Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 592 A Long-Awaited Reunion

Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

The name lingered in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind for a moment before being pulled back to reality.

Standing before him was his eldest son, a boy who should have been incredibly close to him, yet at this moment seemed utterly unfamiliar.

His posture was as upright as a javelin thrown into the darkness, and his short black hair was neat and tidy, with each strand exuding an air of impeccable order.

A simple black outfit, without any unnecessary embellishments, outlines agile and explosive muscle lines.

What made Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart skip a beat was that face that was seven parts similar to his own, yet completely different.

There was no youthful exuberance or vibrancy, only a profound, almost deathly stillness.

Standing there, he exuded a sharp aura, as if he had been immersed in iron and blood for many years, which seemed out of place in this room filled with the aroma of food and warm lighting.

His eldest son.

Konoha's Special Assassination Tactics Unit, a blade directly under the Hokage, and one of its current squad leaders.

A ghost that has been wandering in the shadows of the five great powers for years, a code name whose name only appears in top-secret files.

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't even remember the last time he saw him at home, whether it was a few months ago or longer.

"Father, you're back."

Shinnosuke bowed respectfully, his voice steady and clear, without the slightest fluctuation, as if he were simply stating a given fact.

"Ah... I'm back."

It took Hiruzen Sarutobi a second to completely detach himself from the role of Konoha's helmsman and switch into a somewhat awkward father.

He released Asma from his embrace and walked toward his eldest son.

"Is your mission finished?"

This was an incredibly clumsy opening.

As the Hokage, he was naturally aware of all of Shinnosuke's missions and whereabouts.

"Yes, the mission was completed at 3 PM today, and a report has been submitted to command."

Shinnosuke's answers were still report-style, so standard they could be written into a textbook.

"Oh, oh! Ni-san!"

The youngest son, Asuma, completely oblivious to the subtle atmosphere, burst out from behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, grabbing his father with one hand and his older brother with the other, excitedly shouting, "Dinner's ready! Dinner's ready! Biwako's mom made something super—delicious today!"

The innocent and carefree cheers finally dispelled the stiff and restrained atmosphere.

Biwako took off her apron and walked over with a gentle smile: "Alright, everyone, stop standing there and go wash your hands and eat. Shinnosuke rarely comes back, so make sure he eats a lot today."

On the dining table, a table full of steaming home-style dishes was laid out.

The Akimichi family's No. 1 rice is steamed until the grains are plump and exude an enticing sweet aroma. The freshly harvested cucumbers from the Hengwen Barrier Farm are sliced ​​thinly and drizzled with a secret sauce, making them crisp and refreshing. In the very center of the table is a large plate of dark brown, glossy, and intensely fragrant grilled meat.

Biwako placed a bowl overflowing with rice in front of Shinnosuke and said softly, "You probably didn't eat well while you were out, right? Eat more, you've gotten so thin."

Shinnosuke looked at the rice bowl in front of him, his body seemed to stiffen for a moment, and then he hummed softly.

This meal dispelled all the dust and fatigue that Hiruzen Sarutobi had accumulated over the past few days.

He didn't ask any more questions about the mission, but just like any ordinary father, he put a piece of green vegetable on Shinnosuke's plate.

"Shin-chan, are you finding the food alright while you're out?"

"There are soldier rations."

"...So, are you cold at night?"

"The base is protected by a barrier."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like the conversation was about to die.

He can't very well ask, "How many did you kill on this mission? Were you efficient? Did you leave any loose ends?"

Just as he was racking his brains to think of the next topic, a large, oily pig's trotter fell into Shinnosuke's bowl with a thud, splashing oil droplets.

"Nii-san! You should eat this! This is the best!"

Asuma wore a proud expression, as if he'd given her the best of everything, then picked up a sizzling piece of grilled pork belly. "And this! This is super delicious too! Dip it in the secret sauce, and with one bite, you can feel the Will of Fire burning in your mouth!"

Looking at the somewhat incongruous pig's trotters and roasted meat in the bowl, and then at his younger brother's innocent and pure smile, and those bright, expectant eyes, the tension that had been building up around him subtly dissipated.

He silently picked up the piece of roast meat and put it in his mouth.

The meat is tender and juicy, rich but not greasy, and the special sauce bursts on the tongue, bringing a domineering yet warm sense of satisfaction.

He silently finished eating, then picked up the pig's trotter and, under his younger brother's expectant gaze, slowly began to gnaw on it.

"...It's delicious."

The voice was very low, almost inaudible, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly.

Asuma immediately grinned smugly: "See? See? I told you it was delicious!"

Biwako smiled gently and filled his bowl with rice again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his sake cup, took a small sip, and said nothing.

This family dinner was exceptionally long and exceptionally heartwarming.

After the meal, the bathroom was filled with steam.

Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned comfortably against the edge of the huge wooden bathtub, feeling the two completely different forces coming from behind him.

On the left were Asuma's small, soft hands, rubbing my back more like a tickle, while she kept asking, "Oh my god, does it feel good? This pressure is from the youthful, passionate scrubbing technique I learned from Kai!"

On the right is Shinnosuke's hand.

His palms were covered with a thin layer of calluses, and with each rubbing motion, the force and angle were terrifyingly precise, as if he were not scrubbing a body, but rather sharpening a weapon, allowing every inch of muscle to be completely relaxed.

Yes, that's life.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly, feeling like a corporate slave.

He strategizes and plans for the world outside, but when he comes home, there's a hot meal and his two sons giving him a bath.

Even if Nara Kazuno slaps his resignation letter in his face tomorrow, it seems... not unacceptable.

The moon hangs high in the sky, its clear light like water.

A gentle evening breeze rustled the wind chimes under the eaves, producing a series of clear and melodious sounds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing only a single garment, sat side by side with his two sons on the veranda.

The father and his two sons remained silent, simply gazing at the old locust tree in the courtyard, its shadow dappled in the moonlight.

Asma leaned against her father, already feeling drowsy.

Shinnosuke sat upright, looking at the moon in the sky. His lifeless eyes finally reflected a cold light.

"Squeak—"

The paper door behind her was pulled open, and Biwako came out carrying a plate of cut fruit, a gentle smile on her face, quietly looking at the father and his two sons in the courtyard.

very nice.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart was filled with an emotion called happiness.

He stretched out his arms, one on each side, and embraced his two sons.

Asma mumbled something in a daze.

"Let's go."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said softly.

The father and his two sons stood up with smiles, took off their wooden clogs, and walked side by side into the house, which was bathed in warm light.

……

A week later.

The Hokage's office.

The backlog of official business had been dealt with in an orderly manner, and Nara Kazuno finally got the vacation he had been dreaming of. It is said that on the first day of his vacation, he slept at home from dawn to dusk.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the bustling village below that was beginning to take shape as a modern place, a contented smile on his face.

The recovery period is over.

It's time to get Konoha, this giant ship that's already fully fueled, moving at full speed toward a new course.

He turned around and gave the order to someone in the shadows in the corner of the office.

"Pass down the notice: summon all Jonin, as well as the heads of all departments and clans. Hold a top-level general meeting in one hour."