, he single-handedly recovered intercepted medical supplies. He also used his Sharingan to replicate thirty-seven powerful Kumogakure Ninjutsu seals during the war—this is what Uchiha should be like, therefore, he is now appointed as the Hokage's secretary."
Tomioki closed his Gunbai again, a muffled laugh escaping his throat, "My clan's lads are naturally no slouch either."
Kagami Uchiha bowed and said, "I will do my utmost to share the burden for the Lord Hokage."
Tsubasa then loudly announced, "Second place: Torifu Akimichi."
Chozan Akimichi immediately shoved his son forward, the chubby young man nearly knocking over the candied fruit jar on the table. Torifu Akimichi twenty-one years old this year, his cheeks still chubby, but he was already a backbone member of Konoha force. "This kid can eat and carry a lot, Lord Hokage, you can use him to the fullest."
Tsubasa nodded. " Torifu Akimichi, a disciple of the Second Hokage, possesses Kage Level strength. He participated in the Thunder and Fire War, served as a commander of an army of ten thousand, and rendered meritorious service to Konoha. The Second Hokage praised him as loyal, reliable, hardworking, and intelligent—a capable individual. I hereby appoint Torifu Akimichi as the Hokage's secretary." The obese young man blushed, put down the candied fruit on the table, stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Hokage. I guarantee to complete all the tasks you assign!" Amidst the room's laughter, Chozan Akimichi patted his belly, causing dust to fall from the rafters.
"Third place, Shikamei Nara," Tsubasa announced, pointing to the young man next to Shikaboshi Nara.
Shikaboshi Nara immediately stood up, pushing up his glasses that had slipped down to the tip of his nose: "My son is eighteen years old this year, and has thoroughly studied the ' Land of Fire Laws,' and is proficient in calculating tariffs for various countries..." "Father!" Shikamei tugged at his father's sleeve, his ears turning red, "Don't eat beef! I only used the Shadow Imitation Technique to help thirty-seven examinees calculate their answers during the Jonin Exams..."
"That's cheating!" The Hyuga Clan frowned. Tsubasa, however, laughed, "To be able to help thirty-seven examinees cheat right under the proctor's nose and not get caught—that's quite an achievement." He nodded to Shikamei and said, " Shikamei Nara, Elite Jonin, IQ of 220, especially good with numbers. I appoint you as the Hokage's secretary, and you'll be in charge of overseeing Konoha's finances. If I find any money missing..." The boy shuddered, his little fingers rubbing together rapidly. "Absolutely not a penny off!"
Tsubasa announced loudly, "Fourth place, Hirohito Kurama."
A gasp filled the meeting room upon hearing this. The Kurama Clan was always discreet, and even their clan leader hadn't attended today's meeting. Hirohito had been sitting in the corner, stood up. His dark hunting robe was embroidered with elegant bamboo patterns, but a broken blade hung at his waist—his father's sword from when he died in battle. " Hirohito Kurama, a seventeen-year-old master of Genjutsu, Kage Level ninja, who has slain Kage Level Earth Ninja." Tsubasa tapped the scroll. "His 'Ten Strategies for Konoha's Border Defense,' written last year, is already being used by our Konoha army."
Hirohito Kurama knelt on one knee, the broken hilt of his sword striking the stone slab. " The Kurama Clan is willing to Lord Hokage, holding his pen and sword." The Hyuga Clan suddenly spoke, "I heard your mother is Senju Clan?" The boy looked up, a cold glint in his eyes. "Yes, that's why my strength far surpasses that of other clansmen."
"Fifth..." Tsubasa paused, his gaze sweeping over Biwako Senju, who was sitting by the window. The twenty-year-old girl was wearing a dark blue shrine maiden's robe today, and the hairpin in her hair was a gift that Mito Uzumaki brought back from the Land of Whirlpools last year. "Senior sister, it's your turn."
The conference room suddenly fell so quiet you could hear cherry blossoms falling onto the roof tiles. Biwako put down her teacup, her fingertips tapping softly on the table. "I remember someone saying that the Hokage's secretary needs someone who can 'mend wounds'." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Now you're dragging me into this again?"
Tsubasa pushed the last Hokage's seal in front of her, a cunning glint in his dark eyes. "In the entire Konoha, only you can balance the various forces, and even withstand the pressure from 14 high-ranking leaders when I'm not around." He suddenly lowered his voice, so only she could hear. "And... since you don't want to be Hokage, the secretary position should be fine, right?"
Biwako trembled, her fingertips tracing the Konoha pattern on the seal—the wind outside the window ruffled her hair, and she glanced at the thirteen-year-old boy from Tsubasa. After a long while, she sighed softly, picked up the calligraphy brush on the table. "Let's make it clear first, I'll only be on trial for three months."
As the five cabinet seals fell onto the Hokage's desk, dawn Dawn. Kagami Uchiha, touching the Konoha crest seal in his hand, suddenly remembered his master saying that when the First founded Konoha, he also harbored the ideal of "serving the people of the world." Torifu Akimichi, biting the seal's lid, mumbled, "The greatest happiness would be if I could expand Konoha's granaries to the point where they could hold a mountain, and the villagers of Konoha could not eat and drink well!"
Shikamei Nara's prayer beads were already tinkling as he calculated which expense should cover the salaries of the five men. Hirohito Kurama, holding a broken blade and a brush, had a clearer look in his eyes than ever before. Meanwhile, Biwako Senju gazed at the rising sun in the distance, seemingly lost in thought.
"Remember," Tsubasa, standing atop the rock, his Thunder God Sword east, "The Cabinet Secretary is not a chair of power, but a post serving the villagers, the axis of Konoha's millstone. Your task is to make this millstone of Konoha turn more steadily and smoothly." As he turned, the morning light fell upon the five men, gilding their Kageko. "If one day you wish to step down—" the boy suddenly revealed a sly smile, "Unless I agree, or I step down, or you defeat me."
Kagami Uchiha touched the scar on his face and was the first to laugh out loud, "To be able to spar with the Lord Hokage is something I couldn't ask for." Torifu Akimichi was already gnawing on the tassel on the seal, and mumbled teasingly, "Kagami, you seem to be the only one who has ever defeated the Lord Hokage, don't you think?" Shikamei Nara's bracelet beads bounced to the ground and rolled towards Hirohito Kurama's broken blade. Biwako Senju watched this farcical scene and suddenly remembered her father's words. "A true village is never held together by one person."
The wind whipped up maple leaves from the rocky peak, landing on the five people's clasped hands. In the distance, the morning bell of Konoha rang out, startling the sparrows on the eaves. And further away, some mischievous kid stuffed firecrackers into the well—a new day had just begun.