After the high-level meeting ended, everyone received their orders and left.
Inside the Hokage Office, only the master and disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tejima Shinichi, remained.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took off the hat on his head that symbolized the Hokage's authority and placed it gently on the large desk, as if also unloading a heavy burden.
He rubbed the space between his eyebrows, his face weary, and looked at Tejima Shinichi beside him with a helpless tone.
"Shinichi, just now... you were really too reckless."
"It wasn't reckless. Teacher, I know you have unspoken difficulties regarding recalling Lady Tsunade. Since you don't want to say it, or can't say it, then there's no need to force it!!"
Tejima Shinichi raised his eyes, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a determined gaze.
"With me, it is enough."
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly startled at first, then a complex bitter smile appeared on his face, and he shook his head.
"It's not that I don't want her to come back... it's just... sigh." He sighed, deciding no longer to hide it from this disciple who had already shown maturity and strength beyond his years. "Tsunade... she suffers from a condition called hemophobia, and can no longer face the bloody battlefield. This is one of the main reasons she left the village."
Tejima Shinichi listened quietly, without any sign of surprise on his face, only nodding slightly to show understanding.
Seeing his calm reaction, Hiruzen Sarutobi was instead somewhat surprised. "You... don't seem surprised by this?"
"It's nothing more than a physical stress response caused by an unresolved mental knot. Having witnessed too much life and death and endured too much loss, it's not hard to understand when a flaw appears in one's heart. What's there to be surprised about?"
Hearing his disciple's analysis, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed again...
"However," Tejima Shinichi said, changing the subject, "although there's no need to recall her for battle, I plan to personally leave the village and find her now."
"Hmm?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned and looked at him in confusion. "Find Tsunade? Why?"
Tejima Shinichi met his teacher's gaze and said clearly,
"I want to learn the Summoning Jutsu of Shikkotsu Forest, as well as... Senjutsu."
"Senjutsu?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was full of shock. "You actually know about Senjutsu?!"
It was no wonder he was surprised.
Senjutsu is a power that stands above ordinary Ninjutsu. Its training is extremely difficult and carries huge risks; very few people know its specific inheritance.
And Tejima Shinichi not only directly pointed out the goal but was even clear about the specific sacred inheritance site!
Tejima Shinichi did not directly answer Hiruzen Sarutobi's shock, but only said indifferently,
"I've heard of it. I want to become stronger, and this is a path I must take!!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into silence, staring at this disciple of his who could always bring "surprises," his mind rapidly weighing things. Suddenly, he seemed to catch a key piece of information hidden in Tejima Shinichi's words.
"So... your plan is to find Tsunade and learn Senjutsu within 'one month'?!"
The power of Senjutsu is indeed strong, but the training process is fraught with danger, with a risk of death at every turn... Now that Tejima Shinichi wanted to learn Senjutsu within a month, how could Hiruzen Sarutobi not be worried!
"One month is enough," Tejima Shinichi responded.
"Nonsense!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi blurted out. This was the first time he had scolded Tejima Shinichi.
"Do you know how dangerous Senjutsu training is?! It requires an extremely calm state of mind and massive chakra support; the slightest mistake will cost you your life! Countless gifted individuals spend their whole lives without even entering the threshold, yet you want to do it in one month..."
Tejima Shinichi stood up from his seat, looked at the somewhat agitated Hiruzen Sarutobi, and interrupted him,
"But, the prerequisites you mentioned..."
"—I have them all."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's scolding stopped abruptly, as if he were being choked.
An extremely calm state of mind? This disciple of his seemed to always be like that.
Massive chakra support? The trembling chakra storm in the meeting room just now was still fresh in his memory.
He opened his mouth to argue but found that all his worries seemed so pale and weak in front of this monster-like disciple.
Seeing his look of finding no reason to argue, Tejima Shinichi's tone softened slightly...
"Don't worry, teacher."
"I will be mindful of my limits and act within my capabilities."
"Don't... you trust me yet?"
"If it's impossible, I will stop... after all, I cherish my own life more than anyone!!"
Tejima Shinichi's gaze went past Hiruzen Sarutobi, as if looking at the bustling Konoha streets outside the window, looking towards the direction of home.
"Because... in Konoha, there are my family, my companions, and everything I have..."
"So Konoha is my everything... I will never easily risk my life, nor will I let anyone touch my village—Konoha!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned on the spot, and complex emotions welled up in his heart—gratitude, pride, and also a hint of... heartache!
'The Will of Fire... So Shinichi, you already have the resolve to shoulder everything in Konoha!!!'
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart was overflowing with tears of relief. As if unloading a thousand-pound burden, he leaned back in his chair and waved his hand.
"...Fine!"
"Since your mind is made up... then, go ahead and do it."
"Remember your words... above all else, prioritize safety."
Tejima Shinichi pursed his lips and nodded. "I know."
Seeing his steady appearance, Hiruzen Sarutobi's worries dissipated a bit more. He leaned down and took out two scrolls from the drawer under the desk.
He pushed the scrolls and a money pouch together in front of Tejima Shinichi.
"Of these two scrolls, one contains intelligence gathered by the Anbu recently regarding several locations where Tsunade might appear. It's not precise, but it can help you narrow down the range."
He pointed to the other scroll, a helpless and headache-inducing expression appearing on his face.
"This... if you see her, give it to her...
'ughhh....'
... debt collectors have even come to the Hokage Office; I can hardly show my face anymore..."
Tejima Shinichi took the scroll, and listening to his complaints, a smile couldn't help but flash across his face.
He could imagine the comical scene of people sent by the casinos holding IOUs, trembling with fear yet forced to bite the bullet and come to the Hokage to collect debts.
"I will hand it over."
"Go on." Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand and picked up his pipe again. "Come back soon. As for the village... I will keep an eye on it."
"Yes, teacher."
Tejima Shinichi said no more, bowed slightly to Hiruzen Sarutobi, then turned and left the Hokage Office cleanly.
The door closed gently.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the closed door for a long time before slowly exhaling a smoke ring. Amidst the swirling smoke, his eyes were complex and hard to read.
"Senjutsu..." he murmured softly. "Shinichi, you must not be reckless..."
"The future of Konoha... is all resting on your shoulders!!"
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