CHAPTER 41
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Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the clan hall, his mind replaying the conversation with the elders from just moments ago.
The heavy wooden doors of the hall creaked as they slowly closed behind him, leaving him alone in the dimly lit room. Candles flickered along the walls, casting dancing shadows over the floor.
His deep brown eyes flicked toward the ceiling, where the clan's crest hung proudly. The Sarutobi clan had reached unprecedented heights—thanks to his efforts.
But now, his mind was occupied with an entirely different matter: marriage.
He sighed deeply, leaning back into the cold, carved wooden chair. *Marriage.* A matter he had pushed aside, dismissing it as less important than his village duties or enhancing his clan's bloodline.
The room seemed to echo his thoughts. "A woman worthy enough to stand beside the Hokage? Beautiful like Lady Mito? Strong enough to keep up with my pace?" The standards he had set in his mind suddenly seemed more challenging than mastering elemental jutsu.
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Meanwhile, the elders of the Sarutobi clan, still gathered in the hall, continued their discussion with fervor.
Elder Kizaru, his long white beard swaying slightly as he stroked it thoughtfully, spoke in a firm but contemplative tone.
"Hiruzen's right. Our clan leader is not just any man. He's the Hokage, and one of the strongest in our history of the clan. It's only fitting that his wife should be someone who matches his greatness in both beauty and strength."
Elder Murasaki nodded in agreement, his voice carrying the weight of wisdom.
"We've heard that Uchiha, Senju, Hyuga, and Uzumaki have strong kunoichi, but they are bound by clan politics. Even the Hyuga will be difficult to persuade into marriage outside their own clan. The Uzumaki, though distant, might be a good candidate. We must tread carefully."
Sakazuki, a younger and bolder elder, leaned forward.
"I'll send someone to the Uzumaki immediately. It'll take time, but their bloodline is powerful, and their kunoichi are renowned for their strength. If one of them agrees to marry clan leader, our clan's power will reach even greater heights."
The elders nodded in unison, the seriousness of their task apparent on their faces.
As Sakazuki left to make preparations, Elder Kizaru added, "There's also Biwako, a kunoichi from our own clan. Her beauty and strength have grown exponentially after Hiruzen's bloodline enhancements. She's already an elite jonin and would make a fine match for him."
"True," Elder Sengoku mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "She may not have the prestige of the other great clans, but her loyalty to the Sarutobi clan cannot be questioned. We should consider her as well."
Their discussion continued, voices echoing through the now-emptier hall as they meticulously planned the future of their clan leader's marriage, the future of the Sarutobi bloodline at stake.
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At that moment, Hiruzen was making his way to a secluded training ground outside the village.
His destination? Dai, a promising young ninja who had been under his personal tutelage.
Hiruzen arrived in a blur of speed, using the Flying Thunder God Technique, and stood quietly watching as Dai trained with fierce dedication.
"Dai!" Hiruzen's voice called out, his presence immediately felt.
Dai snapped out of his trance, his movements halting as he recognized his master's voice. With a wide grin, he sprinted toward Hiruzen. "Teacher! Good evening!" he shouted with enthusiasm.
Hiruzen chuckled softly, patting the younger man on the head, a rare smile lighting up his face.
"You've been training hard as always, Dai. I'm proud of you." His voice was warm, but there was a purpose in his words.
"I've come to inform you that soon, I'll be taking you and my new genin team on a mission outside the village. It will be your first real test. Be ready. You'll no longer be doing D-rank missions."
Dai's eyes widened with excitement, his heart racing. "A mission outside the village? I won't let you down, teacher. I'll work hard to protect you and everyone in the village! I'll make sure I'm strong enough to join the ANBU!"
Hiruzen smiled again, a flicker of pride evident in his gaze. "I have no doubt you will, Dai. Keep training. Your time will come sooner than you think."
With that, Hiruzen assessed Dai's progress briefly before nodding in approval. "I have other matters to attend to in the village, but I'll be watching your progress closely. Don't disappoint me."
As Hiruzen left the training grounds, Dai stood there, feeling the weight of his mentor's expectations but also fueled by his desire to prove himself worthy.
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Weeks passed, and Hiruzen's genin team—Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Sakumo—had been busy completing their D-rank missions.
Though they had made significant progress, the tediousness of the tasks had begun to wear on them, especially Jiraiya, who was growing increasingly restless.
In the Hokage's office, the four young shinobi stood in front of Hiruzen, awaiting their next set of orders.
The sunlight streamed through the large window behind the Hokage's desk, casting long shadows on the polished floor.
"Well done, all of you," Hiruzen said with a smile, addressing his team. "You've each completed 30 D-rank missions. Your contributions to the village are invaluable."
Jiraiya, however, wasn't as pleased. His arms crossed, he grumbled, "Sensei, I want some tougher missions. These chores are beneath us."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, his smile never faltering. "Do you want more missions, or would you prefer training instead?" he asked, knowing full well Jiraiya's impatience.
"Tougher missions, sensei! At least give us some B-rank ones! We're more than capable!" Jiraiya's voice was firm, his face full of pride.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, still smiling. "Very well. There are 10 more D-rank missions here for you to complete," he said, sliding a pile of scrolls toward them.
The expression on Jiraiya's face turned sour. "Sensei! Why more D-rank missions?!" he protested.
Tsunade, ever practical, chimed in, "Sensei, we'll accept the training instead. These missions can be done by Jiraiya alone." Her glare at Jiraiya was sharp enough to make him flinch.
Hiruzen chuckled softly at their banter, his hands clasped in front of him. "Don't worry. I'll assess your strengths soon. After that, we'll move on to higher-ranked missions. But you need more discipline first. Be patient."
As he dismissed them, Hiruzen watched his team leave the office, their mixed expressions telling him all he needed to know.
In time, they would understand the importance of patience and mastery. Until then, they had much to learn.
With the team gone, Hiruzen turned his attention back to his village duties. His thoughts, however, briefly returned to the matter of marriage. *A wife… perhaps it's time.*
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(A/N: The matter of hokage wife is very much important. so we will be selecting some clans and options on which you can vote.)
1. Uzumaki
2. Uchiha
3. Senju
4. Hyuga
5. Civilian kunoichi (any name even the mother of kurenai yuhi)
6. Out of the World (any anime girls)
7. Kaguya Otsutsuki
8. Other great villages
You have some more time, until the mission of team Hiruzen, on the missions there are high chances of encountering kunoichi of my choice.
(My choices are girls form High School DXD. For Example; Grayfia Lucifuge, Rias Gremory and many more.)