Hokage Residence.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at the head of the table, while Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru sat below him.
Biwako bustled about. After knowing that Jiraiya and Tsunade had arrived, she rushed into the kitchen and quickly whipped up a few more good dishes.
Tender chicken, roast meat, meatballs, and refreshing side dishes to go with alcohol.
All were things she remembered the children loved to eat.
Asuma huffed and puffed as he carried over several jars of sake and placed them by the table.
Tsunade and Jiraiya both loved to drink. As soon as they arrived, they clamored that Team Hiruzen hadn't reunited for a long time and must have a good drink.
"Asuma, why apologize to me?" Seeing his youngest son being attentive yet dodging his gaze, Sarutobi Hiruzen teased.
He could roughly guess.
It was nothing more than complaining about him being old-fashioned or something similar.
After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen was originally a classic late Warring States era father. His attitude towards his son was basically "as long as he's fed and alive, it's fine." Heart-to-heart talks and casual chats were almost non-existent.
Because in his era, surviving was the best upbringing.
Old-style ninja family education was just like this.
"I said at school that you..." Asuma's face instantly turned red. He really didn't have the face to say it out loud, so he bowed abruptly: "Father, I'm sorry!"
"Probably something like 'rotten old man is really boring', right?" Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head with a chuckle: "You're not the first one to say such things..."
Asuma looked up in confusion, his gaze wandering to his older brother beside him.
Shinnosuke's face turned dark: "Brat, I have always respected Father!"
Asuma was confused. Then who else would say that?
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked meaningfully at his three disciples.
Jiraiya pretended to be mindless, looking around at the sky and whistling.
Tsunade rubbed her hands, laughing mischievously: "Oh my, wasn't that when I was young and ignorant back then! Teacher!"
Only Orochimaru sat steady on the fishing boat.
However, although he indeed hadn't cursed Sarutobi Hiruzen as a rotten old man, if things continued to develop as they had...
He probably would have cursed him, and not so affectionately.
Asuma couldn't help but complain: "Hehe, Big Sister Tsunade and Big Brother Jiraiya are really unconscionable. Father taught you so many ninjutsu, yet you badmouthed your own master behind his back!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes beautifully: "Hey hey, you stinky brat, the Old Man is still your dad!"
Jiraiya crossed his arms: "Teacher, I think this brat needs a beating!"
Orochimaru watched this scene silently.
He could actually empathize slightly with Asuma.
What this kid lacked was Sarutobi Hiruzen's recognition and care.
And so was he, perhaps even more so.
"Asuma, Dad spent too little time with you in the past..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen cleared his throat: "In the future, if there's anything at the Ninja Academy, or interesting anecdotes with your friends, you can share them with me."
Hearing this, Asuma's eyes lit up instantly, and he said excitedly: "Really!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.
"Dad, I won't join you for dinner. I'm on duty at the Anbu today..." Shinnosuke put on his mask and gave a thumbs up:
"I can't drag you down!"
After speaking, Shinnosuke turned and left decisively.
"It's okay, it's okay, I'll keep you company!" Asuma grinned and was about to get on the table.
But after Biwako served the last stew, she asked softly: "Husband, do you need to discuss matters?"
"Mn."
Sarutobi Hiruzen blinked: "Thank you for your trouble."
Biwako smiled slightly, understood immediately, grabbed the scruff of Asuma's neck—his destined weak spot—and led him away from the dining table.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was amused.
On the issue of sitting at the table to eat, the Sarutobi family was very traditional.
As for why Tsunade could sit at the table.
Because she wasn't just a woman; she was a capable Jōnin, Konoha's number one female medical ninja, Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciple, the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito, and the Princess of the Land of Fire...
Strength was key here.
"Eat first. Help yourselves, don't make me serve you..." Sarutobi Hiruzen pointed at Orochimaru: "You've lost weight again. Eat more meat to nourish yourself."
"I think he consumed too much chakra from being beaten by you, Teacher!" Jiraiya stuffed meat into his mouth vigorously, mumbling with ambiguous sarcasm while eating:
"Does he care about being fat or thin? Neither Yin nor Yang, maybe the smelly snake could even change that..."
Orochimaru's heart moved, but his face remained calm as he elegantly ate an egg: "An idiot really can't understand a genius. The toad should just eat his meal properly."
But he was actually somewhat surprised in his heart.
Was the idiot's intuition so accurate?
