Tejima Shinichi's breath caught in his throat!
A strange condition!?
It's just taking a disciple… there's no need to agree to anything weird, right?
"Yeah, Shinichi," Mori Chie frowned. "This is so sudden. Did you know about this before? Why haven't you ever mentioned it?"
Their worry wasn't unfounded.
As Ninja who'd lived in Konoha for years, they understood far better than ordinary villagers the political weight behind the title "Hokage's disciple."
Mori Chie had once been an elite on the verge of Jonin rank; Tejima Kazuto had seen the undercurrents of power change right there in the hospital.
For the nearly seventy-year-old Third Hokage to take a new disciple now… they feared their son might not endure the pressure!
Facing their barrage of questions, Tejima Shinichi slipped off his shoes and sighed, "It was formally confirmed at the Hokage Office today. You don't need to worry —there are no extra conditions."
He closed the door behind him and turned to meet his parents' anxious gazes.
"As for why Hokage-sama values me…"
He raised his right hand, palm up.
Under the couple's stunned stares, a tender green sprout emerged from his palm, unfurling into a fresh wooden twig.
Mori Chie's pupils shrank; she clapped a hand over her mouth. Tejima Kazuto stumbled back several steps, knocking over a chair.
"Th-this is…"
Mori Chie's voice trembled. As a Senju descendant, she knew better than anyone what that hint of green signified.
Tejima Shinichi dissolved the Wood Release. "Now you understand."
Mori Chie was too moved to speak, tears glimmering in her eyes. Tejima Kazuto opened his mouth, then finally sighed in wonder.
"So that's it… no wonder…"
At that instant, every puzzle piece snapped into place.
Why Shinichi's Chakra was absurdly vast.
Why the Third Hokage would break precedent and take another disciple at nearly seventy.
It was all because of that legendary power —Wood Release!
The might that First Hokage Senju Hashirama had used to quell the chaos of an era had awakened in their son!
"So you can rest easy. Hokage-sama values this power and the… possibilities it represents. He needs to ensure it grows under the sun and serves Konoha. And I, in turn, need his resources and protection."
He paused, then continued.
"It's a transaction, an investment. Each side gets what they need —nothing more."
Mori Chie looked into her son's amber eyes, a hundred feelings colliding in her heart.
Tejima Kazuto suddenly reached out and gently clasped Mori Chie's trembling hand.
Startled, she turned to her husband.
In that shared gaze, she read his meaning —their son had grown up; he had secrets and a path he must walk alone.
Some things they shouldn't pry into any further, nor lose sleep over.
Mori Chie squeezed his hand back and nodded.
When she faced Shinichi again, the excitement and anxiety had faded, replaced by her usual gentleness.
"All right." She spoke softly. "As long as you know what you're doing, that's enough."
Tejima Kazuto released her hand, rubbed his face hard, then cracked a broad grin, as though the man who'd just knocked over a chair in shock had been someone else entirely.
"Exactly! My son's so awesome —what's there to worry about!" He swept an arm grandly, trying to dispel the last trace of tension. "I can strut through the hospital from now on!"
Mori Chie gave a helpless laugh at his words and shook her head.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she exclaimed,
"Oh dear! My soup! I've been chatting and left it boiling on the stove!"
She hurried toward the kitchen, her steps brisk, pulling life's center of gravity right back to the everyday world of firewood, rice, oil, and salt.
Tejima Kazuto watched her go, chuckled, then slung an arm around Shinichi's shoulders and thumped him on the back.
"All right, all right, it's over! Go wash your hands —dinner's ready! Your mom really splurged today!"
Shinichi let his father propel him forward, lashes lowered, the corner of his mouth twitching.
From the kitchen came the clatter of spatula against wok and Mori Chie's half-scolding mutter.
In the living room, Tejima Kazuto had already started loudly recounting the hospital's reaction to his son becoming the Hokage's disciple…
Meanwhile, at the Nara household.
Shikamaru pushed open the door and habitually called, "I'm home."
In the entrance, his mother Nara Yoshino spotted him and waved her ladle in warning.
"Shikamaru, you're a bit late today!"
Shikamaru's face fell; he dreaded these seemingly caring yet strict interrogations.
While pulling off his shoes, he drawled wearily,
"Ahh—today was special… Asuma-sensei put us through extra training, said it's prep for… the Chunin Exams, so we finished later than usual."
Shoes swapped, he trudged inside, muttering under his breath,
"Troublesome…"
Nara Yoshino watched him with a resigned shake of her head and her habitual refrain,
"Even special training has to keep track of time… All right, go wash your hands —your father's waiting."
Just then his father, Nara Shikaku, strolled out from the inner tatami room.
"Oh, back? Perfect —food's not ready yet. How about a game of shogi with me?"
Shikamaru froze; he instantly knew what Dad was after.
His face scrunched in annoyance; he scratched his head and groaned,
"Ahh—? I just finished training, I'm beat…"
Complaining aside, he obediently shuffled toward the tatami room.
Nara Yoshino watched him go, smiled, and resumed her cooking.
Inside the tatami room, the board was set; two cups of green tea steamed gently.
Shikamaru sat opposite his father, picked up a piece, still muttering,
"Today was brutal. Asuma-sensei acted like someone had prodded him with a stick…"
Nara Shikaku ignored the grumbling, placed a piece, and cut straight to the point.
"You've heard today's village news. What do you think of Tejima Shinichi? I want an opinion from a classmate's perspective."
Shikamaru stared at the board, a piece between his fingers, hesitating.
After all, the real topic today was the conversation, not the game.
He pondered a moment, arranged his thoughts, then spoke slowly.
"Tejima Shinichi… First —and most important —he's calm. Abnormally calm. Since the day we entered the Academy he's never panicked over anything. Exams, live combat, he always looks like it's all within his calculations and control."
Nara Shikaku gave a slight nod, motioning him to continue.
"Second… he's powerful. Not just strong —he's on an entirely different level."
Speaking of this, Shikamaru couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"Uchiha Sasuke's a genius, right? But against Shinichi he's never won once, and the gap's obvious. Perfect theory scores, and in live combat… I suspect he's never shown his full strength in any test. 'Genius' isn't enough… the guy's a monster!"