A New Chapter

Tejima Shinichi's breath caught!

Something strange!?

He was only taking on a disciple... There was no need to agree to anything strange, right?

"Yes, Shinichi," Mori Chie said with a frown. "This is too sudden. Did you know about this beforehand? Why have you never mentioned it?"

Their concerns were not unfounded.

As ninjas who had lived in Konoha for many years, they understood better than ordinary villagers the political implications behind the status of a Hokage's Disciple.

Mori Chie had once been an elite who had reached the threshold of Jonin through her own efforts, while Teshima Kazuto had long witnessed the undercurrents of changing power at the hospital.

The Third Hokage, nearing seventy, had suddenly decided to take on a disciple at this time... They were afraid Tejima Shinichi would not be able to bear it!

Faced with his parents' string of questions, Tejima Shinichi bent down to change into slippers and said helplessly, "It was officially confirmed at the Hokage's Office today. You don't need to worry so much. There are no other requirements."

Tejima Shinichi casually shut the door and turned to face his parents' worried gazes.

"As for why the Hokage values me..."

He raised his right hand, palm up.

Under the stunned gazes of the couple, a tender emerald shoot slowly emerged from his palm, unfurling into a fresh wooden branch.

Mori Chie's pupils suddenly contracted as she clamped a hand over her mouth. Teshima Kazuto staggered several steps back, knocking over the chair behind him.

"Th-this is..."

Mori Chie's voice trembled. As a descendant of the Senju, she understood better than anyone what that flash of green meant.

Tejima Shinichi withdrew his Wood Release. "Now you understand."

Mori Chie was too excited to speak, tears welling in her eyes. Teshima Kazuto opened his mouth, then finally sighed.

"So that's how it is... No wonder..."

At that moment, every question had an answer.

Why Shinichi's Chakra was so unimaginably vast.

Why the Third Hokage had made such an exceptional decision and taken on another disciple at nearly seventy.

Everything was because of that legendary power—Wood Release!

The great power with which the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had pacified an age of chaos had actually awakened within their son!

"So, can you stop worrying now? What the Hokage values is this power, and the... potential it represents. He needs to ensure that this power grows under the light and is used for Konoha. And I need his resources and protection."

He paused, then continued.

"This is a transaction, and also an investment. We each get what we need. Nothing more."

Mori Chie looked into her son's amber eyes, her heart filled with countless emotions.

Teshima Kazuto suddenly reached out and gently took Mori Chie's trembling hand.

Mori Chie froze and turned to look at her husband.

Their eyes met, and Mori Chie understood what her husband meant—her son had grown up. He had his own secrets and a path he had to face alone.

There were some things they should no longer pursue to the bottom, nor should they worry too much over them.

Mori Chie squeezed her husband's hand in return and nodded.

When she turned back to Tejima Shinichi, the excitement and worry on her face had faded, replaced by her usual gentleness.

"That's good," she said softly. "As long as you know what you're doing, that's enough."

Teshima Kazuto also released his wife's hand and vigorously rubbed his face. Then he broke into a broad, carefree grin, as though the man who had been so shocked he knocked over a chair had not been him.

"Exactly! My son is this amazing, so what's there to worry about?" He waved a large hand, trying to dispel the last trace of heaviness in the air. "From now on, I'll be able to strut around the hospital!"

Mori Chie smiled helplessly at his words and shook her head.

Then, as if she had suddenly remembered something, she cried out.

"Oh! My dishes! I got so caught up talking that I forgot there's soup simmering in the pot!"

She immediately turned and hurried toward the kitchen, a little flustered, yet instantly pulling the focus of life back to her everyday world of meals and household routines.

Teshima Kazuto watched his wife's back and chuckled twice. Then he slung an arm around Tejima Shinichi's shoulders and gave him a firm pat.

"All right, all right, it's fine now! Go wash your hands and get ready to eat! Your mom really went all out today!"

Pushed along by his father, Tejima Shinichi lowered his lashes, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

From the kitchen came the clatter of spatula against pot, along with Mori Chie's mildly reproachful muttering.

In the living room, Teshima Kazuto had already begun loudly recounting how the hospital learned today that Tejima Shinichi had become a Hokage's Disciple.

Meanwhile, at the Nara Residence.

Shikamaru pushed open the front door and called out as usual, "I'm home."

At the entryway, his mother, Nara Yoshino, saw him return and waved the spatula in her hand as she urged, "Shikamaru, you're a little late today!"

Shikamaru's little face immediately fell. What he feared most was his mother's seemingly concerned but actually strict questioning.

As he bent down to change his shoes, he dragged out his explanation listlessly.

"Sigh—today was a little unusual... Teacher Asuma gave us special training. He said it was to prepare for the... Chunin Exam, so we finished a bit later than usual."

After changing his shoes, he dragged his feet into the house and quietly added, "Seriously, what a pain..."

Nara Yoshino shook her head helplessly at the sight of her son and nagged out of habit, "Even if it's special training, you still need to watch the time... All right, all right, go wash your hands. Your father is waiting for you."

At that moment, his father, Nara Shikaku, strolled out from the inner Japanese-style room and said, "Oh, you're back? Good timing. The food isn't ready yet, so how about you play a game of shogi with me?"

Shikamaru paused, instantly understanding his father's intention.

A troublesome expression immediately appeared on his face. He scratched his hair and dragged out his words.

"Ah—? ...I'm tired after training..."

Even so, he obediently headed toward the Japanese-style room.

Nara Yoshino smiled at her son's back and continued with her work.

Inside the Japanese-style room, the shogi board had already been set up, and two cups of tea steamed gently.

Shikamaru sat opposite his father, picked up a piece, and continued muttering under his breath, "Today was really exhausting. Teacher Asuma was like he'd been provoked by something..."

Nara Shikaku acted as if he had not heard his son's complaints. He placed a piece and got straight to the point. "You should know about the news in the village today. What do you think of Tejima Shinichi? I want to hear your assessment as someone from the same class."

Shikamaru stared at the board, a piece held between his fingers, but did not place it immediately.

After all, conversation was the real purpose of today's game.

He pondered for a moment, organizing his thoughts before slowly speaking.

"Tejima Shinichi... First, and most importantly—calmness. An extraordinary degree of calmness. Since the day he enrolled, I've never seen him panic over anything. Whether in assessments or actual combat, he always looks completely at ease. It's like everything is within his expectations and control."

Nara Shikaku nodded slightly, signaling for him to continue.

"Second... he's powerful. Not just ordinarily powerful, but overwhelmingly powerful."

Shikamaru was deeply impressed when speaking of this.

"Uchiha Sasuke is talented enough, right? But he's never beaten him even once, and the gap is very obvious. Perfect scores in theory, and in actual combat... I even suspect he's never used his full strength in an assessment. Genius is no longer enough to describe him... He's practically a monster!"