Konohagakure, the village 'hidden in leaves'. A place filled with hopes, dreams, and strong wills of those willing to protect it. Birds chirp atop nests on trees, dogs playfully barking, cats lazily sunbathing, and villagers going about their day in humility and peace. In the middle of village, the dignified faces of all who held the title of Hokage lays eternally in stone.

The Hokage Office, the most secure place in the entire village, lays beneath it as a silent reminder to all villagers that they are in a safe place.

Inside the Hokage office, a waft odor of tobacco and freshly printed paper blends and fills the room, making a surprisingly pleasant atmosphere. Piles of paper and scrolls fills rows of cabinets in an orderly fashion. Atop the central desk, papers lie half-strewn through the wood top.

Contrasting with all of this is the silence. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, stares in utter bewilderment at the sake-stained letter in the former's hands. Its strong alcohol scent piercing like a blade across the room.

Hiruzen, with a slightly opened mouth, has his signature pipe hanging from it, "Senju?" he muses to himself. "Impossible..." His wrinkled face twitch in confusion. The smoke coming out of his pipe touches the side of his head, as if telling everything will be alright. "I'm too old for this..."

Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, the Hokage advisors, exchanged glances.

Before any of them could speak, the door to the Hokage's office was kicked open with unnecessary drama. In marched Danzo Shimura, the one-eyed leader of Root, in all of his broody glory. His covered right arm hidden within his black and dark grey robes. His cane taps with a rhythm as he stride.

"Hiruzen," Danzo snapped, "Hand this Senju boy over to Root. I'll turn him into a proper village asset."

Hiruzen clears his throat. "Danzo, I don't think this would be a good idea."

Danzo beat his cane on the floor, "Hiruzen, don't be so stubborn! He is a Senju! He could very well be what the village needs!"

Hiruzen was about to reply but chose to remain silent and simply passed the letter to him.

The strong scent of alcohol makes Danzo frown, but he still accepts the letter:

"Old Man,
I'm sending you a kid. He's a Senju—don't ask how.
He's your problem now. Good luck.
P.S. Don't let him near the monument. He will try to carve his face into it.
Also don't give him to that bastard Danzo... actually, give Ito to him. I approve.
That old man and his root needs some rearrangements.
–Tsunade"

Danzo read the letter in silence, frowning. Thinking.

Then, as if by divine providence, a subtle chakra signature could be felt at the village's entrance.

It was faint, barely a whisper, only enough to be felt by the powerful ninjas of the village. But that little trace, however faint it was, seems to carry a silent message. It was playful and teasing, declaring itself to the world.

Konoha~ You savior has arrived! Where is my welcome?

Hiruzen seemed to age another year. The advisors paled and sat down on the side couch.

Koharu placed a hand on her wrinkled forehead, "Why now of all times?"

Homura keeps muttering to himself, already unhinged, "... A hot spring. Best place for vacation..."

Danzo neatly folded the letter and puts it on the desk, leaving without another word.

"Don't you want the boy? He is likely to be the strongest asset of Root," Hiruzen asked, voice carefully neutral but his tired eyes already gleaming with amusement from his friend antics. It was enough to be a small distraction from the storm to come.

Danzo paused at the door, his visible eye narrowing into a tired, hateful slit. "He is not suitable for Root," he said flatly, and stomped out of the room.

The office was quiet for a beat. Then Hiruzen sighed, plucked the pipe from his mouth, and said dryly, "We're going to need stronger tea."

Homura sat down with a heavy grunt. "And probably a monument repair budget."

Koharu nodded. "Better triple it."

An ANBU operative appeared in the room with a flicker, kneeling before the Hokage's desk, masked and composed.

"Hokage-sama," the operative reported, "a boy is causing a commotion at the front gate. He identifies himself as 'Senju Itomaru.' Claims he was sent by Lady Tsunade—refers to her as 'Auntie.' He says a letter was sent ahead of him regarding his arrival. And..." The Anbu seemed to hesitate.

Hiruzen seemed to have a premonition, "And?"

The ANBU seemed to be measuring his words as he spoke, "... the boy is asking where, quote, 'the Uchiha who did not kick the bucket yet is? I want my Madara!'"

Hiruzen weakly melted on the chair. The advisors nearly fainted.

Hiruzen exhaled a long puff of smoke and closed his eyes as he massaged his temple. "So it begins…"

The ANBU waited a moment before fearfully continuing, "...and he also asked for the Nine-Tails, as a pet."

The advisors almost flickered away to some unknown land.

The Hokage seemed so dejected that even the pipe stopped giving out smoke, as if too afraid it is burning too bright to be noticed by whatever monster wants a Tailed Beast as a pet.

"We are doomed..."

"Tsunade found us a Senju Hashirama."

The ANBU, now sweating, asked "What are your instructions?"

Hiruzen opened his eyes and gave a resigned nod. "Bring him to me."

The ANBU was about to flicker away when Hiruzen raised a hand, adding with deliberate care, "Treat him as a proper Senju... but don't let him wander. Especially not near the Hokage Rock. I don't want to deal with property damage before lunch."

The ANBU gave a crisp nod and vanished in a blur of motion.

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, the pipe clamped firmly in his mouth. He seemed to have aged 10 years in a single day.

"Should I give someone else the hat? Iruka? He should accept it by the next hour..."