The atmosphere of youth and sweat still lingered around the Uchiha training grounds as Chiya left and leisurely made his way through the streets of Konoha.
He had no intention of returning to the Hokage's office.
The mountain of documents could wait for now.
His footsteps unconsciously carried him toward the quieter area on the outskirts of the village.
Konoha Orphanage.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the lush tree leaves and cast shifting shadows across the clean stone path.
The orphanage was as peaceful as ever.
The occasional bright laughter of children playing filled the quiet grounds with a sense of lively energy.
The previous night, Chiya had already given the order to have Haku and Kimimaro come here as well.
After all, there was a group of children around their age here.
That would help them feel less lonely.
Chiya did not disturb the children playing in the front courtyard.
Like someone returning home, he casually made his way toward the living quarters in the back.
In an office filled with the refreshing scent of medicinal herbs, he found Yakushi Nono, who was organizing medical records.
She was still wearing her simple, light-colored kimono.
A pair of frameless glasses rested on her nose, and her focused expression added a touch of intelligence and competence to her gentle features.
Hearing the familiar footsteps, Nono raised her head.
Warm ripples instantly appeared in her eyes behind the lenses.
"Chiya?"
She put down the scroll in her hand, her voice carrying a trace of barely concealed surprise and tenderness.
"How did you find time to come here today?"
Chiya walked over, naturally wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her into his embrace, and lowered his head to kiss her forehead.
"I missed you, so I came."
His words were direct and completely natural, carrying unmistakable intimacy.
Nono's cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not resist.
Instead, she gently rested her cheek against his firm chest and enjoyed the reassuring warmth of his presence.
The two exchanged a few soft words before Chiya finally brought up business.
"Kabuto, Yamato, and the two children I sent here are all here, right?"
"Yes."
Nono nodded and carefully smoothed out the corner of her clothes that he had wrinkled.
"They're all in the back courtyard. Kabuto and Yamato have been training the whole time. Haku and Kimimaro... those two children are very quiet. Most of the time, they simply watch or quietly study the basics of ninjutsu on their own."
"I'll go take a look."
Chiya released her.
Nono watched him gently.
"I'll prepare some tea and snacks."
She knew how much Chiya cared about these children, and she was more than happy to handle these little details for him.
Chiya went alone to the spacious back courtyard of the orphanage.
The area had been simply renovated and divided into several sections suitable for training at different stages.
Yakushi Kabuto was seriously practicing precise chakra application against a wooden post.
His movements still carried the clumsiness of a child, but his eyes were exceptionally focused.
There was even a precocious calmness that seemed far beyond his age.
Chiya watched quietly for a while and nodded slightly.
Kabuto's talent for chakra control was indeed excellent, and his foundation was very solid.
A little farther away, the slightly older Yamato was practicing the basics of Wood Release.
He formed hand seals with a solemn expression.
The ground trembled slightly, and several tiny shoots broke through the soil.
In the blink of an eye, they grew into small saplings.
The scale was still small, but they were already filled with vigorous vitality.
He already showed the potential to become Konoha's future builder.
He trained extremely hard.
Sweat had already appeared on his forehead, and his eyes were filled with a desire for strength.
In a corner of the courtyard, Haku and Kimimaro sat side by side beneath a large tree.
Haku had condensed a small cluster of cold air in his hands and was carefully trying to shape it into a snowflake.
However, he failed repeatedly, and a trace of frustration appeared on his little face.
Kimimaro quietly watched him.
Every now and then, he would extend a finger before quickly retracting it.
His green eyes held curiosity toward his own power, along with a trace of instinctive distance.
Chiya's arrival immediately caught the attention of all four children.
"Lord Chiya!"
"Teacher Chiya!"
"..."
All four stopped what they were doing almost simultaneously and respectfully bowed.
Their voices carried different degrees of awe, dependence, and admiration.
Chiya walked among them and looked over each of them.
"No need for formalities. Come here and let me see how you've been progressing recently."
He then looked at Haku and Kimimaro.
"And you two, have you adapted to the environment here?"
He turned his gaze toward Kabuto.
"Kabuto!"
"For medical ninjutsu, aside from some high-level techniques, the most important thing is precise chakra control.
"Your future training should focus more on this aspect.
"That will greatly improve your medical ninjutsu."
"Yes!"
Kabuto nodded seriously.
Those simple words instantly gave him a new understanding.
Chiya then looked toward Yamato.
