It's Cold, Put on Your Hokage Cloak

"You are forbidden from going to the Akimichi Clan after school!" Hyuga Hiashi scolded Hyuga Hinata.

Unlike the desolate atmosphere of the Senju Clan, the heart of the Hyuga Clan was brightly lit and bustling with people, yet the entire estate was permeated by a stern and oppressive air.

Hyuga Hinata knelt on the ground, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.

She had expected to be scolded upon returning from dinner at the Akimichi Clan; Hinata had prepared herself for this.

But as she faced the reprimand, she couldn't help but wonder: if it were Akimichi Denji, how would he handle a situation like this?

She recalled that afternoon, the figure who had descended from the sky to save her while she knelt on the ground.

If it were Akimichi Denji, he would surely have the courage to defy his father.

She shook her head—no, if it were Akimichi Denji, he would never have provoked his father's anger in the first place.

Hyuga Hiashi lectured, "As the eldest princess of the Hyuga main house, your every action outside reflects the face of the Hyuga Clan."

"There is suspicion that Akimichi Denji does not possess the Akimichi bloodline. For the past month, there have even been voices in the village suspecting him to be a spy from the Land of Rain. You must not associate with him further."

"Denji is not a spy!" Hyuga Hinata blurted out in rebuttal, stunned by her own outburst the moment the words left her lips.

Hyuga Hiashi was also taken aback, seemingly not expecting this daughter, who had always been timid and submissive, to talk back to him.

With a look of impatience, he raged, "You dare to talk back! Do you have any idea? We are a prestigious family of the Hyuga; we cannot allow any stains on our reputation. How will outsiders view us if you associate with someone suspected of being a spy? You will reflect on your behavior properly."

"From now on, Tokun will pick you up and drop you off at school. Outside of school and our clan grounds, you are forbidden from going anywhere!"

He flicked his sleeves, stood up, issued the grounding order, and departed in a fit of anger.

Hyuga Hinata clenched her fists, her face flushed, and crystal-clear tears began to fall drop by drop. In the end, she could only choke out, "He... he is not a spy."

Night had fallen deep when Akimichi Denji walked out of the Senju Clan.

Akimichi Choza approached him; he seemed to have been waiting there the whole time, refusing to leave. The evening dew had gathered on his hair.

Akimichi Choza asked expectantly, "How did it go? Can Lady Tsunade resolve it?"

Akimichi Denji shook his head and said, "My constitution is special. Lady Tsunade found the cause, but she cannot resolve it."

Akimichi Choza wore a look of regret, but it vanished in an instant as he began to comfort him, "It's fine. It's just the inability to practice the Multi-Size Technique. With your talent for ninjutsu, you can become a powerful ninja even without it."

"Don't be discouraged; you have your old man here to support you."

Akimichi Choza had already made up his mind to go to the Hokage to trade for forbidden Yang Release techniques for Denji to study.

Watching Akimichi Choza force away his regret to comfort him, a complex emotion flickered in Akimichi Denji's eyes.

His father in his previous life seemed to be just like this...

He shook his head and said, "Although I cannot practice the Multi-Size Technique, Lady Tsunade gave me another secret technique. Its effects are quite similar to the Multi-Size Technique."

Akimichi Choza's expression went blank as a guess surged into his mind without a second thought.

Tsunade was famous for this; while the principles differed, it was a ninjutsu that also multiplied one's strength, known as Strength of a Hundred. He was naturally aware of this signature technique that was renowned throughout the ninja world.

But what truly concerned him was not the effect of the technique, but the significance behind Akimichi Denji learning it.

It was common knowledge that famous ninjas had their own signature techniques, and these were never taught lightly.

There was only one exception to this rule, and that was...

Akimichi Choza asked cautiously, "Were you...?"

Akimichi Denji nodded, "Lady Tsunade has taken me as her apprentice."

Akimichi Choza's breathing suddenly became rapid, and his face flushed red.

He could not deny that when he begged the Hokage to ask Lady Tsunade to examine Akimichi Denji, he had harbored a sliver of such hope.

To make it in Konoha, one needed not only strength but also a background.

Akimichi Denji had escaped back from the Land of Rain, and though Akimichi Choza had claimed him as his son and done his best to clear obstacles within the clan, rumors were hard to stop and the ignorant masses were hard to manage. There were still whispers within the Akimichi Clan that "Denji is a spy," let alone in the village.

But Tsunade—the eldest princess of the Senju Clan, the Third Hokage's apprentice, the granddaughter of the First and Second Hokage and the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and the reformer of the medical ninja system—if she were his backer, who would dare to wag their tongues?

According to his plan, this matter would never be simple.

The correct strategy should have been to start with the medical examination to build rapport and deepen their connection. Then, he would use his connections within the Akimichi Clan to visit the Senju often, using the Yang Release secret technique as a bridge to keep communicating with Tsunade. Following that, Akimichi Denji would provide funds to help Tsunade pay off her gambling debts, and finally, on a bright and sunny afternoon, Tsunade would be moved by Denji's character and talent and decide to take him as her apprentice.

How could he have succeeded in the "strategy" just by going for a medical checkup?!

The result that Akimichi Choza had plotted for so long was now stated so nonchalantly by Akimichi Denji; he could only assume the child had just returned from the Land of Rain, was naive, and was just joking.

Akimichi Choza felt as if he were in a dream and pinched himself. Well, his fat was too thick; he couldn't feel a thing.

Akimichi Denji added indifferently, "And I have already mastered the Strength of a Hundred."

Akimichi Choza opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he was left speechless.

The progress of events had far exceeded his expectations.

In an instant, a bold idea rushed into Akimichi Choza's mind, taking root and sprouting like wild grass.

But he forcefully held it back.

After the two bid farewell to Tsunade, left the ancient Senju estate, and returned to the heart of the Akimichi Clan.

Akimichi Choza opened his mouth, asking in a low voice, "What do you think of Lady Tsunade's strength?"

Akimichi Denji recalled for a moment and replied, "It's huge."

"Do you have confidence in becoming Lady Tsunade's apprentice?"

"What do you mean?" Akimichi Denji cast a look of confusion; are you doubting my ability to drive a big rig?

"With your Scorch Release and talent, would you be under pressure to become Lady Tsunade's disciple?" Akimichi Choza probed cautiously.

Thinking of Tsunade eventually succeeding as the Fifth Hokage, Akimichi Denji said offhandedly, "Not at all, I am the man who is going to become Hokage."

Children truly speak without restraint, spouting such wild arrogance.

Yet, the more he thought about it, the more Akimichi Choza felt it was actually possible.

Denji's talent and Kekkei Genkai, Lady Tsunade's status, the alliance of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans...

The weather is getting cold; it is time to embroider a Hokage Cloak for Akimichi Denji.

"Ding! Completed Akimichi Choza's wish [My Son Has the Bearing of a Hokage], Wish Point +1."

The apprenticeship ceremony for Tsunade was held the following day.

In the original story, most master-disciple relationships were established through the officially assigned squad system. Such relationships were relatively superficial, as they were merely institutional arrangements where neither the squad leader nor the genin had a choice, simply obeying the Hokage's orders.

The master-disciple relationship between Denji and Tsunade was different; this kind of one-on-one apprenticeship was far more profound.