Once Mamiko got talking with Windcloud Mountain, it was like opening the floodgates. There was no way they would finish in under half an hour.
Torikaze simply stayed nearby and watched the two of them chat, chiming in now and then.
But the old friends were talking about things from their younger days, leaving Torikaze completely unable to join in.
The two old friends missed each other so deeply that, as they talked, tears began to fall from both their eyes.
"We never forgot the wishes you and your wife entrusted to us regarding such an outstanding child."
"We had to make sure Torikaze grew up well and became a ninja who would be useful to the village in the future."
Mamiko liked bringing up topics that made Windcloud Mountain feel rather heavy-hearted.
His sacrifice had not been his wish, but having a friend willing to help care for his son—
That was certainly no simple matter.
"You and your wife left this world so young. You endured every hardship you should have endured, yet never enjoyed any of the blessings you should have had."
Windcloud Mountain sighed. "To protect the village, if it hadn't been me, someone else would have died instead. It was all the same."
"Big Brother Mountain, there was no helping it in those days. I worried every day that Zhongshan would leave and never come back. Those nerve-racking days truly terrified me."
Mamiko immediately turned to Torikaze. "Fortunately, Torikaze has been so capable. The two of us really didn't do much. Torikaze was like a little adult, exceptionally capable and full of his own ideas."
"Ever since Lord Hashirama took him as a disciple, Konoha has continued to undergo new changes. Life is now completely stable, and the Shinobi World is at peace as well."