A small child could be seen walking around Konohagakure with a gentle smile, while the people around him looked on in surprise or with smiles of their own. A random stall owner shouted to the child, trying to get his attention, "Chibi Nidaime-sama! Do you want some dango?!"
The child turned his head 90 degrees and started walking toward the stall. "Give me one. I'll try it, but if I don't like it, consider yourself jobless," he said with a serious face.
While some people were surprised, most wore indulgent smiles. All they could think was, "The Second Hokage's grandson can't be this cute!"
The stall owner pretended to act seriously as he handed over a dango he had prepared meticulously. As the child took a bite, he looked thoughtfully at the dango in his hand. "Decent, but it could be better."
The man beamed at him and said, "Happy birthday, Nidaime-sama!"
The child frowned. "It's Godaime! Why don't you get it right?"
"Hahaha, sorry, Godaime-sama! The dango is free of charge, just for the birthday Hokage!"
Hiruzen, watching the conversation unfold from his office, smiled. "Maa, why don't they give me things for free on my birthday? And he isn't even Hokage for Kami's sake!"
Beside him, a bandaged man looked at him with disdain. "Hiruzen, why are you jealous? He's just a child!"
"Forget this, are you going to ask me to give him for your root?"
"No, I have different thoughts about him. I will show him the darkness and you will give him the light he needs for him to be impartial like Nidaime-sama. Show me why he chose you Hiruzen."
Hiruzen looked thoughtful and gave Danzo a smirk.
"Are you sure you weren't in love with Nidaime-sama Danzo? All you talk about is him nowadays."
Danzo's face became red with embarrassment.
"Don't get ahead of yourself Hiruzen! He is the one I admire as a man the most, you wouldn't understand it!"
"It was just a joke Danzo..."
Danzo turned his head sideways and snorted.
"Hmph!"
Hiruzen had an amused expression on his face. "Is it time?"
"If you wish," the bandaged man responded and started walking toward the the door, opening it.
Hiruzen's eyes sparkled with mischief as he shouted after him. "Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
Danzo turned, looking over his shoulder with a glare full of hatred. "You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" he shouted, slamming the door behind him.
A moment later, the door creaked open again, revealing only Danzo's head. "Are we doing the birthday party?" he asked.
"Yes, yes, it'll have cake too!" Hiruzen replied.
"What flavor?" Danzo asked suspiciously.
"Strawberry..."
Danzo grunted. "It's acceptable. Godaime likes strawberry."
"I know you're paying him to say that, Danzo." Hiruzen teased.
"Hmph!" Danzo scoffed as he slammed the door shut once more.
As the office quieted, Hiruzen stared up at the ceiling, wondering where everything had gone wrong. But this was all an act for Anbu as he likes the peace with Danzo Tobirama brought unknowingly.
...
Meanwhile, the ANBU guards, who had witnessed the entire exchange, looked at each other, bewildered, questioning if everything they thought about the Hokage and Danzo's rivalry was a lie.
Finally, one daring ANBU spoke in a small voice, looking at Hiruzen. "Hokage-sama, could we have some cake too?"
Hiruzen sighed in exasperation. "Yes."
The ANBU members cheered, raising their arms in excitement. One of them patted the brave ANBU on the back, giving him a thumbs-up.
"Mah man!"
Next Chapter will be about birthday!