You Come With Me, I'll Handle The Rest

"Oh?"

Torikaze was not exactly familiar with that name, but it was not entirely unknown to him either. Uchiha Setsuna was a thoroughgoing radical within the Uchiha Clan, an ardent admirer of Madara Uchiha. During the Second Hokage's administration, he had launched a rebellion and attempted to assassinate the Second Hokage, only to be sentenced to life imprisonment in the end.

Chiri became much more serious when she spoke of this matter, even slowing the frequency with which she picked up meat.

"He is Kyo's older brother. The two brothers were both indoctrinated by their grandfather and believe that only by following Madara Uchiha can the Uchiha Clan be revived."

"And that old man uses his status as an Elder to spread ideas of following Madara throughout the clan. But in truth, most people in the clan have grown sick of war and are quite satisfied with their current lives."

After hearing Chiri's explanation, Torikaze understood why he needed to be wary of Uchiha Setsuna. He had beaten up the man's younger brother and left him looking like that. There was no way an older brother would not come seeking revenge.

And since he was capable of launching a rebellion in the future, he was clearly not someone who could be reasoned with. He would definitely come looking to cause trouble.

"Alright, I'll be careful. Thanks, Chiri!"

Chiri smiled gently, said it was nothing, and continued eating.

"This is so delicious. We don't have food this good at home."

"The Akimichi Clan is a family with extremely high standards for food. Otherwise, the prices wouldn't be this expensive."

This meal had cost over a thousand ryo, enough for an ordinary family to live on for half a month. Chiri really could eat.

Just then, two Senju Clan ninja entered the Barbecue Shop. The moment they came in, they spotted Torikaze and walked over.

"Hello. You're Torikaze, right? We meet again."

Torikaze had wondered who it was, only to find that it was the guard uncle from the day he went to collect the will. If the man had not leaked him some information, Torikaze might still have been searching for that damned mastermind behind the plan!

"Ah, it's that uncle from before! Is something the matter? Want to have a bite?"

The Senju Ninja shook his head. "No. Lord Hokage wishes to see you. If you're done eating, come with us."

Upon hearing that, Torikaze had already roughly guessed why the Hokage had summoned him. The meat on the grill had also been finished, so he went to pay the Boss and prepared to follow the guard uncle to the Hokage Office.

Seeing that Lord Hokage had summoned Torikaze, Chiri assumed it must be important and said, "Since Lord Hokage has summoned you, Torikaze, I won't disturb you any longer. Thank you for treating me today."

"Come with me too. Haven't you admired Lord Hokage for a long time?"

At that, excitement filled Chiri's eyes. Her large, watery eyes fixed on the guard uncle. "Can I really?"

The guard uncle scratched his head, somewhat conflicted. "That's... hard for me to say. Lord Tobirama said that Lord Hokage only summoned Torikaze..."

Before Chiri could react, Torikaze said, "Just come with me. I'll handle the rest."

Chiri was not a coy girl. Since Torikaze had said so, there was no reason not to go. It was just that she would owe him another favor.

She had admired Lord Hokage for a long time and had always regarded him as her role model. But opportunities like this, to meet Lord Hokage face-to-face, were rare. She did not want to let it slip away.

The guard uncle did not object any further. Since Torikaze said he could handle it, he must have been confident. Continuing to refuse would only make things difficult for them and offend someone, and he had no intention of doing that.

With everything settled, the four of them left the Barbecue Shop and returned to the Hokage Tower. Along the way, Torikaze did not seem restrained at all, instead looking around casually.

Chiri, on the other hand, was about to meet her idol in person for the first time and seemed extremely nervous. She was afraid that some breach of etiquette on her part would leave Lord Hokage with a bad impression. In truth, she was overthinking it.

"You two may go in. Lord Hokage and Lord Tobirama are inside."

After saying that, the two Senju Ninja resumed their guard duty, while Torikaze and Chiri entered the Hokage Office.

"Haha, Torikaze is here. It's been a month since we last met, hasn't it?"

Hashirama laughed heartily, without the slightest air of a Hokage. He seemed more like a friendly uncle next door.

"Good afternoon, Lord Hokage, Lord Tobirama. This is my friend. She has admired Lord Hokage for a long time and has always regarded you as her idol."

Torikaze's words instantly turned Chiri's face as red as a tomato, and she even began to stammer.

"G-Good... good afternoon... to both... of you, my lords."

"Mm, Uchiha Chiri! I know you. You're Kagami's younger sister."

Chiri had thought that the Hokage did not know her, yet he had called her by name immediately. She felt utterly fulfilled.

"Torikaze, I called you here today mainly because there is something I want to ask you."

"Please speak, my lord."

"Are you willing to become my disciple?"

That question truly left Torikaze stunned. Wasn't the Second Hokage supposed to take him as a disciple? Why was it the First Hokage? If he remembered correctly, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others were all disciples of the Second Hokage, Tobirama, though the two brothers had taught them together.

Was he about to become Hashirama Senju's disciple directly? Wouldn't that make his generation absurdly high?

"Of course I am!" Torikaze shouted!

This was hilarious! An opportunity like this came only once in a lifetime! If he did not seize it, it would be too late for regrets! Becoming the Second Hokage's disciple would certainly be great too, but it was still a little inferior to becoming Hashirama's disciple. Just a tiny little bit—by a hundred million miles.

When Hashirama saw Torikaze agree, he immediately burst into delighted laughter. "Hahaha! Good! From this moment on, you are the disciple of Hashirama Senju!"

Torikaze gave a deep bow. "Master, please accept your disciple's bow."

Hashirama was moved, though on the surface he pretended not to care. "There is no need for such formality between master and disciple."

Upon hearing that, Torikaze straightened up and stood properly again. He had not been putting on an act; it was genuine respect from the bottom of his heart. Even if the Second Hokage had accepted him as a disciple, he would have done the same. This was simply respect for one's teacher.

Chiri was so shocked by the sight before her that she could not speak. She had assumed that Lord Hokage had summoned Torikaze to ask about today's Combat Training, but she never expected him to be taking Torikaze as his disciple!

Honestly, she was incredibly envious right now! But she was not jealous. At the academy, Torikaze ranked first in both theory and practice, and he was also the most popular person in the class. Someone so outstanding being accepted as Lord Hokage's disciple was nothing to be jealous of.

Hashirama looked at the little girl beside Torikaze, who had her head lowered. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Chiri, you are Kagami's younger sister and also a Genius of the Uchiha Clan. If you are willing, you may train under me. But whether you can become my disciple will depend on your performance."