Nine o'clock in the evening, izakaya.

"Are you calling us out so late just to have us drink with you here?"

Sitting in a secluded corner, after ordering drinks, Haiyi and Dingzao sat across from Shikaku. After each pouring themselves a glass of wine, Haiichi took the initiative to tease Shikaku.

"Yeah, lately I feel more and more that I might not be suitable for my current job. I don't know if it's because I'm a middle-aged man with children now, and I'm always a little timid about doing things."

Faced with Haiyi's teasing, Shikaku did not refute, but admitted it in a self-deprecating tone.

"What happened? You are not like your usual self. As far as I know, Hokage-sama trusts your character and ability very much. He shouldn't suddenly treat you coldly now, right?"

The teasing smile on Haiyi's face slowly disappeared, and Ding Zuo beside him also assumed the posture of a listener.

Although there were some twists and turns in Konoha due to some things last year, the negative effects of these twists and turns are slowly being smoothed out by the comfort of the new Hokage Tsunade.

Although the various voices within the village have not been completely calmed down, given the current trend, it will only be a matter of time before the village regains its previous stability.

Therefore, the two of them did not understand Shikaku's complaints at this time. With such a shrewd and reliable Hokage, he would not bother as much as he did in the past.

"Well, how should I put it...it's because I can't respond to Hokage-sama's expectations."

Lu Jiu took a sip of his wine and said something that made Haiyi and Ding Zuo feel confused but understood.

Unable to respond to Hokage-sama's expectations... This kind of line can be said to be quite ambiguous in terms of stance.

"Has Hokage-sama asked such a question?"

The expressions of Haiyi and Dingzuo both became serious.

Each successive Hokage came to power and implemented different policies.

As the saying goes, there is an emperor and a minister. With the change of Hokage personnel, it naturally means that the interests of each interest group will be redistributed. Whether it is reduced or increased depends on the level of trust of the Hokage.

Even as the backbone of the Hokage faction, they cannot guarantee that they can always ensure that they will not be suppressed by the Hokage.

The only difference is whether they block the Hokage's path forward.

Shikaku said this, and it was obvious that their Hokage-sama would make big moves next, trying his best to win over Shikaku and join her camp.

"Yes, but this is a natural trend. In the past, Hokage-sama basically collected the places that he could collect in his hands. The rest that could not be collected could only be dealt with head-on. Next, it is

Let’s see which side of the two sides gives in first.”

Lu Jiu shook the wine glass in his hand, looking slightly tipsy.

"It's just that it's too fast."

Haiyi sighed softly.

"It is true that the speed of action is a bit too fast. That is why she became the Fifth Hokage. Whether it is in terms of personal charm, ability, achievements, or origin...she is impeccable."

Lu Jiu smiled and said...

Hai nodded and expressed his opinion: "Since the accident happened to the Uchiha clan, the trend of many ninja clans has begun to change in an unknown direction. Even within our three clans, there are some differences.

His voice... his support for Hokage has also become less firm than before. If Hokage-sama wants to start from the Ninja clan, I'm afraid..."

To be honest, in Haiichi's opinion, if Tsunade does nothing now and maintains the status quo, it will be the best result for the new Hokage faction or other factions.

Most of the ninjas only require the power to protect themselves. Only a small number of ninjas will radically want to seize power from the top management and make various behaviors that exceed the bottom line. They have become a stimulated head.

The beast, to the point where he doesn’t believe anyone but himself...

The new Hokage means a new political power and a new distribution of interests.

It can be said that now is the most sensitive time for the Ninja clan. If Tsunade is a little more stimulated at this time, even Haiichi will be unable to predict what will happen in the end.

This is completely different from the incident involving the Uchiha clan.

In order not to disappear silently one day, today's ninja clan will not fight alone like the Uchiha clan.

"I can understand your concerns, but Lord Hokage has her own opinions. Even if I analyze the results of this part, she will most likely not listen..."

This was probably the result of the stiff wings. Lu Jiu looked at the wine glass, feeling a little uninterested.

Compared to the original Minato, Tsunade's wings are indeed too hard now, and they are so hard that she doesn't look like a person holding the junior Hokage throne.

