While the Uchiha household simmered with quiet rage, Amakaze Kaede was completely unaware.
Right now, he had only one thing on his mind.
Tenpūton.
He sat cross-legged in the center of his room, eyes closed, breathing steady.
Pale blue chakra swirled around his body like drifting fog.
Sweat slid down his temples.
He was at the most critical stage.
If he succeeded here, Tenpūton would finally take shape.
If he failed, it could take months before another real breakthrough.
Combining Water, Fire, and Wind chakra was nothing like simple elemental conversion.
Water and Fire naturally counterbalanced each other.
But once Wind entered the mix, it amplified Fire and suppressed Water, breaking the equilibrium.
The scroll left by his clan recorded a ratio.
Kaede had followed it.
Again.
And again.
And again.
All failures.
The proportions worked for my ancestors… but not for me.
With a dull thud, his chakra flow destabilized.
Kaede's face went pale.
"…Failed again."
The backlash was mild, but his chakra circulation became messy.
He slowly calmed his breathing and reorganized the flow.
This had happened countless times over the past month.
But unlike before, his eyes carried confidence.
Because he had found something.
A new ratio.
He began again.
Carefully.
44% Water.
31% Fire.
25% Wind.
The three streams moved cautiously.
Instead of devouring one another, they pressed together… restraining, balancing, compressing.
The turbulence faded.
The chakra merged.
Kaede exhaled.
Thick, icy mist spilled from his mouth and spread across the room.
It was denser than ordinary mist.
Colder.
Heavier.
"…It worked."
For a moment, he simply sat there in silence.
Then he clenched his fist.
"Finally."
Tenpūton was no longer a theory.
It was real.
Another layer of survival added to his future.
He glanced outside.
Dusk had already fallen.
"I'm going to be late."
Kaede quickly washed off the sweat and changed clothes.
Since this was his first visit to Hashirama's home, he chose formal attire from the Amakaze Clan.
A black robe with subtle gold-thread embroidery forming the clan crest.
Simple.
Clean.
Respectful.
He tied his long white hair back and stepped out.
The streets of Konohagakure were quiet and warm.
Vendors packing up.
Restaurant lights glowing softly.
A mother calling her child home for dinner.
Ordinary.
Peaceful.
Kaede slowed his steps.
So this is what the First Hokage wanted to protect.
For the first time, Hashirama's dream felt tangible.
Not a slogan.
Not a fantasy.
Just people living.
After about twenty minutes, Kaede reached the Senju compound.
It looked nothing like the secluded elegance of the Amakaze estate.
No grand symbols.
No mystical atmosphere.
Just a large, lively mansion filled with the feeling of family.
He stopped a passerby.
"Excuse me. Where does the Hokage live?"
The man frowned.
"Who are you?"
"I'm his apprentice."
The man froze.
Before he could say anything—
"Kaede."
A familiar voice.
Senju Tobirama stood at the gate, arms crossed.
"You're late."
Kaede bowed.
"Sorry. I was training and lost track of time."
Tobirama studied him for a moment, then turned.
"Come in."
Outside, the passerby stood rooted to the ground.
"…He really is the Hokage's disciple?"
Within minutes, rumors began spreading through the village.
Inside the compound, Tobirama led Kaede into a warmly lit house.
A red-haired woman stood near the entrance, tying her apron.
Kaede immediately bowed.
"Good evening, ma'am."
Uzumaki Mito smiled.
"What a polite child."
"Go change your shoes. Dinner's ready. Your master has been waiting."
Kaede turned to Hashirama, who was already seated at the table.
"Sorry for being late, Master."
Hashirama waved lazily.
"Sit. If you're any later, I'm eating everything myself."
Tobirama snorted.
They sat.
The table was packed with food.
Kaede felt genuine relief.
Survived first impressions.
Hashirama eyed him.
"So. You said you were practicing your clan technique?"
Kaede nodded.
"I made progress with Tenpūton."
Hashirama's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Oh?"
Kaede met his gaze calmly.
"After dinner, I'd like your guidance."
Hashirama grinned.
"Good."
The warm lights flickered.
Outside, night fully settled over Konohagakure.
And inside the First Hokage's home, Kaede took his first step into a much larger world.