After leaving Hashirama's place, the two, starving, decided to have a feast.
It was the same familiar barbecue restaurant, the same twenty-plus plates of meat—the place where it all began. Ever since eating here with Torifū last time, Naori had fallen in love with it. Not because the food was particularly delicious, but because after the meal, the Hokage himself had taken her for training!
But more than anything, she had Torifū to thank. If not for him, she doubted her talent alone would have warranted personal guidance from the Hokage.
As expected, Torifū paid for the meal again. At this point, Naori had resigned herself to it. She already owed him far too much to ever repay, so why not just owe him more? After all, what's one more debt when you're already drowning in them?
In reality, though, she had no idea how to repay him. He lacked nothing—money, ninjutsu, even a teacher. He had everything he needed. She could only take it one step at a time and figure it out along the way.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Kyo's judgment had been passed. For attempting to seriously injure or kill a fellow shinobi within the village using ninjutsu, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, due to the forbidden drug he took, his life force was rapidly deteriorating. His grandfather paid Torifū a hefty sum in compensation, securing his forgiveness and taking Kyo back to the Uchiha clan compound for treatment.
If Kyo recovered, he would have to serve his sentence. If he didn't—well, that would be the end of it.
Torifū, however, felt nothing toward Kyo. Even at the last moment, the guy had harbored killing intent, but he was too weak to pose any real threat. There was no reason for Torifū to waste his energy on such an insignificant character. Since Kyo's family was willing to settle things with money, Torifū saw no reason to refuse. He wasn't hurt, and he certainly wasn't going to turn down compensation.
Besides, with the Hokage as his mentor now, anyone who wanted to lay a hand on him would have to think twice.
According to Naori, the drug Kyo took was an Uchiha clan's forbidden medicine. Who knew where the idiot had stolen it from? He didn't even read the instructions before swallowing it down. Fortunately, he was discovered early, so he could likely be saved—his life force just needed to be replenished, and there were plenty of medicinal herbs for that.
However, the damage was severe. He would probably never be able to have children again.
Torifū, for his part, couldn't care less. The two of them chatted as they ate, and before long, all twenty plates of meat were gone.
"Torifū, thanks for the treat again!" Naori said cheerfully.
"No problem. As long as you're happy."
After paying, they left the restaurant under the owner's almost maniacal grin and his enthusiastic "Come again soon!"
As they were about to part ways, Naori reminded him, "Torifū, don't forget our agreement tonight, okay?"
Torifū sighed, rubbing his forehead. He had thought she might forget after being accepted as the Hokage's disciple, but apparently, it was still on her mind.
"Alright, alright. I'll be there tonight."
Naori beamed, hopping away toward her home.
Torifū stretched and yawned, ready to go home and take a nap. A full morning of training had left him exhausted. The Hokage's training was no joke—it was unbelievably rigorous.
But while he was napping peacefully at home, someone else was panicking.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was running around like a headless chicken.
"Hiruzen, stop pacing already! You're giving me a headache!"
Sarutobi Sasuke watched his son, who had been restless ever since returning from the Hokage's office. No matter how much he asked, Hiruzen wouldn't explain what had happened.
All Sasuke could do was guess—Had his son offended the Hokage? Had he been caught conspiring to start a rebellion? His mind spun through the worst possible scenarios, and his anxiety grew by the second.
Hiruzen finally stopped at his father's words, but he still looked extremely troubled.
"Hiruzen, just tell me what's going on," Sasuke pressed.
He had already braced himself. If his son had truly committed treason, he would take responsibility and plead for forgiveness immediately.
"Old man, the Hokage gave us a question today, and I can't figure it out."
Hiruzen sighed in frustration.
Sasuke, on the other hand, exhaled in relief.
So that was it?! He had been preparing himself to disown his own son, and it turned out to be nothing!
Still, he maintained a wise, world-weary expression, pretending as if he had seen the vicissitudes of life. "Foolish child, tell me the question."
Hiruzen saw that the old man, who was usually not serious and liked to peek into the women's bathhouse, suddenly looked like a sage, the corners of his mouth couldn't help twitching.
Hiruzen hesitated for a moment, then decided to trust his father's experience. "Hokage-sama asked us to find our Will of Fire."
With expectant eyes, he looked at his "enlightened sage" of a father, awaiting some profound wisdom.
Under his son's eager gaze, Sarutobi Sasuke simply turned slightly to the side, raised his palm towards Hiruzen, and slowly shook his head.
Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's extremely expectant gaze, Sarutobi Sasuke just turned his body and pushed his palm towards Hiruzen, shaking his head gently.
Hiruzen's eyes lit up. "Old man! You mean I should bravely say no to Hokage-sama?"
"No, no." Sasuke shook his head again, looking at his son like he was a hopeless case.
"What I mean is, I decline. You'll have to ask someone else."
Hiruzen nearly coughed up blood. He collapsed to the floor, wailing, "If you don't know, just say so! What's with the act?!"
Sasuke chuckled, scratching his head. His already thinning hair swayed like a candle in the wind.
"This way, at least you can tell people your dad is a wise sage."
Hiruzen staggered to his feet, realizing his own father was the true troublemaker in the family. He stumbled out of the room, utterly dejected.
Watching his son's retreating figure, Sasuke sighed. Keeping up the sage act for too long was tiring. "Foolish boy… this is something no one else can decide for you. You have to figure it out yourself."
A gentle breeze swept past, ruffling his head. At that moment, Sasuke felt like something precious had left him.
He reached up to touch his scalp—only to find that there was nothing left to grasp. A single tear slid down his cheek.
Such was the sorrow of middle age.
Similar struggles played out in households across the village. Many young shinobi were lost, uncertain of their own Will of Fire.
The children didn't understand the Hokage's intent, but their elders did—at least to some extent. That was why none of them interfered. This was something each of them had to find on their own.
As for Naori and Torifū, they were still too young. Having just become Hashirama's disciples, they had yet to be exposed to his philosophy on the Will of Fire.
But perhaps, for that very reason, they had the best chance of discovering it for themselves.