I sat leaning against a tree with him under the moonlight. His voice, sighing and grumbling about how hard the mission was, scatters into the night air. I was listening while pretending it was no big deal, when suddenly his head leaned against my shoulder.

In an instant, my body froze.

My heart is beating unnecessarily loud. If it were before, I would have pushed him away. I would have drawn a line and stood up as if it were nothing.

…Does this guy know how I feel?

Muttering that to myself, I lowered my head slightly. His profile reflected in the moonlight was closer than I thought. Seeing him leaning there with his eyes closed as if he knew nothing, a laugh almost escaped me.

In the end, I couldn't push him away. Instead, I relaxed my shoulders and leaned my back deeper against the tree so he could be more comfortable. Hoping he wouldn't notice this heartbeat.

Did you think becoming Hokage would be that easy, you blockhead?