He Wanted to Believe, but He Did Not

There were several possible routes from the vast forest where Konoha would one day stand to the Senju Clan Grounds in the northeast.

They could head east along the forest's edge and then north, or go north first and then turn east.

This time, however, Yanbai did not immediately head toward the Clan Grounds.

Yanbai was not as carefree as Hashirama Senju.

Although Yanbai believed he had covered every possibility, he still had to make the necessary preparations.

Yanbai had never underestimated the members of the Senju Clan.

Given the momentum of the original plot, even though Yanbai had done his best to keep Tobirama Senju and Butsuma Senju from learning about the bond between Hashirama and Madara, something might still slip through the cracks.

Even if Hashirama had escaped his original fate of falling under suspicion and being forced to break with his closest friend.

That fate might very well have simply been transferred to Yanbai.

So before returning, Yanbai had to make the necessary preparations.

Yanbai ventured deep into the forest again, searching for wild animals that did not "know" him and lacked spiritual awareness.

Even in the Senju Clan's chicken coop, only two of the eighty chickens could communicate with Yanbai. He could still eat the others without any qualms.

He silently hunted down a wild boar.

Yanbai forcefully dragged the boar's carcass to a spot not far from the river and instructed the small animals to quickly dig a smokeless stove.

Using simple ninjutsu, Yanbai sliced up the boar's meat and organs, shared some with the omnivorous and carnivorous animals, and roasted the rest.

By the time the food was ready, dusk had fallen.

The rich aroma of roasted meat spread through the nighttime forest.

A nightingale-like song rang out in the dark woods. Yanbai sang the eerie song "Girl, Why Are You Tiptoeing?" in Japanese, and the wild birds and insects fell silent.

The entire forest listened to the song.

That eerie singing was like a wide-ranging genjutsu, drawing everyone who heard it to seek its source.

"I said: Clown, clown, can you take off your mask and let me see?"

"He said: I... I can't take it off..."

"I asked: Why?"

"He answered: Because I've worn the mask for too long, and it's stuck to my face. Taking it off would tear away a layer of skin. There'd be blood everywhere... Looking at the world the same way as before, only to discover that both the world and I have changed..."

"Why do they have to kill each other? Doesn't it wear them out? Can't they stop killing? But... this is the world of adults..."

Yanbai ate his roasted meat, sounding as though he were telling a story to the little animals gathered around him, yet also as though he were talking to himself.

Suddenly, Yanbai said, "This song tells the story of a little girl slowly becoming a hypocritical adult. Wouldn't you agree, Father?"

Butsuma Senju gradually emerged from the shadows behind Yanbai. Arms folded, he stared solemnly at Yanbai's small back.

Beside Butsuma Senju were Tobirama Senju and Hashirama Senju, both dressed in casual clothes.

Hashirama Senju looked grave, a faint trace of worry flickering in his eyes.

In fact, Hashirama Senju had headed home first as Yanbai instructed, and sure enough, he had encountered Tobirama Senju along the way.

When Tobirama saw Hashirama Senju returning alone, he actually asked the questions Yanbai had predicted.

Hashirama Senju then understood that their father, Butsuma, really did suspect them.

The conversation that followed only confirmed Yanbai's guesses.

Hashirama Senju privately rejoiced that he had rehearsed it all with Yanbai beforehand.

Unfortunately, Hashirama Senju had been far too "eloquent" that day, arousing Tobirama Senju's suspicions. Tobirama Senju had therefore asked their father to come with him to find Yanbai in person.

In the dark forest, Yanbai faced the campfire with his back to Butsuma Senju. Firelight shone before him, and all manner of wild animals surrounded him.

Yanbai did not turn around, but all the little animals beside him did. They silently stared at the father and his two sons who had suddenly appeared.

At the boundary between night and day, the animals' eyes had already taken on the colors of night.

They glimmered in the darkness like countless sinister beasts, watching Butsuma Senju and his sons with predatory intensity.

After a long while, Butsuma Senju finally lowered his eyes and said, "Have you been going out with Hashirama all this time because you dislike the food at the Clan Grounds?"

Butsuma Senju had noticed that the aroma of food in the air made both children beside him swallow.

As a shinobi, how could he be seduced by his appetite?

As a clan leader, how could he let such external things control him?

But...

As a father, how could he bear to watch his children suffer?

Yanbai slowly looked back. "Yes, Father. You can tell, can't you? The clan's food isn't as good as what I make myself."

Butsuma Senju silently walked toward Yanbai.

The little animals beside Yanbai bared their teeth at Butsuma Senju in warning, then scattered, continuing to watch him warily from a short distance away.

Butsuma Senju sat down beside Yanbai without ceremony, picked up some roasted meat, and began eating.

Yanbai gave his unabashed father an odd glance, then turned and said, "Hashirama, Tobirama, come eat. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go home..."

Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju hurried over as well, earning hostile stares from the nearby animals.

Butsuma Senju ignored the stir around him. Lowering his eyes, he said, "Why does it have to be Hashirama who brings you out?"

"Because I hate Tobirama's habit of lecturing me," Yanbai said naturally. "I bully Hashirama, but he still dotes on me. He never lectures me and always saves the good things for me."

"Ahahaha..." Hashirama Senju scratched his head foolishly.

Tobirama Senju gave his older brother a displeased look and said coldly, "Hashirama, do you think he's praising you?"

Hashirama Senju's smile froze.

The tension eased a little.

Butsuma Senju continued in the same tone, "Wanting good food certainly makes a very good excuse."

Yanbai ignored Butsuma Senju's use of the word "excuse" and instead asked with a smile, "Father, is it good?"

Butsuma Senju's expression remained unchanged. "Very good. Extremely convincing."

"You still don't believe me, Father." Yanbai sighed.

"Should I?" Butsuma Senju asked quietly.

"Shouldn't you?" Yanbai raised an eyebrow at Butsuma Senju. "What's wrong with a father trusting his own child?"

Hashirama Senju, who had been eating his roasted meat with his head lowered, tensed again.

Yanbai really was brave. He was the youngest of the brothers, yet this was already his second time talking back to their father.

Tobirama Senju looked extremely serious. Despite the delicious roasted meat before him, he had no appetite at all.

Everyone present, unless they were a fool, knew exactly what Yanbai and Butsuma Senju were talking about.

After a long while, Butsuma Senju folded his arms and said mildly, "An innocent child wants good food, and a hypocritical adult needs an excuse. You've satisfied every condition, haven't you?"

As he spoke, Butsuma Senju looked with a complicated expression at the child before him, whom he had once abandoned, yet who had shown him miracles time and again. "As long as you don't disappoint me..."

"I won't disappoint you, Father." Yanbai smiled.

However, Butsuma Senju added, "I'll have the clan set up a separate kitchen in the residence just for you. From now on, you can decide what you want to eat. But when other clan members ask you to treat them, try to be a little more accommodating."

Yanbai narrowed his eyes. "Very well, Father."

Was this to keep clan members who noticed the clues from gossiping?

What a good father you were... Butsuma...