Will of embers

Chapter 7

Sometimes, it was easier to be buried in paperwork than to deal with certain people. Today, Hiruzen was confronted by the Head of the Hyuga clan and his very pregnant wife. They were expecting their daughter to be born next month. Having Byakugan had its advantages when they could see clearly in their bodies and determine not only the sex of their child but also how mature the fetus was.

It sounded disgusting, and Hiruzen wasn't jealous of the ability. Especially when with Byukugan, everyone seemed to develop a rivalry with the Uchiha clan. It was a frustrating situation for everyone caught in between. And so it happens that Hiruzen was between these two clans today. Well, it came with the work, he guessed.

On the one hand, Hiruzen had the Uchiha clan, who had started to settle in their new residence. On the other hand, he had the Hyuga clan, who didn't take well to having the Uchiha clan living across the river from their clan residence. Hiruzen didn't think much of it when he helped the Uchiha clan settle, as the river running through Konoha seemed enough to separate the two proud clans.

Well, the river became the point of their aggression toward each other. While Uchiha looked aloof and didn't bother Hiruzen, the Hyuga clan didn't have such reservations and quickly wanted to settle their disagreement. That is why they came to the Hokage office. If Hiruzen didn't have a dozen other things to look over, he wouldn't care about it so much and would have finished it. But now, he had to put everything on hold and settle this stupid disagreement.

"I will prohibit the Uchiha clan and everyone else from practicing fire jutsu over the river," Hiruzen said, as in the end, he could only agree with Hyuga that practicing fire jutsu in public spaces was dangerous, even if it over the river.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga-clan, bowed in gratitude.

"No worries," Hiruzen tried to be as casual as he could with Hiashi. "When the little one will shine her presence upon us?"

"Fufu," Hiashi's wife, blushed and laughed awkwardly. "At the end of December, Hokage-sama."

"Does she have a name already?"

"A few dozen," Hiashi replied with a defeated sigh.

"I am sure she will be a healthy and brilliant child," Hiruzen had to end the conversation as Kakashi returned with a pile of paperwork ready for me. "Please take care of yourselves."

As much as Hiruzen didn't like dealing with the other village clans, the Hyuga clan was polite and agreeable. And even though the main family was quite stuck up, Hiashi and his wife weren't so bad. At least for now as Hizashi was still alive and would humble his brother if Hiashi got over his head.

"Do you need me for this?" Kakashi asked as the Hyuga couple left.

"No," Hiruzen replied, knowing that the Uchiha clan didn't like Kakashi for possessing Sharingan. "You can reorganize the paperwork for me while I am gone."

The gloomy teenager didn't complain much as he set to work. After having Kakashi work for him for over a month, Hiruzen could tell that Kakashi suffered from a severe case of PTSD. Hiruzen didn't think he saw Kakashi well rested, so keeping him out of active missions seemed even more important as Kakashi needed time to recover.

Hiruzen wasn't naïve enough to believe that Kakashi could recover, but at least he could give Kakashi time to settle and process his emotions. It didn't help that Kakashi was a capable shinobi and a Jonin. Hiruzen won't be able to keep him close to him without giving out missions. As much as he wanted to disagree with Danzo, the village lacked powerful shinobi.

Missions came in. Too many missions. The demand was high after the war, but sadly, the village couldn't supply shinobi for every mission. They would stockpile until they expired, and then the village would start losing clients as they would look for other villages. Hiruzen didn't need to be educated on these matters to know how business ran.

And sadly, the village needed money. More than ever. The rebuilding of the village took its toll on the finances. And losing clients wasn't good. Hiruzen didn't have much time to think of a solution. And if he doesn't think of it, Danzo will. As much as he didn't like it, Hiruzen had to agree that Danzo's pragmatism excelled in those matters.

The problem was that Danzo would not be satisfied no matter what he accomplished. Hiruzen knew Danzo was an ambitious man who saw everyone else not on his side as an enemy. In a way, he was more like Madara than anyone else. Danzo wanted to rule over the elemental nations. He couldn't stomach anyone else but Konoha having power in his world.

Unlike him, Danzo saw war as an opportunity to strengthen the village and its influence. Danzo has learned all the wrong lessons from the Second Hokage. As long as Hiruzen is alive, he will not let any war start, no matter how small it might be. It was already hard to deal with common stuff in the village.

