Hyuga Shinichi patted Namikaze Minato on the shoulder and encouraged him.
"But Minato, if you want to become Hokage, you'll have to work hard. Your big brother supports you! My little brother Minato has what it takes to be Hokage!"
Then he looked at Nawaki, raised an eyebrow, and said with a grin,
"Nawaki, don't be a sore loser. Minato's talent and strength really are impressive—they're even better than mine. And if you want to beat me, you'll have to try a lot harder. Hahahaha!"
"Damn it, Shinichi! Just you wait! I'm going to ask my teacher, Orochimaru, to train me as soon as I get back! I'll beat you next time for sure!"
Seeing this, Hizashi Hyuga laughed along.
"All right, all right. You're all outstanding. No one can predict the future. Maybe one day both of you will become Hokage."
Hyuga Hiashi spoke up then.
"We've been soaking for a while. Hizashi, it's time to head back. We're supposed to study how to manage the clan tonight."
"Yeah, it has been a while. We should get going. Shinichi, remember to visit the clan when you have time. Those kids keep clamoring to see their big brother Shinichi."
"Sure, I'll come by. See you later, Hiashi and Hizashi."
"See you." x2
Hyuga Shinichi watched the two of them leave and couldn't help feeling wistful.
He remembered the days when he used to play with Hiashi and Hizashi as a child. They'd all been so carefree back then, without so many responsibilities and pressures.
Now the two brothers were already ten years old, and it was time for them to learn how to manage the clan. Each of them had to shoulder the future of the Hyuga Clan.
Hyuga Shinichi leaned back against the edge of the hot spring, a strange melancholy welling up inside him. He called over a male attendant and asked him to bring a bottle of white liquor.
But since Hyuga Shinichi was underage, he wasn't allowed to drink. The attendant could only smile apologetically and hand him a bottle of milk instead.
Hyuga Shinichi wasn't disappointed or angry that he hadn't gotten sake.
He hadn't drunk alcohol in his previous life, either. In fact, he didn't care what he drank. He just wanted something to ease the melancholy in his heart.
Hyuga Shinichi twisted off the cap and downed the entire bottle of milk without hesitation.
Gulp, gulp~
"Ha! Ah, life! Is this what growing up feels like?"
Just as Hyuga Shinichi was getting emotional, Nawaki said, exasperated,
"Hey, Shinichi, what are you moping about? You're only seven. What do you know?"
"Ah, Nawaki, you wouldn't understand even if I explained it. Once you're my age, you'll get it."
"Huh?! I'm two years older than you! What, am I going to get younger or something?"
Listening to Hyuga Shinichi and Nawaki talk, Namikaze Minato smiled helplessly. The big brother he'd chosen really did love fooling around.
After a while, the male attendant knocked and came in. He crouched beside Hyuga Shinichi and said,
"Sir, your two elders have soaked long enough. They're planning to leave soon, so they asked me to check how you're doing."
"Oh, sorry for the trouble. We have been soaking for a while. Nawaki, Minato, do you want to keep going?"
"Let's go. We've been in here too long. I'm starting to feel dizzy. Right, Minato? Hm? Where's Minato?"
Nawaki and Hyuga Shinichi, who was feeling a little dizzy himself, looked at each other.
"Holy crap! Minato!" x2
Hyuga Shinichi and Nawaki hurriedly fished Namikaze Minato, who had passed out and sunk beneath the water, out of the pool. Luckily, he hadn't swallowed any water; he'd only fainted from the heat.
Namikaze Minato woke up a little while later. He opened his eyes and saw Hyuga Shinichi and Nawaki looking worried.
"Big brother Shinichi, big brother Nawaki, what's wrong?"
"Phew, you really are something. If you couldn't take it, you should've said so. You passed out in there."
"Haha, I didn't want to spoil your fun."
"Come on, we're family. You don't have to worry so much about us, okay?"
"Okay, big brother Shinichi. I understand."
Once Namikaze Minato had recovered his strength, the three of them dried off, wrapped themselves in towels, and went to the changing room to put on the clean clothes they'd brought.
Namikaze Minato put on one of Hyuga Shinichi's old blue robes, from when he'd been smaller. It was a little loose on Minato, but comfortable to wear.
Most of Hyuga Shinichi's clothes were blue robes like this. He bought the fabric himself, drew a design, and told a tailor what style he wanted made.
(The author can't add illustrations at their current level, so the general look of the clothes is in the comments.)
After getting dressed and collecting their things, the three of them went to the lobby, where they found Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade sitting on chairs and waiting for them.
When they learned that the three had taken so long because Namikaze Minato had fainted in the hot spring, delaying them a bit, Uzumaki Mito scolded Hyuga Shinichi and Nawaki.
"You're both older brothers. How could you not notice Minato had passed out..."
The two stood at attention and accepted Uzumaki Mito's criticism.
Not wanting their brothers to get scolded any longer, Namikaze Minato stepped forward and interrupted Uzumaki Mito.
"Grandma Mito, I'm fine. It was my fault for not telling big brother Shinichi and big brother Nawaki in time."
"Hmph. If Minato hadn't spoken up for you, I wouldn't have let you off. Don't be so careless next time. Understood?"
"Yes, Grandma!" x2
After answering, the two eagerly stepped forward to help Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade carry their things.
Tsunade had been about to say a few words to them herself, but when she saw that, she swallowed them.
Actually, Tsunade hadn't behaved much better. She remembered how comfortable the bath had felt, and how she'd let herself go a little too much. Grandma had even lectured her about it.
She'd said girls should be more proper and reserved and act like ladies and all that. Honestly, Grandma could be so naggy! Why did people get so fond of lecturing others when they got older?
After carefully checking that they hadn't left anything behind, everyone waved goodbye to Shanxi, who had come out to see them off, and the family left the bathing house together.
Namikaze Minato naturally came along with us as we returned to the Senju Clan Compound.
By then, it was already late. Since the bathing house was also far from Namikaze Minato's home, they decided to let him spend the night at the Senju Clan Compound.
For the next several days, while Hyuga Shinichi was on leave, he took charge of guiding Namikaze Minato's training.
Of course, whenever Jiraiya had free time, he came by to offer some guidance too. After all, Jiraiya was Namikaze Minato's teacher. Hyuga Shinichi was only helping his little brother train in his capacity as an older brother.
As for Nawaki, he really had gone to ask Orochimaru for special training. No one had seen him in ages.
It was worth mentioning that ever since Namikaze Minato mastered the Shadow Clone Technique, he'd made the most of the clones' ability to return their memories and experience when they were dispelled. His training progress had skyrocketed as a result.
Thus, Namikaze Minato trained hard every day and grew stronger by the day. His rapid progress amazed both Hyuga Shinichi and Jiraiya.
Before you continue