Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 84 Because, protecting what is important to you doesn't feel tiring.

"Oh? Where are the birds?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, pretending not to see, and carried his son toward the old locust tree.

"There! Right there!"

Asma was getting anxious, pointing with her little hand, "Father, just a little further, it's on that branch!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi did as he was told and walked to the old locust tree.

This locust tree is older than him; it was passed down from the Sarutobi family ancestors.

The tree trunk is thick and its branches and leaves are lush, like a huge green umbrella, sheltering this small yard from the wind and rain.

He looked up and, sure enough, there was a bird's nest nested securely on a thick branch, just over two meters off the ground.

The bird's nest wasn't big and the workmanship was a bit rough, but it looked very sturdy.

Several fluffy, yellowish little heads poked out from the edge of the nest, their tender yellow mouths open, chirping softly.

A slightly larger mother sparrow was standing by the nest, with a small green worm she had just caught in her beak.

It carefully placed the worm into the mouth of each chick one by one.

The chicks eagerly ate, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

These little creatures seemed to have gotten used to the presence of this family. They showed no fear at all at the sudden appearance of the two “giants” under the tree, but focused on carrying out this feeding ritual that was about the continuation of life.

Asma watched intently, her little face filled with curiosity and excitement.

This was the first time he had observed these little creatures so closely.

"Father, what are they doing?"

Asma asked in a low voice, afraid of disturbing the little creatures in the tree.

"The mother bird is feeding her chicks."

Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his voice and explained the heartwarming scene before him to his son in the simplest terms.

He stroked his son's soft hair and said softly, "Look, it's just like how Mom cooks for Asma every day. The mother bird also flies very far every day to find insects for her children to eat. That way, her children can grow up quickly and eventually fly up to the sky themselves."

"Then...aren't they tired?"

Asma looked up at her with her little face, asking in confusion.

"Of course I'll get tired."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "But look at the mother bird, is she tired?"

Asma followed her father's words and looked at the mother sparrow again.

After feeding the last chick, it didn't fly away immediately. Instead, it gently combed the slightly ruffled downy feathers of the chicks with its beak.

His movements were very gentle, and his eyes were filled with something that Asuma couldn't understand, but could sense.

That look... was exactly the same as the look in his mother's eyes when she coaxed him to sleep every night.

"Not tired."

Asma shook his head and said with certainty.

"yes."

A hint of tenderness appeared in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes as well, "Because protecting what is important to you doesn't feel tiring."

He held his son and stood quietly under the tree.

Watching the mother sparrow patiently teach her chicks to preen their feathers; watching the fledglings fluttering their wings tremblingly by the nest.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting long shadows on the father and son.

At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart became incredibly peaceful.

Suddenly, I gained a profound understanding of the other layer of meaning behind the four words "Will of Fire".

guard.

What is protection?

Is it the grand concept of a village? Or the weighty title of Hokage?

No.

They are vivid, ordinary, yet incredibly precious lives.

Countless bonds, formed from the most ordinary daily routines, are called home.

Ultimately, protecting the village is about protecting the ordinary yet precious life and hope under those countless roofs.

"Hiruzen, Asuma, time to eat!"

Just then, Biwako's gentle call came from inside the house, interrupting the father and son's reverie.

"Here you are!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and responded.

He carried his son on his back and turned to walk into the house.

Asma sat on her father's broad shoulders, glanced back at the little bird's nest, and then looked at the doorway where her mother was smiling at them.

It seemed like I understood something, yet it also seemed like I understood nothing at all.

But he thought the sunset was beautiful today, and the windmills were spinning faster than usual.

Carrying her son back into the house, she found the food already laid out on the low table under the warm light.

The grilled saury, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, exudes an enticing aroma.

The miso soup, simmered with kelp and radish, was bubbling away.

There was also a side dish of cucumber salad made with fresh cucumbers from Shuomao Farm, which looked crisp and refreshing.

The family of three sat together.

"I'm starting to eat."

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of fish, carefully removed the bones, and put it into Asuma's small bowl.

"Thank you, Father."

Asma said, tilting his head back.

However, he did not immediately eat the fish. Instead, he suddenly opened his mouth wide and made an "Ah—" sound, looking expectantly at Biwa Lake.

"Um?"

Biwa Lake paused for a moment.

"Mom, hello!"

Asma opened his mouth and flapped his arms a couple of times, imitating the chicks.

"Pfft—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Biwako couldn't help but laugh out loud at their son's comical appearance.

"You silly child, why did you have to imitate a baby bird eating?"

Biwako still lovingly picked up a small piece of rice and carefully fed it to her son.

"tasty!"

Asma squinted his eyes contentedly and mumbled something indistinctly.

Looking at this heartwarming scene, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt all the fatigue of the day vanish in the laughter.

"Thank you for your hard work, Lake Biwa."

"What are you saying?"

Biwako rolled her eyes at him, but the smile in her eyes was impossible to hide.

Outside the window, night was deepening and the moon was high in the sky.

Inside the window, the candlelight was warm and the atmosphere was filled with laughter and conversation.

The family of three sat together, enjoying this ordinary yet heartwarming dinner.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that this was perhaps the best future he could imagine.