…

Every passerby greeted Hiruzen as he walked towards Uchiha's residence. He could have called Fugaku Uchiha to come to him, but he couldn't pass the opportunity to walk around the village. He had to walk at least once a day, or his legs would start going numb from sitting by his desk all day.

Hiruzen had to remind himself that he was old. Even though his body was strong, flexible, and way better than his previous body, he was in his late fifties. He was overworking himself and stressing out daily. It wouldn't surprise him if he developed heart problems. Once Tsunade is back, he should take regular health checks.

'Dammit, why did I have to possess such an old body?' It was a question Hiruzen asked himself too often. He needed to endure a bit more, before Kakashi grew up and was stable enough to become a Hokage. But just imagining all the things he would have to deal with gave Hiruzen chills. Hopefully, Orochimaru will not start experimenting on children just yet.

"Hokage-sama," Before Hiruzen could enter the Uchiha clan residence, he was met by the Head of the Uchiha clan. "I didn't expect you today."

"Oh, so you were waiting for someone else?" Hiruzen asked with a knowing smile. It was clear that Fugaku was informed of Hiruzen's visit, and he quickly met him by the entrance of Uchiha's residence. "I thought I would give a visit to your new home. Sorry, I didn't bring any presents."

"Of course," Fugaku smiled as best as he could, and Hiruzen could tell that Fugaku wasn't the type to smile often. "Let me show you around."

"It is quiet out here," Hiruzen commented as they walked through the main streets of Uchiha clan residence. "Quite peaceful."

"It is the outskirts of the village, probably the furthest part from its center," Fugaku replied, indicating that they were isolated from the rest of the village. "Not many come around these parts, so we are left alone."

"You don't need to mince words with me, Fugaku-dono," Hiruzen said as they entered the more secluded place with no ears or eyes on them; at least Hiruzen hoped as he couldn't tell with these damn shinobi if they were hiding near him or not. "I am too old for these games, so I hope you can trust me to tell things truthfully without beating around a bush."

"It might not sound good if you hear it from me," Fugaku replied, telling Hiruzen of this delicate position.

"You know I have been so busy of the late; I would like to go fishing," Hiruzen said, stopping suddenly by the river where a small dock was placed. "Since you live near the river, I'm sure you have a fishing pole or two. Would you kindly bring them to me and join me, Fugaku-dono."

"Of course," Fugaku replied, but Hiruzen could tell he didn't understand what he wanted.

Once Fugaku left, Hiruzen took a seat at the edge of the dock. Too bad it was already late autumn, and the ducks had migrated to warmer places. So, the river was quite calm and empty. Hiruzen looked at his reflection in the water and contemplated what he would tell Fugaku. He needed to gain Fugaku's trust, so he should at least disclose some of the secrets.

"Reveal yourselves," Hiruzen said to the empty place. A squad of ANBU operatives knelt on the ground, awaiting Hiruzen's orders. Of course, Hiruzen didn't know if they were here or where they were hiding. That is why he told Fugaku to leave, as if he was wrong. It would be embarrassing to speak to himself, and Fugaku would become suspicious of him in a worst-case scenario. "Leave me and wait outside Uchiha's residence until I finish."

"But Hokage-sama."

"Did you not hear my words?" Hiruzen lowered his voice as much as he could as he asked the ANBU. "Maybe I was too lenient of the late, but if you start questioning me again, it won't end well for you or your squad. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama, my apologies."

Hiruzen sighed as he felt wind gust as they left. He had no idea whether they were still here and didn't know if this behavior was something the real Hiruzen would do, but he needed to do this. Hopefully, he wasn't too harsh, as he couldn't imagine a real Hiruzen threatening his subordinates. Still, he couldn't think of another way to portray his wishes.

"I must confess, I am not too keen on fishing," Fugaku said as he returned with two fishing rods.

"Neither am I," Hiruzen replied as he took one of them. "Before we begin, can I ask you to ensure we are alone?"

"Sure," Fugaku was confused, but he still activated his Sharingan and scanned the area before sitting beside Hiruzen. "Beside us, there is nobody else."