"Wood Release requires patience. Your foundation is already much more stable than before.
"Don't rush for quick results. Feel the chakra instead of forcibly pushing it."
Yamato nodded seriously.
"Yes, Lord Chiya! I'll remember that."
Finally, Chiya's gaze fell on Haku and Kimimaro.
Their bodies were still developing.
Putting them through high-intensity training too early would only hinder their growth.
"Haku, Kimimaro."
Chiya's voice softened slightly.
"Your first priority right now, aside from eating properly, is to study and understand the basics. Building a solid foundation is more important than anything else.
"Aside from avoiding forced ninjutsu training, you can still begin learning some basic physical training to strengthen your bodies."
"Power is like a river. Guiding it is better than blocking it, and understanding is better than fearing it."
Chiya's voice was calm and magnetic.
"Haku, your Ice Release Kekkei Genkai comes from the fusion of Water and Wind Release. The key lies in balance and control over form.
"Neither of those can be separated from precise chakra control."
"Kimimaro, your Shikotsumyaku is an extension of your body. It requires extreme control and unwavering will...
"And taijutsu is the simplest and most effective way to bring out the power of Shikotsumyaku."
"..."
Haku's eyes gradually brightened as Chiya explained.
It was as though he could finally see a possibility of controlling that cold power.
Kimimaro remained silent, but his tightly pressed lips and slightly forward-leaning posture showed that he was absorbing every bit of this knowledge.
Based on their individual characteristics and physical conditions, Chiya tailored their current theoretical studies and the gentlest possible physical conditioning regimen.
The morning quietly passed amid focused teaching and learning.
Just as Chiya was preparing to let them rest, Nono arrived with tea and snacks.
At that moment, a figure wearing an animal mask silently appeared at the entrance of the courtyard and dropped to one knee.
"Lord Hokage."
The ANBU ninja spoke respectfully.
"The intelligence gathered today from the various Root branches has been delivered to your office."
Chiya nodded to show that he understood.
He accepted the teacup Nono handed him and took a small sip.
Then he spoke gently to the four slightly nervous children before him.
"That's enough for today. Get some rest. Once you're rested, continue at your own pace."
"Yes!"
The four answered in unison.
Chiya put down his teacup and gave Nono an apologetic look.
"Nono, I need to leave and take care of something first!"
"Chiya, the village's affairs are more important!"
There was not the slightest trace of annoyance in Nono's eyes.
She simply smiled and spoke gently.
Seeing her like this, Chiya could not help reaching out and gently ruffling her hair.
"Then I'll be going. I'll leave things here to you!"
After Chiya finished speaking, his figure followed the ANBU ninja and transformed into a blurred afterimage before disappearing from the spot.
Inside the Hokage's office, Chiya sat behind the spacious desk and began quickly reviewing and processing the accumulated documents.
With his current efficiency and abilities, routine administrative work did not require much time.
The affairs inside the village were tedious and fragmented.
The matters outside the village were relatively easier to deal with because the intelligence sent back by Root was already organized.
Then he picked up a scroll marked "Land of Snow: Top Secret."
Chiya opened the scroll and quickly read through the information.
The general situation was that the Land of Snow was currently experiencing internal unrest, and Doto Kazahana was suspected of plotting a coup.
A secret request from an old minister of the Land of Snow had been mixed in with Root's intelligence.
The request asked Konoha to send people to escort Princess Koyuki Kazahana of the Land of Snow to the Land of Fire for refuge and ensure the safety of the royal bloodline.
"Koyuki Kazahana? The Land of Snow?"
Chiya's movements paused slightly.
A look of realization and interest flashed through his eyes.
"Isn't this the plot of Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow?"
He muttered to himself, the corners of his mouth curling into an amused smile.
He had some impression of this country, which possessed unique chakra armor technology and ice-based ninjutsu.
Moreover, this seemed like a rather good opportunity.
He carefully read through the commission once more and confirmed the key information.
Then he lightly tapped his fingers against the desk.
"Someone!"
A moment later, the office door opened.
An ANBU youth wearing an animal mask stepped inside, his conspicuous white hair exposed beneath it.
He was tall and carried a short sword diagonally across his back.
Although he was still young, he already radiated a calm and capable aura.
"Lord Hokage."
The newcomer was Kakashi.
After hearing Chiya's voice, he quickly entered the room.
He dropped to one knee and spoke through his mask.
