The early morning sun cast long, golden beams through the wooden pillars of the Hokage’s courtyard, where the village was slowly stirring to life.

Birds called softly in the trees, their songs weaving through the crisp air, but within the walls of the Hokage’s residence, a tension was beginning to ripple.

You stood beside Hashirama Senju, calm and attentive as always.

As his advisor, your role was to guide and support the First Hokage, to help manage the weight of leadership that pressed down on his broad shoulders.

His presence was commanding—strong and steady like the roots of an ancient tree—yet you knew even he could be tested by the chaos of the village below.

Today, that chaos arrived sooner than expected.

A man pushed through the gates of the courtyard, his gait hurried and eyes wild with anger. His voice shattered the peaceful morning, cutting sharply through the quiet like a blade.

“You! What have you done for us?!” he shouted, stopping mere steps away from Hashirama. His tone was harsh, disrespectful — laden with bitterness and accusation.

Hashirama’s expression remained composed, his dark eyes meeting the man’s with an unyielding calm. His voice, when he finally spoke, was low and measured. “What troubles you, citizen?”

But the man did not relent.

His shouting grew louder, words tumbling out in a torrent of frustration and blame. He demanded answers, berated the village’s leadership, questioned the Hokage’s decisions.

The crowd that had begun to gather murmured uneasily, some glancing toward you and Hashirama with concern.

You moved slightly closer, positioning yourself as a silent shield beside the Hokage.

The man’s disrespect was blatant, but you knew that confrontations like this required restraint and tact, not force. Your eyes flicked to Hashirama, searching for any sign that he wished to respond differently.

Instead, Hashirama raised a hand to still the man’s yelling, his voice firm yet calm. “Your grievances are heard. We govern with the village’s well-being in mind. But your anger will not change the path forward.”

The man’s face twisted with fury, but his voice faltered under Hashirama’s unwavering gaze.

The weight of leadership was clear in that moment—not as domination, but as steady strength tempered with patience.