Thinking this far, Danzo's lips curled into a swollen, triumphant sneer.
In the Sarutobi household, heat raged through Kaede's body—his consciousness slipped away.
Biwako clutched her youngest son's hand, anxiety twisting her face as she snapped at the Third Hokage, Hiruzen. "Don't call Tsunade? The child's been delirious for three days! And you're still smoking. Is your heart made of stone? Do you feel nothing?"
Hiruzen's brow furrowed. "Tsunade is on a classified mission and hasn't returned. And I'm smoking two pipes because I'm furious he's not shaping up. Kaede, you fool—one misstep and you fall into the lake? Disgraceful!"
"What did you say? Say that again!"
Hiruzen waved her off. "Stop panicking. You can see it yourself—he's sturdy as an ox. And isn't there finally a silver lining? His chakra capacity surged four or five times—he simply couldn't bear the strain."
"Which matters more—your son's life, or his chakra?" Biwako's chest heaved; Hiruzen's coldness had finally pushed the gentle mother into a roar. "Since he was little, Kaede has cried for your recognition. His biggest dream is to inherit the title of Hokage. And when you saw he wasn't naturally gifted, you turned indifferent or harsh—if he can't succeed, let him 'die trying,' is that it? All you think about is chakra and power!"
Truthfully, Biwako had endured Hiruzen's methods for years. As a mother she couldn't always interfere, but the friction over child-rearing never stopped. This time his detachment snapped her restraint. She bellowed like a cornered lion. "Thanks to you—Hokage—he is your own son, isn't he? Even obsessions should have a limit. Is power really all that matters?"
"I haven't wronged him!"
"Kaede respects you. For your approval he pushes himself to lunacy—why else would he fall into a lake?" Tears burst from Biwako's eyes. "Or do you actually believe those rumors? Do you not even know that Kaede is your son?"
"What are you saying? How could you suspect such a thing? Don't speak nonsense!"
"I know you. Your eyes hold only power, the Hokage's seat, and your own reputation! If you can't be a good father, how can you be a good Hokage?"
Hiruzen jolted as if his tail had been stepped on. Facing his raging wife, he blurted, "These are just faction tricks. I can see through them—I've dealt with them for years!"
He forced a placating tone. "I'm not 'bad' to Kaede. I'm tempering him—so he can one day inherit the Will of Fire. The slow bird must take off early. Don't you want to see him soar?"
"Don't dress it up. He's not even six and hasn't started school. What does he understand? Yet you press him this hard?"
"He's five and a half—some kids are already in their second year. He has to shadow Kakashi daily; I'm worried he'll fall behind."
Biwako pointed straight at him. "There's no one else here. Who are you, really? Can't you see it yourself? Heartless. Cold-blooded. Biased. You're no different from Danzo."
Hiruzen drew breath to retort—then a knock sounded outside. Biwako swept a hand, suppressing the quarrel like snuffing a candle.
Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Enter."
Shikaku pushed the door open, clearly uncomfortable.
"Isn't today your twentieth birthday?" Hiruzen rasped. "I approved leave. Why are you here—what's the matter?"
"Lord Hokage, a report just came in. A Kumo raiding party moved against Kushina. Senior Hatake has already led a pursuit. The Tech Department has analyzed the scene—there's nothing unusual at the lakebed."
Hiruzen's heart thumped. So, you came to watch me squirm? Did you not hear me being chewed out just now? Mentioning the lake, he hooked Shikaku with a look. "Out. We'll talk outside."
Biwako didn't turn; she only stared at her son on the bed, pain etched deep.
At that moment, Kaede stirred. For some reason—maybe the soul hadn't fully fused—his eyelids felt glued shut, but his mind rolled like a storm tide.
Did I… transmigrate?
Am I Kaede?
Is this tied to that "priority recruitment"?
Well—at least I'm not in Guy's body. Or the shark-face.
The face aside, who wants to be a great white shark?
(End of Chapter)
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