The moon was high in the sky, and the lights in the Hokage's Office were finally extinguished.
Sarutobi Hiruzen dragged his body, which felt ready to collapse, on the way home. The night wind on his face carried a hint of coolness, allowing his nerves, which had been taut all day, to relax slightly.
During the day, he was the calculating and unfathomable Third Hokage, whose every word and action determined the village's future. Every decision had to be run through the simulator in his mind, searching for the one path to Konoha's survival amidst countless bloody, disastrous outcomes.
It felt like dancing while wearing an incredibly heavy mask. He couldn't miss a step, couldn't let his expression crack, because countless pairs of eyes were watching him. Some were trusting, some were doubtful, and some, like Danzo's, were just waiting for him to stumble.
Tired.
He was so incredibly tired.
Returning home, he pushed open the door, and the warm aroma of a home-cooked meal greeted him, dispelling the late-night chill.
"You're back."
A gentle voice sounded from the entryway. Sarutobi Biwako came over. She didn't ask about work, but simply and naturally took the Hokage Robe he removed and hung it on the coat rack.
"The food is still warm. Go wash your hands and eat."
"Mm," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, feeling as if half the weight on his shoulders had been lifted. Outside, he was the Hokage; here, he was just Sarutobi Hiruzen, a husband coming home.
On the table were a few simple, home-cooked dishes and a bowl of steaming miso soup. Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily. He was truly starving; after a full day of official duties and then drilling those three brats at the training ground, he was physically exhausted.
Biwako sat across from him, watching him eat in silence, occasionally refilling his bowl of rice.
"Eat slowly, don't choke," she said softly.
"I can't help it, I'm too hungry," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, his mouth full of rice, his words muffled. "I've officially started leading the team. Those three kids are a real handful."
He couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"Oh? Are they the ones you mentioned before? The First Hokage's granddaughter, the genius, and the dead-last?" A hint of a smile also appeared in Biwako's eyes; she was clearly interested in these children.
"That's them," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, swallowing the food in his mouth and beginning to recount the story vividly. "That kid named Jiraiya, with the white hair, so boisterous. He charged right at me shouting, and ended up falling headfirst into a pit I dug. He was left hanging upside down... you can't imagine how ridiculous he looked."
"Pfft," Biwako couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"And Tsunade, the First Hokage's granddaughter, she's got quite a temper. One punch, and there's a huge crater in the ground, like a monster. Too bad she didn't land a single punch on me." Sarutobi Hiruzen mimicked Tsunade's punching motion, making Biwako laugh nonstop.
"What about Orochimaru? Didn't you say he was a genius?"
"A genius? He's a genius alright, just a bit too cold." Sarutobi Hiruzen pursed his lips. "He's clever, though. Knew to lie in wait for a sneak attack."
He told his wife about the events at the training ground as if it were a funny story.
Watching the bright smile on Biwako's face, he felt the fatigue and pressure of the day slowly melt away in her laughter.
Outside, he had to play the part of an all-powerful sage king, calculating people's motives and weighing pros and cons. Only here could he drop all pretense and share the amusing anecdotes of his life like an ordinary person.
After dinner, Sarutobi Hiruzen collapsed onto a chair in the living room, letting out a long, comfortable sigh. He felt like a boneless salted fish, unwilling to move a muscle.
Biwako cleared the dishes, brought him a cup of hot tea, and then silently moved behind him. A pair of slender but strong hands gently landed on his shoulders and began to knead them.
"Mmm..." Sarutobi Hiruzen hummed in comfort.
Biwako's technique was excellent, accurately finding his most sore spots with just the right amount of pressure. His tense muscles gradually relaxed under her massage.
"You must have been very tired today," Biwako's voice was light, brushing against his heart like a feather.
"It's alright," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with his eyes closed, enjoying the rare moment of peace. "It's the Hokage's job. It's never not tiring."
"When you came back today, your brows were practically knitted together." Biwako's hands paused for a moment. "Are you worried about the Uchiha clan? I heard that the recruitment for Root met with some resistance from them."
Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his eyes, a little surprised. He hadn't expected Biwako to know even this.
"It's just some idle gossip from the elders. Don't worry about it."
"Hiruzen," Biwako's voice suddenly became serious. "Don't forget, I'm a ninja too. Although I don't go on missions much anymore, I still know some of the things happening in the village."
She walked around to the front of him, knelt down, and looked up at him.
"I know you're under a lot of pressure. Sensei just passed away, and the burden of the village, both internal and external, has suddenly fallen on your shoulders alone. You have to appease the people, deter foreign enemies, and also deal with internal problems like Danzo and the Uchiha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked into his wife's clear eyes. There was no complaint in them, only understanding and sympathy.
"I can't help you with much, but you have to remember," Biwako said, taking his hand and speaking word by word, "the women of the Sarutobi clan have never been weaknesses that need to be protected from behind. We are the Hokage's firmest support."
"No matter what decisions you make out there, no matter how unreasonable those decisions may seem to outsiders, when you come home, I will always believe in you and support you."
An immense warmth instantly flooded Sarutobi Hiruzen's entire body.
He had transmigrated to this world and been thrust into a critical position, dancing on a knife's edge every day. He had the Future Simulator, which allowed him to see a future others couldn't. This gave him a god-like perspective, but it also doomed him to be a solitary walker.
He couldn't tell anyone his secret; he had to bear all the pressure and fear alone.
He thought he would continue on this lonely path forever.
Until this moment.
He looked at his wife before him, this woman who was not heavily featured in the original story, but who, at this moment, was giving him the warmest strength.
He suddenly felt that he was not fighting alone.
Sarutobi took Biwako's hand in his.
That night, Sarutobi Hiruzen slept exceptionally soundly, without a single dream.