It was already nearing midnight, yet the Hokage's office remained brightly lit, the glow of the lamps cutting through the stillness of the night.
The Third Hokage stood by the window, a large pipe in hand, its faint smoke curling upward as he seemed lost in thought.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Ah, Shimizu, you're here." The Third Hokage turned with a gentle smile. "How is your recovery?"
"I've fully recovered."
"That's good… very good."
The aged Hokage nodded in satisfaction, the faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening as he studied him. Then, as if struck by a passing thought, he sighed softly. "It seems that every time, you manage to turn danger into safety, Shimizu…"
What did he mean by that?
Shimizu paused for a brief moment before replying, "I owe that to Tsunade-senpai's exceptional medical skills. Without her, I wouldn't have recovered so completely."
"Of course, Tsunade deserves credit as well… which is why, in the end, this all comes down to fate."
Fate, huh…
Perhaps.
Even Shimizu himself wasn't entirely sure.
"I didn't speak with you properly before because I wanted you to focus on healing," the Hokage continued. "Now that you've recovered, there's something I need to discuss with you."
"Please go ahead, Hokage-sama."
"The current situation is not as calm as it appears on the surface. Although the war has subsided… it is only temporary." The Third Hokage's tone grew heavier. "Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure all have the potential to reignite hostilities."
Shimizu wasn't surprised. He had long been mentally prepared for this.
"Iwagakure has retreated to the Land of Earth for now. Kumogakure has merely shifted its focus toward the Land of Grass… and as for Sunagakure, negotiations are still in their final stages."
"Once the final arrangements are confirmed, there will be a formal signing ceremony. I intend to have you accompany me when the time comes. Is that acceptable?"
"…Is there a particular reason?" Shimizu asked. It wasn't refusal—just genuine confusion as to why he had been specifically chosen.
"In the past, Konoha has been too soft toward Sunagakure. That is both a failure of the leadership… and my personal responsibility."
"This time, however, Sunagakure seems intent on dragging out the negotiations."
"I'm concerned that if this continues, they may ultimately choose to resume the war."
The Third Hokage set down his pipe and rose to his feet, his voice suddenly firm and resolute.
"So I must deter them."
"Sunagakure harbors deep hatred toward you. They hate you because you brought them death…"
"And where there is hatred, there is also fear."
"As long as you stand before them—alive and unscathed—you will serve as a constant reminder of the pain they have suffered."
"I intend to completely extinguish any thought they may have of breaking the agreement. If they dare invade the Land of Fire again, they will pay an even greater price."
"You will be the executioner of that price."
At those words, Shimizu began to understand.
Within Sunagakure, his reputation had already surpassed figures like the White Fang of Konoha or even the legendary Sannin…
To them, he wasn't just a shinobi.
He was a walking calamity.
"…I can do it."
Still, a trace of confusion lingered in his mind. He understood the purpose—but somehow, it still felt like there was more left unsaid.
Shimizu could understand why Konoha, as a village, might choose to act cautiously—even weakly—toward Sunagakure. After all, such decisions were part of broader strategic considerations.
But the Third Hokage himself being afraid of Sunagakure?
That didn't make sense.
"…May I ask what you meant by your personal reason, Hokage-sama?" Shimizu said after a moment of hesitation. "If it's inconvenient to speak about, you don't have to."
The Third Hokage let out a long sigh, as though the weight of the matter had been pressing on him for quite some time.
"This is something I've kept sealed away for years," he admitted quietly. "Tsunade… suffers from severe hemophobia. She cannot bear the sight of blood."
Shimizu's eyes widened slightly, realization dawning on him. "…That explains it. When I was badly injured before, Tsunade-senpai was treating me with her eyes closed…"
"During the Second Geat Ninja War, it was thanks to her that we were able to counter Chiyo's deadly poisons and ultimately secure victory," the Hokage continued. "When this war began, I did not want her to go to the front lines… but I had no other choice."
"Only Tsunade can neutralize Chiyo's toxins."
"This time, she barely survived. Before she lost consciousness, she was in a state of massive blood loss… she must have seen it—the blood…"
"Now her will is greatly diminished, and there's nothing I can do to help. If this continues…"
His voice trailed off.
For a moment, his figure seemed to shrink, his posture bending ever so slightly under the invisible burden he carried.
At that instant, he was no longer the Hokage who stood at the pinnacle of the village.
He was simply a teacher, worried for his beloved student.
Shimizu, however, wasn't too concerned that Tsunade might take her own life.
But in her current state… if another war were to break out, she would be unable to contribute.
No wonder something had felt off the last time she came to examine him. Her condition hadn't been right even then.
Suddenly, Shimizu's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be… that she might leave Konoha at this point?
"So no matter what," the Third Hokage said firmly, regaining his composure, "we must eliminate any thought of Sunagakure launching another war."
Shimizu straightened and replied without hesitation, "I will face this mission in my best condition and see it through."
"Good!" The Hokage nodded in satisfaction. The new generation of Konoha's shinobi was steadily rising.
Below the legendary Sannin… stood Shunshin Shimizu.
Then, as if recalling something, the Third Hokage added, "By the way, your performance in the assault on Sunagakure was outstanding. The village elders have decided to grant you a reward. Is there anything you would like?"
"…I haven't really thought about it," Shimizu admitted honestly. While he had been lying in the hospital, all he had focused on was training.
"I imagine money doesn't interest you much."
That's not true at all… I'm actually broke…
Chakra-infused weapons are expensive…
"Tell me—what is it that you want?"
"The Sealing Scroll," Shimizu blurted out without thinking.
"…That."
The Third Hokage fell into thought for a moment before speaking slowly. "It's not impossible. I can bring up your request at the next council meeting."
"However, there will likely be significant opposition. They may not agree… but I will do my best to argue your case."
"Still, you should understand—this is something left behind by my teacher. The reason it's called the Sealing Scroll is because of the immense risks it contains. Learning the techniques within is not necessarily a good thing."
As he spoke, the Hokage's brows furrowed with faint concern.
Take the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, for example. It was undeniably powerful—but for someone with limited chakra reserves, the drawbacks far outweighed the benefits.
Creating numerous clones would rapidly deplete the user's already scarce chakra, placing a tremendous strain on their body. And when the clones were dispelled, all the accumulated fatigue, chakra expenditure, injuries, and information would flood back at once, delivering an overwhelming shock to both body and mind.
If one failed to control the technique properly, the consequences could be catastrophic.
There had been cases in history where people had been severely harmed—or even killed—while attempting to master such techniques.
That was precisely why it had been sealed within the scroll.
"But for me…" Shimizu said quietly, his gaze steady, "that's the only way I can grow stronger."