Report

The soft rustle of papers filled the room as Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned over his desk, his pipe resting in a tray nearby. His left hand pressed against his forehead, the weight of his thoughts mirrored in his furrowed brow. With his right hand, he wrote steadily, the faint scratch of the pen on parchment the only sound in the stillness.

"Increase the amount of resources spent on civilian schools? Who keeps suggesting this? Civilian schools are fine as they are, and the teachers are paid enough to ensure a good education. If you want better education, send them to the Ninja Academy—it's there for a reason! Denied."

Hiruzen paused for a moment, staring at the paper in front of him, the ink drying on the letter. He picked up another one and read it over.

"Lower the price of our exports to the Land of Grass by 10%? Sure, they're loyal allies, and they probably need it since it's the winter season. But..."

He sighed, sitting back on his chair as he mulled over the decision. Lowering the prices would strengthen the ties with the Land of Grass, that was a given, but it could set a precedent for other nations to demand similar reductions. So much damn paperwork! Can't the other members of the council help him?

Hiruzen shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips despite his frustration. "Of course not," he muttered. "To handle these decisions is my responsibility as the leader of the village. Their role is to advise, debate, and ensure that every voice in the village is heard. Mine is to decide."

Speaking of the council members... Danzo had relented on his attempts to recruit the children from Kirigakure and focused on more pressing matters, such as village security and strategic preparations for potential threats. Which meant his efforts to deter Danzo weren't for nothing.

So much paperwork to do, though.

Hiruzen sighed as he glanced at the mountain of documents piled on his desk. Each proposal, report, and so much others required his attention, and it seemed like for each document he signed, two more took its place. It was like a never-ending cycle.

He would use the Shadow Clone Jutsu to steamroll through it. Of course, he'd get rid of it all swiftly, but the accumulated fatigue would hit him like a ton of bricks all at once the moment the clones dispelled. Not only that, it would also make the council expect him to maintain the same pace indefinitely, doubling or even tripling his workload, ultimately trapping him in an exhausting cycle.

Truly unfortunate that he ended up in this position.

He glanced at the stack in front of him once more, but before he could pick up another document, there was a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," he called, grateful for the distraction.

The door creaked open, and in walked Kuroda Ryuuji, class 5B's sensei. What could he possibly be here for?

"Hokage-sama," Ryuuji greeted, bowing slightly. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all, Ryuuji-kun. What's on your mind?"

"I've come to report on class 5B's progress," Ryuuji responded, his tone calm.

"Oh?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, setting aside the documents in front of him. "Please do go ahead, then. I'm listening. Any exceptional students?"

Ryuuji took a breath, standing tall as he gathered his thoughts. "I have been instilling as much knowledge as I could during the year without informing them, and every single student seems to have adapted quite well. Some a bit too easily, like Sora Shiraishi and Amai Hashimoto, although the latter does not participate much in class, if at all. It worries me deeply."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, his mind quickly processing the details. Amai Yuki... That's one of the children from Kirigakure, and also the one behind the so-called 'ice cream.' Interesting.

He leaned forward slightly, focusing his attention on Ryuuji. "Tell me more," he prompted, his voice calm but sharp.

Ryuuji continued, "As I've said, they, along with the other students, performed excellently on almost every exam, particularly in written assessments. Both Sora and Amai seem to grasp concepts more quickly than their peers, and their practical skills aren't lacking either. They managed to hold the Leaf Concentration Technique for twenty-seven minutes, and both demonstrated good accuracy in Shurikenjutsu. Although..."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, "Although?"

Ryuuji continued, "It's not only them; the other students are showing similarly magnificent performance. Their growth over the past months has been remarkable. Hatake Kiyoshi actually holds the record in our class for holding the leaf the longest, Hokage-sama. His time is forty-three minutes."

Hiruzen's eyes widened briefly, "Forty-three minutes? That's impressive for a student at his level. The Hatake name continues to live up to its reputation, it seems."

Ryuuji nodded, "Indeed. Others are thriving in different areas, too. Such as the Uchiha trio in shuriken practice, showing pinpoint accuracy and impressive control. The Hyuuga and Inuzuka show promise in Taijutsu..."

As Ryuuji continued to list off the list of achievements of his students, a fleeting thought crossed his mind. 'I hope Hokage-sama gives me a raise for this!'

"All in all, I believe every single student in this class has the potential to become at least a Chuunin, reaching even beyond the Jonin level if they maintain their work ethic. Their growth has been nothing short of remarkable. Sadly, there's no one like Itachi Uchiha in terms of talent."

"That's fine," Hiruzen replied with a slow, thoughtful nod. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk, "We can't always expect a talent of Itachi's caliber."

Ryuuji hesitated before responding, choosing his words carefully. "O-Of course, Hokage-sama! Itachi was truly exceptional, even among geniuses like Kakashi Hatake."

The old man's gaze softened as he considered Ryuuji's words, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yes, Itachi... he is an extraordinary child," Hiruzen spoke, "Even among the most gifted, his abilities have been something to behold. Flawless, elegant shurikenjutsu, marvelous usage of the Great Fireball Jutsu, learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu when he was barely six..."

He paused for a moment, his eyes distant as though recalling the boy's feats with a mixture of awe and concern. "But even so," Hiruzen continued, "Talent like his is very rare and a heavy burden to bear. When a young one such as him is so far beyond their years, the growing expectations placed upon them can become a cage. Yes, it's important for a plant to receive sunlight to grow, but if you expose it to too much too soon, it will wither, its leaves scorched."

He relaxed in his seat, his gaze turning distant as he reflected. "The same happens to a child under constant pressure—they may shine brightly for a time, but without proper care, they'll eventually burn out. It is our duty to prevent that from happening, to guide them with patience and understanding, allowing them the space to grow at their own pace."

He looked back at Ryuuji, his expression firm yet empathetic. "We must remember, the brightest flames are not always the longest-lasting."

Ryuuji nodded, absorbing the weight of the old man's words. "Yes, Hokage-sama. I will keep this in mind, for all my students."

"Good. Is that all for your report, Ryuuji-kun?"

Ryuuji hesitated for a moment, considering whether to add anything else. There was always something more to say, but it felt like Hiruzen had already given him a great deal to think about.

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Ryuuji finally replied, giving a small bow. "That concludes my report for now."

Hiruzen gave a brief nod. "Very well, Ryuuji-kun. Keep an eye on your students, and remember what we discussed today. You're dismissed."

Ryuuji bowed once more, a sense of resolve in his posture. "Of course, Hokage-sama. I shall take my leave."

With that, he turned and exited the room, the door closing quietly behind him. Hiruzen, for a moment, sat in silence, glancing at the stack of papers in front of him once more.

So. Much. Fucking. Paperwork.