The year he had fled the Land of Whirlpools, he had only been in his twenties. Now, when he returned to the Land of Whirlpools again, he was already seventy years old.
Although the place he returned to was not truly his own home, it still stirred an intensely powerful feeling in him.
Tomohiro poked at the fire with an iron hook, and the flames burned even brighter, making the room warmer too.
The roaring fire in the stove reflected in Tomohiro's eyes, and the flames in his heart burned higher and higher as well, impossible to put out.
The Land of Whirlpools had always been a scar over his heart, a disaster that had truly fallen from the sky.
All because the Uzumaki Clan excelled at sealing techniques, and because their bodies contained immense life force.
Because of that alone, his clansmen had been slaughtered without restraint, and their homeland destroyed.
Every time he recalled that day filled with the flames of war, the old man's heart would ache faintly.
Tomohiro rubbed his eyes, set the iron hook aside, and simply sat beside the fireplace like that.
Only when the fire gradually weakened did he rise and leave.
Early the next morning, Minato went to the morning market and bought a plentiful breakfast. When he had just returned to the clan grounds, he found that everyone was already awake.
Tomohiro also pushed open his door and came out.
"Clan Head Tomohiro, come eat with us. We brought a portion for you."
Warmth filled Tomohiro's heart when he heard that. "Thank you, Hokage Minato."
He had only known Minato for a single day, yet the other man had even bought him breakfast.
However, if anyone could hear Tomohiro's thoughts, they would definitely laugh at him for overthinking things a little.