The Two Who Don't Want to Be Hokage

Hokage's Office.

"You two have done well."

Renye lounged in a recliner on the balcony, his lazy voice drifting in through the doorway.

He was quite fond of these two free workhorses.

With them around, he no longer had to toil over paperwork himself.

If he kept lying flat for another year or two, he could more or less retire. Then Danzo or Hiruzen could take over, while he peacefully stayed home and went sunbathing.

Just thinking about that life made him happy.

Inside the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō sat at their respective desks, with two towering stacks of documents before them.

After taking office, Renye had reformed the Hokage's document-review system, delegating most approval authority to his assistants. Even so, Konoha still had countless matters to handle every day.

Even after the reforms, the two of them still needed several hours each day to clear that day's documents.

After approving a supplies application, Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his aching eyes and suddenly felt that being Hokage was not appealing at all.

Back at the Ninja Academy, when the teacher had asked what his dream was, he had raised his hand and said he wanted to become Hokage. His classmates had even applauded him.

Thinking about it now, he had been completely fooled.

Every day was either paperwork or more paperwork. There was practically no time to rest.

He would rather lie at home and go sunbathing.

He had already decided that after working for a while longer, he would run away and leave Danzo to handle the documents alone.

He would not compete with him for the Hokage position in the future either. A life where he could see the end at a glance—whoever wanted it could have it. He certainly did not.

After finishing a mission report,