Chapter 14: Hiruzen Sarutobi
HIRUZEN SARUTOBI
I am tired.
The kind of tired that does not fade with a night's rest. It weighs in my bones, seeps into every crevice of my body. A fatigue that comes from carrying this village on my back for more years than I care to count.
I feel it with every breath, a reminder that I am now an old man in a young man's world. A relic of old times past.
The Third War has dragged on for four years now. Four years of blood and sacrifice and death. Of watching Konoha's children grow up too fast and die even faster.
When I became Hokage, I thought I could protect them—my people, my students, this village. I thought I could bear the weight of their dreams. I was foolish.
My students, my three precious students—Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru. Each one of them reflects a piece of me, and each one has become a reminder of my failures.
Jiraiya, the eccentric one, the one who concocted a mask of frivolity and perverseness so others would underestimate him and his genius. Always chasing some sense of ideology he can never quite grasp.
I used to envy his spirit, his boundless… curiosity. But now I wonder if he's just running away, leaving a trail of his fear, and ignored trauma. Sometimes, I fear that, like him, I've spent my life chasing after things that are never meant to be caught.
And Tsunade. She carries more weight on her shoulders than anyone should have to bear. The war took her brother, Nawaki, and then it took her lover, Dan. It took her faith, too, though she'd never admit it.
After the Second War, I used to see her in the shadows sometimes, wandering into the village casinos like a ghost, drinking alcohol like an addict. All things considered, she probably was now, though she hid it well.
She would look at me—with those deep hazel eyes—and I'm sure she saw all the things I couldn't protect. I wonder if she blames me, if she knows how often I blame myself.
Tsunade has always been the strongest konochi, but even the strongest can break. I'm sure she's reached that point long ago. I wish I could reach out to her, but what would I say? Sorry for your loss? Sorry for failing you as your sensi?
I've lost enough of my own family and friends to understand that words are empty comforts.
And then there's Orochimaru.
Brilliant, driven, cold. My pride—or at least used to be. He was the brightest star among the three. A prodigy who saw everything as a puzzle to be solved. But now, when I look at him, I see a darkness that I can't seem to reach. A darkness I'm not sure I'm equipped to enter.
I watched him grow from a promising young ninja into something… else. Something I can't understand, let alone control. Not anymore. He's the one who makes me wonder if I've made a mistake. If, by nurturing his genius, turning a blind eye to some of his more… elusive pastimes, I've fed a monster that will one day turn on us all.
It's not the enemy outside these walls that keeps me awake at night. It's the enemies within, the ones I failed to understand or save. The ones I may have created.
This war has taken its toll on us all.
Konoha bleeds while the other villages circle like vultures, waiting for the right moment to strike. Parasites, the lot of them.
I tell myself that I fight for peace, for the future, for a world where children can grow up without learning to kill. But I know it's a lie. There's no such thing as peace. Not for men like me, at least.
I have too much blood on my hands, and I don't know if any amount of time will ever wash them clean.
But I can't think that way. Not now. The Academy is about to start its next term, and those children—the next generation—they'll be looking to me today. They will see me as the strong, unbreakable Hokage, the man who guards the village with an iron will.
They can't see the doubt, the fear, the exhaustion. They have to believe that the future is worth fighting for, even if I'm not so sure of it myself.
There are a couple of knocks on my door, a code I'm well familiar with. I flare my chakra in acknowledgment, and the door creeks open.
An ANBU appears, her mask gleaming from the rays of sunlight that peek through the window behind me. She moves silently, a shadow, but I know her by the way she carries herself.
She bows slightly, a formality neither of us really needs, but tradition is the glue that holds the village together, so glue it shall remain.
"Hokage-sama," she says, her voice neutral, as if she could be any of the countless people living within this village. "The Academy ceremony is scheduled to begin in thirty minutes. Your speaking slot is confirmed."
I nod, acknowledging her. For a moment, I consider asking her how she feels, what she thinks of these back-to-back wars and the children we're about to send into it. But I already know the answer.
She is a soldier. She does what she's told because that is what it means to be a shinobi of Konoha. We all bear our burdens quietly. We all wear our masks.
