"When you were little, you pestered me for candy. So many years have passed—you should be able to stand on your own now. It's time for us old-timers to step aside."
Hiruzen sighed. "It is time to step aside. My face may still look young, but my mindset has grown old. I'm starting to feel a little tired."
Torikaze glanced at Hiruzen. "Don't tell me you've had enough of living? That won't do. I've got plenty of fruit—keep eating them!"
Hearing that Torikaze would continue giving him Life Fruit, Hiruzen was genuinely delighted.
"I haven't had enough of living! I just don't want to work anymore. I want to lie flat, just like you!"
Torikaze laughed heartily. "You used to be the most driven one when we were young. You really are old now, thinking about lying flat."
"How did Asuma put it? Seventy is exactly the age to go out and make something of yourself. Why lie flat?"
Hiruzen had not expected Torikaze to use his son's words to tease him. "You, Torikaze! Having an obedient son is great, huh? Easy for you to say when you're not the one with a sore back."
"He's talented, strong, and obedient. He never gives you anything to worry about."
"As for my two boys... sigh..."
Hiruzen truly felt helpless. Although Shinnosuke was deeply dear to him and was an exceptionally sensible child,
it seemed Heaven simply did not want Hiruzen to have everything go perfectly. Shinnosuke's talent as a shinobi was not particularly outstanding.
He was decent, neither good nor bad. If he worked hard enough, reaching three-quarters of Hiruzen's strength was still possible.
But surpassing Hiruzen would be rather difficult.
As for Asuma, that brat had quite good talent. If he trained hard, he might well surpass him.
Yet he