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"You're back."
Seeing her husband return, Biwako stood up to greet him, her voice as gentle as ever.
But when his ashen face was lit by the light, the smile on her face vanished.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Biwako stepped forward and took her husband's arm. His touch was icy cold.
"Nothing," Hiruzen shook his head to comfort her, forcing an ugly smile. "Just chatted a bit longer with the daimyo."
"Is that so?" Biwako didn't press him.
Having been married for many years, she understood her husband.
His current state clearly showed that something major had happened, just like when the budget was cut before.
"I'll go warm up your food," Biwako turned to leave.
"Biwako," Hiruzen suddenly called out to his wife.
"Hmm?"
"Tomorrow, organize all the clan's account books," Hiruzen's voice was dry, as he spoke with difficulty. "Also, count all the stock in the storeroom."
"What should be given away, give it to the children of the clan."
Biwako froze, then spun around suddenly, her eyes fixed on her husband. "Are you making final arrangements?"
Hiruzen's gaze darted away, and he comforted her, "What are you thinking? I'm just going on a long trip."
"To the Land of Hot Water, to escort those prisoners."
"It's a long journey, so I'll get things at home sorted first, to save you the trouble of doing it alone."
This explanation was ridiculously weak.
"Escorting prisoners?" Biwako approached him step by step, reaching out to touch her husband's face, and questioned, "Does something like this require a retired old man like you to go personally?"
"Is Minato dead?"
"Are all the people in the village dead?"
Faced with his wife's questions, Hiruzen could only remain silent.
"The daimyo ordered it, didn't he?" Biwako's voice grew cold. "He's the one sending you."
"He's making you bear some unspeakable burden again, isn't he?"
"Answer me, Hiruzen!"
"What sin is that man trying to put on you again?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Hiruzen trembled violently, lowering his voice as he scolded her sharply.
But his scolding lacked any strength.
Biwako laughed, a desolate sound.
"I'm talking nonsense?"
"Hiruzen, I've spent my life with you. Every time you make that face, I know something big is about to happen!"
"From the day you became Hokage, you weren't just mine anymore."
"You were Konoha's Hokage."
"You bore the burden of the entire village."
"I accepted that."
"Now you're retired. Why are they still making you bear things you shouldn't have to bear!"
"What benefit did he give you?"
"Or did he threaten you with something?"
Looking at his wife's reddened eyes, Hiruzen felt a tightening in his chest.
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
He couldn't speak.
Not a single word.
This sin, it was enough for him to bear it alone.
"Alright, stop this," he pushed his wife's hand away and turned toward the study. "I'm tired. I want to be alone for a bit."
"Hiruzen!" Biwako shouted behind him.
But he didn't look back.
He was afraid that if he did, the resolve he had so painfully gathered would instantly fall apart.
He entered the study and closed the door.
His wife's voice was cut off.
Hiruzen leaned against the door, slowly sliding down until he sat defeated on the floor.
In the dark study, he buried his head and closed his eyes.
After a long while, he finally raised his head again, his face no longer showing its usual kindness.
His eyes were icy cold.
Hiruzen stood up and walked to the deepest part of the study, pushing aside a row of bookshelves.
Behind them, hidden was a secret compartment he thought he would never open again in this lifetime.
Inside lay a dust-covered wooden box.
He opened the box.
Inside, a set of old, blood-stained armor and a white mask with a monkey face lay silently.
The armor was what he wore when he fought on battlefields as the Second Hokage's student.
The mask was what he wore when he personally buried countless darkness as the first Anbu captain.
That's how the nickname "Monkey" came about.
With trembling hands, he gently touched the mask. Its icy touch instantly pulled him back to that era of iron and blood.
He hadn't expected to still need them in his old age.
Hiruzen looked at the mask, then slowly put it on his face.
Shinobi hero, indeed!
Outside the door, Biwako stood blankly on the porch until the study door opened.
Hiruzen appeared at the doorway.
She took two steps forward, wanting to ask for a clear explanation.
But upon seeing the mask, her steps stopped.
All her questions and worries could not be voiced.
Under the dim yellow light, the white monkey-faced mask appeared especially pale.
She didn't speak again.
She didn't ask a single word.
Having been married for many years, she knew better than anyone what that mask meant.
Hiruzen also didn't speak, merely standing there, allowing his wife to look at him.
This silent pause was their farewell as husband and wife.
For a long, long time, Biwako slowly walked up to him.
She didn't try to take off the mask, nor did she touch his cold armor.
She simply reached out and straightened his wrinkled collar.
Her movements were very light, very slow.
As if she wished for this moment to last forever.
"Go."
After another deep look at her husband, Biwako finally spoke.
Hiruzen's lips moved. He would have preferred his wife to cry, question, or even curse him.
Anything was better than this calm.
"You..." Hiruzen began, "take good care of the home, and arrange all the clan's affairs."
"I know," Biwako said. "Don't worry!"
"Mm!"
Hiruzen nodded, took one last look at his wife, then turned firmly.
His steps were not fast, but heavy.
Behind him, no sound was heard.
Biwako simply stood in place, under the dim yellow lamp, quietly watching her husband's back merge into the night.
Until he was out of sight.
The door was left open.
The wind blew in, and the lamplight flickered.
The Hokage building was brightly lit.
Minato was swamped with work when a knock came at his office door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
When he saw who it was, Minato suddenly stood up, his hand instinctively reaching for the kunai under his desk.
The person wore old armor and a monkey-faced mask, giving off a chilling aura.
"Third Hokage?" Minato asked uncertainly.
"Hahaha!"
Hiruzen removed his mask, showing his familiar face, and laughed heartily. "What, you don't recognize me anymore?"
The familiar smile made Minato sigh in relief, as he looked him up and down. "Third Hokage, you are..."
"Oh, this?" Hiruzen patted his armor, speaking playfully. "Don't you think it's quite scary?"
"It might scare those Kumogakure brats into not causing trouble, and they'll behave on the road."
This explanation was a bit absurd, but paired with his smiling face, it seemed quite reasonable.
"Is it really necessary for you to go?" Minato's sense of worry lessened somewhat, and he tried to persuade him again. "The Land of Hot Water is a long journey. It's too hard. It should be me..."
"No, no," Hiruzen waved his hand, his attitude serious. "You are Konoha's Fourth Hokage, the backbone of the village."
"With troubles constantly coming up both inside and outside the village, how can you leave so easily?"
"This kind of hard errand is perfect for a retired old man like me."
"It's also a way to contribute my remaining warmth to the village."
His words were filled with care for his juniors and responsibility for the village, moving Minato beyond words.
Hiruzen walked to the map, pointing at the route. "I came to discuss the makeup of the escort team with you."
"Yes!" Minato immediately followed him, filled with respect.
Hiruzen said, "Prepare five hundred for the escort team."
"Five hundred? Won't that be too few?"
"Not at all. As long as all prisoners are put under sealing jutsu, there will be no problem."
"Oh, right, also ask Hiashi to send ten Hyuga clan members over."
"With them there, it will be complete."
Minato nodded hard after hearing this. "I'll arrange it immediately."
"Good, go on," Hiruzen put his mask back on. "I should also go prepare."
Watching the Third Hokage's leaving figure, Minato was filled with both respect and worry.
The Third Hokage truly dedicated himself to the village.
Yet he didn't notice the determination hidden beneath that mask.