Six days before the Chunin Exams, Hokage's Office.
"Third Hokage-sama, this is the list of participants from Kusagakure who arrived today."
The earnest, diligent assistant carefully placed the organized scroll to the right of the Third Hokage, who was busy with official duties, putting it at the top of the priority stack.
"Mm... you've worked hard. It's getting late. Go home and rest first."
Yet upon hearing this, the Third Hokage did not even look up, merely marking and annotating the scroll before him.
With the Chunin Exams approaching and so many ninja villages invited, there were countless coordination tasks and security concerns. Even a seasoned administrator like the Third Hokage could only work overtime.
It was already nearly ten at night. As for this assistant, who had only recently married, the Third Hokage did not wish for him to stay up late alongside him.
"No! Third Hokage-sama, please let me stay and help you finish these matters. I may not be of much help, but there are still some organizing tasks..."
The diligent assistant hurriedly spoke up.
Toward this elderly man who should have retired long ago, the diligent assistant felt nothing but respect and gratitude. Seeing such an old man still having to work late into the night, he could never help wanting to shoulder a little more of the burden for him.
At the same time, he knew his own abilities were limited. The only reason he had become the Hokage's assistant was because the village lacked a truly suitable candidate. His predecessor and the one before that had both been far too outstanding—especially his predecessor. Had he still been alive, he likely would have succeeded this respected old man as Hokage.
As for why he himself had been chosen as the Hokage's assistant, it was entirely