Asuma Sarutobi's Confusion, the Second Hokage's Courage

"Kid, what exactly are you thinking? Why so quiet?"

Tobirama Senju crossed his arms, watching Seisui silently healing himself, and shook his head.

"Your talent is already astonishing enough. You're not thinking you can beat Hatake Sakumo at his peak at your age, are you?"

"A ninja of his level has abilities far beyond an ordinary jonin—he's already reached the height of a Kage..."

After Hatake Sakumo went all out against Seisui.

The terrifying slashing waves came one after another, and Sakumo himself moved like lightning, giving Seisui a pressure he'd never felt before.

Still.

Relying on the naturally high defense of Water Release, the dynamic vision of the Sharingan, and his Genjutsu abilities...

Though Seisui struggled to launch an active counterattack against Sakumo, he managed to defend himself relatively calmly, always keeping himself safe.

In Tobirama's eyes, for someone Seisui's age to achieve this was already remarkable.

But Seisui had stayed silent after the battle, looking like his resolve had been shattered, which annoyed Tobirama a bit.

"Tobirama, are you worried about me?" Seisui spoke slowly, a hint of weariness in his voice.

"...I suppose so. You're still Konoha's genius Youth. As the Second Hokage, it's normal for me to care."

Tobirama paused, his expression hesitant, but he said it anyway.

Seisui's face instantly shifted from gloom to amusement:

"Then don't worry, Tobirama. I was just thinking about what to eat for dinner tonight."

"I don't really care whether I can beat Hatake Sakumo. What I care about is whether he can hurt me."

"As it stands, I'm safe. As long as I have enough survivability to grow, I don't think anyone in the ninja world will be my match in the future..."

Tobirama's face darkened. Damn that wicked Uchiha Seisui—not only had he wasted his concern, but his arrogance was just like a typical Uchiha.

Still, in his heart, Tobirama had to admit Seisui's words weren't wrong.

Aside from ninja on the level of Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju, once this fusion of Uchiha Izuna and himself grew up, who could beat him?

What Tobirama didn't know yet was that the Madara he feared had also started dropping his "coins," just like him...

"Kid, you—"

"Seisui-kun, can I talk to you?"

Just as Tobirama was about to retort, Asuma Sarutobi emerged from the grass nearby, looking at Seisui with a complex expression and a pleading tone.

In his eyes were admiration, reverence, tension, confusion, and even a hint of longing...

While Seisui, Kakashi, and Sakumo were sparring, Asuma had been training in the adjacent field, practicing the Sarutobi Clan's Fire Release, using hard work to drown out his inner doubts.

But then he saw the next field burst into a sea of flames, and he was stunned.

So Asuma witnessed Kakashi being taken down in one shot by Seisui, and Seisui trading blows with Sakumo...

He couldn't believe it. A peer his age was calmly fending off Sakumo's attacks!

That was the White Fang of Konoha, the war hero who carved through Sunagakure with a single blade in the Second Shinobi World War!

What troubled Asuma even more was the Will of Fire, which Seisui excelled at.

Seisui's Will of Fire exam paper had been heavily promoted by the Ninja Academy.

"...When the leaves dance, the fire burns on..." had even been framed on the Academy's wall as a prominent slogan.

Asuma had long wanted to talk to Seisui, and today's shock gave him the courage to overcome his hesitation.

Even though they had no connection, he boldly approached.

"Asuma-kun, if you want to talk, sure..."

Seisui sized up Asuma, who looked like a rebellious Youth, and smiled warmly.

This one was a very unique existence in the Hokage lineage.

As the Third Hokage's son, and an only child after the Nine-Tails Incident, as long as no major chaos erupted, he was guaranteed at least a Konoha Councilor position for life, and with a bit of effort, a Hokage Assistant role.

But Asuma wasn't one to follow the rules.

After the Third Shinobi World War ended, he once acted on his own whims, left Konoha to wander, and even pondered questions like "What is the Jade?"

In a way, Asuma had once questioned the fundamental logic of the Will of Fire.

So he was a very interesting ninja who had tried to betray his own class.

"Where should we talk, Asuma-kun? Here, or somewhere quiet..."

Seisui gazed at the stunned Asuma and said softly.

"P-please, come with me, Seisui-kun! This isn't a good place to talk!"

Asuma was indeed stunned. He hadn't expected Seisui to agree so readily, and with such a gentle tone.

That was the pressure of strength.

In Asuma's mind, a peer with such power should be proud and arrogant. He'd been ready to beg Seisui, but never imagined it would be this smooth—Seisui had simply agreed to his request...

Asuma led Seisui through a series of twists and turns, arriving at a remote valley outside Konoha. Seeing Seisui's confused look, he scratched his head and explained awkwardly:

"This place... it's safer here, Seisui-kun."

"That old man uses ninjutsu to spy on people in the village. This is a blind spot I found, and it's also where I usually smoke, so it's safe. We can say whatever we want here..."

Seisui laughed inwardly. Was Asuma this filial?

He just gave away the Third Hokage's Telescope Technique like that, huh?

It seemed Hiruzen Sarutobi's family relations weren't exactly harmonious...

Tobirama Senju furrowed his brow. Seisui had already told him that Asuma Sarutobi was Hiruzen Sarutobi's youngest son.

So what was this about?

The Hokage's son came to find an Uchiha genius, dragged him to such a secluded corner, and spoke without a shred of respect for Hiruzen Sarutobi...

"This Monkey can't even figure out how to be a father?" Tobirama shook his head, looking like he was disappointed in someone who wouldn't improve.

"Come on, you don't even have a partner, so don't go criticizing how someone else raises kids..."

Seisui quietly defended Hiruzen Sarutobi, then gestured with his eyes for Asuma to start his questions.

Asuma took a deep breath and voiced the confusion in his heart: "Seisui-kun, can you tell me what the Will of Fire really is?"

"I know your Will of Fire score is high, but do you truly believe in it? And if you do, why choose to believe?"

"Please give me an answer, Seisui-kun!"