The closed doors of the Hokage’s office muffled the rising tension within. Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, his fingers lightly tapping against the polished wood as he listened to Danzo Shimura’s impassioned speech. Across from him, the vilge elders—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—observed in quiet contemption, their expressions betraying neither agreement nor dissent.

  Danzo’s tone was sharp, deliberate. Calcuted.

  “We are hemorrhaging experienced shinobi at the borders, Hiruzen.” His single exposed eye burned with intensity. “These small skirmishes are no longer isoted incidents. We are at the precipice of war, and yet, you hesitate.”

  Hiruzen remained still, his expression unreadable. His old friend—if Danzo could even still be called that—had always been willing to sacrifice pawns before the game had even begun.

  “They are children, Danzo.” Hiruzen’s voice was calm but firm. “The Academy exists to mold them into capable shinobi, not to send them to die before they’ve even had the chance to live.”

  Danzo scoffed. “You think the enemy cares about their age? The world does not wait for us to be ready, Hiruzen. The next generation must be forged through fire.” He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping into a lower, more insidious tone. “Early graduation will not only bolster our numbers, but it will allow us to identify candidates for ANBU sooner.”

  Hiruzen caught the faint glint of satisfaction in Danzo’s eye. Ah. So that’s his true goal.

  Across the room, Homura cleared his throat. “While I am hesitant to agree with Danzo, the reports do not lie.” He exchanged a gnce with Koharu, who nodded solemnly. “Konoha’s forces are spread thin. If war does come, we must be prepared.”

  Koharu folded her hands neatly in her p. “Deying their training could mean condemning them to death ter, Hiruzen.”

  The tide was turning against him. He felt it in the heavy weight settling against his shoulders.

  Hiruzen closed his eyes for a brief moment, inhaling deeply. If he outright rejected their proposal, they would find another way. Danzo was patient when he needed to be, but he would not let this issue rest.

  He needed an alternative. A lesser evil.

  Hiruzen opened his eyes and spoke carefully. “Then let us compromise.”

  Danzo’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he listened.

  “Instead of forcing all students into early graduation and combat, we establish a deyed-entry program,” Hiruzen expined. “Exceptional students—those with promise—will be invited to join specialized corps before full graduation.”

  The room fell into silence as the elders absorbed his words.

  “These corps will offer real-world training while still keeping them under the Academy’s watchful eye. They will only be pced in active teams once deemed truly ready.”

  Homura stroked his chin thoughtfully. “A training initiative instead of immediate enlistment…” He nodded slowly. “That could work.”

  Danzo’s expression remained neutral, but Hiruzen saw the flicker of satisfaction in his eye.

  “Very well,” Danzo finally said. “I assume the corps will include the Barrier Corps, Medical Corps, Heavy Combat, and Sensor Divisions?”

  Hiruzen inclined his head. “Yes.”

  Danzo's fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair. “And the ANBU program?”

  Hiruzen held back a sigh. Of course that’s what he cared about.

  “Candidates will be evaluated. No child will be forced into ANBU prematurely.”

  Danzo didn’t look pleased, but he knew better than to push his luck. Then, as if sensing something, his eyes narrowed. “And what of this… Summoner Corps?”

  The question hung in the air. Hiruzen had anticipated it.

  “A new addition,” Hiruzen answered smoothly. “Suggested by Enma.”

  Danzo’s scowl deepened. He had never seen eye to eye with Monkey King Enma—rgely due to Enma’s outright refusal to allow Root operatives to contract with the Monkey Cn. He had given countless excuses over the years. "Affinity concerns." "Ethical incompatibility." All just carefully veiled ways of saying “I don’t trust you, Danzo.”

  “And you agreed to this?” Danzo asked, his tone just shy of accusatory.

  Hiruzen held his ground. “Summoning-based combat is an untapped resource in Konoha. With proper guidance, these students could become a major asset.”

  Homura nodded. “The Sannin are proof of what powerful summoning contracts can do. It would be unwise to ignore the potential.”

  Danzo reluctantly inclined his head. He could do nothing while the other elders were in agreement. But he would be watching.

  “Very well,” Danzo murmured. “Then we shall reconvene every few months to assess the progress of these programs.”

  Hiruzen exhaled slowly. The battle had been won. For now.

  Later That Evening

  The Hokage’s office was quiet. The firelight flickered against the walls, casting long shadows across the room. Hiruzen sat behind his desk, while Enma leaned casually against the bookcase.

  “It went through,” Hiruzen said, rubbing his temples. “Even though I’m still not sure I agree with it myself.”

  Enma took a sip from a small fsk, his golden eyes watching Hiruzen carefully. “It was the better of two evils.”

  Hiruzen exhaled through his nose. “I know.” He looked up, his expression tired. “The alternative was sending young genin into the meat grinder before the war even begins.”

  Enma’s gaze softened slightly. “And we both know you would never let that happen.”

  A quiet understanding settled between them.

  Then Enma said, “Besides… we have something in the Summoner Corps that needs protection.”

  Hiruzen’s fingers traced the rim of his pipe before taking a slow puff. He nodded. “I’ll make sure to take care of my friend’s request.”

  The chair across from him creaked as Shigeto Sarutobi leaned forward, hands folded in his p.

  At nineteen years old, he bore a striking resembnce to Hiruzen—sharp features, dark eyes that held wisdom beyond his years, and an air of quiet authority.

  A stronger, bolder reflection of the man Hiruzen had been at his age.

  Hiruzen exhaled a long plume of smoke. “I entrust Hiro to you, Shigeto.”

  Shigeto met his father’s gaze without hesitation. “I’ll make sure the boy stays safe. And I’ll keep an eye out for any… unwanted attention from the Root.”

  Hiruzen felt a pang of pride—and a heavy weight of regret. He had asked too much of his eldest son already, and now, he was asking more.

  But Shigeto understood what was at stake.

  Hiruzen leaned back, taking another pull from his pipe.

  The war had not yet begun.

  But its shadows were already stretching long over Konoha.