Several years had passed.
No new faces had been added to Hokage Rock in Konoha.
But the village beneath it had changed a great deal.
The Ninja Academy's school field had been renovated, the children had grown taller, and the elderly had grown older.
Only the light in that office in the Hokage Building still burned late into the night.
Naruto's life had been fuller than anyone else's these past few years.
He went on missions during the day, studied administration at night, and still had to make time on weekends to review documents with Yugao and Shizune at the Hokage Building.
Minato occasionally guided him as well. Father and son would sit in the living room, with all sorts of documents spread across the table.
Kushina served tea and water, and the family of three enjoyed their time together.
Naruto had gone from trembling whenever he held a pen to approving an entire stack of documents in one sitting. His handwriting had improved from crooked scrawls to something barely legible. He really had made considerable progress.
Once, after approving a request to repair the drainage canal at the eastern end of the village, Naruto had added a sentence after "Approved": "Implement this as soon as possible. The rainy season is almost here."
Yugao paused when she saw it, then smiled and teased him.
"Lord Naruto, you've improved."
Being called "Lord" made Naruto squirm, but inwardly, he was delighted.
He read the document again and decided his handwriting wasn't that ugly after all.
Shisui finished reviewing the last document and gazed out the window at the sky, flushed red by the sunset.
The Sixth Hokage's term was coming to an end. After so many years in office, he had done everything he should have, and nothing he shouldn't.
Konoha was