His voice sounded slightly muffled, but the respect in his tone was unquestionable.
Although Kakashi had a cold personality, he deeply respected and acknowledged the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Chiya.
Back then, Chiya had advised his father to pull himself together and escape his downward spiral.
Under Chiya's leadership, Konoha had also grown stronger.
Because of this, Kakashi had decisively chosen to join the ANBU directly under Chiya and become a member of the Hokage Guard Unit.
Chiya handed him the scroll.
"Kakashi, there's an escort mission here.
"The objective is to travel to the Land of Snow and secretly escort an important person back to the Land of Fire.
"The team will consist of you, Rin, and Obito."
Kakashi accepted the scroll and quickly read through it.
When he heard that his teammates would be Rin and Obito, his brows moved almost imperceptibly beneath the mask.
However, his expression quickly returned to normal.
"Understood. I'll make sure the mission is completed."
He answered in a deep voice.
There were no unnecessary questions.
Only absolute obedience and efficiency.
"Go. The scroll contains the specific details and meeting arrangements. Proceed carefully and maintain secrecy!"
Chiya waved his hand.
"Yes!"
Kakashi neatly put away the scroll, bowed once more, and turned to leave.
His movements were clean and decisive.
Watching Kakashi's departing figure, Chiya leaned back in his chair, his eyes flickering with thought.
Having the original members of "Team 7" experience the Land of Snow storyline seemed rather interesting.
His gaze shifted downward.
After finishing the remaining few documents, the sun outside had already begun to descend toward the horizon.
Chiya stood up and stretched.
"Processing documents really isn't a job for humans!"
He could not help complaining inwardly.
He promptly left the Hokage's office.
He did not return to the Uchiha Clan compound.
Instead, he once again headed toward the Konoha Orphanage.
The orphanage was even quieter in the evening.
Most of the children had already been called back for dinner.
Chiya went directly to the back courtyard.
To his surprise, he saw a familiar figure there.
A golden ponytail, an impressive figure, and green armor.
It was Tsunade.
She was standing in front of Yamato, pointing at the movements of his hand seals and seemingly explaining something to him.
Clearly, because Yamato possessed the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, Tsunade had taken quite an interest in the child and often came by to offer him some guidance.
Hearing footsteps, Tsunade turned around.
When she saw that it was Chiya, she was clearly stunned for a moment.
Then, delighted light instantly burst from her beautiful eyes.
"Chiya?!"
She almost called out instinctively.
But then, as though she remembered something, she immediately put on a stern expression and deliberately snorted in displeasure.
She turned her head away.
However, the corner of her eye still kept sneaking glances toward Chiya.
"Hmph! You actually remembered to come here? The Hokage is so busy every day. How could you possibly have time to come to a place like this?"
Her words were harsh.
But her slightly reddened ears and the corners of her mouth that kept lifting betrayed her true feelings completely.
Chiya had long since become accustomed to her tsundere behavior.
He smiled and walked over.
He naturally wrapped an arm around her incredibly curvaceous waist and pulled her slightly closer to him.
"What? You don't want to see me?"
He lowered his head and leaned close to her ear, his voice carrying a hint of teasing.
Feeling his warm breath and familiar scent, Tsunade's body stiffened slightly.
She symbolically struggled for a moment before relaxing completely.
Two alluring blushes appeared on her cheeks.
She lightly punched Chiya in the chest.
The force was so gentle that it felt more like a playful tickle.
She was indeed the granddaughter of the God of Shinobi.
Even her monstrous strength was controlled with remarkable precision.
"Stop talking nonsense! Who wants to see a bastard like you?"
Her tone remained tough.
But the watery light in her eyes had already rippled like spring water, making the hint of coquettishness impossible to hide.
Their intimate display made Yamato immediately lower his head.
He pretended to study the ants on the ground.
Haku and Kimimaro, meanwhile, blinked curiously.
"How about we have dinner together tonight?"
Chiya ignored her completely ineffective anger and gently rubbed the side of her waist with his fingers.
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him.
In the end, she could not stop the corners of her mouth from rising.
With the coyness of a little woman, she nodded.
"...Since you've invited me so sincerely, I suppose I'll reluctantly accept!"
Looking at Tsunade, who was usually so domineering but was now displaying such a girlish expression, Chiya could not help feeling a sense of satisfaction.
The setting sun stretched their shadows across the ground as they stood close together.
The quiet courtyard was filled with a warm and ambiguous atmosphere.