The two soon returned to Shikaku's temporary office.
The door closed behind them, shutting out the noise outside for the moment.
To Shikamaru's surprise, however, Shikaku did not get straight to the point.
Instead, he walked behind his desk without sitting down. He looked calmly at Shikamaru, then suddenly brought up a subject that seemed completely unrelated to their urgent military affairs:
"Lord Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, had Lord Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, as his Hokage Advisor."
Shikaku's voice was steady.
"During the Second Hokage's tenure, he never formally established the position of 'Hokage Advisor.' He decided all important matters himself or directly assigned people to carry them out."
Shikamaru paused, puzzled as to why his father had suddenly brought this up. But he did not interrupt, only listened quietly, a vague suspicion forming in his mind.
Shikaku continued, "Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and... Shimura Danzō as his Hokage Advisors."
Shikaku's tone did not waver as he mentioned those three names, but Shikamaru could hear the complicated meaning behind them.
They encapsulated Konoha's former seat of power, and also represented the flaws of a certain system.
"Lord Minato Namikaze's tenure as the Fourth Hokage was too short."
Shikaku shook his head slightly.
"At the time, I briefly helped with some paperwork and coordination in the Hokage's Office.
"But strictly speaking, the Fourth Hokage never formally appointed a Hokage Advisor, and there wasn't time for actual control of Konoha to pass smoothly and completely from the Third Hokage to him."
"Although Lord Jiraiya's tenure as the Fifth Hokage was even shorter, he still formally appointed Tsunade as his Hokage Advisor after she returned."
At this point, Shikaku stopped, his gaze settling on Shikamaru's face as his tone became solemn and direct:
"Now,