"Good, I thought for a moment that my old age started to affect my senses," Hiruzen said as he swung the fishing rod, letting the bait fall into the water. "What I am going to tell will not leave this place and will not be heard by anyone else."

"I will not speak to anyone of it," Fugaku replied as his face turned serious.

"You probably already suspect that the Konoha council is suspecting the Uchiha clan of attacking the village by using the Demon Fox."

"Are you confirming it?" Fugaku asked, anger clear in his voice.

"They not entirely wrong," Hiruzen replied slowly as he tried to think of the right words he should use. "Before Minato died and entrusted Naruto to me, he told me who was behind the attack."

"Who?" The fishing rod cracked under Fugaku's grip as he listened to Hiruzen.

"I don't know how to say this. Or if you will believe it as even I had a hard time believing Minato's words," Hiruzen replied, still doubting if he should say it or not, but in the end, he had to put his trust into Fugaku if he wanted Fugaku to trust him. "The one behind the attack was Madara Uchiha."

"Impossible," Fugaku dropped his fishing rod as his hand went stiff after hearing what Hiruzen said.

"My reaction wasn't any better," Hiruzen continued calmly. "But Minato had no reason to lie. He told me the attacker was a masked man with Mangekyo Sharingan who called himself Madara Uchiha. In the end, it is impossible to confirm the attacker's identity, but he was someone who could fight against Minato on equal ground. He was able to infiltrate the village and pass through ANBU guards unnoticed before releasing the Nine-tails and taking control of him."

"If what you say is true, that means that Minato managed to defeat the attacker as he was able to seal the Nine-tails," Fugaku said as gears started to turn in his head. "The attacker must have been gravely injured as he was not able to stop Minato."

"That's why I have decided to trust you and your clan, Fugaku," Hiruzen said as he used his opportunity to deepen his relationship with Fugaku. "Nobody from Uchiha clan was reported injured in the attack."

"Nobody was, as we didn't participate in the defense of Konoha."

"Nobody knows what I have said to you, apart from me. And nobody can know. I don't know what consequences it would bring if others knew that Madara was alive. But it came with the price of the Konoha council distrusting the Uchiha. There isn't much I can do to change their opinion of your clan. And trust me, if everything were in my power, I would have made you the next Hokage after Minato, but apart from me, no one will accept it."

"It is much to take in," Fugaku confessed, as he barely regained his emotions. "Why tell me this?"

"As an apology," Hiruzen said. "I couldn't stop your clan from relocation. It slipped through me. And I can imagine how your clan might feel about the rest of the village. But I wanted you to know that I trust the Uchiha clan and believe you will protect the village no matter what when the situation comes to it. So, please accept my apologies, and consider putting your trust in me and believe that I will do anything needed for your clan to thrive."

"Thank you for trusting me so much," Fugaku bowed his head as Hiruzen stood up to leave. "I swear I will not let you or the village down."

"Oh, and one last thing," Hiruzen stopped as he was about to leave. "From now on, nobody can practice jutsu over the river or other public places."

"Ding!!! Hidden quest completed. Congratulations host. Fugaku Uchiha's trust in you has been deepened. Not only did you alleviate Fugaku's frustration over his clan's treatment, but you also shared sensitive information that concerns his clan. From this moment on, Fugaku Uchiha is your unquestionable ally. Ding!!!"

"Ding!!! By completing a hidden quest, you have increased your vitality exponentially and you have gained a random taijutsu skill. Ding!!!"

Age 55/79

Taijutsu skills: Drunken fist advanced Level.

The ringing bell gave Hiruzen a headache as he returned to his office. Looking over his rewards, he was quite happy to receive three extra years to his life, even if it felt quite morbid knowing how long he would live. And he even gained taijutsu skill, even if it was a drunken fist. It was either a joke skill or too powerful to be used in this world. That is why he only saw it used once in his previous life. Either way, he was happy and could almost hug Fugaku for prolonging his life again.

A.N. Thanks for all your support. I still don't know the specific schedule when I will update the story, but I should be able to do it once a week. I have great fun writing this story and I am happy that you guys like it also. Well, see you.

As always, If you want more, up to seven advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852. And if you have any requests for stories, I will only take them on my pa treon.