The 'Living Corpse Reincarnation' technique he was researching could indeed seize others' bodies, and he had truly fantasized in the dead of night...
If one day he parted ways with Konoha, he could try changing his gender; maybe it would be interesting.
But now...
Orochimaru glanced at his teacher and smiled slightly.
There should be no need for that anymore.
Tsunade ate heartily.
For her, after the tragic deaths of her lover and brother, the few important people left in her heart, besides Uzumaki Mito, were the people at this table.
Seeing Team Hiruzen drifting apart and losing the atmosphere of the past, Tsunade had originally planned to leave the village for a while to relax.
Out of sight, out of mind.
But now... this plan would have to be cancelled for the time being.
Her teacher was about to carry out drastic reforms and had somehow repaired his relationship with Orochimaru...
She had to stay and help her teacher, help the village!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's speech today was especially uplifting for the three of them.
After three rounds of drinks and five flavors of dishes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen clinked glasses with his beloved disciples. After drinking his fill.
"Did I perform okay today?" Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and lit his pipe: "What do you think of everyone's reaction?"
"Really stylish!" Jiraiya gave a thumbs up: "I think today's emergency drill was very meaningful!"
"My disciple Minato told me that the village's security was a bit lax. Sometimes he could spot the Anbu, but the Anbu couldn't spot him..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, pondering this name.
Resolved the Kushina incident, born as a civilian ninja, the disciple Jiraiya had just accepted.
"The Anbu couldn't spot him?" Tsunade frowned deeply: "The Anbu's performance today was passable. Is it actually lax to this extent?"
"Can't exactly say that... Minato is a top-notch genius!" Jiraiya got excited, dancing with joy: "I think he will become a very powerful ninja!"
"My disciple Minato has the potential to be Hokage!"
Tsunade chuckled: "A brat who just graduated has Hokage potential? You really are something, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya immediately retorted: "You don't understand, Tsunade! He is a true genius!"
Tsunade pouted towards Orochimaru: "Look, there's a genius you've seen since childhood over there. Ask for his opinion..."
Jiraiya misfired but still stubbornly argued: "What's so great about the smelly snake? Minato is stronger than he was as a child!"
"A true genius is someone who can grow up in three to five years. Maybe he can even compete with the smelly snake!"
Tsunade waved her hand like she was shooing a fly: "Too lazy to argue with you."
Regarding Jiraiya's remarks, Tsunade just wanted to say he was making a fuss!
Unless Orochimaru gave up on himself, Tsunade didn't think there was any possibility for anyone else to take over the Hokage position from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Orochimaru sipped the wine in his cup. He didn't take Namikaze Minato to heart, only thinking that Jiraiya was being stubborn.
Interesting. Who isn't a genius?
"Truly pathetic, Jiraiya. Have you placed all your hopes on your disciple?"
"Never mind. Being enemies with this genius, such an outcome is inevitable."
"Damn smelly snake? What are you smug about!" Jiraiya yelled: "You don't understand Minato!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took this scene into his eyes.
In this cruel ninja world, cultivating feelings from childhood was extremely different... The relaxation and happiness from the heart when the three were together couldn't be faked.
And he also understood why, despite growing up together, Jiraiya couldn't win Tsunade over.
This mouth was truly stubborn, and his EQ was truly low!
"Just talking about your disciple, why didn't you think about working hard yourself to become the Fourth Hokage?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen flicked a peanut onto Jiraiya's forehead: "My grand-disciple is just a Chūnin, right?"
Jiraiya waved his hands repeatedly: "Aiya, I'm willing to work for the village! But I really can't be Hokage. You keep doing this job, Old Man... it's too brain-consuming!"
"Good-for-nothing." Sarutobi Hiruzen scolded with a laugh, took out a scroll, and handed it to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru took it: "Teacher, what is this?"
"This is the material Danzō used to report you. Regarding your unauthorized research on banned Wood Release experiments, stealing important village ninjutsu, embezzling Konoha's research funds, forming cliques..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said softly.
The harmonious atmosphere solidified instantly.
Orochimaru's snake pupils unconsciously became vertical. Taking the material, his mood rose and fell rapidly like a roller coaster!
"Hehe..."
Orochimaru quickly flipped through the scroll, cursing inwardly but trying to keep calm on the surface.
Although Danzō had embellished quite a bit, the major aspects were not wrong.
He had indeed done these things.
