Title: "A Five-Year-Old's Wisdom"
Scene: Konohagakure
The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the Hokage's residence as Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat on the engawa, listening to his wife, Biwako, vent her frustrations.
"You're always buried in paperwork or meetings," Biwako huffed, arms crossed. "When was the last time we had a proper family dinner? Even Asuma complains that you're never around!"
Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his temples. "Biwako, you know the village comes first. There are threats brewing, alliances to maintain—"
"And what about us?" she shot back. "You're the Hokage, yes, but you're also a husband and a father!"
Nearby, a small civilian girl named Mya sat cross-legged in the grass, staring up at the sky with an oddly contemplative expression. She had been quiet the whole time, seemingly lost in her own world—until she suddenly spoke.
"Some people are like a bag of diapers… self-absorbed and full of shit."
Silence.
Biwako's mouth fell open. Hiruzen's pipe nearly slipped from his fingers.
The little girl blinked, then turned to them with the innocent curiosity only a five-year-old could muster. "What? It's true."
Hiruzen coughed, face turning red—whether from shock or suppressed laughter, it was hard to tell. "M-Mya, where did you hear that?"
"My uncle says it all the time," she replied matter-of-factly. "Especially when the landlord comes by."
Biwako, recovering first, pressed a hand to her mouth—though whether to scold or stifle a giggle was unclear. "That's… not a very nice thing to say, Mya."
Mya shrugged. "But it fits." She pointed at Hiruzen. "You work too much. That's what my mom says when my dad stays late at the shop."
Hiruzen opened his mouth, then closed it. He glanced at Biwako, who now had an unmistakable smirk tugging at her lips.
"Well," the Hokage muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "I suppose even a five-year-old can see the truth."
Biwako finally let out a laugh. "Out of the mouths of babes, Hiruzen. Maybe you should listen."
Mya, satisfied with her contribution, went back to watching the clouds—completely unaware that she had just schooled the God of Shinobi in work-life balance.