"Do you feel embarrassed?" Torikaze asked.
"A little, I guess."
Torikaze smiled. "That's just the most ordinary kind of praise. You'll receive much more praise in the future, so you'd better get used to it early. No matter what kind of praise you receive, don't blush or let your heart race."
After all these years as Hokage, Torikaze had become completely immune to it. When villagers praised him, he merely smiled, without any awkwardness, delight, or embarrassment.
But Minato was not there yet. He still felt ashamed when villagers praised him.
That was also related to his personality. Minato had been rather introverted since childhood and only gradually became more cheerful as he grew up.
Torikaze, on the other hand, had been exceptionally outgoing since childhood and got along well with all his classmates.
They walked while Torikaze taught them, and before long, he led the youths to the apartment district.
"These apartment buildings are separated by gender. There's enough room for all of you."
"Wow! So this is an apartment? It's my first time seeing one."
Kirigakure had no such buildings, so they found them quite novel.
It was similar to the situation in the Land of Whirlpools. Under normal circumstances, none of them ever left the Land of Water.
Transportation was simply too inconvenient. Rather than spending that time traveling, they might as well have fun at home.
Naturally, their horizons were somewhat limited.
"Everyone, you can go in and settle into your rooms. And don't forget to attend class as usual tomorrow."
"Understood, Lord Torikaze!"
With that, the boys and girls went off to find rooms of their own.
Torikaze stood outside the apartments and watched for a while. "There are a few promising seedlings among these children."
What Torikaze valued was not merely artistic talent, but