After leaving the Hokage's Office, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura hurried straight toward the Sarutobi Clan residence.
Both wore grave expressions. Seeing the two advisers looking so serious, people on the street stepped aside, privately wondering whether something major had happened in the village again.
The courtyard of the Sarutobi Clan residence was peaceful. Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi held a small watering can, leisurely watering several pots of orchids on the windowsill.
He wore a loose, casual kimono, and the old dog named Danzo lay at his feet.
During his retirement at home, the Third had tended flowers, played with his dog, practiced calligraphy, and taught his grandson. Aside from having more free time than before, everything was fine.
The trouble was that the old man could never sit still, so he had been looking for an opportunity to return to active service. If Naruto had not told him there would still be plenty to do after unifying the shinobi world, and that his help might be needed, he probably would have been unable to stay home any longer.
Just then, the courtyard gate swung open. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura entered one after the other, their hurried footsteps ringing against the stone path.
"Koharu, Homura, what's this about?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi set down the watering can and straightened, looking somewhat surprised.
"Has something serious happened in the village?"
Utatane Koharu did not answer immediately. Instead, she gave Mitokado Homura a look.
Mitokado Homura took a document from inside his clothes. Utatane Koharu snatched it from him and all but flung it in front of the Third.
"Hiruzen, explain this to me!"
The Third caught the document and looked down. It was a Marriage Registration Application.
Looking more closely at the applicants' section, he found the names "Hiruzen Sarutobi" and "Utatane