Hiruzen nodded, took him back to his home, and watched over him all night.
During the night, Konohamaru woke in a daze. Seeing his grandfather sitting beside the bed, he caught his sleeve with his little hand.
"Grandpa... am I really useless?"
"No."
"You've already tried very hard."
Sarutobi Hiruzen comforted him.
Konohamaru smiled, then fell asleep again.
But Hiruzen could no longer sleep.
He suddenly understood something with perfect clarity-
He could accept his own death.
But he could not accept his grandson leaving this world so young, too.
He could not bear that kind of blow.
The next day, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not go to his office.
Instead, he went straight to the place only he knew about.
Manji sat on a secluded rooftop, his white hair tousled by the wind.
"My lord, you're here."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke respectfully.
Wearing the robes of a Ninja Academy teacher, Manji frowned slightly. "Hiruzen, what did you ask me here for?"
Hiruzen's hand tightened slightly inside his sleeve.
"I wanted to ask you something."
"About Konohamaru."
Sarutobi Hiruzen struggled to broach the subject.
Only then did Manji turn his head, watching him calmly with his Byakugan. He considered it and immediately guessed that Sarutobi Hiruzen could not let go of his concern for Konohamaru.
It was only natural to dote on the younger generations.
Manji had once felt the same way when he saw Madara Uchiha and Izuna.
But Manji had lived too long, and many things had lost their hold on him.
"I know the overall framework can't be changed. I also know some people must die, and some things must happen. But... what about Konohamaru? What will happen to him?"
"I'm not afraid of dying myself, but Konohamaru is different. He's still little. I've watched him grow day by