A week passed in the blink of an eye.
Immediately afterward, Nara Shikaku returned to his life as acting deputy Hokage.
Fortunately, Nara Dan's return had done wonders for his condition and frame of mind.
After all, having someone above you to take responsibility was a completely different thing from bearing the consequences of every decision yourself.
It was like the difference between an employee and an entrepreneur. The former thought about slacking off at work and getting paid well for it.
The latter had to make careful decisions to ensure the company's survival and growth.
Although Nara Dan hadn't taken on much work since returning, making decisions only on important matters,
even that was a welcome relief for Nara Shikaku.
With his clan elder—now the God of Shinobi—backing him up, Nara Shikaku could make decisions about Konoha with a freer hand.
At that moment, Nara Dan was slacking off in the Hokage Office while Nara Shikaku sat nearby, writing furiously.
"Considering how heavy the Hokage's workload is these days, how dare you try to do two things at once?"
Nara Dan teased the hard-working Nara Shikaku.
"Using a Shadow Clone to work while your real body trains at home?"
"Aren't you afraid your head will explode?"
Given the Hokage's workload, even Nara Dan's stamina back in the day had barely been enough to keep him on his feet.
Nara Dan spoke without the slightest awareness that he was the Fourth Hokage, as if Nara Shikaku were the Hokage instead.
Nara Shikaku smiled wryly and nodded.
"Brother Dan, I don't have much choice..."
"If I don't do two things at once, my training will fall completely behind..."
"That wouldn't look good, either among the Nara or the Konoha High Command."
"Fortunately, I've been studying the Immortal-Eating Technique for a while