"Thank you. I'll be there shortly," I say instead, and she disappears as swiftly as she came, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more.
I take a puff from my kiseru, a new blend of tobacco Biwako gifted me for my birthday last week, a day that came and went like all the others. It's sweet, calming.
I'll have to remember to thank her—I'm sure this wasn't cheap, not that money will ever be a concern.
Rumors have begun circulating within the village about two up-and-coming geniuses who will join the Academy today.
One, an Uchiha—expected. It wouldn't surprise me if some secret jutsu were passed down in their clan that cultivated genius before birth.
The other... a Yamanaka. Now, that is unexpected.
Uchiha, I can see. Genius is to them as the seasons are to Konoha—frequent. Consistent. But Yamanaka… the last genius to come from that clan was Inoichi, and even his talents pale to the genius seen from the Uchiha.
I lower my gaze to the desk, to the neat stack of profiles. My fingers flip through the pages until I reach the name I'm looking for—Shisui Uchiha.
###
Name: Shisui Uchiha
Age: 5
Birthdate: October 19, Year 54 of Konoha's Establishment
Height: 112 cm
Weight: 17 kg
Parents: Keiichi Uchiha (deceased), Hae Uchiha
Potential Areas of Talent: High potential for unlocking the Sharingan. Known for exceptional skill in taijutsu and shurikenjutsu. Ninjutsu talents unknown, though rumors suggest significant ability waiting to emerge.
###
Shisui Uchiha.
A promising child—almost too promising.
His grandfather, one of my closest friends, someone I trusted with my life, was a man I respected deeply. A rare Uchiha whose loyalty to the village was unwavering.
His death was not just to his clan but to Konoha itself. And now his son stands to carry that same legacy.
The boy has already shown an unusual level of intelligence for his age, along with an inherent talent for taijutsu and shurikenjutsu that rivals children several years older.
And then there's the Sharingan.
There's always the Sharingan. Looming like a shadow over any Uchiha.
It grants great power but demands a heavy price—Kagami has told me all about it. I've seen too many children like Shisui who are pushed into greatness before they are ready, all because of that cursed gift.
The potential is there, but potential can be a dangerous thing in the hands of the young.
I sigh, close Shisui's profile, and flip to the next.
###
Name: Satoshi Yamanaka
Age: 5
Birthdate: October 19, Year 54 of Konoha's Establishment
Height: 113 cm
Weight: 18 kg
Parents: Inoichi Yamanaka, Aiko Yamanaka
Potential Areas of Talent: Unknown. Rumored to be highly intelligent, though information about Satoshi is sparse. Noted for exceptional artistic talent, evidenced by paintings commissioned by the Akimichi and Nara matriarchs. Other areas of potential remain unclear at this time.
###
Satoshi Yamanaka.
My brow furrows slightly as I stare at the page. There's so little here, almost deliberately so. It's as if the Yamanaka have closed ranks around the boy, keeping any knowledge about him, his abilities, his progress, tightly guarded.
I understand the instinct, especially from Inochi. He's always shown signs of being protective, but this level of secrecy… it's curious.
Rumors, however, have a way of slipping through even the most well-guarded walls. The whispers paint a picture of a boy far beyond his years.
A sharp intellect and a savant when it comes to painting. The Akimichi and Nara matriarchs, both known for their discerning tastes, have openly praised his work.
But that's where the information ends.
I—the village, has nothing concrete on his combat abilities, skills, or any signs of what kind of shinobi he might be. It's rare, especially for someone entering the Academy at this age, to be so much of an enigma. And that, in itself, is unsettling.
I tap my finger on the page, pondering.
The Yamanaka have always been a clan of subtly, of finesse. And their new clan jutsu, Whisper, they call it... the strategic advantages it has given us have been insurmountable, to say the least. Their jutsu relies on the mind, on control, and perhaps that's where Satoshi's true potential lies.
But it's rare, exceedingly rare, for a Yamanaka to be spoken of in the same breath as the Uchiha when it comes to genius.
The room is quiet, save for the soft rustle of paper as I close the profiles. Two children, born on the same day. Both prodigies in their own way.
