"Cough, cough—Big Brother, try to maintain your image a little," Tobirama muttered, rubbing his temple in exasperation.
"Oh—right, right." Hashirama straightened his back immediately, trying to look dignified again. The attempt, however, only made the scene funnier.
Hoshino Yota had to turn away to hide his grin.
Hashirama didn't mind in the slightest. He put on a serious face, crouched down in front of Hoshino Kaede, and asked gently but expectantly:
"Little one, would you like to become my student?"
Kaede didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat. He dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
"Student Hoshino Kaede greets his teacher!"
The answer Hashirama had hoped for filled his face with pure delight. His broad smile radiated warmth.
"Good! From today onward, you are my student—" He paused briefly, then added solemnly,
"—and my only student."
His tone carried no room for doubt—firm, commanding, and resolute. The overwhelming force in his voice left everyone silent. Even Tobirama, who thought the declaration a bit impulsive, found no words to refute it.
When Hashirama was serious, no one could stop him. Not even his younger brother.
Hashirama reached out and gently ruffled Kaede's hair. "Come to my office tomorrow. I'll begin your training personally."
Kaede nodded obediently, then took his father's hand and followed him out of the Hokage's office.
---
Once they stepped outside, Yota let out a long sigh of relief.
"Dad, you really need to toughen up," Kaede teased, glancing up at him with a smirk.
"You brat, what was that?!" Yota's face darkened instantly. "That was the Hokage you were talking to—the Hokage!"
"Yeah, I know," Kaede replied nonchalantly.
"My teacher."
That did it. Yota's patience snapped. He promptly gave his son a "lesson in respect," making sure Kaede understood exactly what proper discipline is supposed to be.
Afterward, Yota felt much better—indeed, happiness often did come at someone else's expense.
Meanwhile, Kaede rubbed the new bump on his head and silently vowed vengeance. A gentleman's revenge can wait twenty years…
As he plotted, a strange chill ran down Yota's spine, a faint premonition of something unpleasant. He glanced around but saw nothing and shrugged it off.
Then he turned serious, placing a hand on Kaede's shoulder.
"Remember—listen to the Hokage. Don't cause him any trouble."
He hesitated, then added in a lower tone, "And… it's best not to get too close to Lord Tobirama. Hah, who am I kidding—you probably won't be able to avoid him anyway."
"Even though Lord Hashirama is Hokage in name," Yota continued quietly, "it's Tobirama who really runs the village. Every move within Konoha happens under his eyes."
At the mention of Tobirama, Yota's brow furrowed again.
He'd suspected earlier that the silent watcher in the Hokage's office had been Tobirama's doing—and he wasn't wrong.
Seeing his father's troubled expression, Kaede couldn't help but feel a mix of respect and amusement. Dad really has sharp instincts.
Tobirama Senju—the future Second Hokage—was indeed a man of iron will. Setting aside his power, among all Hokage across history, he was unmatched in intellect and efficiency.
Politically and militarily, he was a genius. Under his leadership, Konoha developed rapidly, establishing its organizational structure and administrative departments. He was, without a doubt, both an exceptional strategist and statesman.
Kaede mentally reviewed everything he knew about Tobirama, admiration welling up within him.
In those early, unstable years, anyone who could stabilize the entire shinobi world through sheer decisiveness was worthy of respect.
"Dad, do you… dislike Lord Tobirama?" Kaede asked at last, tilting his head, genuinely puzzled.
From everything he'd heard, Tobirama seemed like a near-perfect leader—so why did his father sound wary?
Yota smiled bitterly. Of course he understood what Kaede was asking. After a long pause, he chose his words carefully.
"No… Lord Tobirama's contributions to Konoha are undeniable. Every major decision in the village runs through him."
"Then why—" Kaede started.
Yota stopped walking. He turned to look back at the Hokage Tower, sighing softly.
"Maybe it's because it's hard to understand a man like him," he said quietly.
Then he smiled, ruffling Kaede's hair again. "Anyway, that's not something you need to worry about. Focus on your training tomorrow. It won't be easy."
Kaede pouted. "You never explain anything properly. So annoying…"
He knew pressing for answers would be useless, so he gave up and stretched his arms lazily. "Fine, fine. I'll be ready."
Then his eyes gleamed mischievously. "Speaking of which—Dad, hand it over."
"Hand what over? I don't have any money," Yota said instantly. "Ask your mother."
Kaede grinned. "Oh really? Because if you don't, I might accidentally tell Mom where you've been hiding your 'emergency funds.' You know… in the—"
Before he could finish, a sudden gust swept past him. Yota's hand clamped over his mouth like lightning. Kaede's muffled "mmph!" noises filled the air.
"Shhh! Fine, you win. Here, take it."
In the eternal conflict between pride and survival, Yota chose the latter. Still, one thought nagged at him: How the hell did he find out where I hid that money?
Kaede pocketed the cash with a triumphant smirk and bolted off down the street. Once he was a safe distance away, he turned and flashed his father a devilish grin.
"!!"
"You little brat! You scammed me!"
Realization hit Yota too late. He stomped the ground in frustration but could only sigh in the end.
Watching Kaede hop down the street with childish joy, he muttered helplessly, "This kid's still too green to outsmart his old man."
---
Unaware of his father's muttering, Kaede happily strolled through Konoha's busy streets, buying everything that caught his eye.
"This one! And this one—and that too!"
"Hehehe, all my favorites!"
Within minutes, his hands were full of snacks, and his mouth was already smeared with oil.
After Konoha's founding, thanks to Tobirama's strategic planning, the village's economy had grown rapidly. Merchants from all across the nations had sensed opportunity and flocked to set up shops.
In no time, a bustling commercial district had formed.
Though the goods were simple and the selection small, it was far better than having nothing at all.
Kaede, at least, was thrilled—life felt good.
Of course, he'd have been even happier if trouble didn't find him so easily.
With so many people in the streets, order had to be maintained. The village council, under Hashirama's direction, had decided that each clan would temporarily assign people to keep the peace until a formal police system could be organized.
On paper, it worked fine.
But, as always, there were those who thought themselves above others—arrogant young shinobi from the great clans who liked to bully civilians to show off their "superiority."
And unfortunately for Kaede, he was about to run into one of them.