Sarutobi Hiruzen had worked like a horse for decades, and finally resigned and went home, no longer working.
Sarutobi Hiruzen lay on a lounge chair in the courtyard, a relaxed expression on his face.
"No wonder Renya likes sunbathing. So sunbathing at home is this comfortable?"
If he had known retirement would be this enjoyable, he would not have spent year after year suffering in the Hokage office handling documents.
It could only be said that Renya's lying-flat intelligence far surpassed his combat intelligence!
"Hiruzen, did you really resign and stop working?"
His wife, Biwako, looked at her leisurely husband and subconsciously asked.
She could not understand why her husband, who was doing well as the Hokage's assistant and was in his prime in his thirties, would suddenly choose to resign.
Logically speaking, her husband cared deeply about the village's affairs and should not slack off and skip work like Renya.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a comfortable sip of juice, turned his head, and explained to his wife.
"Biwako, I think working has no future. Instead of handling documents day and night every day, I might as well resign and come home to spend time with you all."
Although his strength could not compare to a powerhouse like Renya, in Konoha he was still among the top-tier experts.
Moreover, he was also the clan head of the Sarutobi clan.
Even if he did not work and lay flat at home every day, he would not be without sources of income.
The money at home had long been enough for him to lie flat for several lifetimes.
Besides, his position as Hokage's assistant had no room for promotion at all.
Work for one year and he was still an assistant; work for ten years and still an assistant; work until death and he would only ever have the title of Hokage's assistant.
As long as Danzo did not retire, he would never have a chance.
And waiting for Shimura Danzo to retire would be ten or twenty years later; by then he would already be fifty or sixty.
With age set like this, he definitely could not compete with the village's geniuses.
Even if by some stroke of luck he really became the Hokage he dreamed of, with his aging body, how many years could he serve?
And when one is old, there is no guarantee one could lead the village to prosperity like Danzo.
When that time came, one careless mistake would surely ruin his later reputation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen saw this matter very clearly.
Even though he very much wanted to become Hokage, he still had to start from a realistic perspective.
It was impossible to pursue becoming Hokage without considering the village's future.
Moreover, as time passed, during these years as Hokage's assistant, he discovered that being Hokage was not as easy as he had imagined.
Gradually, he stopped caring so much.
After being oppressed by Danzo for several days, he finally could not take it anymore and resolutely chose to resign and go home to lie flat.
But not lying down was one thing—once he did, it was shocking.
So lying flat was actually this enjoyable?
No wonder back then when they urged Renya to work hard and struggle, that guy looked at them with the eyes one would use to look at an idiot.
Now he finally understood—the clown was actually himself!
Renya started lying flat at seventeen, while he only realized it at thirty-seven.
That guy had directly skipped twenty years of detours!
Sarutobi Biwako saw that her husband did not seem to be joking, and simply smiled, raising no objection.
Hiruzen had worked so hard for so many years; it was indeed time for him to properly enjoy life.
In a couple of years, Asuma would be going to school, and he could just guide him then.
At this moment, an ANBU instantly appeared in the courtyard.
"Hiruzen-sama, the Hokage-sama is looking for you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his eyebrows and asked casually, "What does that Danzo\ want me for?"
He waved his hand, directly expressing refusal.
"Not going!"
That guy must have discovered that without him, he could not handle a whole table of documents by himself.
So he wanted to persuade him to go back and be the Hokage's assistant…
He had finally tasted the wonderful flavor of lying flat—how could he possibly go back to the office to suffer handling documents?
Danzo was right about one thing—he was the Hokage!
As someone who had already resigned as Hokage's assistant, why should he worry so much when he had nothing to do?
Instead of spending time handling documents, it would be better to take his wife and children traveling, enjoying the happiness of family reunion.
ANBU: "..."
...
Hokage Office.
"Did Hiruzen really say that?"
Shimura Danzo listened to the ANBU's report, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
He had not expected that after resigning, Hiruzen would be this tough, even ignoring the Hokage's summons.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Danzo sighed helplessly. Originally, he had planned to have Hiruzen return as Hokage's assistant so he could find an excuse to leave the village and accompany Renya on a trip.
Leaving Hiruzen behind to deal with the mountain of accumulated documents for him.
It seemed that Hiruzen was no longer interested in the position of Hokage's assistant.
At first, he had not been very supportive of Hiruzen becoming Hokage, but since Renya's recommended candidates included him, and since Hiruzen had served as Hokage's assistant for over ten years, only he could temporarily take over managing the village's affairs large and small…
After a moment of silence, Shimura Danzo ultimately decided to let Hiruzen serve as acting Hokage.
At worst, he would just let that guy Hiruzen experience being Hokage for a while!
Otherwise, there would be no way to persuade him to come back and be a workhorse.
Thus, Danzo picked up the Hokage hat and left the Hokage office.
...
Sarutobi Hiruzen Residence.
"Hokage-sama, why have you come?"
Sarutobi Biwako opened the door and, seeing Danzo standing outside, was somewhat surprised.
But she quickly reacted—he must be here to find Hiruzen.
"Please come in. Hiruzen is in the courtyard."
"Mm, excuse me."
Sarutobi Hiruzen saw Shimura Danzo walk in, took off the sunglasses he was wearing on his face, and said in a sarcastic tone.
"Oh, isn't this our Hokage-sama who handles countless affairs every day? Not in the office dealing with documents today—how do you have time to come to my place?"
He would never forget how Danzo used his official rank to suppress him.
Whenever the two had policy disagreements, this guy would always end the argument by saying that he was the Hokage.
This feeling of powerlessness from being crushed by someone one rank higher—he had long had enough of it.
No matter what Danzo promised, he would never go back to being a workhorse!
With that time, he might as well stay at home accompanying his wife and children.
Shimura Danzo looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen's enjoyment-filled appearance and seemed to see someone else's shadow in him.
"Hiruzen, do you want to come back to work?"
"Sorry, Hokage-sama. I just resigned and have no intention of continuing to work." Sarutobi Hiruzen refused without hesitation.
What a joke—he was not going to rush back to work just because Danzo personally came.
A Hokage's assistant position sounded prestigious.
In reality, it had no real authority at all. An assistant was still just an assistant and could not compare to the Hokage's position.
It was not like he was being made Hokage…
Rather than being a workhorse in the office, it was better to live a lying-flat life at home.
Shimura Danzo curved his lips into a smile and said tentatively.
"If you come back, I'll let you be the acting Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "???"