When Sarutobi Hiruzen returned home, the sky was already ablaze with a fiery red.
He habitually changed his shoes in the entryway, took off his Hokage robe, and hung it casually on the coat rack nearby.
A familiar aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, instantly dispelling the cold aura from his body.
Sarutobi Biwako, wearing an apron, was busy in the kitchen humming a tune, the pot making sizzling sounds.
"You're back."
Hearing the noise, she peeked out of the kitchen with a gentle smile on her face. "Why so early today? I thought you'd be reviewing documents until late at night again."
"I've dealt with most of the matters at hand, so I came back early."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and walked to the kitchen door, leaning against the frame, watching his wife's busy profile, his heart softening.
"Father!"
A milky, slightly slurred call came from the direction of the living room.
Immediately after, a small figure ran out of the living room, wobbling as he went.
He was wearing a small ninja outfit, his short black hair a bit messy, and his large, dark eyes lit up instantly upon seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Asuma.
He was now at the most lively, active, and clingy age.
"Father Hug"
Little Asuma opened his short arms and threw himself directly at Sarutobi Hiruzen, bumping his head against Hiruzen's calf.
"Ouch."
Sarutobi Hiruzen pretended to cry out in pain, then bent down and easily picked up the little guy with one hand.
As soon as little Asuma was in his father's arms, he wrapped himself around him like a koala, using both hands and feet. His small head rubbed against his father's chest repeatedly, and he let out satisfied laughter.
"Were you good at home today? Did you make Mom angry?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen pinched his son's chubby cheek and asked with a smile.
"Asuma was the best!"
The little guy puffed out his small chest and answered with pride.
"Is that so?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised an eyebrow and looked at his wife in the kitchen.
Seeing the intimate father and son, Biwako laughed helplessly. "Yes, he was the best today. Except in the afternoon, he insisted on imitating the Inuzuka kid and tried to 'open the dragon's spine' at home, and ended up breaking a flower pot."
"Hehe..."
Exposed for his "glorious deeds," Asuma embarrassedly buried his face in his father's chest, revealing only a pair of rolling eyes.
"You little rascal."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was amused. He didn't scold him, but just held his son and kissed his little cheek.
He didn't put Asuma down immediately, but tossed him up and steadily placed the little guy on his shoulders.
"Woohoo—!!"
Asuma was instantly excited, his small hands gently grabbing his father's hair, letting out crisp laughter.
Sarutobi Hiruzen carried his son and slowly walked under the veranda of the courtyard.
The evening breeze carried a hint of coolness, blowing on his face, very comfortable.
In the courtyard, the leaves of the old locust tree had begun to yellow, and a few unknown birds returning late were chirping on the branches.
Under the veranda hung a slightly rough wooden windmill.
It was a windmill made of bamboo strips and colored paper. The workmanship was a bit rough, with some burrs on the edges, clearly the work of a novice.
When the wind blew, the windmill spun with a "whirring" sound, looking quite beautiful in the setting sun.
This was something he had made for his son a few days ago, squeezing out a little time from the mountain of documents.
Sarutobi Hiruzen remembered very clearly that in his previous life, he also had such a windmill when he was a child.
Although it was far less exquisite than those made by craftsmen, Asuma treasured it immensely and would look at it several times a day.
"Father, the windmill is spinning."
Asuma pointed his little finger at the windmill and shouted excitedly.
"Yes, the wind is blowing it," Sarutobi Hiruzen answered patiently.
"The wind is blowing it?"
"Right... wind... is, well, you can't see it, but it can make the windmill spin, make the leaves dance, and in summer, it can make you feel cool."
"Oh..."
Asuma nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
For a child of this age, the world was full of all kinds of novel questions.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen was also happy to enjoy this time of being "interrogated" by his son.
This was much more relaxing and enjoyable than being bombarded in the office by those two workaholics, Danzo and Sakumo, with various reports on "Reservoir Naming" and "Sow KPI."
Looking at the pure smile on his son's face, Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart was filled with warmth and satisfaction.
He suddenly felt that everything he had done had meaning.
When he first transmigrated to this dangerous world, he was appointed in a time of crisis and danced on the edge of a knife every day.
He used the simulator to deduce the future, used political maneuvering to balance various forces, and used an iron fist to implement reforms... Wasn't everything he did, ultimately, to protect this ordinary happiness before him?
To let his son grow up carefree in an environment without hatred.
To let him laugh heartily because of a rough windmill, instead of shouldering the hatred of the clan or the burden of the village at a young age.
"Survive, and ensure Konoha survives with me."
This goal he set at the beginning of his transmigration became clearer at this moment.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was filled with emotion, Asuma riding on his shoulders suddenly made a new discovery.
"There's a bird! Father, look!"
The little guy's body twisted excitedly, his small hand pointing excitedly at a thick branch of the old locust tree in the courtyard.
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