And in terms of decision-making and action, he was even better than the Third Hokage.

At the political level, it can be said that it combines many advantages of the two generations of Hokage...and excellent people often only refer to other people's suggestions, but still use their own subjective judgment as the core. Under normal circumstances, they will never be influenced by

Interference from external factors.

Lu Jiu can understand this kind of 'arrogance', because he also has similar problems.

In other words, every ninja with some talent has such a unique personality.

The most important point is that Tsunade made such a decision based on her own practical data, rather than sitting in an office and implementing the policies she will implement through her own imagination.

And he started to accumulate his own political capital in the early stage without messing around at the beginning, which proves that Tsunade has her own detailed plan and is not relying on temporary impulse and passion... To put it bluntly, who can do this kind of Tsunade?

It's hard to stop it.

Thinking of this, Lu Jiu couldn't help but feel irritable.

I can only pour wine from my mouth to make my brain start to feel dizzy, paralyze my current spirit, let myself get drunk, and then stop thinking about it, hoping to put all these worries away.

Haiyi and Dingzuo also drank with Lujiu.

Judging from their age, the three of them are not as naive as their children. They only act based on justice and likes and dislikes in their hearts. Often, when doing one thing, there are more things to consider.…

However, when it comes to pursuing interests, they are not like the older generation who still retains the strong family tradition of the Warring States Period. They put family interests first, thereby ignoring the overall position of the village.

I don’t have the innocent fantasies of young people, nor do I want to become an old stubborn who only accepts death. I hope to have more youthful energy and start my own career.

This sense of being neither up to par with the times makes them laugh or cry at times, making them dumbfounded.

While drinking wine and toasting, the atmosphere suddenly became less depressing and depressing than before. Instead, it was filled with a bit of fiery atmosphere, and the sadness on his face gradually dissipated.

"Wouldn't it be boring for three big men to sit here and drink?"

Untimely words came in.

I saw Shikamaru walking over alone with a look of helplessness on his face and his hands in his trouser pockets.

When I saw three grown men drinking drunkenly here, they immediately started to complain speechlessly.

"Well... isn't this the genius of our family? Why, what's the matter?"

Seeing Shikamaru appear here, Shikaku didn't pay attention. Instead, he teased Shikamaru in a teasing tone.

Shikamaru raised his eyebrows and said directly: "You haven't come back so late. Mom is a little worried about you and asked me to call you back for dinner."

"Liar. It's already this time. They must be telling me to go back and kneel on the washboard. I won't be fooled."

Shikaku looked at the wall clock next to him and immediately saw through the lie in Shikamaru's mouth.

Shikamaru was not embarrassed when his lie was discovered, and he knew that such a lie could not scare his father.

"If you don't go back, mom will lose her temper again, and I don't want to suffer any unreasonable disaster."

"... Just let her wait at home. I have the final say in this house today."

If you are full of momentum, you will feel like you are the head of the family.

"I recorded what you just said."

Shikamaru took out a voice recorder from his pocket.

"..."

Shikaku seemed to hallucinate the suppressed laughter of Haiyi and Dingza next to him.

"Dad, you don't want mom to hear what you are saying, right? Are you coming with me now, or should I go back and ask mom to come over in person?"

Shikamaru said the threatening words with an expressionless face, looking unmotivated and staring at Shikaku with eyes like a dead fish.

"..."

Shikaku glanced at Shikamaru standing in front of him, and felt as if his son had suddenly grown up.

If I had known this, I wish I had given birth to a daughter with such thoughtful cotton-padded jackets.

However, even if you want to stuff Shikamaru back and rebuild it now, it probably won't be possible.

"Shikamaru."

"Um?"

"Do you want a sister?"

Shikaku's expression became very serious and serious.

"?"

Shikamaru looked at his father Shikaku with a surprised look on his face, wondering where the other man's answer was wrong.

"No, I want a younger brother more than a younger sister."

Shikamaru began to think seriously.

Having one woman in the family is already troublesome enough, but if another one comes along, he will have to consider moving out and living alone.

"Really? Then just give birth to two younger sisters, and then I'll ask you to take care of them alone."
To be continued...