Shisui, the expected genius. Satoshi, the unexpected… mystery.
I stand, feeling the weight of the Hokage's robes settle over my shoulders. They feel heavier than they used to, as if they, too, carry the weight of every life lost, every decision made.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Today, I'll put on the mask again. Today, like every other day, I'll be the Hokage they need me to be.
Outside the window, the village is waking up. Children laugh, the few merchants that dare to travel during this warring time shout, and the scent of fresh bread drifts through the cracked window of my office.
For a moment, it almost feels like peace.
But I know better.
The cycle continues, and the wheel keeps turning.
And I with it.
===
[A/N] POV from old pal Hiruzen. I've always liked seeing the internal thoughts of other characters. It makes the story feel... more alive. It might just be me, though. Hope you enjoyed.
The next chapter is coming up in a few minutes. ;) You're welcome.
Chapter 15: Shisui Uchiha
SHISUI UCHIHA
The air was sharp, crisp with the morning chill as Shisui walked alongside Elder Shinji.
Shinji was tall and broad, as was his shadow. The Uchiha clan grounds had been quiet, almost somber, this early in the morning, and the silence hung between them, heavy.
Today was the start of his journey at the Academy—his path to bringing honor to the Uchiha name. Or, at least, that's what Elder Shinji kept drilling into his head as they made their way to the village center.
"Shisui," Shinji's voice was low, firm, each word clipped and precise like the typical Uchiha. He didn't waste any flourishes or unnecessary gestures. The clan elder was a man of action, of certainty, with a presence that commanded respect. So, respect Shisui gave.
His eyes, the signature Uchiha crimson when his Sharingan flared, now dark and serious as he looked down at Shisui. "You know what is expected of you."
Shisui nodded, already knowing what would follow. He had heard these words countless times before, from his mother, his father before he died, and now Shinji.
"There is no room for second place," Shinji continued, his voice emotionless. "As an Uchiha, you must always be at the top of your class. Always. Show them what it means to be born into our clan. The might of the Uchiha is your legacy to uphold."
"Yes, Elder Shinji," Shisui said, his voice calm, practiced. The words felt like a routine now. Something he had to say, even though he wasn't entirely sure he believed them.
Elder Shinji was silent for a moment, his gaze hard and assessing as he stared straight ahead. They turned a corner, the tall buildings of Konoha coming into view, their facades weathered by the ongoing war.
The Third War had been raging for four years—most of Shisui's life—and though he had been too young to truly understand it at first, the weight of its consequence, of his expected future, now sat heavy on his shoulders.
"Do you understand the responsibility you bear?" Shinji asked, his voice breaking through Shisui's thoughts. His tone had a sharper edge now, as if daring him to show hesitation.
"Yes, Elder," Shisui replied. But inside, his thoughts churned.
Responsibility. Legacy. The might of the Uchiha. They were words he'd heard all his life, and yet he struggled to connect with them.
He had never understood why everything had to revolve around the clan, why his life—his choices—was always about something bigger than him.
Why was it never about what he wanted, about who he was outside of the Uchiha?
He didn't hate being part of the clan, but he didn't understand why the elders were so fixated on proving something to the rest of the village, to the rest of the world.
What did it matter if he was the best? Wasn't it more important to understand himself, to understand the world around him? There had to be something beyond power, beyond the expectation of greatness.
"Do you understand why we must always be the best?" Shinji's voice interrupted Shisui's thoughts again as if he had sensed his internal questioning.
"Yes, Elder Shinji," Shisui said again, though the words felt hollow.
He could feel Shinji's eyes on him, even if he wasn't looking at him directly. They were searching for something—perhaps a hint of doubt, a sign of weakness. Shisui gave him none. He didn't know what Shinji would do if he found it.
The Academy gates loomed ahead of them now, a stone structure with the symbol of Konoha etched into the arch above. A small group of people had already gathered outside, waiting for Hokage's speech.
Elder Shinji fell silent the closer they got, his eyes narrowing as if assessing the crowd, his steps slowing as if something had caught his attention.
