Hiruzen Sarutobi, inside the Hokage's office, his weathered hands trembled slightly as they rested on the polished surface of the desk, the wood feeling both comforting and burdensome beneath his palms.
As he gazes out of the window, his eyes scanned the village below, the vibrant colors of Konoha seemed muted, overshadowed by grief. Peaceful time, which was once a source of joy, now felt like a distant echo dissolved in the wheel of time. His jaw clenched at the sight of yet another funeral procession in the distance.
"Lord Third" An Anbu knelt behind Hiruzen, head bowed, "The council awaits your decision on the Nine-Tailed kid."
Hiruzen didn't turn back but his reflection in the window glass betrayed the flash of pain that crossed his face. "Tell them, Naruto Uzumaki will be on my care." he replied, his voice carrying numerous sleepless nights.
The Anbu vanished, leaving Hiruzen alone in his own thoughts.
"We had the beacon of hope, a symbol of strength for our people. And now, that light has been extinguished. Have I failed to protect the Fire of Konoha, Sensei?", he looked at the faces carved in the rock mountain. The answer, of course, never came.
He glanced his eyes towards the desk, stack of papers rests – causality results, reconstruction, economic condition, military reports, diplomatic messages from other villages sensing the weak Leaf.
He walked over to make a hand sign for Shadow Clone jutsu but stopped. It was the burden he must bear. Every signature, every consequence, every loss, every decision, every plan.
As the sun climbed higher, casting the shadow of the Hokage Monument across his desk, Hiruzen's face settled into the stern mask he would wear for years to come. 'The professor' was still there, but buried deeper, under layers of duty, loss, and grief.
His eyes, though tired, held a sharp vigilance – the look of a man who had learned too late that peace was as fragile as the lives of those he loved.
When he finally rose to face the council, his movements were measured, deliberate. Each step carried the weight of his responsibility, yet his back remained straight, his chin lifted, eyes with sharp vigilance.
The villagers saw what they needed to see, not a grieving old man, but 'the Hokage, Will of Fire', ready once again to protect what remained of his home.
…
The day after the tragedy, Raijin attended his parents' funeral beneath Konoha's solemn sky. The Sarutobi clan gathered in force – weathered faces lined with grief, ceremonial robes rustling in the morning breeze. Among them, Raijin seemed impossibly small, a child adrift in a sea of adults who shared his name but separated by an unbridgeable gap of experience.
He lit incense and paid homage to his deceased parents and sat through the entire funeral from morning to evening. This was the desire of the child's physical and mental state. The traumatic event left the child emotionally scarred, consumed by grief, anger, and a deep sense of powerlessness.
After washing himself in the evening, he started to prepare food. He was glad that he had lived alone in his previous life, where he had learned all the necessary skills to live by himself.
"At least I know how to take care of myself," he muttered, "Though my old apartment never felt this empty. Even living alone, friends would drop by, fill the space with laughter..."
After finishing the meal, he sat on his mattress and began to recall the information about the key future events. The sharp trill of the doorbell shattered his thoughts, its sound unnaturally loud in the quiet house.
Ring…Ring…Ring…
'Hiruzen or is it, Danzo?' Raijin thought, frowning. 'Hiruzen Sarutobi, the grandfatherly Hokage, who spreads his wisdom and comfort to all the village's orphans. Whereas, Danzo, the darkness of Konoha, is manipulative, and shows little regard for human life if it helps him achieve his goals.'
Outside, Hiruzen's brow furrowed as he sensed Raijin's chakra signature. The boy's reserves were troublingly low, even for his age – a fact that weighed heavily on Hiruzen's mind.
Raijin was born untalented with little to no chakra. While the chakra reserve Hiruzen sensed, was the result of Raijin's soul still adjusting to his young body, carefully managing what little chakra it could handle.
Hiruzen, unaware of this seemed worried, but it wasn't dissatisfaction, it was about the responsibility Raijin had to handle as the next generation. He decided to help him as a grandfather and Sarutobi Clan leader.
"Hello?" Raijin cracked open the door innocence in his face.
Hiruzen's weathered face creased in a gentle smile.
Raijin muttered, "Y-you..don't you have work?" then quickly composed himself, "Lord Hokage, what brings you to my humble home?" said with childish curiosity. He internally comtemplated, 'I can't let him assign me a caretaker. I need my privacy.'
A flicker of surprise crossed Hiruzen's face as he noticed the boy's fluctuating chakra. Cough… he cleared his throat and said, "How have you been my child?"
"I'm managing, Lord Hokage. Won't you come in?" Raijin offered with a carefully crafted smile.
"I wanted to come say hello and see how you're doing. For now, I just wanted to check in and make sure you're doing well. Maybe next time –"
"I insist, Lord Hokage." Raijin stepped aside, clearing the entrance.
"If you say so, Raijin," Hiruzen smiled and entered his house. Hiruzen walked into the hall of the house that could be seen from outside the door.
Raijin made a shocked but bright face when he heard his name and replied, "What would you prefer Lord Hokage?... Tea or shall I prepare some food for you?" Raijin bowed a little.
"You may call me grandfather," Hiruzen smiled warmly. "And no refreshments are necessary. I wish to talk."
"Lord Hokage…Uh… why don't you sit down?" He pointed to another couch a few meters away.
Hiruzen sat down, looked around, and asked, "Are you comfortable here?"
"I am," Raijin replied as soon as Hiruzen's word had fallen. "I mean, I have no problems living here. It is quite comfortable."
Their conversation meandered through carefully structured pleasantries before Hiruzen shifted to his true purpose.
"The sacred flame known as the Will of Fire burns brightly within you, Raijin. This Will binds us together as a village and as a family. It is a spark that ignites our passion to protect those we hold dear - our friends, our loved ones, and our home.
"It means standing strong and unwavering in the face of adversity, never backing down from a challenge. You'll have to overcome every obstacle to push your limits and bring honor to our beloved Leaf Village." Hiruzen approached, his presence filling the room like a physical force.
"I will always carry your teachings," Raijin replied with determination.
Hiruzen chuckled warmly, though his eyes remained sharp and evaluative. "Let that fire guide you, Raijin. As one of the future leaders of the Sarutobi clan, you must ensure your parents' sacrifice wasn't in vain. Their legacy lives on in you."
Raijin rose slowly, letting silence speak for him.
"Become a strong shinobi," Hiruzen placed a gentle hand on Raijin's shoulder, "Protect your precious people from such tragedy."
"I will, Lord Hokage."
"You are doing well, Raijin. Keep moving forward. Don't let the past drag you down." With those words, Hiruzen vanished in a swirl of smoke.
The silence settled once more, broken only by the soft ticking of a clock and the distant sounds of the village preparing for the night.
'No wonder the little children are loyal to their village.' Raijin mused, 'The old man knows exactly how to plant the seeds of devotion. Though of course, he sent a clone – probably visiting all the new orphans tonight, spreading the gospel of the Will of Fire.'
…
In the Hokage's office, the real Hiruzen sorted through the memories of his dispersed clones, satisfaction mixing with concern as he evaluated the resilience of Konoha's youngest generation. Most had been taken in by their clans or the orphanage, finding new families in the wake of tragedy. Only a handful had chosen solitude—mostly teenagers and one peculiar 4-year-old.
"Hmm… Raijin Sarutobi" Hiruzen murmured, thoughtfully across his tongue as he gazed out over the village.