Two Families

Seeing that her son was unwilling to communicate with her, Hiruzen didn't know what to do in this situation. He could only watch helplessly as Asuma retreated into his room and refused to come out.

"Hmph, even as Hokage, there are things you can't accomplish."

Sarutobi Biwako, carrying dishes out from the kitchen, glanced at Hiruzen, who stood there at a loss, and snorted mockingly.

"Hahaha, there's nothing I can do. As Hokage, there are indeed some matters that are not up to me to decide. I'm sorry, Biwako." Hiruzen knew that for the sake of Konoha, he owed his family a great deal. He could only sincerely express his apologies to Biwako.

"What's the use of telling me? Go tell your son." Giving Hiruzen a glare, Biwako turned back to the kitchen to prepare the next dish.

"As my son, he will understand me one day." Looking at Biwako's retreating back, Hiruzen gave a self-deprecating smile. Instead of going to Asuma as his wife suggested, he turned back to the entrance and picked up his Hokage hat.

"I'm going back to handle some matters. I won't be back for dinner tonight." He shouted towards the kitchen. Without waiting for Biwako's reply, Hiruzen pushed open the door and left his home.

He had come home early this time to see if Asuma was injured and if this failure had put any pressure on him. Seeing him like this, he should be fine.

Relieved, Hiruzen's mind turned to the documents in his office, and he hurried away.

Shimura Residence.

"There are quite a few meat dishes today."

Looking at the dishes on the table, Kazashiro almost drooled without any regard for his image.

Roasted pork belly, braised meat platter, and a soup made from some unknown fish – it all looked very appetizing.

"As ninjas, our diet must be planned reasonably. We can't lack meat, nor can we be too greasy." Danzo lectured Kazashiro with a stern face.

"Yes, yes, yes, you're absolutely right. Let's eat quickly." Kazashiro, unable to wait any longer, grabbed his chopsticks and picked up a slice of roasted pork belly, placing it in Danzo's bowl.

Seeing Kazashiro's action, the corners of Danzo's tight lips loosened slightly.

"Hmph, just as I praised you, you pull this stunt. You don't look like a ninja at all." Although he said that, Danzo still ate the meat Kazashiro gave him with his rice.

Two years had passed since Kazashiro came to Konoha.

In these two years, Danzo had gradually grown accustomed to this life of bonds and had, more or less, come to understand the feelings of a father.

This kind of bloodline bond was far stronger than the loyalty obtained through Root's high-pressure tactics and brainwashing.

For the inherently suspicious Danzo, he would suspect the Uchiha of harboring ill intentions and his subordinates of betrayal, but he would never suspect his own son of plotting against him.

This was the power of blood.

Of course, if he had mind-reading abilities, he would surely discover that his seemingly filial son was thinking about how to inherit his fortune every day.

"How is your Ice Release training coming along? You didn't seem to use it during the exercise this time." Danzo was curious about Kazashiro's progress with Ice Release.

"It's going alright. I just felt there was no need to reveal this power in front of my classmates." Kazashiro extended his free left hand, gathering chakra in his palm, and a single ice senbon materialized.

"Hmph, you even know how to hold back." Danzo was somewhat disappointed. If his son could have displayed this Ice Release in front of everyone, he believed Kazashiro would have overshadowed that Kakashi.

The fact that Kazashiro possessed Ice Release had only been known to their circle of friends and had not been widely publicized.

In Danzo's opinion, if you wanted to inherit the Hokage position, you first needed a resounding nickname.

Just like Konoha's White Fang, the Sannin, or the Professor of Ninjutsu. With a nickname, the villagers would know you, and the Daimyo would be impressed.

However, since Kazashiro was unwilling to reveal it now, Danzo decided to let him have his way.

Danzo considered himself an understanding parent. As long as the general direction was correct, he would let Kazashiro make minor adjustments as he pleased.

After dinner, Kazashiro went to the courtyard as usual. Aburame Ryoma was already waiting there.

After two years of training, Kazashiro's sparring sessions with Ryoma had evolved from Ryoma standing still and beating Kazashiro to Ryoma moving while beating Kazashiro.

However, Kazashiro was very confident today. After all, he had defeated the Third Hokage's son. His strength might not be as outrageous as a Jonin's, but he should be more than enough for a Chunin, right?

He glanced somewhat guiltily at the whip in Yamanaka Zen's hand, then stretched his wrists and initiated the attack on Ryoma.

He threw a punch towards Ryoma's abdomen. Facing Kazashiro's fist, Ryoma merely sidestepped slightly and then reached out to grab Kazashiro's collar.

Feeling the strong wind approaching his nape, Kazashiro ducked, evading Ryoma's grab, and transformed his punch into an elbow strike, aiming for Ryoma's lower abdomen.

Ryoma, having missed his grab, didn't panic. He took two steps back to dodge the elbow strike and then launched a flying kick, intending to send Kazashiro flying.

Taking the kick head-on, Kazashiro spun in mid-air and, with the momentum, latched onto Ryoma's leg.

Startled by Kazashiro's agile maneuver, Ryoma froze. Seizing this moment, Kazashiro suddenly threw the ice senbon he had just created, aiming directly for Ryoma's face.

"Senbon, as a weapon, have the advantages of being nimble and easy to carry, but their attack surface is much smaller than kunai, and the damage they inflict is far less than kunai." Ryoma, having recovered, caught the senbon between his fingers, even having enough energy to explain to Kazashiro.

"But my senbon are endless, Teacher Ryoma." With a sly smile, Kazashiro created several more senbon and fiercely stabbed them into Ryoma's leg, which he was holding.

"Nani?!" Even someone like Ryoma, who had seen it all, was taken aback by Kazashiro's move.

He hurriedly kicked his right leg with all his might, trying to throw Kazashiro off.

"If you hit this pressure point, this leg will lose its mobility for a short period!" Kazashiro struck down according to the acupoint chart taught by Nonō, and as expected, Ryoma felt his leg go numb.

"Then I won't use this leg to fight!" Unable to shake off Kazashiro, Ryoma knelt on the ground, preparing to use his weight to suppress Kazashiro.

Realizing Ryoma's intention, Kazashiro quickly let go, finally breaking free just before Ryoma could kneel.

"Teacher Ryoma, please don't blame me for being underhanded. After all, you're a Jonin!" Rolling a few times on the ground, Kazashiro drew several shuriken from his ninja pouch and threw them towards Ryoma's position.

With one leg lost, how could you dodge such a widespread attack?

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"