As Tobirama dragged Shiro into the small forest in the eastern part of the village, his sharp sensory abilities instantly picked up on three unfamiliar chakra signatures hiding within the trees.
"Who's there? Come out!" Tobirama commanded sternly.
Without hesitation, Sasuke Uchiha leaped down from a tree. Without even glancing at the person who had spoken, he immediately prostrated himself and performed a full three-kneel, nine-bow salute.
"Master, I, Uchiha Sasuke, pay my respects!"
Naruto, realizing Sasuke had taken the initiative, quickly jumped down as well, copying Sasuke's move.
"I'm here too! Master, my name is— Eh?! Second Hokage Grandpa?!"
Unlike Sasuke, who remained bowing, Naruto actually looked up and finally recognized who was standing before them.
Hinata, timid as always, stepped out from behind a tree and politely bowed.
"Tobirama-sama, greetings."
Tobirama glanced at the three children before him— the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, the eldest daughter of the Hyūga Clan, and an Uchiha orphan. His face showed mild confusion.
"You just said you came to see me for what? Acknowledging me as your master?"
Hinata nervously fidgeted with her fingers and stayed silent.
Sasuke, upon seeing that the legendary Uchiha-hating Second Hokage was Shiro's master, had already lost most of his confidence in being accepted as a disciple.
Only Naruto, oblivious as always, seemed entirely unbothered by the tense atmosphere.
"That's right, Second Grandpa! No wonder Shiro is so strong—it turns out you're his teacher!"
"Please, no matter what, you have to take me in! I, Uzumaki Naruto, am a man destined to be Hokage!"
Tobirama's forehead twitched from Naruto's incessant shouting. He quickly raised his hand to silence him.
"Wait a moment. Shiro is my disciple? Who told you that? And who convinced you to come ask me for training?"
Who the hell is out here running scams using the Second Hokage's name?!
Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!
Naruto, completely oblivious to the dire consequences of his words, immediately blurted out, "Shiro did!"
The moment those words left his mouth, Tobirama's sharp gaze landed on Shiro like a pair of kunai piercing his soul.
Shiro: Uzumaki Naruto, I swear I'll kill you!
"Ahem, you all wait here for a moment," Tobirama said, grabbing Shiro by the back of his collar and dragging him deeper into the woods.
Once they were far enough that the others couldn't hear them, Tobirama casually tossed Shiro aside.
THUD!
Shiro landed hard on his tailbone.
Hiss!!!
Shiro clenched his teeth in pain, but he didn't dare make a sound.
Tobirama loomed over him with an expression that made Shiro's skin crawl.
"When did I take you as my disciple?" he asked coldly.
"That, uh… Lord Tobirama, I can explain—"
Shiro's mind was in overdrive.
Damn it, if I didn't use your name back there, Sasuke would've forced me to take him as my apprentice!
Unfortunately, Tobirama had no intention of giving him a chance to explain.
"Do you know what happens to people who impersonate the Hokage's disciples?"
A chilling smile spread across Tobirama's face.
Shiro swallowed hard. His voice trembled.
"N-No… I don't know…"
"They get blown to bits with my Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags, reduced to nothing but dust."
Shiro: Σ(дlll)!!!
Holy crap, that's the punishment?!
"You have two choices," Tobirama continued. "Either I scatter your ashes now, or—"
"I CHOOSE THE SECOND OPTION!" Shiro shouted before Tobirama could even finish.
Falling to his knees in an instant, Shiro prostrated himself without hesitation.
"Disciple Shiro greets Master!"
At that moment, Shiro finally understood—Tobirama had wanted to take him as a disciple for a while now. He had just been waiting for an opportunity to make it official.
Damn it, old man! If you wanted a disciple, you could've just said so instead of terrifying me like this!
Tobirama, satisfied, nodded.
"Hmm, since you begged so earnestly, I suppose I'll accept you. Get up."
Shiro stood, internally grumbling.
Of course I was earnest! If I wasn't, my ashes would already be scattered across Konoha!
Tobirama's expression turned serious again.
"Now, tell me about those three kids outside. Why should I take them as disciples?"
Shiro had already prepared an answer.
"Uzumaki Naruto—son of the Fourth Hokage, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, and a child who has suffered unfair treatment since birth. It's the village's fault for how he's been raised. Giving him the title of 'Second Hokage's Disciple' isn't unreasonable, is it?"
"Besides, he has great potential—he meets your standards, Master."
Tobirama's eyebrow twitched.
This brat calls Naruto 'talented'? The same kid who turned the Transformation Jutsu into an adult magazine?
"Uchiha Sasuke—sole survivor of the Uchiha Clan Massacre."
"You already know the truth behind that incident. In the end, the village's decisions were questionable."
"Also, Uchiha Kagami was the only disciple who remained loyal to you until the end. He was killed precisely because he refused to side with Hiruzen and the others."
"If nothing else, accepting Sasuke as a disciple could be seen as a way to honor his memory."
Tobirama fell silent.
If he hadn't read the classified reports himself, he wouldn't have believed that his most loyal student had been an Uchiha.
Danzo's report had said:
"Uchiha Kagami strongly opposed our decision and attempted to inform the Senju Clan. He was eliminated before he could act—his body was completely destroyed."
Uchiha Kagami had died trying to protect the Senju Clan from Hiruzen's schemes.
"…And what about the Hyūga girl? Why should I take her?"
"Oh, she's my fiancée."
Tobirama: (ー_ー)!!
…
Moments later, Shiro and Tobirama emerged from the forest, looking like the perfect picture of a harmonious master and disciple.
Tobirama turned to the three children, who were waiting with various expressions.
"I will accept all three of you as my disciples."
Naruto cheered, Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief, and Hinata blushed.
"But!" Tobirama added, instantly making their hearts tighten.
"There is one condition—Shiro must pass a special test I've prepared."
Shiro: (⊙_⊙)???
Master, you didn't mention any test before!
Naruto: →_→
Sasuke: →_→
Hinata: →_→
The three of them turned to Shiro with hopeful gazes.
Shiro sighed in defeat.
"…What's the test?"
"You must defeat an opponent using only Taijutsu."
"…Who?"
"Might Guy's student—Rock Lee."
Shiro: Σ(っ °Д °;)っ!!!
Fighting Rock Lee using only Taijutsu?!
Screw this! This master isn't worth it—I quit! (╯°Д°)╯︵ ┻━┻