After a thorough examination, Kazuku's body was perfectly healthy.
Tobirama breathed a sigh of relief.
Though Kazuku had inherited Hashirama's Seal-less Healing, as his second grandfather, Tobirama still worried the Eight Gates might leave lingering effects.
The results thrilled Kazuku too.
They not only confirmed Seal-less Healing's power but meant he could use the Eight Gates in combat.
"The Eight Gates Technique is practically tailor-made for me right now."
But as Kazuku prepared to leave the hospital and head home for dinner…
Tobirama's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Kazuku, come with me," he said in a low voice, walking out of the medical room without waiting for a response.
Kazuku was taken aback by the shift.
"He's not going to grill me again about secretly learning the Eight Gates, is he?"
Maybe Tobirama thought Kazuku was too shy to admit the "truth" with others around?
But…
He was telling the truth!
Grumbling inwardly, Kazuku followed.
Tobirama didn't go far, leaning against the hospital corridor wall, waiting.
Seeing Kazuku catch up, he started walking again.
At the corridor's end, he stopped, turning to look down at Kazuku's youthful face.
"Kazuku, have you ever thought about becoming a ninja?" Tobirama asked, voice low.
He genuinely cared for Kazuku.
If the day came when he needed to buy Kazuku time to escape, he'd face any enemy without hesitation.
Especially given Kazuku's talent.
To Tobirama, he was the perfect successor.
And Tobirama wasn't young anymore.
The fire of his youth had long faded.
Big Brother Hashirama's duty was ending the Warring States era and founding the village.
Tobirama's was perfecting the village's systems, establishing the ninja academy, and training the next Hokage.
Leading Konoha to its golden age? That was the Third Hokage's job.
Now in his forties, Tobirama increasingly believed:
One generation can only do one generation's work.
Originally, he'd planned to groom Hiruzen as the next Hokage.
Danzo, Koharu, and Menma would handle village politics.
Uchiha Kagami would lead the police force.
But Kazuku's arrival disrupted everything.
In lineage and talent…
Kazuku outshone Hiruzen.
And their ages were close—no generational gap needed.
Still, procedures had to be followed.
Appointing someone who wasn't even a ninja, unknown to the public, as Hokage…
Would create resistance for Kazuku's leadership.
After deep thought, Tobirama asked the question with utmost seriousness.
"Honestly, I never thought about it," Kazuku shook his head without hesitation.
Before Tobirama asked, becoming a ninja hadn't crossed his mind.
Tobirama frowned, clearly disappointed.
"My goal is to become Hokage by twenty," Kazuku said earnestly.
Lineage?
The First Hokage was his grandfather.
The Second was his second grandfather.
The Fifth was his sister.
The Seventh, an Uzumaki, was a distant relative!
Calling the Seventh his great-grandson wasn't too much, right?
"Wait, then Uzumaki Kushina would be my unborn niece?"
"And calling the Fourth Hokage my niece's husband wouldn't be wrong."
Good lord.
The First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh…
All tied to him by blood.
In lineage, who could be more legitimate?
In strength, with the check-in system, who dared compare talent?
Compare with what?
So, Kazuku didn't think his goal of becoming Hokage at twenty was outrageous.
"Pfft…"
Seeing the childish Kazuku boldly declare he'd be Hokage by twenty, Tobirama couldn't help but laugh.
Worthy of being my grandson.
Such spirit!
"But with your talent, I bet you won't need that long. Within ten years, you'll be Hokage!"
Of course, Tobirama only thought this.
Kazuku was already cocky enough!
More praise, and he'd be insufferable!
Not good for a kid's mental growth!
Tobirama crouched, ruffling Kazuku's hair fondly.
"To become Hokage, you first need everyone's recognition."
"Becoming a ninja is a crucial step."
"If you truly want to be Hokage, start by becoming a real ninja!"
To Tobirama, a worthy successor could never slack.
Goals were vital.
Not long-term ones like becoming Hokage.
Vague goals could make hope feel out of reach, causing doubt in one's efforts.
Kazuku needed short-term goals.
Like defeating Danzo.
Becoming a genin.
Rising to chunin.
And so on.
"How do I become a ninja? Go to school?" Kazuku asked.
With his current strength, ninja school would be a cakewalk.
Forget peers—he could one-punch the teachers.
It'd be a waste of time!
Tobirama agreed.
He shook his head, picturing Kazuku's chakra burst sending every kid flying.
What a disaster!
"This time, I'll give you one month. If you can force Might Batsu to go all-out within that time, I'll make you a genin."
"Force Might Batsu to go all-out?" Kazuku blinked.
He didn't know how strong Batsu's full power was.
But Tobirama had seen Kazuku's full strength.
This meant, in Tobirama's mind, even Kazuku at the Gate of Limit wasn't Batsu's match.
"Exactly," Tobirama nodded, explaining. "Don't think Might Batsu's just a chunin like Danzo."
"Their strengths are worlds apart. Batsu's a chunin because he's weak in ninjutsu and genjutsu, making many missions unsuitable for him."
"That keeps his evaluation low."
Tobirama paused, giving Kazuku a rundown on how ninjas survived by taking missions and other basics.
To give him a conceptual understanding of being a ninja.
"Your next goal is to make Might Batsu fight at full strength. That… is your graduation exam!"
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(End of Chapter)