Aren't you making it difficult for a comrade in his forties?

After leaving Hashirama, the two famished individuals chose to go have a big meal.

Still the familiar barbecue restaurant, still the familiar twenty-plus plates of meat, Torikaze and Chirori had returned to the place where their dreams began.

Ever since she last ate at this restaurant with Torikaze, Chirori had fallen in love with the place.

It wasn't because of how delicious the food was, but because after finishing their meal, they would be taken by the Hokage to train!

But more than that, she had to thank Torikaze; if it weren't for him, Chirori didn't believe her talent would have been enough to have the Hokage personally instruct her.

Naturally, Torikaze was the one treating them to this meal again, and Chirori felt a bit like she was just giving up and letting things be regarding their current situation.

Anyway, the favors she owed Torikaze were already impossible to pay back, so she might as well owe a few more; after all, one doesn't feel the weight of debt when there's too much of it.

But in truth, Chirori didn't know where Torikaze might need help.

He wasn't lacking money, ninjutsu, or teachers; he wasn't lacking anything at all.

This left Chirori with no way to start repaying the favors, so she could only take things one step at a time.

It is worth mentioning that the verdict for Kyō Uchiha had already been handed down.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment for intentionally using ninjutsu in the village in an attempt to severely injure or kill a fellow ninja.

However, because he had consumed a forbidden drug that caused his vitality to drain away rapidly, and because Kyō's grandfather had provided Torikaze with a large sum of compensation, he was brought back to the Uchiha compound for treatment after receiving Torikaze's forgiveness.

If he recovered, he would have to continue serving his sentence; if he didn't, he would be cremated.

Torikaze actually didn't have any real feelings about this Kyō Uchiha.

Although that kid had truly developed killing intent at the end, his strength was simply not worth looking at.

Torikaze didn't have the time to be distracted by such a minor character.

Since the other party was paying to settle the matter privately, he might as well give them some face; he hadn't been injured, so there was no need to hold a grudge against money.

What's more, now that he had a master as his backing, anyone wanting to make a move against him would have to weigh whether they had the strength to do so first.

And according to what Chirori said, the forbidden drug Kyō Uchiha took seemed to be one passed down within their clan.

He didn't know where that kid had stolen it from, but he had eaten it without even reading the instructions.

Fortunately, it was discovered early, and there was a high probability he could be saved, provided his lost vitality was replenished.

There were plenty of medicinal herbs for this purpose.

However, it had severely damaged his foundation, and he would likely be unable to have children.

Regarding this, Torikaze expressed that he didn't care, and as the two chatted while eating, the twenty plates of meat were soon completely devoured.

"Torikaze, thank you again for the treat!" Chirori said in high spirits.

"It's nothing, as long as you're happy."

After paying the bill, the two left the barbecue restaurant amidst the owner's almost perverted smile and his shouts of "Come back again next time!"

As they were about to part ways, Chirori said to Torikaze, "Torikaze, don't you dare forget our promise for tonight!"

Torikaze helplessly clutched his forehead; he had thought that since the little girl was now being taught by the Hokage, she would have forgotten about this.

He hadn't expected her to still be thinking about it.

"Alright, alright, alright, I will definitely be there tonight."

Upon hearing this, Chirori revealed a satisfied smile and skipped off in the direction of her home.

Torikaze also stretched his back, preparing to go home and get some sleep; the morning's training had been absolutely exhausting.

As expected of the Hokage, the training was nothing short of rigorous.

Some are happy while others are worried; Kumonaka Torikaze was sleeping soundly and resting at home.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi was rushing around like a headless chicken.

"Hiruzen, stop pacing back and forth, you're giving your father a headache!"

Sasuke Sarutobi watched his son pace around in front of him ever since he returned from the Hokage's office.

He wouldn't even say what had happened when asked!

It left this forty-year-old veteran with no choice but to guess wildly!

Had he offended the Hokage? Had he been caught red-handed attempting to incite a rebellion?

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

So much so that Sasuke Sarutobi felt increasingly panicked.

Hearing his father's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally slowed to a stop.

However, judging by his expression, he was still extremely anxious.

"Hiruzen, tell your father, what happened?"

Once these words were spoken, Sasuke Sarutobi had also steeled his resolve.

If his little Monkey had truly committed some heinous act as he feared, he would go and beg for mercy immediately!

"Old man, Lord Hokage gave us a problem today that I just can't wrap my head around."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked utterly frustrated, while Sasuke Sarutobi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

So that's all it was? he thought. He scared the hell out of me—I almost thought I'd have to disown my own son for the sake of justice!

Still, he put on the air of a sage who had seen through the vicissitudes of the world and tasted the full spectrum of life: "Foolish child, tell your father about it."

Seeing the old man who usually spent his days doing nothing but peeking into the women's bathhouse suddenly put on such an otherworldly, enlightened facade, Hiruzen couldn't help but twitch his lips.

But regardless, his father's experience was certainly greater than his own; perhaps he would have a solution!

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

He then looked at his "otherworldly" father with eyes full of anticipation and a look of pure worship.

Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's expectant gaze, Sasuke Sarutobi simply turned to the side, pushed his palm toward Hiruzen, and shook his head gently.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was overjoyed at the sight: "Old man! Do you mean I should bravely say no to Lord Hokage?"

"No, no, no." Sasuke Sarutobi shook his head, looking as if he were dealing with a piece of rotten wood that could not be carved.

"What your father means is: politely decline, and ask someone else for their brilliant advice."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spat out a mouthful of metaphorical blood, collapsing to the floor in despair: "If you don't know, just say you don't know! Why put on such a show!"

Sasuke Sarutobi chuckled and scratched his head, the few remaining strands of hair swaying precariously in the wind like a flickering candle.

"Isn't it so you can have some face when you go out? You have an otherworldly father!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to his feet, realizing that the old man in his house was the true menace.

He stumbled out of the room.

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

While the "otherworldly sage" persona still held, he muttered: "Foolish child, foolish child. This is a problem no one else can interfere with; you must rely on yourself."

A breeze blew over his head, and at that moment, Sasuke felt as if his most precious possession had finally left him for good.

He reached up to touch his scalp, but could no longer feel a single strand of hair, and a tear of sorrow couldn't help but slide from the corner of his eye.

This was perhaps the bitterness of middle age.

Such things were not happening only in the Sarutobi household; the others were also feeling lost regarding their own Will of Fire.

The children did not understand Lord Hokage's intentions, but the elders understood at least a little bit.

Therefore, none of them offered help, letting the children search for the answers themselves.

Uchiha Chirori and Torifu were still young, and having just been taken on as disciples by Hashirama, they hadn't had much exposure to Hashirama's Will of Fire.

But this actually turned out to be a good thing, as both of them had active, inquisitive minds.

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