Shisui glanced up at him, wondering what had caused him to go quiet. His sharp gaze was locked onto a small group standing off to the side, just beyond the gates.
Five older people, Yamanaka by the looks of them, stood behind a boy who looked about Shisui's age.
He squinted, focusing on the child at the center of their group.
The boy had ash-blond hair, slightly tousled, and his posture was calm, confident—too calm for someone just starting the Academy. At least compared to the others.
His eyes, an odd shade of gray, were alert, sharp. Something about him felt… different.
He wasn't dressed like any of the other children waiting outside the gates, Shisui included—that much was clear.
While the rest of them wore the standard, practical clothes of young shinobi—simple tunics, shorts, and sandals—he stood out, dressed in an all-white kimono.
The fabric looked expensive, flowing down to his ankles with long sleeves that hung at his sides. He looked more like he was attending a ceremonial gathering (Shisui was well familiar with) than starting his first day of school.
And then there were the geta on his feet—elevated, wooden sandals that made him stand out even more. They were the kind of footwear one might expect to see on a noble attending a formal event, not on someone Shisui's age about to train to be a shinobi.
He looked more like a symbol than a person.
He didn't seem to belong here, and yet… he commanded attention without saying a word.
Shisui looked back up at Elder Shinji, and for the first time since they left the Uchiha compound, Shinji seemed tense. Not outwardly, but Shisui could feel it in the way his jaw clenched ever so slightly, the way his eyes hardened as they fixed on the boy.
"Who are they?" Shisui asked, his voice quiet, cautious.
Elder Shinji's gaze stayed locked on the Yamanaka boy. He didn't answer for a moment… as if weighing something in his mind.
Then, finally, he spoke, his voice low, but dismissive. "It seems the Yamanaka have found themselves a genius to stand behind."
Shisui blinked, surprised by the words. A genius? In the Yamanaka clan? The clan known more for its mind jutsu and support roles in missions than for raw power or combat prowess?
"Never let him surpass you, Shisui," Elder Shinji said, his voice carrying a note of finality, like making a verdict. "No one from the Uchiha will ever be outdone by a Yamanaka. Is that understood?"
Shisui nodded, though his mind was already spinning with questions. Why did it matter if he surpassed him? Why was it always about competition? Strength? Prestige? Why was the weight of his worth measured only by how much better he could be than others?
"Do not disappoint the clan," Shinji said, his gaze finally turning back to Shisui.
"I won't," Shisui replied, the words slipping out automatically.
But as he looked at the boy standing with the older Yamanaka, as their eyes now locked, as the boy gave a small nod of acknowledgment, Shisui couldn't help but wonder why he got this feeling in the pit of his stomach when he saw how calm the boy looked.
How… self-assured he appeared. It was different from the other geniuses in Shisui's clan. They had an air of pride around them while he had an air of… hm, Shisui didn't know.
He just might have to ask him what that was.
###
The Will of Fire.
Shisui remembered the words as clearly as if they were still ringing in his ears.
"As long as there are leaves, the fire will burn. And as long as the fire burns, the village will endure."
He didn't know why, but those words… they stuck with him.
As Hokage-sama spoke to the students, standing on that podium in front of the Academy courtyard, his voice moved through the crowd. His eyes swept over all of them, stern yet kind.
But for a moment—just a moment—his eyes paused on Shisui. And on the Yamanaka.
"We must protect the future. Protect one another. This is the Will of Fire."
No one else would have noticed the way his gaze lingered, not unless they were looking for it. But Shisui noticed. He always noticed.
The crowd shuffled around Shisui as the Hokage's speech ended, everyone eager to get out of the midday sun.
His mind was still wrapped around those words, around that look in the Hokage's eyes. What was he thinking? Why did he focus on the two of them?
The Will of Fire…
Shisui shook his head. Too many questions this early in the morning. One step at a time.
The Academy courtyard was crowded now. Students were beginning to make their way inside, and Shisui followed suit.
Elder Shinji had stopped his lecturing the moment they arrived—probably didn't want to make a spectacle of himself in front of the Hokage or the other clans. But his words still rang in Shisui's ears.
