The sun sank behind the mountains, and the clouds in the distance turned a fiery red. Above Konoha, the sky was beginning to sparkle with stars. Under the same sky, two different scenes unfolded, each captivating in its own way.
By the time Uzumaki Kuming arrived at the Hokage's office, it was already evening. Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been busy all afternoon, was resting in his chair. Ever since Sunagakure declared war on Konoha, Hiruzen had rarely left his office unless necessary.
There was simply too much to coordinate these days. He hardly ever went home for dinner anymore; most of the time, his considerate wife prepared a meal and brought it to him. Now, after finishing a stretch of work, Hiruzen was waiting for her to bring him dinner.
Just then, someone opened the office door, and Uzumaki Kuming walked in wearing a hospital gown.
"Oh!"
"Kuming, you're really recovered!"
"Why did you only come by now?"
Hiruzen heard the door open and looked up to see Kuming. The fatigue from a long day vanished in an instant. From the village's perspective, Kuming was Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, a formidable shinobi who had killed over a hundred Sunagakure shinobi despite being hunted and surrounded. There was no question about his strength. His recovery was enormously important to Konoha, now embroiled in war.
On a personal level, Kuming was Hiruzen's prized student. Although they hadn't spent that much time together as master and student, that bond was a fact they couldn't change.
"Teacher, it's good to see you again."
"I ran into a few things along the way, so I was delayed."
Kuming smiled shyly, then took a seat on the sofa at the Third Hokage's gesture. Without caring whether Kuming minded, Hiruzen plopped down beside him and began asking after