To graduate from the ninja academy and pass a jonin's assessment, one could become a genin.
After completing enough missions, they could take the chunin exams, held twice a year.
Passing made them a chunin.
The gap between chunin and jonin required not only a set number of missions…
But also recognition from Konoha's leadership.
Due to his weakness in ninjutsu and genjutsu, Might Batsu struggled with many missions.
So his contributions to the village were limited.
"How do I force his full strength?" Kazuku pressed.
He disliked vague, standard-less answers.
"If you can push Might Batsu to open his Sixth Gate, you pass," Tobirama said after careful thought.
In his subconscious, Tobirama was convinced Kazuku had secretly trained the Eight Gates for two years.
He'd imagined Hashirama as the teacher.
So, to Tobirama, Kazuku surely knew what the Sixth Gate was.
He skipped the Eight Gates' finer details.
Might Batsu's limit was the Sixth Gate, Gate of View.
"Kazuku's only seven, but with Seal-less Healing and monstrous strength…"
"Forcing Batsu to open the Gate of View isn't impossible," Tobirama mused, eager for Kazuku's performance in a month.
"For this month, you'll train under Might Batsu."
Tobirama added after a moment.
He deeply respected Batsu's taijutsu.
He even believed no one in the village could rival Batsu in that field.
Making him Kazuku's taijutsu teacher was the perfect choice.
"Got it," Kazuku nodded.
If it was just the Gate of View, even without a useful reward from the next check-in…
It wasn't impossible.
And based on the check-in system's cooldown, a month allowed at least two check-ins.
Forget forcing Batsu's Gate of View—beating him wasn't out of the question.
"If Batsu's full strength was the Seventh Gate, Gate of Shock, and I didn't draw a strong ninjutsu, I'd have no chance."
Knowing Batsu's limit was the Gate of View…
Kazuku felt much lighter.
It made sense—Tobirama was his second grandfather. He wouldn't design an impossible genin test.
With the new agreement set, Kazuku went home for dinner.
As for Tobirama…
He stormed off to confront Hashirama!
At dusk, Tobirama barged into Hashirama's house.
Uzumaki Mito was preparing dinner for her beloved husband.
Seeing Tobirama, she promptly added a set of chopsticks.
"I'm not here to mooch food!" Tobirama snapped, closing the door.
Hashirama looked baffled.
His brother seemed way more serious than usual.
"Uh… since you're here, why not sit and talk?" Hashirama offered an awkward, polite smile.
"I said, I'm not mooching!" Tobirama roared again.
Clink!
Hashirama's mood deflated.
Five minutes later…
"Sister-in-law's cooking has gotten even better. One more bowl, please," Tobirama said, passing his empty bowl to Mito with thanks.
"Right? Since I stepped down as Hokage, Mito's been experimenting with new dishes every day. Haha, this is the good life," Hashirama laughed.
To him now, this quiet life was the greatest happiness.
No wars.
Kids playing freely in the village.
His brother by his side.
The only downside was Kima's family not joining.
But it couldn't be helped.
Ayako was in the thick of morning sickness, only visiting occasionally.
"Speaking of, what do you think of the name Yuzuki?" Hashirama asked suddenly.
"Yuzuki?"
"Yeah, Ayako's pregnant, right? I'm thinking of naming the kid Yuzuki. Ah… Kazuku's getting a sibling to protect," Hashirama mused.
His mind drifted to Madara Uchiha.
"I no longer have a brother to protect."
Madara's words had left a deep mark.
Hashirama often wondered, if Tobirama hadn't killed Izuna…
Would Madara have had a different fate?
Sitting across this table, praising Mito's cooking, drinking with him.
Discussing Konoha's future.
Discussing Kazuku.
"You've got a great grandson, Hashirama."
"Pretty nice, huh? He might even outshine you as Hokage."
"Haha, how about I be the kid's god-grandfather?"
Hashirama's lips curved, imagining Madara sitting there.
"How do you know it's a boy? What if it's a girl?" Tobirama sipped his sake, casually retorting.
Hashirama slammed the table. "Wanna bet, Tobirama? What if it's a boy?"
"What's the stake?" Tobirama didn't back down.
He'd never lost a bet to Hashirama.
"Heh," Hashirama slung an arm around Tobirama's neck. "I think Uchiha Kaoru's nice. You're getting old—time to settle down."
"Live a little."
Hashirama and Mito had worried plenty about Tobirama's love life.
And this time, he was confident about Ayako's second child.
The Senju clan tended to have boys.
Their father, Butsuma, had only sons.
A fine Senju gene.
In other words, Tobirama was being played!
At least, Hashirama thought so.
"Hmph," Tobirama snorted. "I've no interest in women, let alone an Uchiha. If Ayako's having a girl, let's name her Tsunade."
In betting, Tobirama never felt he'd lose.
As for this Uchiha Kaoru, he vaguely recalled her.
The Uchiha clan leader's youngest daughter, graduating the ninja academy and becoming a chunin in three years.
Hm?
Three years to chunin?
That's only sixteen, right?
"Big Brother, Kaoru's sixteen, isn't she?" Tobirama shot Hashirama a withering look.
"Forget it, let's drop this."
Before Hashirama could respond, Tobirama pivoted. "Big Brother, did you teach Kazuku the Eight Gates?"
"He's only seven! Teaching him that is reckless!"
"Even with your Seal-less Healing, it's too reckless!"
"From now on, I hope you'll stop. Kazuku's training is my responsibility!"
Tobirama respected Hashirama's strength but had no faith in his teaching.
He found Hashirama's methods utterly irresponsible!
But at Tobirama's accusation…
Hashirama's face was a sea of question marks.
Seal-less Healing?
Eight Gates?
What was this nonsense?
"Wait, you're saying Kazuku inherited my Seal-less Healing and learned the Eight Gates?" Hashirama's eyes widened, mouth forming an "O."
He reached out, feeling Tobirama's forehead. "You're not feverish, are you?"
(End of Chapter)