Night slowly descended.
The sky darkened like velvet, and stars shimmered faintly across the heavens, turning the world above into a glimmering celestial city.
Hoshino Kaede lay sprawled in his yard, gasping for breath as he stared at the clean, endless sky.
He had spent the entire day pushing his body to its limits, forcing himself to adapt to the crushing training weights. His stamina was long gone — the only thing keeping him moving was sheer willpower.
Still, the results were promising. By the end of the day, his body had begun to adjust.
Looking at his sweat-soaked clothes, Kaede managed a tired smile.
This might have been the first time he'd ever felt this way — his muscles ached with pain, yet inside, he felt deeply satisfied.
He closed his eyes, quietly enjoying the gentle evening breeze brushing against his face.
And just like that… the night passed in silence.
---
The next morning, Kaede was wearing a strained smile, desperately trying to appease his furious mother.
"Mother dearest, your son knows his mistake. Please, don't be angry…"
"I was just too tired last night. I fell asleep the moment I lay down!"
Sakura shot him a sharp glare that could have frozen a fireball in midair. Kaede stiffened instantly, his back going cold.
"You still have the nerve to say that? If I hadn't gone to check on you, you'd have caught a cold by now!"
"And if that made you miss your appointment with the Hokage, how would you even explain yourself?"
Sakura scolded furiously, poking him on the forehead over and over again.
Kaede wanted to defend himself, but one look at his mother's expression and the urge evaporated.
He obediently stood there as she lectured him — a pitiful sight that made Yota, his father, nearly burst out laughing. His face was turning red from trying to hold it in.
Finally, Sakura huffed, checking the time.
"Fine, I'll let you off for now. But we'll talk about this when you get back. Hurry up and eat — don't keep Lord Hokage waiting."
Her words were sharp, but her tone softened as she waved him toward the table.
Kaede could only sigh inwardly.
This family… obsessed with the Hokage to the bone. Truly, like father, like mother.
With a helpless expression, he shoveled down his food at lightning speed. After finishing, he changed clothes, tightened his training weights, and stood by the door.
"I'm heading out!" he called, waving to his parents before setting off toward the Hokage Building.
---
Even on the way, Kaede didn't idle. His fingers moved constantly, forming hand seals over and over.
To perform a jutsu, one needed to master the twelve basic hand seals — each one representing a zodiac sign.
It looked simple, but in reality, it required immense precision and coordination. Fortunately, his fingers were still small and flexible, making it easier for him to train.
When he was three years old and couldn't yet mold chakra, he had started practicing just the seals to improve his speed.
After two years of persistence, the results were clear.
He could now complete two seals per second, a pace considered average among trained shinobi.
For a five-year-old, that was already remarkable.
After a few more rounds of practice, Kaede picked up his pace — until the sound of gossip reached his ears.
"Hey, did you hear? The Hokage's taken on a student!"
"I already knew that! And apparently, it's a kid."
"Well, duh. You think the Hokage's gonna teach some grown man?"
"I just want to know who it is… Imagine being chosen by the God of Shinobi himself!"
The closer Kaede got to the Hokage Building, the louder the chatter became. His scalp tingled.
Seriously? It's only been a day!
He sighed inwardly, his expression darkening.
This had Tobirama written all over it.
No proof, but his gut told him everything. Who else could it be? His father didn't like bragging, and Hashirama certainly wouldn't spread it.
So, the only possible culprit — the mastermind behind this chaos — had to be Tobirama Senju.
Kaede groaned in frustration. He could already imagine the whispers: every action he took from now on would be seen as the Hokage's disciple's behavior.
Damn it, Tobirama!
You set me up!
Trying to keep a low profile, he tiptoed toward the entrance — but fate clearly enjoyed toying with him.
There, standing by the door with his arms folded, was Tobirama Senju, as if waiting specifically for him.
Their eyes met.
Tobirama's lips curved slightly.
"You're here. Big Brother is waiting for you in his office."
That one calm sentence turned Kaede's face pale.
Without even glancing at the onlookers, he bolted straight for the stairs.
The crowd blinked — and then the realization hit.
Someone personally escorted by Tobirama Senju?
There was only one possible answer.
The Hokage's student itself.
Many of the nearby shinobi, especially those from smaller clans, looked as if they'd just missed the chance of a lifetime.
That boy — that unassuming child — had just been revealed as the Hokage's chosen successor.
And they hadn't even tried to talk to him!
Now that the opportunity was gone, regret hit them like a kunai to the chest.
---
Kaede, meanwhile, couldn't care less about the chaos behind him. He sprinted through the corridors like a man escaping a natural disaster, muttering curses under his breath.
He did it on purpose. I know he did.
By the time he reached the Hokage's office, he was panting, but the fury in his heart hadn't cooled.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and pushed open the door.
Inside, Hashirama Senju, wearing his Hokage hat, turned to see his sulking apprentice — and immediately burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha!!"
"Teacher…" Kaede grumbled, puffing his cheeks in protest.
Hashirama coughed twice, trying and failing to contain his amusement.
"Sorry, sorry. I couldn't help it."
With his sensory ability, of course he knew exactly what his brother had done.
"Alright, enough teasing. Let's head to the training grounds. I want to see your current level."
Eager to change the subject, Hashirama weaved a quick seal. A puff of smoke appeared, and an identical Shadow Clone materialized beside him.
"I'll have my clone accompany you for now. I have some matters to attend to."
Though Hashirama was the Hokage in name, much of Konoha's administration fell to Tobirama. Still, that didn't mean the role was easy.
After five years of peace, tensions were resurfacing — old grudges between clans, disputes over land and policy.
Hashirama and Tobirama were preparing for a full assembly, where every clan would attend.
If handled poorly, the fragile unity they had built could crumble.
Hashirama rubbed his temples at the thought. "This isn't what I wanted Konoha to become…" he murmured.
Then, as Kaede turned to leave, he suddenly added,
"Oh, by the way — you received Tobirama's gift, didn't you?"
Kaede blinked, then nodded. "Yes, I did."
"How is it? Difficult?"
"Well…" Kaede grinned mysteriously. "Hehe, I think you'll be surprised, Teacher."
Hashirama raised an eyebrow, amused by the boy's confidence.
Don't tell me… he's already trying to learn it?
He didn't ask further. Instead, he chuckled softly and turned back to his paperwork.
Kaede followed the clone out of the office and down the hall.
Their destination — a private training field, hidden deep within the Hokage's compound.