The Hokage leaving the village was quite a significant event.
Not just because of the Hokage's status, but more importantly because no one would be handling the village's administrative affairs in his absence.
Fortunately, the war had now ended, and Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had returned to Konoha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi entrusted Konoha's governance to the two of them, while instructing Sakura to spend two hours every day in the office observing how Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu processed administrative matters.
It was practically an open declaration to the two elders: this is the next Hokage.
With the Ninja World War over and the Land of Snow now affiliated with Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi could gloriously retire and peacefully enjoy his retirement at home once Sakura grew a little older.
He was already seventy years old and truly couldn't keep up the pace anymore.
This was one of the drawbacks of taijutsu specialists: once they aged, not only did their strength decline sharply, but their bodies also developed all sorts of ailments.
"Come back soon!"
Sakura waved and called out to the departing Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi off, Sakura planned to find Tsunade and discuss whether her special military ration pills could be mass-produced to replace the standard ones used by Konoha ninjas.
There had been no time for it when the war broke out; now that things had finally calmed down, it was naturally time to consider it.
Moreover, once the old man returned, Sakura would follow her original plan and head to Turtle Island to find Naruto.
These few days while the old man was away were, for Sakura, a rare vacation.
However…
A hand landed on Sakura's shoulder.
"Did you not hear clearly what Hiruzen said before he left, Sakura?"
Mitokado Homura blocked the pink-haired girl who was trying to slip away.
"Uh?"
Sakura looked at the calm yet unmistakably firm Mitokado Homura in front of her and couldn't help breaking into a cold sweat.
"But there's still plenty of time, right?"
Sakura tried to argue her case.
"There may be plenty of time for you, but Hiruzen's health is declining day by day. He can no longer continue working like this."
"In three years at most, Sakura, you should be able to independently handle all the village's affairs, large and small."
Mitokado Homura looked at the pink-haired girl before him with complete seriousness.
"Yes, yes, yes…"
Helpless, Sakura pouted and could only obediently follow Mitokado Homura toward the Hokage Tower at the center of the village.
Hokage Office
Sakura stared at the stack of documents—easily a meter high—brought in by the staff, and the corner of her mouth twitched.
No, seriously, someone tell her:
Does the Hokage really have this much to deal with every single day?
"Come on, let's start with the first one."
Mitokado Homura took the top document and placed it in front of Sakura, making her feel that the Hokage's subordinates were basically dead weight.
Their boss was this busy every day—what exactly were the people under him doing?
Sakura still remembered it crystal clear.
In the original story, when Pain attacked, the barrier team had still gathered during work hours to play poker!
One of them, from the Hyuga clan, had even activated his Byakugan to peek at the cards!
"Heh, put a little more heart into it."
Utatane Koharu sat leisurely on the sofa to the side, pouring herself a cup of tea as she spoke.
But no matter how Sakura heard it, that tone carried unmistakable schadenfreude.
Tch, damn old hag.
With no other choice, Sakura took the first document from Mitokado Homura.
"Unauthorized Street Vending by Old Man Fukugen Maruko in the Northern Village"
???
Three question marks practically popped above Sakura's head.
This is something the Hokage has to handle?
What the hell!
Isn't this the city patrol's job?
They're bothering the Hokage with petty garbage like this?
Sakura's brows furrowed slightly as she picked up the nearby pen and began writing swiftly.
Curious at how fast she was going, Mitokado Homura leaned over.
But after just one glance, his face darkened.
There, in Sakura's note to the Security Force, was a large scrawl:
You're bothering me with this trivial crap—do you think I've got nothing better to do?
What does the village keep you around for? Decoration?!
Can't you politely talk to an old man street-vending, then find an empty lot, designate a specific zone, and move every villager who makes a living this way into that area?!
Use your damn brains!
Mitokado Homura looked at the note, ignoring the profanity and focusing on Sakura's actual proposal.
If all street vendors were concentrated and properly organized, Konoha could gain a whole snack street while keeping the roads cleaner and tidier.
On the other hand, it would make things slightly less convenient for villagers wanting a quick bite.
There were pros and cons.
"We can try a pilot program for a while, observe the results, then gather public feedback before making adjustments."
Mitokado Homura was reasonably satisfied with Sakura's handling.
Of course, it would have been better if she hadn't included all those lines scolding her subordinates' incompetence.
Sakura said nothing further and simply drew the next document.
"Villagers in the Southern District Randomly Dumping Food Waste, Causing Filth Buildup, Ecological Damage, and Widespread Foul Odors"
???
The corner of Sakura's eye twitched as she wrote without even thinking:
Is the Environmental Bureau tired of existing?!
There are plenty of people who'd love your jobs!
Do I really have to teach you how to dig a sewer?!
Go find some Earth Release ninjas!
"Ninja Academy Cafeteria Staff Taking Kickbacks on Student Meal Subsidies, Resulting in Students Refusing to Eat at School"
Damn it!
They're skimming off student meal funds?!
You've lost your minds coming to me with this crap?!
Where's the Security Force?!
Arrest them! Arrest them!
Lock them up for ten years!
"Main Eastern Thoroughfare Remains Patchily Repaired Despite Repeated Fixes, Causing Constant Dust and Widespread Villager Complaints"
Earth Release ninjas!
Earth Release ninjas!
Put the Earth Release ninjas on it!
And why hasn't the main road ever been properly fixed?!
Where's the person in charge?!
Fire them!
"Long-Term Tap Water Turbidity in the Western District, Forcing Villagers to Buy Bottled Water for Daily Use"
Sakura looked at the document, rubbed her forehead, and sighed.
Damn it…
This is ridiculous.
She set down her pen and glanced out the window at the village beyond.
Mitokado Homura simply watched the pink-haired girl in silence, saying nothing.
After a moment, Sakura picked up the pen again and began writing her instructions.
Replace the water plant manager, investigate the plant's accounts, and look into exactly how that manager got the position in the first place.
Any irregularities—take them down immediately.
The sun gradually sank in the west.
The pile of documents on the desk visibly dwindled.
Sakura rolled her stiff neck.
Konoha seemed riddled with problems, but at least these were problems the Hokage could see.
Leaning back in the Hokage's own chair, Sakura stared at the ceiling.
If these problems were visible, what about the ones that weren't?
And it wasn't just that—subordinates across every department lacked independent judgment and decision-making ability, so every little thing ended up on the Hokage's desk.
Still, Sakura could understand it now. These were people who lived and died by the blade; asking them to handle administrative work was genuinely asking too much.
So she needed to urgently train a new batch of personnel and distribute them across the departments.
And to prevent those people from growing corrupt after years in power, she would also need to create a force of enforcers.
Both openly and in the shadows.
The public ones would be called enforcers.
The secret ones… the Jinyiwei?
Sakura shook her head, banishing the rather outlandish thought.
The war had only just ended; everything was waiting to be rebuilt.
Better to wait until the war reparations from the Land of Wind and the Land of Water arrived first.
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