A different approach

The next day, at the Ninja Academy.

Tobirama held Dave's hand as they slowly entered the classroom. After a long, candlelit heart-to-heart, father and son had finally opened up to each other and become a true family.

Bullshit. I'm only five, and you fucking made me stay up all night shooting the shit with you. Who the fuck could take that???

Tobirama had also decided to bring his son to school. After all, Dave was five now, and all he could do so far was mold chakra.

"This is our class's new student, my son, Senju Dave. Please welcome him." Tobirama and Dave looked at everyone, and everyone looked back at Dave. Yes, at Dave.

Tobirama's announcement stunned the class. Lord Tobirama's son? All thirty-eight students exclaimed in surprise. After all, Tobirama and Dave really did look alike.

Don't fucking compare our Dave to that Iron Pot-wearing, sideburn-sporting, cross-eyed idiot from Plants vs. Zombies who spouted gibberish.

In this life, Dave had white hair and red eyes, just like Tobirama. Unlike Tobirama, however, who radiated an icy arrogance from deep within, Dave often wore a smile as warm as spring sunshine.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Senju Dave. I'm five years old. I hate Iron Pot and talking cars. I like growing vegetables. As for my dream, I want a garden where I can grow plants, and zombies for me to fight," Senju Dave said by way of introduction.

Everyone listened in bewilderment. They still couldn't wrap their heads around it. Their Teacher was the First Hokage's younger brother, right? Wasn't he still unmarried? How had he suddenly acquired a son their age???

"All right, sit next to Hiruzen." Tobirama only showed that gentle side of himself when he was facing his son. At any other time, he was ice-cold, even toward his own older brother.

"Okay." Duy fought down his excitement and walked in the direction Tobirama pointed. Of course he knew Hiruzen. The old Third Hokage! Grandmaster of the Pervert Sect! A powerful backer!!!

"Hello, my name is Senju Dave." "Hello, my name is Hiruzen Sarutobi." After introducing themselves, the two sat down to listen to the lesson.

It had to be said that lectures were boring, whether in his previous life or this one. Dave nearly fell asleep. If the man teaching up front hadn't been his newly acquired father, he would already have been getting hot and bothered with a certain "Teacher" in his dreams.

The morning passed.

"All right, that's it for this morning's lesson," Tobirama said coldly, closing his book.

"Afternoon classes are canceled. I have something to take care of. Classes will resume as usual tomorrow." Having said that, Tobirama stood motionless on the teaching platform, his eyes fixed on his son.

Meanwhile, Tobirama felt a little puzzled. Something was wrong. The atmosphere at dismissal was off today. Usually, once he dismissed the class, the moment he took a step, those brats would start howling like lunatics. Why were they so quiet today?

The students: Bullshit, we only go wild because you're leaving. Why the fuck are you standing there without moving today???

Tobirama was waiting for his son.... After all, he was this class's Teacher, and his son was also his student. Why should he wait outside like the other parents?

Duy blushed under Tobirama's "gentle" gaze. It wasn't just his father staring at him, either. His classmates were looking too.

Unable to take it anymore, Dave stood up and said goodbye to Hiruzen before walking over to Tobirama. Tobirama nodded in satisfaction, took his son's hand, and happily led him out of the classroom.

That's more like it. Hearing the wild shouting from inside the classroom, Tobirama finally felt that things were back to normal.

Today was destined to be anything but peaceful.

The Uchiha Clan.

"Father, I'm home."

"Oh, Kagami, you're back. Did anything interesting happen at school today?"

"Yes. We have a new student in our class. He's our Teacher's son."

"Tobirama's son????..." "Whatever the case, Kagami, you must get along with that boy. Understand?"

"Yes, Father."

The Nara Clan.

"Father, I'm home." "Ah... what a drag. What do you want to eat?"

"Anything is fine. Oh, right, we have a new student in our class. He's our Teacher's son."

"Lord Tobirama's son??? Ah... what a drag. Whatever the case, Shikayama, you must get along with him."

"Ugh... what a drag. Got it." "You little brat."

When the children in the class returned home, they all told their families about Dave. Without exception, they received the same instruction: get along with him...

It left them all feeling helpless.

At the Senju residence.

"Hello, Aunt Mito~ Hello, Uncle Hashirama~" Dave bowed to the two people before him and greeted them respectfully. Inside, he was bursting with excitement. Two powerful backers!!

"Oh~ You must be Tobirama's son. Mm~ You really do look like him." Seeing the white-haired Dave being so respectful, Mito's maternal affection overflowed. She cupped his face in both hands and smiled as she spoke.

"Honestly, that brat Tobirama. Never mind him. Duy, your father has something to do this afternoon. You'll train with me today," Hashirama said helplessly from beside her.

Of course he knew where Tobirama had gone, but he wasn't going to interfere. If he had been in Tobirama's shoes, he might have thrown a Great Buddha straight at them. Hashirama might have looked goofy and carefree, but you shouldn't mistake him for an actual fool or a pushover. If he got worked up, he might just—

Clap his hands together, shout a name, and make it happen.

"Come on, Dave." Hashirama took Dave's hand and led him toward the training ground behind the residence.

"Duy, yesterday I noticed that your Wood Release seemed a little different from mine," Hashirama said, looking at him.

"Uncle Hashirama, I can summon four kinds of plants, but I have this feeling that the more chakra I have inside me, the more plants I'll be able to summon," Dave said with a puzzled expression. He had already worked out what to say.

"Oh? Summon them and let me take a look," Hashirama said, feeling a little bewildered himself.

But Hashirama soon accepted it. After all, the two of them were the only people in the entire Shinobi World who could use Wood Release. Duy might well have been taking a different approach from his own.