Orochimaru's brain spun at high speed. Why would Danzō betray him?
He was also involved in these matters. If he pulled Orochimaru down to self-destruct, could he stay out of it himself?
"Teacher, you don't think these are true, do you?" Orochimaru's voice unconsciously became hoarse.
"Let me see!" Tsunade leaned in and took the scroll.
Jiraiya watched together, and both of their expressions gradually became complex.
This is bad. It really looks authentic. The chain of evidence is detailed enough to withstand scrutiny...
"Based on my understanding of you, nine truths and one lie, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen silently lit his pipe and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke: "Danzō probably also pinned his own matters on you, especially the funding item."
"You swindled him out of quite a bit of research funding usually, right? I see his resentment is quite deep..."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered.
He couldn't read his teacher's pulse.
With this tone, was he going to beat him? It seemed he didn't want to punish him severely?
"Smelly snake, what exactly do you want to do?" Jiraiya facepalmed, his eyes full of doubt: "Are you going to betray the village?"
Could he really be a genius?
According to Shimura Danzō, Konoha already had a small group of loyal Orochimaru supporters, with money and ninjutsu resources in hand.
If this continued, it was very possible that he would establish a hidden village himself one day!
"Teacher, although Orochimaru went too far, he definitely didn't do it on purpose. There must be a misunderstanding in this!" Jiraiya repeatedly explained for his friend:
"You can't fully believe Danzō's words!"
Tsunade also echoed: "Teacher, you must not listen to Danzō's one-sided story. Orochimaru might be the victim!"
Warmth flowed through Orochimaru's heart.
Although they bickered usually, when something really happened, Jiraiya and Tsunade were still willing to speak for him.
"Alright, Orochimaru didn't make any errors of principle."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, setting the tone for this matter: "We, master and disciple, have slowly drifted apart since the Second Ninja World War."
Fatigue showed on his face.
The performance also began.
"After the Kushina incident, I started to think about this problem that I was unwilling to face."
"While it was certainly wrong for you to do these things behind my back as the Hokage, the general direction was not wrong."
"You felt I was too conservative and inflexible, so you went to do it privately yourself, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen drank a sip of sake: "Today, with the three of you here, let's talk behind closed doors."
"Why was I so conservative in the past?"
Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and shook their heads gently.
"Because change always comes with a price. Change isn't necessarily always a good thing."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag of his pipe: "I clearly have mediocre talent, yet I luckily took over the responsibility of the Third Generation. So I was very lost, starting from the day I became Hokage."
"I also felt fear. I worried that I wouldn't do well as this Hokage... I have neither the First's mighty power nor the Second's wisdom, yet I became Hokage."
"So, I was unwilling to adjust the Second's policy framework. I could only work desperately, doing everything personally, fearing to fail the will of the predecessors."
"But the village did not develop well."
"During the Second Ninja World War, I even thought of escaping... I wished I could be a charging Jōnin, taking away Konoha's enemies one by one, dying on the battlefield with the name of a hero, so I wouldn't have to bear this pressure."
Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed self-deprecatingly:
"Actually, someone noticed, right? When I was young, I was a sturdy lad with the same build as Jiraiya. After being Hokage for a few years, even my height started to shrink. Clearly, I was still middle-aged, yet I looked like an old man."
Tsunade's expression gradually became heavy. Being relatively emotional, she could feel the suffocating pressure in her teacher's narration even more.
Jiraiya was the same. He hated administrative affairs, and just listening to this narration made it hard for him to breathe.
Orochimaru listened silently, his eyes fixed firmly on his teacher. Some of the resentment buried in his heart gradually began to dissolve.
Teacher, he also had his difficulties.
"Until after the Cloud incident, I dreamed of Lord Second Hokage. In the dream, he scolded me severely."
"He said, 'Monkey, how can you be so cowardly! If every generation of Konoha doesn't have the confidence to be stronger than the previous one, the village will be destroyed sooner or later!'"
"After I woke up, I thought for a long time... Rather than saying the Second's spirit appeared, it was probably my subconscious."
"It's not too late to make amends! I want to start changing Konoha from now on. I will do whatever is beneficial to the village. Whatever stands in my way, I will eliminate!"
"Including the cowardly me."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone was calm, but his eyes seemed to have flames dancing in them.
None of the Sannin had ever seen such a Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Tough, stern, decisive.
Like a man of steel.