Aren't You Making Things Difficult for an Old Comrade in His Forties?

After leaving Hashirama, the two ravenous youngsters decided to feast.

The same familiar Barbecue Shop, the same familiar twenty-odd plates of meat—Torikaze and Chisato had returned to where the dream began.

Ever since eating here with Torikaze last time, Chisato had fallen in love with the place.

Not because the food was especially delicious, but because after eating, Lord Hokage had taken her to train!

Still, she had Torikaze to thank more than anyone. If not for him, Chisato did not think her talent alone would have earned her Lord Hokage's personal instruction.

Naturally, Torikaze was treating her to this meal as well. Chisato was starting to feel like she might as well stop worrying about it.

Anyway, she could never repay all the favors she owed Torikaze, so she might as well owe him a few more. After all, the more debts you had, the less they weighed on you.

But in truth, Chisato simply did not know where Torikaze needed help.

He did not lack money, ninjutsu, or teachers. He lacked nothing at all.

That left Chisato with no idea where to start in repaying his favors. She could only take things one step at a time.

It was worth mentioning that Uchiha Kyo's sentence had already been handed down.

For deliberately using ninjutsu within the village in an attempt to severely injure or kill a fellow village ninja, he had been sentenced to life imprisonment.

However, because he had taken a Forbidden Pill and his life force was rapidly draining away, Kyo's grandfather gave Torikaze a large sum of compensation.

After obtaining Torikaze's forgiveness, he was taken back to the Uchiha Compound for treatment.

If he was cured, he would have to continue serving his sentence. If not, he would be cremated.

Torikaze honestly did not feel much about Uchiha Kyo.

Although that brat had truly developed killing intent in the end, his strength was nowhere near enough to matter.

Torikaze did not have the time to spare attention on such a minor character.

Since they were willing to settle privately with money, he might as well do them a favor. He had not been injured, so there was no need to turn down money.

Besides, now that he had a master backing him, anyone who wanted to make a move against him would first have to consider whether they had the strength for it.

And according to Chisato, the Forbidden Pill Uchiha Kyo had taken seemed to be one passed down through their clan.

Who knew where that brat had stolen it from? He had swallowed it without even reading the instructions.

Fortunately, they had discovered it early. There was a good chance he could be saved, as long as his lost life force was replenished.

There were plenty of medicinal herbs for that.

But it had also badly damaged his foundation. He probably would not be able to have children anymore.

Torikaze did not care about that in the slightest. The two chatted as they ate, and before long, all twenty plates of meat had been cleared.

"Torikaze, thank you for the meal again!" Chisato said happily.

"It was nothing. As long as you're happy."

After paying, the two left the Barbecue Shop amid the owner's almost deranged smile and his cry of, "Come again next time!"

As they were about to part ways, Chisato said to Torikaze, "Torikaze, don't forget our promise for tonight, okay?"

Torikaze helplessly rubbed his forehead. He had thought the little girl would forget about it after receiving Lord Hokage's guidance.

He had not expected her to still be thinking about it.

"Alright, alright. I'll definitely be there tonight."

Chisato smiled in satisfaction, then skipped off toward home.

Torikaze stretched as well, preparing to head home for a nap. The morning's training had exhausted him.

Lord Hokage truly lived up to his name. His training was incredibly strict.

While some rejoiced, others worried. Torikaze was sleeping soundly at home.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi was anxiously pacing around like a headless fly.

"Hiruzen, stop pacing around. You're giving your father a headache!"

Sarutobi Sasuke watched his son wander back and forth before him ever since returning from Lord Hokage's place.

No matter how he asked what had happened, Hiruzen would not say!

All he could do was leave this old comrade in his forties to guess wildly!

Had he offended Lord Hokage? Tried to incite rebellion and been caught red-handed?

The old man had considered every possible worst-case scenario.

As a result, Sarutobi Sasuke grew more and more panicked.

Only after hearing his father's words did Hiruzen gradually stop.

But judging from his expression, he was still terribly anxious.

"Hiruzen, tell your father. What happened?"

As soon as he said that, Sarutobi Sasuke steeled himself.

If his little Monkey had truly committed some outrageously treasonous act like he feared, then he would immediately go beg forgiveness!

"Old man, Lord Hokage gave us a question today, but I can't figure it out."

Hiruzen looked deeply troubled, while Sasuke secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

So it was just this tiny little thing! I was so scared I was about to put righteousness before family!

Still, he put on the demeanor of a wise man who had seen through all the trials of the world and tasted every flavor of life. "Foolish child, tell your father about it."

Seeing the old man, who normally behaved improperly and loved peeping at the women's bathhouse, suddenly put on the air of some reclusive master, Hiruzen's mouth twitched.

But no matter what, his old man had more life experience than he did. Maybe he really had a solution!

"Lord Hokage told us to find our own Will of Fire."

His eyes immediately filled with anticipation as he looked at his reclusive-master father with worshipful admiration.

Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's intensely expectant gaze, Sarutobi Sasuke merely turned sideways, extended one palm toward Hiruzen, and gently shook his head.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was overjoyed. "Old man! You mean I should bravely tell Lord Hokage no?"

"Not at all, not at all." Sarutobi Sasuke shook his head, wearing the expression of someone faced with unteachable wood.

"What your father means is, politely decline. Ask someone more capable instead."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly spat out blood and collapsed to the floor in despair. "If you don't know, then just say you don't know! Why put on that act?!"

Sarutobi Sasuke chuckled and scratched his head. The few hairs he had left looked even more precarious after his abuse, like a dying candle flickering in the wind.

"Wasn't I making you look good when you told others? You've got a reclusive-master father!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to his feet. He had not expected the old man at home to be the real problem.

He staggered out of the room.

Watching his son's departing figure, Sarutobi Sasuke let out a soft sigh.

While the aura of a reclusive-master father had not yet faded, he murmured, "Foolish child, foolish child. No one else can interfere with this question. You must rely on yourself."

A breeze swept across his head. At that moment, Sasuke felt as though his most precious possession had already left him.

He reached up to touch the top of his head, but could no longer feel a single strand of hair. A tear quietly slid down from the corner of his eye.

This was probably the bitterness of middle age.

Such things were not happening only in the Sarutobi Clan. The others were also confused about their own Will of Fire.

The children did not understand Lord Hokage's intentions, but their elders understood more or less.

So none of them helped, allowing the children to find the answer themselves.

Chisato and Torikaze were still young, and they had only just become Hashirama's disciples.

Thus, they had not had much contact with Hashirama's Will of Fire.

But that had instead become a good thing. Both of them had active minds.

Perhaps they would be better able to understand what their own Will of Fire truly was.