"Surpass him, Shisui," Shinji had said, his gaze never leaving the Yamanaka surrounded by his elders. "An Uchiha must always be at the top, Shisui."
Why did it matter so much to them that the Uchiha were always on top? Why was their value measured by how much they outdid everyone else?
Shisui didn't dislike the Yamanaka boy—heck, he didn't even know him. And yet, he was already being told to surpass him, to make sure no one saw him as anything less than perfect.
His mind was spinning again.
There were so many things Shisui didn't understand about the world, about the clan, about this obsession with greatness.
He could feel the gazes of some of the other students on him as they walked toward the Academy building, their eyes stealing glances at him, whispers following his footsteps.
"Is that an Uchiha?" Shisui heard one girl whisper, her voice just barely audible over the chatter.
"Yeah, he's cute," another girl said, giggling softly behind her hand. "Do you think he'll be in our class?"
Shisui sighed inwardly, pretending not to hear any of it.
He had long since learned to tune those things out. Instead, he kept his pace steady, his hands in his pockets, his eyes half-closed like he didn't have a care in the world. They were just distractions. None of it mattered.
The classroom was small and simple, filled with the nervous energy of new students a year older than Shisui. He scanned the room, his gaze landing on an empty seat by the window. The one next to it was already taken.
The Yamanaka.
Shisui didn't know why, but something drew him to the boy. Maybe it was his calm, how he seemed completely at ease while everyone else buzzed nervously.
Maybe it was the way he held himself—so sure, so steady, like nothing could shake him. Whatever it was, Shisui found himself walking over to him without even thinking about it.
"Mind if I sit here?" Shisui asked, leaning casually on the desk beside him.
The boy opened his eyes, and for a moment, they locked onto Shisui's. His gaze was sharp, analytical, like he was studying Shisui.
Then, after a beat, he gave Shisui a small smile. "Sure."
Shisui slid into the seat next to him, feeling the tension ease slightly. There was something oddly calming about sitting there, next to him. They introduced themselves, exchanged a few words—Satoshi Yamanaka, he said his name was—but before they could get much further, the classroom door slid open, and a woman walked in.
The teacher.
She was tall, with dark hair pulled into a neat bun, square glasses, and sharp eyes that surveyed the room with authority. She wasted no time, moving to the front of the classroom and addressing the students immediately.
"Welcome to the Academy," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "Today, we will begin the process of placing you into appropriate classes. This will be done through a series of four tests."
Shisui sat up a little straighter, his attention fully on her now.
Tests? That wasn't something Elder Shinji had mentioned, but Shisui wasn't surprised. It made sense to test them right from the start. Separate the strong from the weak. See who had potential and who didn't.
"The first test will be a written exam, testing your general knowledge of history, geography, and ninja theory," the teacher continued, pacing slowly in front of the room.
"The second will be a stamina test. You will be required to run a set number of laps around the school grounds."
Some of the students shuffled nervously at that, glancing around at each other. Shisui remained still, watching.
"The third test will be a shurikenjutsu test. You will be evaluated on your accuracy and technique. And finally," she paused, her eyes sweeping over the students, "the last test will be a combat evaluation. That will conclude your first day."
A small murmur ran through the room. Shisui felt a flicker of excitement for some reason. Maybe because he had the chance to show what he could do. Maybe because he was curious what Satoshi could do.
The teacher's gaze lingered on them for a moment longer before she spoke again. "I will begin passing out the written exams. There is to be no cheating. Anyone caught cheating will immediately be placed in a lower-level class. Understood?"
"Hai, sensei," the class chorused.
As she started handing out the papers, Shisui glanced at Satoshi beside him. He seemed calm—maybe too calm for someone about to be tested. His eyes were closed as if he didn't care about the test at all.
Shisui couldn't help but feel curious about him. There was something about Satoshi Yamanaka that intrigued him.
Maybe this year wouldn't be so boring after all.
===
[A/N] Gotta say, I love my boy Shisui and his neverending thoughts.
Welp... Why not... Another chapter coming in a few minutes for my favorite little readers ;)
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